How reliable are these? The idea of having a 30 shot pistol in the night stand intrigues me. Yes, I know it is only a .22 Mag, but the 30 shots..........If the flash and thunder of the PMR is anything like most .22 Mag pistols, it ought to scare an intruder to death. Just a thought.

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

I had one for a while and the only reason I moved it is because it was part of a trade for my RM. Awesome gun, super fun and mine was perfectly reliable. I only used the recommended ammo. It was accurate out to 100 the couple time I shot at steel out that far.

I love the fun innovation that Keltec brings to the market and have several of them, but I feel like it's a 50/50 shot whether or not you get a good one or a lemon. I shot a friends PMR and it was so much fun and totally reliable, so I picked one up. Mine has not been reliable at all. I haven't shot it a ton yet, maybe 100-150 rounds, but I haven't made it through more than a dozen rounds without a jam of some kind yet. I'm trying to experiment with some different ammo, I'm gonna give it a chance to break in and run because it's so much fun.
I also picked up a CMR while waiting for my PMR to come in, since they take the same mags I thought why not?? The CMR has been 100% reliable and a lot more accurate than the pistol through its first few hundred rounds.

They seem to be reliable with certain ammo, but not at all with others. I shot a friends just a few weeks ago and we couldn't get through four or five rounds without a jam. He said it was super reliable with ammo it like though. I don't think I'd want something that picky.

Using the proper ammo is important with a lot of semi-auto's .
You gotta feed it what it likes...that's not hard .
Gary

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Certified Cajun
NRA Member

A friend of mine has owned and sold several of them. Says they are really fun. His have been fine but they are ammo sensitive. He can not keep them in stock and tries to pick up every one he can find.

Sadly, the PMR-30 is one of those firearms that either works or it doesn't, ergo you're bound to receive a mixture of feedback on the subject from folks who got a lemon saying it was unreliable junk and folks who got a working one saying how reliable it is.

Your best bet would be to buy one from an indoor range, that way you can test it out on the spot to confirm whether or not it is reliable.

As for the subject of being used for self-defense, be prepared to receive a lot of strong opposition on the subject, as most folks are unlikely to recommend the use of rimfire cartridges of moderate muzzle energy, especially out of a pistol. (Out of a rifle .22WMR will give you similar energy to a .38 Special +P, but out a pistol you're looking at energy somewhere between .32 ACP and .380 ACP.)

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Shooting Comfort is bilateral.

My PMR is in the group of "good ones" if there is such a thing. It is the 2nd generation PMR which from my understanding, was a barrel improvement to have better reliability. The mags are generally the source of woe with these as most of them are very tight from the factory and require a sort of break in. I generally only load 25 rounds and not 30 to prevent the thin rimfire casing from being dented. Loading mags also require a little attention to detail as well as a couple taps every few rounds to make sure the rounds are seated.

It likes CCI choot 'em, really any CCI 22 WMR actually. (TNT, JHP, FMJ) I've also ran Winchester JHP as well as Critical Defense and Speer Gold Dots, no issues unless I was careless loading the mags. I've mounted a TLR and carry it mostly when I'm out hunting quail in the desert or when I'm not carrying my CHP 4006TSW with TLR around the house/yard. 25 rounds of Speer GD isn't the most ideal for home defense but it beats loud words. I do see it as more of a range toy since its so much fun to shoot and rimfire is not ideal for serious work, so take that for what its worth. I bought mine for $280 so I figured if it had reliability problems it wouldn't be a big deal. My vote is, get one!!! Obligatory pic below.

SVT28



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Mine rides on my hip in a Bianchi paddle holster anytime I working in the yard or mowing. It's about 4-5 years old and runs great. My shotshells have to be manually ejected, but is usually only the first round or two during snake season.

Ugly, but a keeper!

Love mine - totally reliable and FUN!


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Buy the Makershot speedloader to help insure proper loading of the magazine. Mine has been 100% reliable and fun to shoot.

The magazines were developed with a fully automatic version...somewhere there is video. It's pretty cool.

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This≠DodgeCity&You≠BillHickok

If there are "generations" of PMR 30s, mine is an early one from about 2009 and my wife's was purchased in 2018.

As others have noted, reliability in both is a function of using the ammo recommended by KelTec and reasonable care taken when loading the magazines.

I carry mine when I'm already wearing ear protection for mowing, tractor work, etc. because it is loud and I have significant hearing loss.

It is instant DRT on ground squirrels and the occasional feral cat.

My 30 is ultra reliable with Hornady, CCI, and Speer. While the manual says 40 gr or heavier bullets, I've had no functional problems with 30 gr. I think the groups are tighter with heavier bullets though.