Editor’s Choice: Kel-Tec P17

KEL-TEC’s P17 is a gun that jumps out because of its price ($199), but there’s much more that makes the P17 worth highlighting this year.

The .22 Long Rifle, by itself, isn’t anything to shout about, but given that many manufacturers have returned to the rimfire market recently, it’s worth noting. Additionally, the pistol’s easy-to-rack slide and compact dimensions are also marks of trends in the gun world. The industry continues to expand its concealed-carry offerings and make carry-size guns more accessible and manageable for the less-than-strong-handed among us.

The P17, so-called due to its internal capacity (16+1), features a fixed barrel, easily racked slide, bilateral thumb safeties and magazine releases, last-round bolt hold-open, fiber-optic front sight, adjustable rear sight, 1/2x28 TPI threaded muzzle and an accessory rail on the frame.

In one of 2020's "NRA Gun of the Week" videos, American Rifleman staffers got their hands on a production sample of the P17 to run it through its paces in this video. Getting a rimfire semi-automatic to run reliably is one of the hardest challenges for any firearm manufacturer, particularly in a budget-priced pistol like the P17. On the range, the P17 ran reliably, with only one malfunction experienced across multiple shooters while shooting bulk ammunition.

While the P17 may not be ideal for self-defense, its versatility and MSRP make it hard to pass up—especially for plinking at the range. For more details on the new P17, visit keltecweapons.com.