New PLR 16 questions

[uhill]

Hey, I'm new to the forum and new to posting online in general, so pardon me if I jack something up.

I'm considering a new PLR-16, and can't get Kel-Tek to answer the phone or return my email but I have some questions.

The one I'm looking at has a chromed bore, something the seller says is only found in a few PLR-16s. Is he right? Should I pay a premium for this, or are they all coming
with the chromed bore these days?

Also, I know they have a nice warranty, but only for the first owner. Is there a warranty card this guy may have not sent in that might make me the first owner? How would they know I'm not the first owner?

Finally, I've heard that after some intense use, the front hand guard can get hot enough from the piston to melt. Does anyone have more information on this?

[uhill]

Well, I got answers to a couple of my questions myself after a couple of days, and thought I should post them here in case anyone was interested.

I finally got Kel-Tek on the phone and they told me the new ones do come with the chromed bore.

And I found another thread with the warranty information for second owners. If you're interested...

Kel-Tec restricts warranty to original owner

Still no more information on the heat in the hand guard. I'll keep digging, but it'd be nice to hear from someone with experience one way or the other.

[magman454]

I'd like to be able to help you out, but I've only fired a few rounds through mine, it was bought last year and doesn't have a chrome lined bore, and I don't yet have the hand guard.

I'm feeling a bit useless at this point.

[uhill]

Thanks, magman. I have enjoyed reading your stuff the last couple of days, by the way.

It is interesting that yours is fairly new and doesn't have the chrome bore. I wonder when they started doing that.

[Haugrdr]

From KTOG PLR16 FAQs....

The chrome lined barrels appeared on the PLR-16 in mid to late 2008. There is no definite serial number. There was some overlap of chromed and non-chromed barrels being made at the same time, but you can see the chrome lining if you look at the bore and chamber of the gun. Chrome is a light gray color, un-chromed would be black (blued finish).

[Stogies]

Sounds like you might as well get a new one, OP. What does he want for it?

[uhill]

He's got it on GB for $625, but I could prob get it for less. He turned down a $530 offer. He wants a premium for the chromed bore, but I won't be paying it. I'll wait for CDNN to get some in and buy a new one for $430 (unless there is a better deal somewhere else.)

I should also mention that his has the forearm grip and an A2 flash hider, so he feels justified asking the higher price for them as well. I would prop replace those anyway, so I don't need to pay for them.

It'd be great to find one in a local shop, but no one around here can get them.

[rachilders]

I got my PLR-16 when they first came out so I can't help you with the barrel question. However I wouldn't pay a premium for a gun with a chromed barrel that's been standard equipment for at least 3 years now. If anything, I'd ask for a discount on a gun that doesn't have one since it's probably been a shelf queen for who knows how long. OTOH, I've shot 20 rounds without stopping, loaded a new mag and fired 20 more shots with no problems to the optional hand guard. You can feel the heat from the barrel and piston tube but it's not uncomfortable and DEFINITELY better than touching the bare metal if the hand guard wasn't installed. FWIW, I HIGHLY recommend the hand guard! Also, the hand guard and a flash hider should add no more than $50-$55 to the cost of the basic PLR-16 (less if it could be installed at the factory w/o aftermarket mark ups) and I think they should be offered as a factory installed option. But that's just my personal opinion.

[Stogies]

I got my PLR-16 when they first came out so I can't help you with the barrel question. However I wouldn't pay a premium for a gun with a chromed barrel that's been standard equipment for at least 3 years now. If anything, I'd ask for a discount on a gun that doesn't have one since it's probably been a shelf queen for who knows how long. OTOH, I've shot 20 rounds without stopping, loaded a new mag and fired 20 more shots with no problems to the optional hand guard. You can feel the heat from the barrel and piston tube but it's not uncomfortable and DEFINITELY better than touching the bare metal if the hand guard wasn't installed. FWIW, I HIGHLY recommend the hand guard! Also, the hand guard and a flash hider should add no more than $50-$55 to the cost of the basic PLR-16 (less if it could be installed at the factory w/o aftermarket mark ups) and I think they should be offered as a factory installed option. But that's just my personal opinion.

Yeah, never really understood why KT doesn't just put those things on to begin with.

[uhill]

I was actually thinking that I like the Red Lion or Midwest Industries hand guards better. But if this guy can be more reasonable, as you guys suggest he should, maybe I won't have to upgrade - at least not right away.

The A-2 flash hider has to go, though.