Semiauto surprise: the Kel-Tec PLR-16 .223 is a dandy hunting gun and doubles as a "Walter Mitty" fun gun

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One of the great things about working for this mag is the fact assignments are always given on an "if I care to do so" basis. That means an awful lot to me and also makes me want to go the extra mile in doing assignments I may find far removed from the great appeal of covering traditional sixguns. The Kel-Tec PLR-16 certainly falls into the nontraditional category.

We just as well get preliminaries out of the road at the onset. When it comes to form the Kel-Tec PLR-16 wins no prizes for beauty. Its aesthetic appeal on a scale from 1 to 10 is a 0. It can't be holstered in Tom Threepersons leather, even if I wanted to grip it with ivory it couldn't be done as the grip itself is an integral part of a larger module, and with its black polymer frame about the only way to engrave it would be with a wood-burner. Now one might gather from all of this I have no use for this latest Kel-Tec; nothing could be farther from fact. The form may not be appealing, however this nontraditional pistol functions perfectly and performs superbly. Once I fired it and saw what it was capable of, I was hooked.

So just what is this Kel-Tec PLR-16? One might guess correctly from the "16" this is a semiauto pistol patterned after the M16/AR-15. Kel-Tec describes it thusly: "The PLR- 16 is a gas operated, semi-automatic pistol chambered in 5.56mm NATO caliber. It was designed and is intended as a long-range target and hunting pistol. The PLR-16 utilizes the proven M-16 breech locking system. The front sight is a M-16 sight. An integrated Picatinny rail will accept a multitude of standard accessories. The muzzle end of the barrel is threaded 1/2"-28 to except standard attachments."

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There is also a companion Sport Utility Rifle, the SU-16C, with many of the same features as well as being available with a folding stock and high-capacity magazine (see February 2005 issue). The magazine on the PLR-16 holds 10 rounds of .223 ammunition and, as with the Broomhandle Mauser of the 1890s, the magazine is in the front of the triggerguard rather than in the grip frame. The barrel length of the pistol version is slightly over 9" and the unloaded weight is right at 50 ounces. Although it is as the same weight of a traditional .44 Magnum revolver, it does not have the magnificent balance of the former. The integral grip frame is of the type found on many of the current crop of polymer-framed, double-action semi-automatic pistols and size, shape and angle feel as if they were tailor made for my hand.

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For a secure feeling, the grip frame has molded in lines and raised squares on both sides and they play a large part in keeping felt recoil to a minimum. The pushbutton safety is above and to the rear of the trigger and easily manipulated with the trigger finger. The magazine release is in front of the triggerguard and also easily manipulated and releases the magazine when pushed in by the trigger finger or the index finger on the opposite hand. The accuracy of this pistol demands a solid rest, however in a pinch, the left-hand wrapped around the bottom of the magazine will serve.

Iron Sights

The rear sight is mounted on the Picatinny rail and is adjusted with a provided tool with a Philips screwdriver tip. When set at the farthest rearward slot in the Picatinny rail, approximately 1/8 of a turn moves the point of impact 1" at 100 yards. The rear sight actually slides in the rail and, to adjust it, one screw is loosened while the other side is tightened. The front sight is adjustable for elevation by depressing the detent pin and turning the sight post by hand. One click or 1/4 of a turn moves the point of impact approximately 2" at 100 yards. As with the Thompson/Center Contender, I see absolutely no reason for iron sights on a pistol such as this one. The accuracy is such it quickly far outdistances the iron sights and the rear sight is easily removed to allow a scope to be mounted on the Picatinny rail.

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Many of my hard-kicking .44 and .454 revolvers as well as several single-shot pistols wear 2X or 4X Leupold scopes, which have always given me most excellent service and excellent optics. The same holds true for many of the Leupold scopes mounted on several rifles. So when it came time to scope the Kel-Tec PLR-16, Leupold was a natural choice. I find either 2X or 4X magnification totally adequate for big game hunting, however, varminting benefits from greater magnification and a call to Leupold resulted in just what I needed for shooting this .223 at long-range.

The scope is a Leupold VX-III variable with settings at 2.5-8X and for my use on small critters I see no reason to do anything but leave it set on 8X. The reticle on the Leupold VX-III is a Duplex with crosshairs consisting of four bold lines coming into very fine lines in the center. Optics are such I can see .223" holes on paper at 100 yards. Eye relief is from 12" to 27" when set at the lowest power, however this shrinks to 14" to 17" at the 8X setting so proper placing of the scope in the rings is critical. Click values are 1/2" at 100 yards, length is just under 10" and 11 ounces is added to the total weight of the PLR-16 with this scope in place.