The Kel-Tec PLR-16 is a gas-operated, semi-automatic pistol version of the
SU-16, chambered in
5.56 NATO, manufactured by
Kel-Tec
Kel-Tec CNC Industries Inc., commonly referred to as Kel-Tec, is an American developer and manufacturer of firearms. Founded by George Kellgren in 1991 and based in Cocoa, Florida, the company has manufactured firearms since 1995, starting with ...
Industries of
Florida
Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
.
The PLR (''Pistol, Long Range'') was designed for recreational target shooting, and
small game
Game or quarry is any wild animal hunted for animal products (primarily meat), for recreation (" sporting"), or for trophies. The species of animals hunted as game varies in different parts of the world and by different local jurisdictions, thou ...
,
varmint
Vermin (colloquially varmint(s) or varmit(s)) are pests or nuisance animals that spread diseases or destroy crops or livestock. Since the term is defined in relation to human activities, which species are included vary by region and enterpri ...
, or predator hunting.
[
] Due to the PLR's barrel, the 5.56×45mm bullet's velocity is slightly reduced compared to its velocity from a traditionally barrel.
The PLR-16 combines the multi-lug
rotating bolt
Rotating bolt is a method of locking the breech (or rear barrel) of a firearm closed for firing. Johann Nicolaus von Dreyse developed the first rotating bolt firearm, the "Dreyse needle gun", in 1836. The Dreyse locked using the bolt handle r ...
design and breech-locking system of the
AR-15
An AR-15-style rifle is any lightweight semi-automatic rifle based on the Colt AR-15 design. The original ArmaLite AR-15 is a scaled-down derivative of Eugene Stoner's ArmaLite AR-10 design. The then Fairchild Engine and Airplane Corporation d ...
with a gas piston system.
The pistol accepts the same
STANAG magazine that is used in the M-16, AR-15, and other NATO rifles chambered for 5.56×45mm.
[Friedman, Ed. "Kel-Tec PLR-16 Pistol: It’s not an AR, but it can take AR magazines. What is this…this thing?" ''American Rifleman''. 2011]
The PLR-16's frame is constructed of reinforced polymer, making the pistol both durable and light-weight. The frame incorporates an
M-1913-style
Picatinny rail
The Picatinny rail ( or ), or Pic rail for short, also known as a MIL-STD-1913 rail, 1913 rail or STANAG 2324 rail (cancelled), is a military standard rail interface system that provides a mounting platform for firearm accessories. It was o ...
molded to the top of the receiver to accept various
optical sight
A sight is an aiming device used to assist in visually aligning ranged weapons, surveying instruments or optical illumination equipments with the intended target. Sights can be a simple set or system of physical markers that have to be aligne ...
s.
See also
*
Carbon 15
The Carbon 15 is a family of lightweight, magazine-fed pistols, carbines, and rifles developed by defunct United States weapons manufacturer Professional Ordnance, with the design later picked up by Bushmaster Firearms.
Overview
The Carbon 15 l ...
References
External links
Kel-Tec PLR-16Kel-Tec's Owner's Group & Online ForumReview of the Kel-Tec PLR-16 from ''American Rifleman''
{{Use dmy dates, date=June 2017
5.56 mm firearms
Semi-automatic pistols