Kel-Tec PMR-30

[Honey Badger282.8]

I'm looking for opinions on the gun. My mom has been wanting to get into shooting and started to while I was still in Virginia. She took a CCW class and has only shot a .22LR pistol. This would replace her Sig P938 BRG, she can't manipulate the slide so it intimidates her.

[.40isthenew.45]

I bought one with much the same idea. Overall it is a blast (pun intended and more on that in a bit) to shoot. I have a couple of reservations about it for a "gun for mom". While the slide isn't hard to rack, it is a bit strange to grip. The traditional overhand method puts you past the slide and gripping the sides of the frame. That means you are better off pinching from the rear and it requires some (but not a huge amount) grip strength.

Loading the mags isn't all that difficult, but I would probably still be the one doing it for mom. So after she shoots the first 30, and reloads with the next mag, I would have to visit to refill the mag for her.

And finally, it is not a small pistol. Very similar in size but not weight to a full size Glock. Holster selection, especially for CCW is a bit limited.

I had the fairly well documented issue with the front sight coming loose and haven't shot it since the loctite fix, but I assume it will be fine. It functioned really well. I shot a couple of steel challenge matches with it and had no problems. Load the mags per the instructions and slingshot the slide to load the first round and all should be fine. It does have a pretty large fireball even in the daylight. (*blast reference)

I think I am going to keep the one I bought for myself and let mom keep shooting her Ruger MkII (not that she shoots much)

[Great-Kazoo]

Don't waste your time or money. For the price point, add in 15rd mags you'll be in to it more than it's worth. Not to mention 22mag per 50 rd box is and has been over priced for a decade or so. Take her to a few indoor ranges that rent guns. Buy before you cry.

[Bailey Guns]

I like the PMR 30 but it's big. And as mentioned the mags are quirky to load and holsters are limited. Mine functioned perfectly but was VERY inaccurate...it put rounds all over the place and keyholed about 30% of them. This was supposedly on a gun that was after that fix.

The grip is big and not comfortable at all...it has a weird triangle shape to it.

I'd recommend a Beretta Bobcat or similar tip-up style barrel...maybe even in .25ACP. Super easy to load (no slide rack necessary) and the ammo is easier to find and priced similarly to .22WMR. Lots of people poo-poo small calibers like that but I don't...for a lot of reasons. Plus .25ACP is a centerfire round so it's (in my opinion) more reliable than a rimfire round...and I REALLY love .22WMR.

[Honey Badger282.8]

She already likes the grip and size. She already handled it in store and she really likes the slide, she had zero issues with it. CCW holster availability isn't an issue for her becuase purse carry.

[ray1970]

I'd recommend a Beretta Bobcat or similar tip-up style barrel...maybe even in .25ACP. Super easy to load (no slide rack necessary) and the ammo is easier to find and priced similarly to .22WMR. Lots of people poo-poo small calibers like that but I don't...for a lot of reasons. Plus .25ACP is a centerfire round so it's (in my opinion) more reliable than a rimfire round...and I REALLY love .22WMR.

Very good advice. Personally, I'd look for a Beretta Tomcat. Pretty much the same as the Bobcat but chambered in 32 ACP. I'm not a big believer in the 25 ACP cartridge. I definitely agree that the ignition reliability of anything center fire has to be better than a rim fire cartridge.

[Great-Kazoo]

She already likes the grip and size. She already handled it in store and she really likes the slide, she had zero issues with it. CCW holster availability isn't an issue for her becuase purse carry.

Big mistake, unless it's the only item in it. Having owned the original 30 rd 22 mag from kelgren, the Grendel P-30. I will say good luck drawing from a purse (based on size) with other crap in there under stress. BUT, if that's what she wants, go for it.

[Honey Badger282.8]

Big mistake, unless it's the only item in it. Having owned the original 30 rd 22 mag from kelgren, the Grendel P-30. I will say good luck drawing from a purse (based on size) with other crap in there under stress. BUT, if that's what she wants, go for it.

She was looking at some of those CCW purses, they seem to do a decent job of segregating things while keeping the gun in a readily available position.

I I should add that she isn't a fan of those smaller guns. She thought she liked the Sig until she held my dads Glock 19. are there any other compact sized guns with lighter recoil springs?