New Kel-Tec PLR-22 and
SU-22 combine utility with economy
by J. B. Wood
Contributing Editor
In the “tactical” category, some of us do not own an AR-15. My own choice for that possible application is a Kel-Tec SU-16. Without “changing uppers,” it already has a piston-type gas system. And, it’s smaller and handier. Downstairs, on top of the bookcase, there’s the handgun version, the Kel-Tec FIR-16. Both of these work fine with standard 30-round AR-15 magazines.
Still, for casual plinking, the .223 round is way too powerful, and increasingly scarce and more expensive. Well, there’s good news: Kel-Tec has now made both guns in .22 Long Rifle chambering, the PLR-22 and SU-22. In looks and operation, they are the same as the centerfires. Quite different inside, of course!
The main components are still glass-reinforced Zytel, and the working parts are high-quality steel and alloy. For those who are acquainted with the centerfire guns, the controls are in familiar locations. The safety and magazine release are easily accessed by the trigger finger. The bolt handle is on the right side, and it is nicely knurled for a good grip.
The magazine catch has a very positive engagement, and it needs to be slightly depressed when a magazine is inserted. I should stress that just as with their centerfire counterparts, any standard AR-15 .22 conversion magazine will function in the PLR-22 and SU-22. The Kel-Tec magazine holds 26 rounds. When the last shot is fired, the orange follower holds the bolt open as an “empty” signal.
Located just above the rear of the trigger guard, the manual safety is pushed to the left for off-safe, showing a red ring on the left side. The sear system is similar to the AR-15, so it’s possible to move the bolt back to contact the hammer, pull the trigger, and ease the hammer down to fired position. For storage after cleaning, this is a good move. Don’t snap a rimfire on an empty chamber.
On both the PLR-22 and the SU-22, the receiver top has a MIL-STD-1913 rail, and a horizontally adjustable rear sight is supplied. The ear-protected front sight can be adjusted vertically. The rear sight on the handgun is a square notch. On the SU-22, it’s an aperture-type, and for me, that’s a problem.
I could have just used the PLR-22 rear sight on both guns, but I remembered that I wanted to try a modestly-priced red dot sight from ADCO (4 Draper St., Dept. GWK, Woburn, MA 01801; phone: 800-775-3687; online: www.adcosales.com). They call it the “Combat Tactical,” and it’s priced at just under $200. The lenses have flip-open covers, and the red dot has 11 intensity levels. The unit sighted-in easily, and worked perfectly, just like the ones that cost twice as much.
The carbine and the handgun both work best with high-velocity Long Rifle cartridges. I tried them with several brands, but most of the shooting was done with Winchester. The distance was 25 yards, and I used a “casual rest,” an MTM Shooting Stick. All of the groups were well-centered, and the best from the PLR-22 was 2.3 inches. The SU-22 carbine was surprising—a tiny one-inch group, in dead center! For a gun designated “Sport-Utility,” outstanding!
For those who want the technical data, the SU-22 weighs 4 pounds, is 34 inches long, and has a 16.1-inch barrel. The PLR-22 is 18.5 inches long, with a 10.1-inch barrel. It weighs 45 ounces. Suggested retail prices are $440 for the SU-22, and $390 for the PLR-22. For any other questions, here’s the contact information: Kel-Tec CNC Inc., PO Box 236009, Dept. GWK, Cocoa, FL 32926; phone: 800-515-9983; online: kel-tec-cnc.com.
A few final notes: On both guns, the end of the barrel is threaded ˚x28, with a knurled cover, for attachment of a flash hider or suppressor where legal. For the PLR-22, a good accessory offered is a fore-grip with a lower rail. I used it to mount an M3 light from Insight Tech-Gear (23 Industrial Dr., Dept. GWK, Londonderry, NH 03053; phone: 877-744-4802; online: insighttechgear.com).
If the fox gets in the henhouse, he’s a goner.
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