Kel-Tec CMR-30 Carbine Review - Affordable PDW for the Masses?

Compact, lightweight guns like the Kel-Tec CMR-30 Carbine in .22 Magnum holds a special place in my heart. They're just so damn handy. The combination of the CMR-30's centrally balanced design, lightweight construction, and extremely light-felt recoil just feels right.
But guns are more than just subjective measurements of ergonomics or feelings they invoke. So let's take a closer look at the CMR-30 and find out if it lives up to the hype.
Kel-Tec CMR-30 .22 Magnum Carbine
The Kel-Tec CMR30 Carbine is deceptively different from the Kel-Tec PMR-30. While it does share the same magazine, it actually operates via direct blowback instead of a locked-breech. This is presumably because the added weight of the longer barrel would make it impossible for the low recoil .22 Magnum round to cycle properly. Especially since the muzzle of the CMR-30 is threaded to 1/2x28 for muzzle devices including sound suppressors.
The CMR-30 ships with a 1/2x28 threaded barrel ideal for sound suppressors. IMG Jim Grant
Thankfully, the engineers at Kel-Tec are no fools, and they arrived at the simplest solution possible: direct blowback.
And you know what? It works. The CMR-30 runs fantastically with nearly all ammo tested - just stay clear of longer polymer-tipped rounds. Everything else had the carbine running like a sewing machine.
And just like the PMR-30 it shares magazines with, the CMR-30 takes full advantage of the .22 Magnum's lightweight and low recoil. The CMR is built from the same lightweight polymer with steel reinforcements and additional aluminum components. But there's more to this gun than just its method of operation.
Read More at www.ammoland.com/2022/06/kel-tec-cmr-30-22-magnum-carbine/
#ammoland #ammolandnews #jimgrant #keltec #gunreviews

[@2greeksandacamera]

Agreed, it’s a great gun. KelTec stands behind it whether we’re the first owner or not. And yes also on 22 magnum, the most underrated csliber out there.

[@atoperator1776]

I've owned this little carbine hammer for 3yrs now and put close to 2000 rounds through it never failed me yet and it's my go to .for camping hiking and LARPing this truly is KEL TEKs best design

[@stephenszabo2361]

How's the reliability?

[@tkthrowback2345]

100% my home defense gun. Every test I could find on .22WMR revealed it to be deadly out to max accurate range at 400 yards. It has almost no recoil which means many more rounds on target. Also over penetration and collateral damage will be a greatly reduced risk. I just bought my first house and my first thought was “my 12 gauge would complete destroy this house” my cousin was in a home defense scenario where he killed an intruder and he used a shotgun. The damage to his home was substantial despite the fact he only fired twice. .22 wmr is completely adequate for unarmored home invaders and it can defeat 3A armor as well from what I’ve seen. No reason to overcompensate unless you don’t mind cleaning up chunks of human and fixing potentially thousands of dollars of damage to your home and hoping to god your 7.62 didn’t kill any neighbors

[@otis4349]

I’m enjoying my CMR. I bought it for cheap target practice and it holds a nice small group at 50 yards. The Keltec mag loader solved most of the FTF issues. It also helps to use spray cleaner in the chamber occasionally. Hornady 45gr seems to be the most accurate but I’m not an expert. Just a plinker on paper.

[@reginaldkonig4514]

I have both a pmr and cmr, when I go target practice nothing thrills me more than these duo's, alot of firepower into a small package and the great thing is I can carry a bunch of ammo in comparison with other bugout setups

[@thedeathwobblechannel6539]

At least somebody f***** around and found out that he likes the gun

[@todddowning1661]

I have two other Kel Tec’s and love them I have been looking at the CMR30 with hopes of getting one . Great review helps my decision greatly.

[@corbelius6]

I Love the KSG

[@ronbiter3612]

Love my new goto gun for small game/coyotes/ truck gun. Most accurate semi I've ever owned. Probably close to 500 rds. Thru it no 1 mishap

[@tazman8271]

I've had a CMR for about 5 years. Loved it so much I bought the CMR recently. Awesome

[@richarddeyarmin7317]

Wish I had one!

[@Pifferfish]

Great rifle. Mines had some warranty repairs, kel tec has been great to deal with. What reticle are you using on the PA 3x?

[@williamskora334]

I have been feeding mine exclusively the Federal 50 grain load do to it's availability at my LGS. Accuracy and reliability have been excellent.

[@theodoreheintz7891]

I don't even own a 22 mag at all of any kind, right now. So take this with a grain of salt... I am told that the m carbo steel feed ramp and mag release on the CMR 30 make meaningful improvements to feed reliability that might address the issues with the polymer tipped ammo.

[@3wheelmannc860]

Check MCarbo for upgrades to plastic Kel-Tec factory stuff... a noticeable upgrade imo.

[@nateh2652]

A massive upgrade. Keltec uses a plastic feedramp, and it's the source of a lot of issues

[@xkyox4945]

I've seen a lot of their PMR 30 stuff, are some of the mcarbo PMR 30 parts interchangeable with the CMR?

[@nateh2652]

@xKYOx yes. I did the stainless feedramp,.its interchangeable. So is the enhanced,mag release, which i just ordered. I measured, my cmr has 50 thou gap when the mag is inserted. Ill measure when the new mcarbo release is installed, and if I remember ill share the improvement here.

[@xkyox4945]

@@nateh2652 that's awesome thanks. I did the same with my PMR 30, got the full mcarbo bundle on it and I love it. It's good to know I can do the same with my CMR!

[@nateh2652]

@xKYOx says on the website the slidestop doesnt work. I dont think the frame reinforcement does either. Just the ramp, mag release, and trigger. iirc. The feedramp requires some hand filing of the chambers feed area, on the right hand side. But its super easy. Just dont forget

[@nateh2652]

You mentioned polishing the feedramp. On these guns Keltec actually used plastic so it has to be replaced. Mcarbo makes a stainless enhanced unit, it drops right in when the lower is split. It WILL require a small amount of filing on the ejection port side as the aluminum feed ramp extention sticks out into the ehanced one a little bit. Its easy to do, and not worth skipping the gun over. Mine has been reliable through the 2 boxes I have in it, not much I know. But I did the mcarbo upgrade to cut off problems before they happen. Its worth noting that the entire upper is alluminum, and the bolt assembly is steel. The only major plastic is the lower and its plenty sturdy for that.

[@AmmoLandTV]

Good to know, thanks

[@matthewmoore661]

Depending on the age of your gun and if you own or still have it, apparently there is/was an update to the heel magazine to hold the cartridges in a tad higher position. Also, a bolt catch/release upgrade. The mag release is an MCARBO thing and Kel Tec may have already added it into newer CMRs - I don’t know specifically. Learned it from KZbinr -Kurticus video.

[@kurticus]

Hey that's me!!!

[@ooxoo3980]

Interesting

[@Bobbgeane]

Nothing wrong with the factory parts.

[@kurticus]

@@Bobbgeane They have bad quality control. Yours may be good but others aren't

[@michealbates6369]

​@@BobbgeaneMy biggest concern is the plastic feed ramps....

[@matrixmerlin]

What light and fore grip are you using.??

[@user-po3xl7yk5j]

These guns had really bad ftf, fte and stove pipe problems when they came out, did that get fixed?

[@lonewolf2364]

The only.22 semi I’ve ever owned that didn’t jam is my 10/22.

[@frosty3693]

Kind of a poor man's 5.7x28. Plus if questioned, "it's just a 22rf".

[@telochvovin1771]

I like this review 🇺🇲 🇺🇲

[@jonyowell446]

What kind of suppressor is that?

[@tactikiller]

Literally says in the video

[@melissasmess2773]

I wanted one, watched a lot of reviews and learned that there are reliability problems with feeding, Mcarbo makes some products to fix this problem. Not sure if I need another project, I like the new Ruger LC Carbine, might get one, like the folding stock and 5.7 that all the poor people shooting only .22's cry about the cost😂

[@timothyhines7845]

The "feeding issue" happens 99% of the time to operator error. Rimfire cartridges by OBVIOUS design have rims and so must be loaded with the rim IN FRONT of the following round. It is a common design issue that plagues all magazine fed rimmed cartridges be they rimfire or centerfire. One merely has to pay attention while loading, because it can happen to ANY cartridge of this nature. Paying close attention to young and new shooters during the process is a must as they are easily distracted by the excitement of the range, and could in their ignorance (i.e. not knowing any better) mis-stack a round causing a jam.

[@carfvallrightsreservedwith6649]

After seeing comparison tests between the two cartridges the negligible difference in performance didn't justify the additional cost of the 5.7 ammunition. As one who is OCD about "projects"😂 I upgrade nearly all my pew-pews one way or another.

[@UnfiItered]

Would've been nice if they cut the barrel and added a brace.

[@ianfinrir8724]

Why does almost everything Kel-Tec makes looks like it came off the set of an '80s sci-fi movie?

[@dylanmcclain8668]

Lots of cocaine

[@carfvallrightsreservedwith6649]

Because they think outside the box.

[@DiegoSanchez-zh4st]

I really like this gun but I heard it gets to Jam, But at the same time I’m heard for you know put the right ammunition and Reloading the mag right not block rail it would work pretty good A has that look of machine gun and I like the rounded it takes too 22 magnum

[@J3RKBOIIWOND3R]

Anyone know the optics hes running?

[@amgeeked2416]

That’s what I’m wondering 😂

[@KevenTomlinson]

Around 4:25 mins

[@66block84]

You might know this, the feed ramps are polymer, not metal. MCarbo can solve that for you.

[@Bobbgeane]

Nothing wrong with the poly.

[@Chilicharger665]

This would be a great cheek pistol. Remove the stock and cut the barrel down to just past the handguard and re-thread it.

[@theodoreheintz7891]

Can't that would be illegal according to the unconstitutional and also illegal itself NFA. If it left the factory as a rifle it can never be a pistol it can only be either a rifle or a short barrel rifle.

[@user-wx1eo1oc1y]

I want

[@timothyhines7845]

Wow I guess no one knows how to use irons anymore.

[@Jkp1321]

Every shooter should be competent with irons but this in the year of our Lord 2022 where red dots are relatively cheap and reliable and there's no reason not to use one

[@Spruce-Bug]

Why use irons when red dots exist?

[@boomerraised8259]

@@Spruce-Bug I guess the only reason I can think of is in a shtf scenario where you can’t find batteries but what’s the odds of that.

[@ianfinrir8724]

Well, it would be helpful if they still put iron sights on rifles.

[@yoho1021]

Home defense - if a dot is zeroed everyone can use it

[@johnarnold1364]

My friend loves them but they are ugly and rough but they work.

[@grabbag6314]

The mags are difficult to load and don’t always feed well

[@AmmoLandTV]

I feel like when they're loaded just right they work flawlessly. But when the slightest thing is off, the failures cascade

[@grabbag6314]

@@AmmoLandTV perhaps there is a learning curve needed on my part however these are the most difficult mags to load i’ve ever seen

[@grabbag6314]

@@AmmoLandTV the spring is way too tight and can’t load more than 20 rds without damaging them . Took the mags apart and cleaned and lubed the follower guides which seemed to help just a little . Idk hoping they get better with use

[@AmmoLandTV]

@@grabbag6314 you're not wrong. It definitely feels extra extraordinarily difficult

[@shawnoliver3669]

This is a cool concept, but this gun is just ugly AF. It looks like some kid slapped some legos together. Pass.

[@ryanupchurch9683]

Wtf. I thought this was a new carbine in .30 carbine. Not a 22 garden gun built by a plastic useless toy gun manufacturer

[@steves2664]

useless kind of fits your comment

[@turbo75kirbo]

As soon as thiis brace mess cleaned up I'd like to see one with a flux brace fitted to the back and a shorter barrel, MP7ish

[@AmmoLandTV]

This Firearm is not affected by the pistol brace rule. It comes from the factory with a 16-inch barrel, and its overall length makes it a legitimate carbine. No brace issue here

[@SetaSayin]

This my favorite gun in battlefield 2042 😂

[@petervoyt24]

I've been trying to purchase a KelTec P17 for about 6 months. You cant find them, you can't order them. I even called KelTec. They don't answer their phone. You can't leave a message. You can't e-mail them. So apparently they don't want any business. I'm done with them.

[@theodoreheintz7891]

I call BS. Did you try using the contact form on their website?

[@petervoyt24]

@@theodoreheintz7891 call BS all you want. DID YOU try using the contact form on the website ?? All it gives is phone numbers, neither of which were answered by humans or were only an automated attendant., And I'm not the only one I know who has had this same problem with them.

[@theodoreheintz7891]

@@petervoyt24 yes I have. I've had overwhelmingly positive customer service with them.

[@petervoyt24]

@@theodoreheintz7891 good for you. How long have you worked for KelTec ?

[@theodoreheintz7891]

@@petervoyt24 never have. They don't have any operations in my AO . Based on how you're treating me I'm guessing the problem is you!