Kel-Tec P17 Review - The Best 22LR Kit Gun?

In this video we will review the Kel Tec P17 Pistol in 22LR and help explain why we believe this may be not only the best 22 pistol value on the market today but may be the best 22 Kit Gun period! If you have never shot a P17, it may be worth your time to see why we have become so fond of this little pistol…

[@azmark64]

I love my p17 it's favorite ammunition is CCI Mini mag 36 grain hollow point or 40 grain round-nose and when you shoot in a lower light situation both of those rounds are flamethrowers pretty cool to see coming from a 22LR and it is super accurate super reliable about 3,000 rounds and nojaims no misfires Justin amazingly reliable pistol! Great job Kel-Tec

[@guaporeturns9472]

How’s it holding up now?

[@JamesJones-cx5pk]

CCI is the Champagne of .22 ammo.

[@thewilliam8342]

I purchased my first Kel-Tec back in 1998, a P-10. Still have it, have several thousand rounds through it, never an issue, it’s a tank !

[@stevekatz4372]

I'm so Glad that I purchased mine in the Summer of 2021 and I was so Happy with the performance, that I bought another one four months later and Now have Two Great 22LR Handguns!

[@51Dss]

Excellent review video. Just bought the P17 in OD Green for $235 plus tax. About 8 months ago a friend let me shoot his P17 and I was very impressed with its reliability, its ammo capacity, accuracy and its price point. Terrific bang for the buck literally and figuratively speaking.

[@tomgreen4027]

I have a P17 and love it.

[@Joeak74]

Me too! They run so good, at least the ones I have, that I purchased another!

[@thomashocker2792]

It's a great gun.

[@outdoorman7425]

I like the looks of the P17; I don't remember my first impression of it but now it looks pretty cool to me.

[@PostcardsfromAlaska]

KelTec hit a home run. Light weight and thin grip makes it pocketable or IWB friendly. Double stack mags and excellent reliability makes this thing a viable defense tool. I’d take this over a pocket 380 any day, as it’s way more accurate, and fast.

[@johnshottie4415]

I absolutely love the looks of the p17. This is on the short list of my next purchases.

[@SemperParatus1234]

I like it better than the TX22. Better trigger, sights and magazines. Reliability far better imho. Also try the P32.

[@randy464]

Very accurate and very reliable, my every other day carry.

[@Joeak74]

The one thing 22 LR pistol manufacturers do, that I never understood, is that they would always make a pistol 10 rounds, even if you could fit 15 or 20. We are living in good times for firearms.

[@onlinebills9169]

KelTec gives you 3 mags with 16-round capacity each. Every other manufacturer is just ghey!

[@samuelneil2691]

I'm just as bewildered as you why the market always limited 22 pistols to 10 rounds. In my opinion the Keltec P17 and Taurus TX22 had a very easy feat of taking over the market for 22lr pistols. The glock 44 for instance has the same frame size as a glock 19 with less capacity in a smaller caliber. Instant turn off.

[@johnshottie4415]

Two reasons mainly. It has been difficult to design reliable double stack mags and feeding systems for rimmed cartridges. Seems like in the last 6-7 years they have figured it out. Also 10 rd mag limits in some states.

[@Joeak74]

I laugh when I hear other people bag on the Kel-Tec's manufacturing process of using screws for holding the firearm together...yeah...just like the $2000 FN PS90, FS 2000, etc.

[@greybone777]

Yes all garbage. Expensive garbage, but garbage. But no I don't hate kel tek I'm just not comfortable with it .the pm30 definitely left a bad taste in my mouth. 😮

[@manderson7173]

Not a fan of the clam shell design or screws, but that didn’t stop me from buying one 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@samuelneil2691]

I don't see what the big deal is about it. It's 22 for Pete's sakes, it's not like it's going to blow out the mounting screws lol. It probably was an ingenious way to reduce the cost of manufacturing so low.

[@MegaBait1616]

Sheetrock Screws .... My Sub-2000 Gen.1 and Gen.2 been back for service many times, smh.. Sub-2000's have Plastic Feed Ramps Unbelievable ...

[@dragonusmc0311]

I'm going to check one out to teach new shooters and the grand kids.

[@edwinchandeck7231]

Taurus Tx22 compact is another good option

[@RoniloJrLawas]

Which would come on top?

[@edwinchandeck7231]

@@RoniloJrLawas I think Taurus, just personal opinion

[@RoniloJrLawas]

@@edwinchandeck7231 based

[@Jeremyho439]

@@RoniloJrLawas I have both. The Keltec is better.

[@onlinebills9169]

It's so simple and easy to clean, you can use a dry Qtip from the front of the barrel, then from the back, then get a clean one, drip your gun oil and do the same (front and back). You can use a Qtip as well to clean everything else.

[@johnjanoscrat8000]

Nice Review.......I agree a very super value and tons of fun to shoot. All the best! "The JJ" SW Penna.

[@trenacook7694]

Nice job. I concur, and recently picked one up. Thank you for posting.

[@ACommenterOnYouTube]

The mag design of this gun is the best of all 22LR semi autos. 14.5 oz with 17 rounds, cant be beat

[@bobsmoot2392]

Very well thought out and presented video. Thank you.

[@chrisjensen9941]

Excellent review, thank you.

[@grahamohea2424]

I generally think of the Ruger LCRx in either .22LR or .22WMR as being an ideal kit gun. Lightweight, decent sized barrel and grips, can shoot shotshells, etc.

[@GiorgosC-rp5ms]

you can get 3 of these for one of those

[@randalthor6872]

I love the LCRs but they are WAY too pricey to be relegated to kit-gun duty ; P The p17 is ideal for such a role though. Cheap and well made. Love them.

[@johnjanoscrat8000]

Have the .22 WMR LCRX in both 2 & 3 inch barrela....,luv em both. All the best. "The JJ" SW Penna.

[@R3AP3R848]

I've had 12k through mine. It has it quirks and malfunctions but over all I love this thing. I've shot a ton through it and for the money I've had a lot of fun just plinking with it

[@ACommenterOnYouTube]

I do about 200 rounds per week thru mine, runs like a champ

[@justinkayz8995]

Mine runs everything high velocity. 1250 fps or more. When I get down to the 1150 stuff, it can get a FTE from time to time.

[@nmbr5ml]

This is a fun little gun to shoot and definitely a new level of tackle box guns. However the trigger, while pretty light, is squishy and has a really long reset that is not at all tactile so when I try to shoot it rapidly I have a tendency to short stroke the trigger.

[@benkanobe7500]

If you think your mag loader is the best, could you provide a link? There are too many to choose from.

[@sammcclendon2607]

Love mine carry federal punch

[@Bob-bb3ur]

Nice job I just subscribed.

[@buddy9577]

Love mine

[@JoeZ-et1pr]

Good gun, good review. Keep attacking!!!

[@MegaBait1616]

Sold mine after 4 trips back to Florida cause kept jamming with many brands of Ammo .... MB .

[@ACommenterOnYouTube]

Both of mine are great ...

[@Mad1Mike]

Yay! Sold...

[@switcheyephotography5722]

I think it's a good looking pistol. Makes me think of Blade Runner.

[@survivedsavedjohn1468]

Thanks🎯👍

[@jacspring5459]

Great desktop. So... do you like the P17? lol

[@JASmith-oy8db]

Can anyone say anything about their preferred choice of ammo? Any experience with Winchester's silvertip?

[@greybone777]

I've had very good results with Aguila 22 ammo. I've had good luck with most Winchester ammo other than their bulk 22 ammo. In 50 years, I have never had a missfire with any CCI or Speer ammo. I've never found Winchester silver tip ammo to be consistent in magnum pistols or rifles in general. Most remington green box ammo is disappointing as far as velocity. I have had exceptional results with generic federal rifle and pistol ammo with accuracy and consistency in power. Just my experience. 😊

[@billredding2000]

I would look at Federal's "Punch" 22LR -- it may be the best 22 ammo for self-defense use due to it's flat nose and straight-through penetration. And they made it to give a decent velocity even out of a 2" barrel. The P17 is 3.8" (IIRC) so it should be a bit faster. -- BR

[@ACommenterOnYouTube]

​@@billredding2000not sure why you would use fmj for self defense ..

[@billredding2000]

@@ACommenterOnKZbin Well, I'm sure: I want max penetration, and Punch does it, and does it more reliably than any other 22LR ammo. Besides, for small calibers expansion doesn't matter, penetration does. As the old Rule of Thumb says, "9mm and above use HPs; below 9mm use FMJs." Lots of truth to that (IMO). -- BR

[@ACommenterOnYouTube]

@@billredding2000 penetration is BAD for self defense, thats why we dont use fmj ... We use hollow points. Cci makes segmented hollow points which breaks into 3 when penetration happens, not going thru the person as your fmj punch will ....

[@OU812NVME]

CCI Hornet/Mini Mag-36g hollow point or 40r round nose and this is for self defense...arm core or aquila for range and stay away from FEDERAL BLUEBOX and WINCHESTER WHITE BOX...

[@AntonioCavicchioni]

Is it 0K to dry fire it? I read the manual and they don't say anything not to dry fire it... Thanks for your help.

[@ACommenterOnYouTube]

The manual does say its safe to dry fire

[@Iceman-bu1eg]

Reviews on the P17 are literally all over the place which seems to indicate a quality issue. I am not sure if 2023 has remedied some of the earlier reported issues.

[@ACommenterOnYouTube]

If you use cheap bulk ammo, which every damn KZbinr seems to love to use, it gets stove pipes and they want to bash it for that. The manual says to use HIGH VELOCITY ammo yet everyone wants to use standard and sub standard and cheap bulk ammo and WONDER WHY it has issues ... Use quality ammo like CCI and it will run ....

[@sammyprestwood3182]

One thing i dont ike about this pistol Is the little screw at the front of the magwell? I don't like that at all.

[@GiorgosC-rp5ms]

you like all the others except for that one? lol

[@sammyprestwood3182]

The sig p22 are bad to lead up The barrels and sig has not fixed that yet so I wouldn't have a sig p22

[@TADDs101]

I have one and no leading in the barrel

[@buddy9577]

You don’t need a mag loader for that gun. It loads easy enough.

[@ACommenterOnYouTube]

I needed a mag loader for the 1st 2 or 3 mag fulls, that spring was real tight, after that the spring softened up and now i can get 16 rounds without the loader.

[@triggerfingerstudios]

Honest question, I'm not being a jerk, but why is this video in 720? Whatever you're filming with, you need to upgrade.

[@AZTrigger]

Good feedback and we will make the changes... Thanks

[@ACommenterOnYouTube]

Is 720 not good enough for your bad eyes ?

[@Weptek911]

Mine was good for about the first 1000 rounds, now it’s a jammomatic no matter how clean and lubed it is. POS, I’m sorry I bought it and 4 extra mags

[@AZTrigger]

They have a lifetime warranty - send it back: www.keltecweapons.com/warranty/

[@ColeWheeler4Lyfe]

Send it back to kel tec? I’ve heard their good about repair replace if you can prove you’re the og owner.

[@joejaramillo2044]

Why do you call it a kit gun ?

[@georgejones6518]

You need to watch the holster u use , nasty habit of engaging your mag release. Had to modify my holster.

[@MichaelAcosta]

Any recommendations on holsters? I just ordered my P17 last week

[@georgejones6518]

@MichaelAcosta Michael, I use a kydex type for mine now because it's easy to modify. I used a Dremel tool and just ground the around the padded. Make sure it clears by a wide margin as you holster your weapon. Small rat file and flat file will work too. Good luck. G

[@RetardOlympics]

I don't carry a 22 ever. Im thinking about this for emergencies though. I could give it to my kid of shtf. When i get old i can use it. And if shtf happens and i need to ark somebody this is good cause its 22, eaasy as hell. Easy to carry tons of ammo. Im comparing this to the tx22 but i might just get both🤣🤣

[@RetardOlympics]

Would you say this or the taurus tx22?

[@sammcclendon2607]

Love mine