I have had one for over two years, I've not had any malfunctions with at all. I use CCI 40gr Hollow Points with it and it eats them like a monster. My wife is sensitive to recoil and she love this pistol. Good review as always.
i just put some 50 grain down range the other day. nice softer recoil. the 30grain hornady vmax thats advertised for 2200 ft per sec. packs a wallop. the recoil from the 30 grain will definetely let you know its there. so for the lighter the grain the more power coming from them. you will like the 50 grain. i dont give two craps what anyone says that 22 magnum 50 grain is nothing to be messing with. this pistol is super accurate and has an amazing trigger. when it comes down to it i prefer quickness and accuracy. I am no stranger to guns. i am a new firearm owner and no expert. i go to the range almost every weekend. i could put, almost an entire magazine into someones shoulders at 30 feet, center mass without even breaking a sweat at 40 feet. Unless you are an expert and know what you are doing. anything bigger than 357 your gonna need some serious practice to get used to the recoil. and i use also use a compensated slide on my 365xl
I must say, I have always written off these firearms, however, as i have started backpacking and hiking, i realize the value in a lightweight, high capacity pistol. when you cant carry a rifle( or at least its not practical to), maximizing what you can get out of pistol becomes more critical. and this checks alot of boxes. decent power, high capacity, and light weight.
@@SirNomad yeah totally, I agree, cool concept, but not quite there for self defense for large predators. something like a 10mm semi auto is probably better.
I've had mine for almost 2 years now had the Mcarbo up grade kit installed and it works flawlessly. The first time I took it to the range everyone there stopped to ask what I was shooting because of the fire ball and the noise, it's a real tack driver.
@@bajamike3803 No, the nylon-plastic is very tough.. a magazine re-design would be welcome as some have trouble with them. I load mine to 16 rounds only and they always run fine.
I have had a PMR-30 for a couple of years, had some issues at first and sent it back to Kel-Tec since it came back it has been flawless and I love it, with the new Federal ammo it hits like a brick and appears to be a good carry option! Especiallly for an older gentleman like myslf, love the 30 round capacity especiallly when I can carry an additional two magazines! 90 rounds!!!!!😃😁😁
I can see the headlines now. "Dangerous man who attacked armed robber had almost 100rounds of ammo!" "Not fair to criminals" That's pretty slick. I have always had respect for .22 mag, because I shot probably a million rounds of .22 lr as a kid. We didn't even hunt squirrels with the WMR because it would blow them to pieces. 22mag isn't to be slept on. I carry a 9mm with what I consider to be a lot of capacity. I would definitely feel adequately armed with a reliable 30 round .22 mag.
@@SWLDguitar1 I carry one regularly definitely too big for just a t-shirt but hides well under a loose button down + t shirt, very light, so I barely notice it
My mother has shot her whole life, but she is 72 years old now, i bought this for her bedside gun. (I ran it through it paces first). With a light and extra mag. She loves this thing and feels way comfortable with it. Her other corner gun is a youth 20 ga. Now she still has all her other guns, but she really loves this.
It's good that ur mom can take care of herself,with all of these fker's breaking into people's homes! Does she practice grabbing it quickly? ( if she was forced to in the middle of the night) ,so it becomes a natural thing to do!!
@@-strick996 You are correct. At 83 my mother still drives to work 4 days a week, get home and mow her lawn. The thought of cutting the grass make me damn tired lol
I think its hit or miss with the quality control. But i believe whole heartedly if they built them better (like walther does sturdier body and ergos) with metal mags theyd have a great product. Because the pmr wasnt so dependable i didnt invest in a cmr I m going to get her the ruger 5.7 carbine next.
I love my PMR30 I had 2 malfunctions in the first 100 rds so I got the MCARBO kit ($165) it's been flawless since. I now have around 2,000 rds through it now.
I will say that the FIRST GEN was where 90% of these “ documented issues “ happened the 2nd Gen is flawless for us guys that know and understand the right ammo is everything to this gun. I’ve have currently shot over 1000rnds in mine and it’s still factory internals looking to upgrade eventually with the Mcarbo internals.
Is not the "The first 22 magnum semi-automatic pistol". In 1988 I bought the AMT AutoMag II Stainless with 6 in. barrel that held 9 rounds. Made from 1987 to 1999. It's accuracy totally surprised me and so did the fact that with every trigger pull you never knew how many rounds it would fire. Usually, it would fire one but sometimes 3, 5, or more and on rare occasion it would empty all 9 rounds in what seemed like a half second. Totally fun but unpredictable so I traded it back to my dealer who sent it back to AMT. There are a couple reviews on RUclips. Liked your review!
I have owned one for about 2 years and I do carry it in an Alien Gear IWB. This is due to a severely damaged right hip. I was carrying a Ruger P90 that I still love, but the weight is an issue. No problems ever with the PMR30. I alternate rounds in the mag. Self defense HP and CCI Gamepoint. Love this one.
Kel-tic also manufactures the p17 a 22 rimfire automatic that holds 15 rounds it's extremely accurate and reliable for under $250 you should do a video on it to thanks schooch for the video
I have been super impressed with the P17 also. When I first got mine it would have hang up every now and then. About 300 round of stingers and it works like a champ. It comes with 3 - 16 round mags (they are cheap pick up spares).
I have this exact model, same color. Love mine! 30 rounds in a light, carry pistol is awesome. Love that the mags are useable with the CMR30. I highly suggest getting the speedloader for it though. Not only does it make it a lot quicker and easier, it also seats the rounds in the rounds in the mag properly whereas hand loading can lead to issues if not done correctly. Great gun.
Great Video! I love mine! There was another semiauto 22 Magnum before the PMR 30, it was the AMT Automag II & they also made an AMT 30 Carbine Semiauto Pistol
@@arthurbrumagem3844 I’ve held a few of all 3 AMT calibers just couldn’t pull the trigger on them. For the same reasons. Difficult to find parts if they broke.
@@jefferyjackson6935 a shame because the concept of the guns were good but the company kept changing names and owners if I remember correctly. ( been quite a few yrs ago for me).
I’ve had one for several years. It absolutely would not shoot more than two shots in a row without the MCarbo mods. Even with the mods, I still had trouble and sent it to MCarbo to look at. They said that 1 in 5 of their mod kits didn’t work and mine was the 1 that didn’t. Now it works quite well, with one caveat. Don’t dry fire it. The firing pin will break. I’ve had several pins break. (My son was dry firing it). I took it to keltec and the tech told me they set aside cream of the crop pins for their repairs…I guess they’re not all created equal. Now it shoots like a champ. It’s a lot of fun to shoot. I wouldn’t dream of planning to use it for self defense, however, as I’ve had too many issues with it to trust it. Keltec’s customer service is great.
I've had mine about 4 years already. I replaced parts with MCarbo upgrades right away and its been flawless. Take your time and load the mags correctly and you will have no problems.
I really like my PMR-30. Mine will feed hollow points just fine if I don't fill the magazine up or put FMJ the last five or so rounds. Even though my tastes are traditional, preferring revolvers and classic semi-auto designs, I was actually intrigued by the weird look of the PMR-30. Now I want the carbine version!
You might get a speed loader made by American Speed Loaders. I understand they are recommended by Kel Tec for the PMR & CMR30s. I’ve seen reviews and people showing how to use them and they seem great. I looked them up on line and they seemed reasonably priced.
Love this gun. Had an issue, customer service was incredible and within two weeks resolved and on the range. Great trigger and fun to night shoot with a huge fireball!
@@robertcainjr.7627 Nice. Hoping mine will be fixable without the barrel replaced since I SBRed it and am paying to have the barrel chopped and threaded.
Against intuition I put a handall grip sleeve on the pistol and was amazed at how good the grip felt and shoots. I have moderately large hands and you wouldn't think the PMR30 would need it, but it was amazing. Best backpack gun ever.
Thanks Don , for a great view , I like that you did the jell box test , it really shows the difference between 22lr. And 22mag. Huge difference . The mags load like the M4 mags. DBL stack , there's nothing else like this ! Awesome,
Ran 600 rounds @ the range with mine using 5 different ammo types with 4 total ftf type errors. LOVE THIS FIREARM. Just picked up a used cmr30 but haven't been to the range yet but wouldn't be surprised if it ran as good. I have installed grip tape @ mcarbo mag release to both.
Public warning ..........if I can't shouv 22s in fast as you can and go to the river for a day as you of fun pics on it I ain't sending nothing th a t didn't come out of the factory correctly made back into that sorry factory
ATTENTION: If you are purchasing a new PMR-30 and want to narrow down its manufacturing date, Look at the date on the sheet of brown oil paper that is wrapped over the slide in the box. It has a date on it. Hope this helps.
Another great thing about Ken-Tec is they offer a nice discount for military members. I bought a PMR-30 a few years ago for $310 through their HALO program. Definitely recommend that for any veterans like myself who want to pick one up and save some money.
My only regret, selling my CMR-30. Such a great combo. Going to have to buy it again. PMR30 still stock and never had an issue. Maybe cause I load the mags right.
I think the first generations of the CMR and PMR had issues with the barrel/chamber geometry as well as magazine issues. I think around 2017 or so they started to be much better.
@@stevenlong4120 It means that rimfire cartridges in a triple stacked magazine are not loaded the same as rimless cartridges in multi-stack mags, nor the same as rimfires in a single stack. Most people are not used to that Load em like the manual says and there is no issue No one is holding their breath like it's a game of chance
A good use for this gun is for suppressing fire. No one wants to stick their head out if you keep shooting 30 consistent rounds for a lot longer than normal at the same spot to keep their head down. Gives you and your companions time to move to cover.
@@patrickrodriguez320not really because, a person can place all 30 from a .22 in a small 1" grouping, with no recoil. Try that with a 45. Will not happen.
Probably THE BEST SHTF gun to carry. Small enough to kill small game but big enough to take down the 2 and 4 legged kind. 50 rounds in your pocket compared to anything bigger than .223.
I love this gun!! One of my favorites that I own. I've got all the Mcarbo upgrades on it, and she runs great! Thank you for doing a review of this pistol!!!
@@mikes8915 it absolutely does. With the MCarbo feed ramp, spring, and magazine catch, and when using their mag loader, I get full mag dumps with no jams. For me it's a perfect camping, hiking, canoeing, Appalachian trail type gun. I can carry three mags and the gun with 90rnds of ammo at under two pounds.
Great review. I've owned one for over 2 years and is my every day carry 50% of the time. I'm not saying it's perfect for every situation but more than adequate for most of mine.
Have over 1500 rds thur mine. If you like the pmr you'll love the cmr 30. Great match set. I do recommend the Kel tech speed loader best 15$ you'll spend.
I love mine, I have shot over a thousand rounds easily without any issues... from Hornaday, CCI, Federal, and Aguila not one issue.... from 30-50 grain not one issue.. If you haven't shot one you need to feel the trigger and feel how well it fits in the hand with a low bore axis.. I have many other guns but this is by far one of if not my favorites hand guns.... anyone who has shot it has only loved it... great video thanks for sharing and pushing the norms of gun channels usual opinions!!!!
I love mine. It's a fun gun to shoot. Lesson I learned: Like any gun it does have a break in period. I kept it mag load to 15 rounds the first couple hundred. The buffer is a pain in the backside to stay in place when reassembling it. A small dab of white grease to front side of the buffer will hold in place while reassembling. Yes, doesn't like anything under a 40 grain. CCI seem to work the best.
I've had my PMR for about 12 years. I need to at a minimum get the Mcarbo feed ramps, also have the CMR. At first the PMR ran great, then a ton of FTF in the first 10 rounds of the mag. The CMR runs much better. I used to have folks come over & ask what kind of 9 mm I was shooting, I would show them the .22 Mag, usually impressed by the fireball.
Love my PMR, Ive dropped alot with the 22 mag that I would only discuss in person. I also bought the ruger 5.7×28, it's a hot one. There was other companies that made 22mag, one was an AMT clear back in the 80s , fine quality gun. There was another polymer but I can't remember, my buddy had one it was junk.
I have one & honestly love it. It's definitely a different looking pistol but it's truly a good gun. Due to its extremely low weight & high capacity, it's a great option for hiking, kayaking, riding ATV etc. .22 Mag is not the best self defense round but I believe there's several worse options. There's not many pistols out there that would give you an available 61 rounds from 2 mags. Even with the small caliber, That is a major advantage.
In a self defense or especially home defense situation I really can't see it performing any worse than 9mm, or really any other pistol caliber. I agree having that many shots to take before having to reload is such a big advantage that it easily justifies the smaller caliber. May not be the prettiest girl at the ball, but she'll do you good. Especially if they can remedy any reliability issues there may be.
If I had dexterity issues such as arthritis or maybe missing a digit or tennis elbow, I would very seriously consider this gun for HD and concealed carry. You can get a lot done with 30 rounds of .22 WMR.
Great review! I own a PMR30 and a Walther WMP. The PMR30 has a better trigger, crazy to me how good it is for an inexpensive gun. Mine has been pretty reliable, especially with 45 gr Hornady Critical Defense, it likes heavier bullets. Loading the 30 rd magizines is....tedious, I pretty much never load them to 30. The accuracy is very good. The WMP will shoot a wider range of ammo without malfunctions, I have 30 gr TNT varmit loads I picked up cheap (under $10/box) and it functions flawlessly. Only 15 rd mags, but super easy to load the mags with the pull down tabs on the sides. Also very accurate, but heavier than the PMR, plus the WMP is truely optics ready. I like them both, I don't use either as a self defense gun (not that I wouldn't), and for a range gun I'll pick the WMP just because how easy and quick the mags reload.
I love my PMR 30! I have used multiple brands, types and ages of ammo without issues. I ordered a speed loader that makes such a difference in loading the mags, it is so worth it. I use and recommend a Maglula PMR30 & CMR30 speed loader, it the best!
ATM 22 magnum auto mag made in the late 80s now go for over a grand and not nearly reliable as this gun. My wife uses it as her EDC because it is light and easy to use.
I am also a big fan of WMRF , & I think you have just bumped me off of the fence on this model , which I have been eyeballing for the longest time !!! I have a P32 in all black for my front pocket , but have been wanting more & from Kel-Tec !!! THNX for the really informative video !!!
I loaded up the magazines and leave them loaded. These magazines benefit greatly from being cleaned after a range day too. I highly recommend the MCARBO upgrades; all of them. All that said; it's a range toy. I would not carry a Keltec as a primary defensive weapon. I own three Keltecs and they are fun. Definitely worth owning. But they are not reliable enough for defensive carry in my opinion. Your mileage may vary.
The PMR-30 22Mag is my go-to sidearm for patrolling the farm in my side by side carrying 30 rounds of fury from hell. It's loud as balls, finicky to load, but so much fun to shoot.
I have a PMR 30, it is fun. It's very ammo picky and the magazines don't last long. If the mags were better quality it would be more reliable and be a much better buy.
My Brother In Law has an early model and it was a hot mess, didn't matter what ammo or how carefully we loaded it. Then, for Christmas this year, I bought the $80 kit from M*Carbo and now it runs like a Scalded Dog! Trigger was always great. I must admit, when I was installing the Kit for it, it was VERY disconcerting 'unscrewing' the frame. Lol, he bought the Walther before I installed the kit and now, he's sorry he paid for the Walther before we upgraded. PMR-30, so much fun! Everyone should have one!
That was a great review! I love the way you went into great detail and depth on its tear down, accuracy, weight, etc. I’ve been looking for a 22mag pistol and from your review, I think I might have found one to consider. Great job!
Agree. Mine has safety levers on both sides. The PMR-30 in Sootch's video looks to me like it had lever on the right side, but the screw holding it came out.
When I went to Army Basic training, the M-16 was still a controversy. Guys that had fathers that used the M-1 or M-14 had concerns about the puny .223 round. The senior instructor demonstrated the fact, that the size of the bullet means nothing. It is all about where you put the bullet that counts. He pointed out the greater accuracy because of less recoil, the ability to carry more ammo, because it is lighter, etc. This gun can not only drop a person with criminal intent, it will provide suppressive fire, when they try to reload their 9, 10, .45 etc. I am going to buy one.
AMT made a semi-auto pistol and 22 mag in the 1980s. Very nice pistol. But it was expensive. Another problem with the 22 mag is that the length of the cartridge made a Long forward to the back grip frame. It was easier to mold plastic small enough to make the grip frame small enough to function. I do remember when these firearms first came out, you almost had to load 25 rounds in it for the first few cycles of the magazine before you could eventually get 30 rounds in it and you have to make sure that the rounds are seated to the back of the magazine as you load them so you load a few and you smack it to make sure all the rounds are shifted to the back. Other than that I've heard that once they get settled in they are quite nice. The 22 mag carbine they make is pretty nice as well. It actually gets more the velocity out of it.
I've had one for years as long as you shoot CCI I've never had a jam. I've also carried it in a iwb holster. It's so light weight that it Caries great despite the size
I agree, but there are several reasons I don't actually carry mine. The biggest is probably because my draw to first shot on target time is far slower than with my Glock due to the safety. Then there's the potential for rimlock if you don't carefully load the magazine. Mine is also somewhat finicky about ammo and VERY finicky about proper maintenance. It's reliable enough IF I keep it clean and lubricated - IF... My Glocks and PSA daggers on the other hand, have all been utterly reliable with any and all ammo types, despite infrequent cleaning and lubrication. Don't get me wrong, I can't help but love the dang thing, but there are far better carry options than the PMR30 imo.
The first .22 magnum semi-automatic pistol was made in 1987 my AMT, it was called the Automag and was followed by the Automag II, they were made until 1999 and it was an all steel pistol.
Gotta love these kel tec space age designs. Looks like something that should shoot lasers. I owned one and my only gripes with it were that the back sights fell out and sometimes this gun would spit hot powder or metal back at the shooter. Thing definitely makes a fireball. Other than that, once the guns break in after a couple hundred rounds they worked flawlessly in my experience. 22wmr has some power behind it, and with 30 of them in a small light package, you could do worse.
Listen man this is better than nothing some some people but for others it also makes a good varmint pistol. Youll want high capacity survival pistol. You might never even need it to stop your own starvation in usa but in usa if you find a squirrel that needs put out of its misery you gotta do what you gotta do bro
@@TheAnnoyingBoss Won't argue there. Hi capacity 9 is what I'm gonna go with most days. But honestly if I'm some kind of survival situation, I'd be happy just to have any gun that has ammo and works.
Well I watched the review and I'm impressed. Matter fact I want to buy one. Good video very informative. I love the way you show us how to break it down.... Fantastic!
I have 2 of them and they are so much fun to shoot. They also are very accurate! However, you must use the 3 types of ammo they suggest in the manual! I had a problem with one of them and sent it back. Customer service was great. With over 4500 rounds through each of them, I suggest 3 things: 1- Get a Kel- tec speed loader! 2- Only load 25 rounds in your mags. 3- After 1500 rounds start using heavier grain ammo. I would Never use this gun for self defense because of reliability issues! So why buy it? They are so stinkin Fun! In my Opinion- get the P-17 in 22lr. no issues yet.
I have shot over a thousand rounds in my kel tec and it is the best. The trigger is awesome and if you have a maglua speed loader the mag is easy to load and it all but eliminates failure to function.
@@trashclanofficial But the M Carbo upgrades. Metal loading ramp, different recoil spring. I've heard the loading ramp makes a big difference by itself, but have not used any of these parts. So, I should say, so I'm told.
Love my PMR-30 and CMR-30. FYI I had a .22 Auto Mag in the mid 1980's (.22 mag version of the Automag), that was a jam-a-matic. Kel-Tec did this right.
Sold mine, affectionately nicknamed "Jam Master J." Hope the newer ones are better. Would love to have another. They are a lot of fun when functioning properly.
Thank you so much for your input. I have several rifles in 22 mag but have wanted a pistol in that caliber. This, I think, will fill the bill. Thank you for posting this!
I really like mine. Ive had about 300 rounds through it, with one fail to eject. Be mindful of the heel mag release. I've had the mag pop out unintentionally a couple of times, when it gets inadvertently bumped on something.
Thanks for a great review and takedown info. Looks like a great trail/woods gun, kayaking, etc. Lots of coyote problems in our area, attacking pets and such, and while blood trailing wounded deer with tracking dogs. Lots of firepower in a very light package with the PMR-30, I might have to get one!
Kel-Tec have stated that a 40 grain .22 WMR round should reach a velocity of 1230 fps from the 4.3″ barrel of their PMR-30 pistol. This works out to 134.40 ft/lbs of energy. This is a significantly less than the FN Five-seveN USG (4.75″ barrel), which can push a 40 grain bullet at 2009 fps. This works out to 358.57 ft/lbs! Nearly three times as powerful as the .22 WMR! This does not mean that the .22 WMR is not a good cartridge. It simply means that the 5.7mm is optimized to be fired from a pistol, rather than the slower burning .22 WMR loads which are designed to be fired from a rifle.
I remember that one, I owned a grendel p-12 380 that held 12 rounds, it worked but only ran polymer tipped self defense ammo. One of the guns I regret selling
Arcadia Machine and Tool (AMP) and latter Galenia both made delayed gas 22 Magnums in the later 80’s to 2000’s. All made of Stainless steel. They also made them in 30 cal Carbine and 45 AMT.
Using MCarbo upgrades really, really makes the pistol more reliable. If you get the Stainless feed ramp, improved spring and tighter tolerance magazine release, you’ll be able to mag dump with 90% of 22WMR ammo. It usually only likes a few brands, CCI being the most reliable one.
That gun, has been on My wish-list, for over 10 years. But I’m quite shure, it’s not possible to get the permit You’ll need, to buy it in Norway.😔 Anyway: Thank You for the video, sir. Informative, and entertaining, as usual. Thumbs up!😀👍
Get a loader and use CCi 40 grain. Oil the poo out of the receiver (some even lightly oil the bullet casings before loading). After I got a loader, ZERO misfires. I would count on in as my EDC.
Nobody ever points out that the serialized action can be separated (kinda like a sig 320, just a bit more complex to disassemble) from the frame. In theory...someone can make different frames offering different cosmetic/ ergo options...better tolerances. I think most reliability issues is a result of the magazines not sitting high enough. After I replaced my mag release lever, the new one holds the magazines snug against the frame (a touch higher than before) and all my feeding issues went away.
AMT Automag was .22 WMR (or maybe the Automag II). Also Grendel made a .22 WMR semi auto which I believe was also 30 shot. I think it was the same basic gun but redone with more modern materials and manufacturing process etc. Great video. I've been itching to buy one of these for a while now.
I also came here to point out that the AMT did this many years ago... with mediocre success however, but they did their semi auto 22 Magnum I know as far back as the late 80's. Never owned one, or even shot one that I can remember.
had an automagI the 80s only remembered Winchester ammo holes drilled in chamberto hold mag in longer for cycling, many snow shoe hairs with it ear muffs a must
I owned the AMT Automag II .22 Magnum back in the 80's, and I loved it. Mine was the 4" barreled version. It was quite reliable as long as you used the correct ammunition. It was very finicky about what brand ammo it liked, but when you found the right stuff, it was a tack driver. Mine liked CCI Maxi-Mag ammo. Extremely loud, with big fireballs out the front....great fun to shoot. I have considered the Kel Tec PMR_30 for many years now, but I have had mixed reliability issues with Kel Tec firearms. I bought the P11 in .40 S&W, and the P-3AT in .380 cal, and those two shot very reliably although the triggers on them are quite heavy and rough. I also bought their P-F9 single stack 9mm pistol, which I had nothing but trouble with. It would fire one round, and stop firing. I had to disassemble the gun and smooth out some trigger components which rubbed together, and shoot it intermittently until it would finally fire a full magazine. I had to mess with this thing for days to get it to finally shoot reliably.
@@britskihambone8158 KT has had some real QC issues. Not sure if they've gotten them figured out or not. My PF-9 and Sub2K have both been flawless, but I understand that not all of them are.
Kel-tec is highly underrated, and while people really criticize them for poor QC and wonky designs, I have to give them credit for basically pioneering 22 magnum semi auto firearms, and now big names are chasing their coat tails. Same with folding 9mm PCCs. I love them for at least innovating and making other companies to try to make something other than the same polymer striker fired 9mm compact or AR.
I've owned two of them I upgraded the first one with a few parts the second one I upgraded it even further macarbo offers all upgrade components for some of the issues that it had, I upgraded the trigger, ambidextrous safety slide lock, Springs and buffer, tighter clip release, slide release pin , also stainless steel loading ramp with all the buffing tools ,they are great guns I went with the red straight trigger they're affordable to shoot and very reliable, around 230 for all upgrades did it all myself
The heel mag release can be problematic if you're wearing an OWB holster and you sit in a vehicle. It is easy to bump that release as you sit, leaving the mag out of engagement. Always, always check for a solid mag seat when you exit the vehicle.
Dang man you always provide a thorough review. I own one that's the second addition. You know about the misfires. I agree with the 40 gr. Cci. But bottom line with any semi auto that you want to rapid fire is no different than a machine gun. Is oil it till it quits dripping and do it again. That's how I survived with the M 60. All my semi auto fire arms are oiled or lubed till they stop dripping and don't let me ever see WD40 around my machinery.
I have watched numerous videos posted on u-tube about the PMR30 since I’ve considered purchasing one. When it first came out it seemed to have problems but as time has passed they seem to have been resolved. I have also noticed second reviews by individuals who gave it a bad review the first time giving it a good to excellent review the second time. Most of them were honest and said they didn’t read the owner’s manual and were using the wrong ammo and loading the magazines incorrectly. They stated if you use 40 or more grain ammo and load the magazines as instructed the pistol works flawlessly. I guess it those minor quirks are just too much for you to handle don’t buy a PMR30. I have also watched numerous reviews on the CMR30 and to this point not seen one malfunction at all. Everyone reviewing it has given it a great review. Since they both run off almost the identical platform, I think the PMR30 has proven its self. One other point. Most of the gun dealers I’ve asked say they both sell almost the minute they get them in. Someone out there must like them.
I have had one for over two years, I've not had any malfunctions with at all. I use CCI 40gr Hollow Points with it and it eats them like a monster. My wife is sensitive to recoil and she love this pistol. Good review as always.
if it was a hundred dollars cheaper
I could see how this would be a good nightstand piece for single women, but this is punching out some serious over-penetration issues.
What makes me question the reliability is user error 😂 I've managed to rim-lock the CMR 30 once or twice.
i just put some 50 grain down range the other day. nice softer recoil. the 30grain hornady vmax thats advertised for 2200 ft per sec. packs a wallop. the recoil from the 30 grain will definetely let you know its there. so for the lighter the grain the more power coming from them. you will like the 50 grain. i dont give two craps what anyone says that 22 magnum 50 grain is nothing to be messing with. this pistol is super accurate and has an amazing trigger. when it comes down to it i prefer quickness and accuracy. I am no stranger to guns. i am a new firearm owner and no expert. i go to the range almost every weekend. i could put, almost an entire magazine into someones shoulders at 30 feet, center mass without even breaking a sweat at 40 feet. Unless you are an expert and know what you are doing. anything bigger than 357 your gonna need some serious practice to get used to the recoil. and i use also use a compensated slide on my 365xl
@@goodday126 I agree or perhaps for elderly people who may have issue with recoil or those who have difficulty cocking bigger caliber guns.
I must say, I have always written off these firearms, however, as i have started backpacking and hiking, i realize the value in a lightweight, high capacity pistol. when you cant carry a rifle( or at least its not practical to), maximizing what you can get out of pistol becomes more critical. and this checks alot of boxes. decent power, high capacity, and light weight.
Only thing to remember is that the .22 WMR doesn't really have the power to deal with a large, aggressive, predator like a mtn. lion or bear.
@@SirNomad yeah totally, I agree, cool concept, but not quite there for self defense for large predators. something like a 10mm semi auto is probably better.
i lug around a mosin nagant cause im an idiot and sold em all accept the old bessy 91/30
I've had mine for almost 2 years now had the Mcarbo up grade kit installed and it works flawlessly. The first time I took it to the range everyone there stopped to ask what I was shooting because of the fire ball and the noise, it's a real tack driver.
Same here with the MCarbo kit! It's the best!
I've had the same response at the range. I'm still shooting that loud fireball and people are looking!!
Do mags have steel lips?
@@bajamike3803 No, the nylon-plastic is very tough.. a magazine re-design would be welcome as some have trouble with them. I load mine to 16 rounds only and they always run fine.
Dont lie guys you know it does not function flawlessly
One of the most fun pistols to come along in the last 20 years.
I think you're right. Looks like a lots of fun and I would really like to have one.
I have had a PMR-30 for a couple of years, had some issues at first and sent it back to Kel-Tec since it came back it has been flawless and I love it, with the new Federal ammo it hits like a brick and appears to be a good carry option!
Especiallly for an older gentleman like myslf, love the 30 round capacity especiallly when I can carry an additional two magazines! 90 rounds!!!!!😃😁😁
I can see the headlines now. "Dangerous man who attacked armed robber had almost 100rounds of ammo!" "Not fair to criminals"
That's pretty slick. I have always had respect for .22 mag, because I shot probably a million rounds of .22 lr as a kid. We didn't even hunt squirrels with the WMR because it would blow them to pieces.
22mag isn't to be slept on. I carry a 9mm with what I consider to be a lot of capacity.
I would definitely feel adequately armed with a reliable 30 round .22 mag.
Is it too big to carry? Or is it about the size of a g19?
@@SWLDguitar1 I carry one regularly definitely too big for just a t-shirt but hides well under a loose button down + t shirt, very light, so I barely notice it
Trigger is phenomenal. Every shooter I’ve let shoot it are surprised by the break! Fireball is amazing!m
What did you tell them u you were sending it back for.when I talked to them they told me they have no flaws and they do not work on them ???
My mother has shot her whole life, but she is 72 years old now, i bought this for her bedside gun. (I ran it through it paces first). With a light and extra mag. She loves this thing and feels way comfortable with it. Her other corner gun is a youth 20 ga. Now she still has all her other guns, but she really loves this.
It's good that ur mom can take care of herself,with all of these fker's breaking into people's homes!
Does she practice grabbing it quickly? ( if she was forced to in the middle of the night) ,so it becomes a natural thing to do!!
Smart man. I got my mom Burglar bars for her house lol she does not shoot.
@@tonyrebel63 hey it's all about keeping them safe. I think it makes us feel better than it does them... Lol
@@-strick996 You are correct. At 83 my mother still drives to work 4 days a week, get home and mow her lawn. The thought of cutting the grass make me damn tired lol
I love mine!!! I actually had the CMR-30 first, both upgraded with stainless steel feed ramps so underrated I will never get rid them.
Did you have ftf's before stainless feed ramp? I understand the plastic feed ramps could break. Thanks!
I think its hit or miss with the quality control.
But i believe whole heartedly if they built them better (like walther does sturdier body and ergos) with metal mags theyd have a great product.
Because the pmr wasnt so dependable i didnt invest in a cmr
I m going to get her the ruger 5.7 carbine next.
@@melissasmess2773 no problems I just wanted to upgrade it for longer term use lol
How did you find the upgrade, my jammed evert 5or 6 round. GC🇺🇸🤠
@@Mastertec_stop lying to people
I love my PMR30 I had 2 malfunctions in the first 100 rds so I got the MCARBO kit ($165) it's been flawless since. I now have around 2,000 rds through it now.
I will say that the FIRST GEN was where 90% of these “ documented issues “ happened the 2nd Gen is flawless for us guys that know and understand the right ammo is everything to this gun. I’ve have currently shot over 1000rnds in mine and it’s still factory internals looking to upgrade eventually with the Mcarbo internals.
How do you know if its 1gen or 2gen? and what bullets would you recommend?
30rds is a lot of fire power.and it’s light as a feather and deadly accurate . Nice piece
I run a PMR 30 with 40gr ammo and it's been super reliable. Read your manuals folks and you'll have a pretty badass lil .22
Thanks for your review. I've had my Kel-Tec PMR-30 for several months now. It's great having a light weight, high capacity 22 Magnum pistol.
Is not the "The first 22 magnum semi-automatic pistol". In 1988 I bought the AMT AutoMag II Stainless with 6 in. barrel that held 9 rounds. Made from 1987 to 1999. It's accuracy totally surprised me and so did the fact that with every trigger pull you never knew how many rounds it would fire. Usually, it would fire one but sometimes 3, 5, or more and on rare occasion it would empty all 9 rounds in what seemed like a half second. Totally fun but unpredictable so I traded it back to my dealer who sent it back to AMT. There are a couple reviews on RUclips. Liked your review!
I own 2 of these pistols and love them! Over the top is an understatement! KelTec is an extremely innovative gun manufacturer!
what colors did you get lol
I have owned one for about 2 years and I do carry it in an Alien Gear IWB. This is due to a severely damaged right hip. I was carrying a Ruger P90 that I still love, but the weight is an issue. No problems ever with the PMR30. I alternate rounds in the mag. Self defense HP and CCI Gamepoint. Love this one.
Great Review !!! , My PMR 30 is 5 years old and runs flawlessly on Hornady 30 gr. which have a velocity of 2200 fps.
Kel-tic also manufactures the p17 a 22 rimfire automatic that holds 15 rounds it's extremely accurate and reliable for under $250 you should do a video on it to thanks schooch for the video
Thanks for watchin Sammy!
I think overall as an owner of both… I’d take the P17 hands down.
I have been super impressed with the P17 also. When I first got mine it would have hang up every now and then. About 300 round of stingers and it works like a champ. It comes with 3 - 16 round mags (they are cheap pick up spares).
I have both as well. The P17 is awesome too. Holds 16+1 actually, hence the name P17. Crazy that it's lighter than an LCP II.
Agreed P17 is a great gun especially considering the price. So far, 0 fails and fun to shoot.
I have this exact model, same color. Love mine! 30 rounds in a light, carry pistol is awesome. Love that the mags are useable with the CMR30. I highly suggest getting the speedloader for it though. Not only does it make it a lot quicker and easier, it also seats the rounds in the rounds in the mag properly whereas hand loading can lead to issues if not done correctly. Great gun.
Side note, heat up an extra Glock magazine loader, slide your magazine in so it forms to it and now you have a cheap (free) magazine loader!
@Info on 𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗲-𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺👉 sootchOO 👈 is a scam
How would I get the speed loader. I have one of these I got back in January, I love how it shoots.
I think I got mine thru eBay. It's wonderful to use...
Great Video! I love mine! There was another semiauto 22 Magnum before the PMR 30, it was the AMT Automag II & they also made an AMT 30 Carbine Semiauto Pistol
I was looking for this comment so that I didn’t have to leave it 😂 A good friend of mine as an AMT Automag II, and it is a lot of fun to shoot
I have a PMR 30 and at one time had the AMT but it broke and couldn’t find anyone to fix it.
@@arthurbrumagem3844 I’ve held a few of all 3 AMT calibers just couldn’t pull the trigger on them. For the same reasons. Difficult to find parts if they broke.
@@jefferyjackson6935 a shame because the concept of the guns were good but the company kept changing names and owners if I remember correctly. ( been quite a few yrs ago for me).
I have both, the automag only holds 7
I’ve had one for several years. It absolutely would not shoot more than two shots in a row without the MCarbo mods. Even with the mods, I still had trouble and sent it to MCarbo to look at. They said that 1 in 5 of their mod kits didn’t work and mine was the 1 that didn’t. Now it works quite well, with one caveat. Don’t dry fire it. The firing pin will break. I’ve had several pins break. (My son was dry firing it). I took it to keltec and the tech told me they set aside cream of the crop pins for their repairs…I guess they’re not all created equal. Now it shoots like a champ. It’s a lot of fun to shoot. I wouldn’t dream of planning to use it for self defense, however, as I’ve had too many issues with it to trust it. Keltec’s customer service is great.
I've had mine about 4 years already. I replaced parts with MCarbo upgrades right away and its been flawless. Take your time and load the mags correctly and you will have no problems.
I really like my PMR-30. Mine will feed hollow points just fine if I don't fill the magazine up or put FMJ the last five or so rounds. Even though my tastes are traditional, preferring revolvers and classic semi-auto designs, I was actually intrigued by the weird look of the PMR-30. Now I want the carbine version!
You might get a speed loader made by American Speed Loaders. I understand they are recommended by Kel Tec for the PMR & CMR30s. I’ve seen reviews and people showing how to use them and they seem great. I looked them up on line and they seemed reasonably priced.
Love this gun. Had an issue, customer service was incredible and within two weeks resolved and on the range. Great trigger and fun to night shoot with a huge fireball!
I've got a CMR30 SBR I need to send in once it's back from the barrel chop. Hoping it runs better when it's done.
My slide release blew off. They sent a postage paid box, wanted the entire upper for QC, got a new upper.
@@robertcainjr.7627 Nice. Hoping mine will be fixable without the barrel replaced since I SBRed it and am paying to have the barrel chopped and threaded.
Don't do it.......Smith and Wesson offers their usual top of the line competitor
Fled IL. 25 yrs ago, never looked back, TN. now, love it!
Illinois is a communist nightmare…..🇨🇳
That one is a blast to shoot! The fireball never gets old!
Against intuition I put a handall grip sleeve on the pistol and was amazed at how good the grip felt and shoots. I have moderately large hands and you wouldn't think the PMR30 would need it, but it was amazing. Best backpack gun ever.
Thanks Don , for a great view , I like that you did the jell box test , it really shows the difference between 22lr. And 22mag. Huge difference . The mags load like the M4 mags. DBL stack , there's nothing else like this ! Awesome,
Thanks Brother!
Ran 600 rounds @ the range with mine using 5 different ammo types with 4 total ftf type errors. LOVE THIS FIREARM. Just picked up a used cmr30 but haven't been to the range yet but wouldn't be surprised if it ran as good. I have installed grip tape @ mcarbo mag release to both.
I wonder what velocity this thing is pushing
Public warning ..........if I can't shouv 22s in fast as you can and go to the river for a day as you of fun pics on it I ain't sending nothing th a t didn't come out of the factory correctly made back into that sorry factory
Great review! Top notch job as usual. I really appreciate the details in the field strip. Thanks for all the work you put into these videos.
Thanks Dyno! I appreciate the comment Brother
Bought it, shot it, and love it! Light weight. You almost forget you have it on. pretty accurate also.
ATTENTION: If you are purchasing a new PMR-30 and want to narrow down its manufacturing date, Look at the date on the sheet of brown oil paper that is wrapped over the slide in the box. It has a date on it. Hope this helps.
What's the date to look for? & on the carbine.?.On manufactured date.?.? Whats
Thanks didn't know that.
What's the date to look for?
@@mr.anonymous123 the barrel was modified a few years back if I recall correctly
@@mr.anonymous123 It narrows down the date of production of the pistol. Early ones supposedly had issues . Later ones not.
Another great thing about Ken-Tec is they offer a nice discount for military members. I bought a PMR-30 a few years ago for $310 through their HALO program. Definitely recommend that for any veterans like myself who want to pick one up and save some money.
My only regret, selling my CMR-30. Such a great combo. Going to have to buy it again. PMR30 still stock and never had an issue. Maybe cause I load the mags right.
I think the first generations of the CMR and PMR had issues with the barrel/chamber geometry as well as magazine issues. I think around 2017 or so they started to be much better.
I load the mags right and still a pos.
I love mine. I replaced the polymer feed ramp and magazine release with the Mcarbo stainless steel ramp and enhanced mag release. Runs a lot better.
If you use the proper ammo and load the magazines correctly, you have a very reliable pistol. Love mine.
What the hell is load the magazine correctly.. you really want a pistol that you have to hold your breath while you load the magazine
That's not what "very reliable" means.
@Steven Long Load 5 rounds and tap. Repeat. If you don't have one, then you don't know what I'm talking about.
Stack em right
@@stevenlong4120 It means that rimfire cartridges in a triple stacked magazine are not loaded the same as rimless cartridges in multi-stack mags, nor the same as rimfires in a single stack.
Most people are not used to that
Load em like the manual says and there is no issue
No one is holding their breath like it's a game of chance
Capacity and shot placement have always been more important than stopping power. 31 rounds is insane and .22 WMR is not at all weak.
I 100% agree with you. The pmr30 is superlight and acurrate. Because it is so light it is quick to bring up sights
Same diameter bullet as a 5.7....
Still not better than 32rds of 45 acp lol jk
A good use for this gun is for suppressing fire. No one wants to stick their head out if you keep shooting 30 consistent rounds for a lot longer than normal at the same spot to keep their head down. Gives you and your companions time to move to cover.
@@patrickrodriguez320not really because, a person can place all 30 from a .22 in a small 1" grouping, with no recoil. Try that with a 45. Will not happen.
Absolutely love mine, have the full M-Carbo upgrades in mine and a mini-red dot on it. It runs everything reliably now.
Probably THE BEST SHTF gun to carry. Small enough to kill small game but big enough to take down the 2 and 4 legged kind. 50 rounds in your pocket compared to anything bigger than .223.
I love this gun!! One of my favorites that I own. I've got all the Mcarbo upgrades on it, and she runs great! Thank you for doing a review of this pistol!!!
Where do you find the upgrades, mine needs it
Tyler does it really run great? U know it doesn't stop lying
@@mikes8915 it absolutely does. With the MCarbo feed ramp, spring, and magazine catch, and when using their mag loader, I get full mag dumps with no jams. For me it's a perfect camping, hiking, canoeing, Appalachian trail type gun. I can carry three mags and the gun with 90rnds of ammo at under two pounds.
Thanks Tyler! Mcarbo upgrades are coming!
@@TylerSmith-ce8mk So in other words rebuild the entire gun
Great review. I've owned one for over 2 years and is my every day carry 50% of the time. I'm not saying it's perfect for every situation but more than adequate for most of mine.
Have over 1500 rds thur mine. If you like the pmr you'll love the cmr 30. Great match set. I do recommend the Kel tech speed loader best 15$ you'll spend.
I love mine, I have shot over a thousand rounds easily without any issues... from Hornaday, CCI, Federal, and Aguila not one issue.... from 30-50 grain not one issue.. If you haven't shot one you need to feel the trigger and feel how well it fits in the hand with a low bore axis.. I have many other guns but this is by far one of if not my favorites hand guns.... anyone who has shot it has only loved it... great video thanks for sharing and pushing the norms of gun channels usual opinions!!!!
Rimfire guns are underrated
Edit: *Ends up starting an whole arguement in the comments*
No they are not. They are fun, you can hunt with them, but if you have to defend your life it would not be my choice.
@@graywind4326 i mean your right
Tho it still isn't as strong as a centerfire ones but atleast it's better than having nothing
I would buy these guns if they are the only option, in a bad situation every gun can save your life if you know how to handle it.
*Me realizing that each time i comment on something i get backfired*
They need to make one in 17HMR.
I love mine. It's a fun gun to shoot. Lesson I learned: Like any gun it does have a break in period. I kept it mag load to 15 rounds the first couple hundred. The buffer is a pain in the backside to stay in place when reassembling it. A small dab of white grease to front side of the buffer will hold in place while reassembling. Yes, doesn't like anything under a 40 grain. CCI seem to work the best.
I've had my PMR for about 12 years. I need to at a minimum get the Mcarbo feed ramps, also have the CMR. At first the PMR ran great, then a ton of FTF in the first 10 rounds of the mag. The CMR runs much better. I used to have folks come over & ask what kind of 9 mm I was shooting, I would show them the .22 Mag, usually impressed by the fireball.
Love my PMR, Ive dropped alot with the 22 mag that I would only discuss in person. I also bought the ruger 5.7×28, it's a hot one. There was other companies that made 22mag, one was an AMT clear back in the 80s , fine quality gun. There was another polymer but I can't remember, my buddy had one it was junk.
AMT Automag II I believe, was first of its kind.
It was sus
I have one & honestly love it. It's definitely a different looking pistol but it's truly a good gun. Due to its extremely low weight & high capacity, it's a great option for hiking, kayaking, riding ATV etc. .22 Mag is not the best self defense round but I believe there's several worse options.
There's not many pistols out there that would give you an available 61 rounds from 2 mags. Even with the small caliber, That is a major advantage.
In a self defense or especially home defense situation I really can't see it performing any worse than 9mm, or really any other pistol caliber.
I agree having that many shots to take before having to reload is such a big advantage that it easily justifies the smaller caliber.
May not be the prettiest girl at the ball, but she'll do you good. Especially if they can remedy any reliability issues there may be.
If I had dexterity issues such as arthritis or maybe missing a digit or tennis elbow, I would very seriously consider this gun for HD and concealed carry. You can get a lot done with 30 rounds of .22 WMR.
Yes really important because takes so long to do a magazine change..
@@F4Insight-uq6nt Not really. It's not as fast as on a more conventional handgun, but with a little training, it's pretty easy.
Great review! I own a PMR30 and a Walther WMP. The PMR30 has a better trigger, crazy to me how good it is for an inexpensive gun. Mine has been pretty reliable, especially with 45 gr Hornady Critical Defense, it likes heavier bullets. Loading the 30 rd magizines is....tedious, I pretty much never load them to 30. The accuracy is very good. The WMP will shoot a wider range of ammo without malfunctions, I have 30 gr TNT varmit loads I picked up cheap (under $10/box) and it functions flawlessly. Only 15 rd mags, but super easy to load the mags with the pull down tabs on the sides. Also very accurate, but heavier than the PMR, plus the WMP is truely optics ready. I like them both, I don't use either as a self defense gun (not that I wouldn't), and for a range gun I'll pick the WMP just because how easy and quick the mags reload.
I love my PMR 30! I have used multiple brands, types and ages of ammo without issues. I ordered a speed loader that makes such a difference in loading the mags, it is so worth it. I use and recommend a Maglula PMR30 & CMR30 speed loader, it the best!
pretty nice gun, i think the most fun part is the muzzle flash pattern you can very easily see when firing
I just purchased one about 2 weeks ago and I've loved it ever since.
ATM 22 magnum auto mag made in the late 80s now go for over a grand and not nearly reliable as this gun. My wife uses it as her EDC because it is light and easy to use.
Yup I said same. I have owned three of them in two different sizes.
I was thinking of this one also . They were the first i believe to make the 22 mag in an auto handgun .
Dang, I just posted the same... Should have scouted the replies first
@@jurban7998 NO WORRIES LIKE
MINDS BROTHER!! 💪🏼🤟🏽👍🏼😝🥰
@@SJ-ty5rw There was also another but I dont believe before AMT but before PMR 100% The PMR was a loose copy.
I am also a big fan of WMRF , & I think you have just bumped me off of the fence on this model , which I have been eyeballing for the longest time !!! I have a P32 in all black for my front pocket , but have been wanting more & from Kel-Tec !!! THNX for the really informative video !!!
I loaded up the magazines and leave them loaded.
These magazines benefit greatly from being cleaned after a range day too.
I highly recommend the MCARBO upgrades; all of them.
All that said; it's a range toy.
I would not carry a Keltec as a primary defensive weapon.
I own three Keltecs and they are fun.
Definitely worth owning.
But they are not reliable enough for defensive carry in my opinion.
Your mileage may vary.
Well said, that is my experience as well and I 100% agree. Stay Safe .. Happy Shooting ya'll.
The PMR-30 22Mag is my go-to sidearm for patrolling the farm in my side by side carrying 30 rounds of fury from hell. It's loud as balls, finicky to load, but so much fun to shoot.
I have a PMR 30, it is fun. It's very ammo picky and the magazines don't last long. If the mags were better quality it would be more reliable and be a much better buy.
Mine has done fantastic. I only shoot 40 grain and can't think of an issue I had. The sucker is accurate too.
I have the CMR 30 and i love it! The maglula loader for it is a must have though!
YES, that loader is a god-send. I'm considering buying another one as backup just in case they stop making them!
Didn’t realize there was a loader for it. Guess that is on my list now
My Brother In Law has an early model and it was a hot mess, didn't matter what ammo or how carefully we loaded it. Then, for Christmas this year, I bought the $80 kit from M*Carbo and now it runs like a Scalded Dog! Trigger was always great. I must admit, when I was installing the Kit for it, it was VERY disconcerting 'unscrewing' the frame. Lol, he bought the Walther before I installed the kit and now, he's sorry he paid for the Walther before we upgraded.
PMR-30, so much fun! Everyone should have one!
Love mine, I carry it in my get home bag with 200 extra rounds.
That was a great review! I love the way you went into great detail and depth on its tear down, accuracy, weight, etc. I’ve been looking for a 22mag pistol and from your review, I think I might have found one to consider. Great job!
A new Kel-Tec PMR -30 pistol comes from the manufacturer with the safety latch on both sides making it ambidextrous.
Agree. Mine has safety levers on both sides. The PMR-30 in Sootch's video looks to me like it had lever on the right side, but the screw holding it came out.
@gort4016 yep the the right side selector definitely fall off and it was never mentioned.
When I went to Army Basic training, the M-16 was still a controversy. Guys that had fathers that used the M-1 or M-14 had concerns about the puny .223 round. The senior instructor demonstrated the fact, that the size of the bullet means nothing. It is all about where you put the bullet that counts. He pointed out the greater accuracy because of less recoil, the ability to carry more ammo, because it is lighter, etc. This gun can not only drop a person with criminal intent, it will provide suppressive fire, when they try to reload their 9, 10, .45 etc. I am going to buy one.
You forget that the .22 has no ballistics trace on the bullet at all. Gets the job done and can not be traced.
Also, this bullet travels at 2,400 fps. The only other bullet that can beat it is the 50 cal, at 2800 - 3000 fps.
Sorry for late reply. Thanks for that Info. I will be getting one asap. No dealers within an hour of where I live. @@jeffsharp6652
AMT made a semi-auto pistol and 22 mag in the 1980s. Very nice pistol. But it was expensive. Another problem with the 22 mag is that the length of the cartridge made a Long forward to the back grip frame. It was easier to mold plastic small enough to make the grip frame small enough to function.
I do remember when these firearms first came out, you almost had to load 25 rounds in it for the first few cycles of the magazine before you could eventually get 30 rounds in it and you have to make sure that the rounds are seated to the back of the magazine as you load them so you load a few and you smack it to make sure all the rounds are shifted to the back. Other than that I've heard that once they get settled in they are quite nice. The 22 mag carbine they make is pretty nice as well. It actually gets more the velocity out of it.
I believe the cartridge length is to blame more than anything to the overall reliability. That’s a long straight case… very easy to hang up.
I'm still hoping for a TX22 magnum from Taurus 🙏
The best review for this pistol I've seen so far. Makes me want one.
I've had one for years as long as you shoot CCI I've never had a jam. I've also carried it in a iwb holster. It's so light weight that it Caries great despite the size
I agree, but there are several reasons I don't actually carry mine.
The biggest is probably because my draw to first shot on target time is far slower than with my Glock due to the safety.
Then there's the potential for rimlock if you don't carefully load the magazine.
Mine is also somewhat finicky about ammo and VERY finicky about proper maintenance. It's reliable enough IF I keep it clean and lubricated - IF...
My Glocks and PSA daggers on the other hand, have all been utterly reliable with any and all ammo types, despite infrequent cleaning and lubrication.
Don't get me wrong, I can't help but love the dang thing, but there are far better carry options than the PMR30 imo.
The first .22 magnum semi-automatic pistol was made in 1987 my AMT, it was called the Automag and was followed by the Automag II, they were made until 1999 and it was an all steel pistol.
Gotta love these kel tec space age designs. Looks like something that should shoot lasers. I owned one and my only gripes with it were that the back sights fell out and sometimes this gun would spit hot powder or metal back at the shooter. Thing definitely makes a fireball. Other than that, once the guns break in after a couple hundred rounds they worked flawlessly in my experience. 22wmr has some power behind it, and with 30 of them in a small light package, you could do worse.
Listen man this is better than nothing some some people but for others it also makes a good varmint pistol. Youll want high capacity survival pistol. You might never even need it to stop your own starvation in usa but in usa if you find a squirrel that needs put out of its misery you gotta do what you gotta do bro
They should start using space age material with the space age designs
@@TheAnnoyingBoss Won't argue there. Hi capacity 9 is what I'm gonna go with most days. But honestly if I'm some kind of survival situation, I'd be happy just to have any gun that has ammo and works.
why doesnt anyone mention that piece of noworking grendle thirty shot no feeding 22mag of yesterday
Well I watched the review and I'm impressed. Matter fact I want to buy one. Good video very informative. I love the way you show us how to break it down.... Fantastic!
I have 2 of them and they are so much fun to shoot. They also are very accurate! However, you must use the 3 types of ammo they suggest in the manual! I had a problem with one of them and sent it back. Customer service was great. With over 4500 rounds through each of them, I suggest 3 things: 1- Get a Kel- tec speed loader! 2- Only load 25 rounds in your mags. 3- After 1500 rounds start using heavier grain ammo. I would Never use this gun for self defense because of reliability issues! So why buy it? They are so stinkin Fun! In my Opinion- get the P-17 in 22lr. no issues yet.
I have shot over a thousand rounds in my kel tec and it is the best. The trigger is awesome and if you have a maglua speed loader the mag is easy to load and it all but eliminates failure to function.
I have one, love it. Not the most reliable out of the box, can be fixed. Tons of fun to shoot.
How do you fix the reliability issues?
@@trashclanofficial But the M Carbo upgrades. Metal loading ramp, different recoil spring. I've heard the loading ramp makes a big difference by itself, but have not used any of these parts. So, I should say, so I'm told.
Have one, love it. Light, Accurate, next to no recoil. What's not to love!
I have both the Kel-Tec PMR 30, and CMR 30, and I really like them both. Both work very well.
Love my PMR-30 and CMR-30. FYI I had a .22 Auto Mag in the mid 1980's (.22 mag version of the Automag), that was a jam-a-matic. Kel-Tec did this right.
Sold mine, affectionately nicknamed "Jam Master J." Hope the newer ones are better. Would love to have another. They are a lot of fun when functioning properly.
Thank you so much for your input. I have several rifles in 22 mag but have wanted a pistol in that caliber. This, I think, will fill the bill. Thank you for posting this!
I really like mine. Ive had about 300 rounds through it, with one fail to eject. Be mindful of the heel mag release. I've had the mag pop out unintentionally a couple of times, when it gets inadvertently bumped on something.
My only complaint , the mag , if it bumps,. You have 1 rnd , that's life or death
Thanks for a great review and takedown info. Looks like a great trail/woods gun, kayaking, etc. Lots of coyote problems in our area, attacking pets and such, and while blood trailing wounded deer with tracking dogs. Lots of firepower in a very light package with the PMR-30, I might have to get one!
Kel-Tec have stated that a 40 grain .22 WMR round should reach a velocity of 1230 fps from the 4.3″ barrel of their PMR-30 pistol. This works out to 134.40 ft/lbs of energy.
This is a significantly less than the FN Five-seveN USG (4.75″ barrel), which can push a 40 grain bullet at 2009 fps. This works out to 358.57 ft/lbs! Nearly three times as powerful as the .22 WMR!
This does not mean that the .22 WMR is not a good cartridge. It simply means that the 5.7mm is optimized to be fired from a pistol, rather than the slower burning .22 WMR loads which are designed to be fired from a rifle.
The Grendel P30 actually predates the PMR30 because guess what? George Kellgren designed that one, too before KelTec was created!
I remember that one, I owned a grendel p-12 380 that held 12 rounds, it worked but only ran polymer tipped self defense ammo. One of the guns I regret selling
And it's one of the ugliest guns I ever put my eyes on 😂
Ughh that was not a good looking pistol much prefer that PMR30☝️
@@rickmaldoo4205 I have one in my safe. Friend sold to me for basically lunch money. It is indeed hideous.
Arcadia Machine and Tool (AMP) and latter Galenia both made delayed gas 22 Magnums in the later 80’s to 2000’s. All made of Stainless steel. They also made them in 30 cal Carbine and 45 AMT.
AMT II is a .22 mag. I have a PMR-30 and CMR-30. The Hornady Critical Defense 45 gr hp works flawlessly.
Using MCarbo upgrades really, really makes the pistol more reliable. If you get the Stainless feed ramp, improved spring and tighter tolerance magazine release, you’ll be able to mag dump with 90% of 22WMR ammo. It usually only likes a few brands, CCI being the most reliable one.
You need to look up the Auto Mag 2. Really sweet and old 22 magnum pistol
That gun, has been on My wish-list, for over 10 years. But I’m quite shure, it’s not possible to get the permit You’ll need, to buy it in Norway.😔
Anyway: Thank You for the video, sir. Informative, and entertaining, as usual. Thumbs up!😀👍
Get a loader and use CCi 40 grain. Oil the poo out of the receiver (some even lightly oil the bullet casings before loading). After I got a loader, ZERO misfires. I would count on in as my EDC.
Nobody ever points out that the serialized action can be separated (kinda like a sig 320, just a bit more complex to disassemble) from the frame. In theory...someone can make different frames offering different cosmetic/ ergo options...better tolerances.
I think most reliability issues is a result of the magazines not sitting high enough. After I replaced my mag release lever, the new one holds the magazines snug against the frame (a touch higher than before) and all my feeding issues went away.
I had the pistol and the matching rifle and the 22cal version, no miss fires in 3 years and a ton of rounds.
AMT Automag was .22 WMR (or maybe the Automag II). Also Grendel made a .22 WMR semi auto which I believe was also 30 shot. I think it was the same basic gun but redone with more modern materials and manufacturing process etc. Great video. I've been itching to buy one of these for a while now.
I also came here to point out that the AMT did this many years ago... with mediocre success however, but they did their semi auto 22 Magnum I know as far back as the late 80's. Never owned one, or even shot one that I can remember.
had an automagI the 80s only remembered Winchester ammo holes drilled in chamberto hold mag in longer for cycling, many snow shoe hairs with it ear muffs a must
Great memory, I had forgot about the Grendal
I owned the AMT Automag II .22 Magnum back in the 80's, and I loved it. Mine was the 4" barreled version. It was quite reliable as long as you used the correct ammunition. It was very finicky about what brand ammo it liked, but when you found the right stuff, it was a tack driver. Mine liked CCI Maxi-Mag ammo. Extremely loud, with big fireballs out the front....great fun to shoot.
I have considered the Kel Tec PMR_30 for many years now, but I have had mixed reliability issues with Kel Tec firearms. I bought the P11 in .40 S&W, and the P-3AT in .380 cal, and those two shot very reliably although the triggers on them are quite heavy and rough. I also bought their P-F9 single stack 9mm pistol, which I had nothing but trouble with. It would fire one round, and stop firing. I had to disassemble the gun and smooth out some trigger components which rubbed together, and shoot it intermittently until it would finally fire a full magazine. I had to mess with this thing for days to get it to finally shoot reliably.
@@britskihambone8158 KT has had some real QC issues. Not sure if they've gotten them figured out or not. My PF-9 and Sub2K have both been flawless, but I understand that not all of them are.
Kel-tec is highly underrated, and while people really criticize them for poor QC and wonky designs, I have to give them credit for basically pioneering 22 magnum semi auto firearms, and now big names are chasing their coat tails. Same with folding 9mm PCCs. I love them for at least innovating and making other companies to try to make something other than the same polymer striker fired 9mm compact or AR.
Great shooting Don that’s the way mine shoots very good review I love mine 30 rounds wow what’s not to like and I like the 40 grain bullets
I have the same pistol and I have never had a problem with it! It's a great pistol and it's alot of fun to shoot!
Wow! It's an active day today 2 shorts and 1 video
Keeps me out of trouble! lol!
I've owned two of them I upgraded the first one with a few parts the second one I upgraded it even further macarbo offers all upgrade components for some of the issues that it had, I upgraded the trigger, ambidextrous safety slide lock, Springs and buffer, tighter clip release, slide release pin , also stainless steel loading ramp with all the buffing tools ,they are great guns I went with the red straight trigger they're affordable to shoot and very reliable, around 230 for all upgrades did it all myself
The heel mag release can be problematic if you're wearing an OWB holster and you sit in a vehicle. It is easy to bump that release as you sit, leaving the mag out of engagement. Always, always check for a solid mag seat when you exit the vehicle.
After market stuff available for the problem
Dang man you always provide a thorough review. I own one that's the second addition. You know about the misfires. I agree with the 40 gr. Cci. But bottom line with any semi auto that you want to rapid fire is no different than a machine gun. Is oil it till it quits dripping and do it again. That's how I survived with the M 60. All my semi auto fire arms are oiled or lubed till they stop dripping and don't let me ever see WD40 around my machinery.
WD40 is for amateurs.
It’s 2025 and I’m here to review the S&W M&P .22Mag 30
I don't get it
@@rimothytooltarski4459 Smith has been copying Keltec lately. The latest being the folding carbine. So keltec ideas with s&w quality
@@rimothytooltarski4459 that's because you're still living in 2023...😏
😂😂😂😂😂😂
People hate on keltec, but they are leaders
I have watched numerous videos posted on u-tube about the PMR30 since I’ve considered purchasing one. When it first came out it seemed to have problems but as time has passed they seem to have been resolved. I have also noticed second reviews by individuals who gave it a bad review the first time giving it a good to excellent review the second time. Most of them were honest and said they didn’t read the owner’s manual and were using the wrong ammo and loading the magazines incorrectly. They stated if you use 40 or more grain ammo and load the magazines as instructed the pistol works flawlessly. I guess it those minor quirks are just too much for you to handle don’t buy a PMR30. I have also watched numerous reviews on the CMR30 and to this point not seen one malfunction at all. Everyone reviewing it has given it a great review. Since they both run off almost the identical platform, I think the PMR30 has proven its self. One other point. Most of the gun dealers I’ve asked say they both sell almost the minute they get them in. Someone out there must like them.