Kel Tec P17 Review!

Published on July 18, 2020
Duration: 36:32

The Kel-Tec P17 is a budget-friendly .22LR pistol ideal for youth shooters due to its lightweight design and easy-to-manipulate slide. While offering high capacity (16 rounds) and good value, early units and first-generation magazines exhibited reliability issues, particularly with certain ammunition types. Later magazine generations significantly improve performance, making it a more viable option.

Quick Summary

The Kel-Tec P17 is a budget-friendly .22LR pistol ideal for youth and beginners, featuring a lightweight design and easy slide manipulation. While early models had reliability issues, second-generation magazines significantly improve performance, making it a high-value option.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Shooting Performance Montage
  2. 11:53Introduction & Value Proposition
  3. 12:54Comparison: Kel-Tec P17 vs Glock 44/43X
  4. 14:29Reliability Issues & Ammo Sensitivity
  5. 16:53Suppression & Blowback Analysis
  6. 19:42Takedown and Maintenance Guide
  7. 21:09Magazine Generations & Reliability Fix
  8. 23:45Final Assessment: Pros & Cons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Kel-Tec P17 good for beginners or youth shooters?

Yes, the Kel-Tec P17 is highly recommended for beginners and youth shooters due to its lightweight design, easy-to-manipulate slide, and manageable recoil, making it an ideal first semi-automatic pistol.

What are the main reliability issues with the Kel-Tec P17?

Early P17 units and first-generation magazines can experience reliability problems, such as stovepipes with certain ammunition (like Winchester M22) and potential wear on the slide stop mechanism.

How do the second-generation P17 magazines improve reliability?

Second-generation magazines use a die-cut spring instead of a coil spring, significantly enhancing reliability, particularly when firing hotter, high-velocity .22LR ammunition like CCI Mini-Mags.

Can the Kel-Tec P17 be suppressed effectively?

The P17 has a threaded barrel and can be suppressed, but using supersonic ammunition may cause significant gas blowback to the shooter's face due to the slide opening too early under pressure.

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