KEL-TEC PLR16 AOW, or other options?

[FREERANGETIME!]

I just bought a PLR16 and had initially planned on mounting a vertical grip and a green laser so that I could basically be able to point shoot it accurately in either low light or bright light, but after putting 200 rounds through it yesterday I have to wonder if the laser would be affected by the muzzle blast, the big ass fireballs coming out of the brake ports and the seriously intense heated radiating into the forearm.

After just 60 rounds the gun was pretty hot and I new a vert grip was going to be added, the iron sights are inadequate and I had considered mounting a TRS25 mini red dot and just going with a MagPul AFG instead of the vert grip.

I would greatly appreciate any input or advice before I end up destroying an expensive laser.

 

[WC145]

I've had my PLR-16 for several years, never used a laser on it though I have used an Eotech and other red dot sights. I just wouldn't mount it any closer to the muzzle than necessary. The plastic forend that is available from Kel-tec has a rail on the bottom, if you mount your laser there it will be out of the way of the muzzle blast.

I assume you are aware that the PLR-16 is a pistol. It isn't an AOW until you mount a vertical foregrip on it, at which point you need a tax stamp otherwise it's a big no-no where the ATF is concerned. The Magpul AFG is okay where ATF is concerned but I've tried it on my gun and didn't like it. It feels okay shooting from the hip but the angle is uncomfortable if you're holding the gun at eye level trying to aim it, no real advantage over just gripping the forend.

 

[ugaarguy]

A couple thoughts:

First, if you don't want to pay the tax to make it an NFA weapon, you could just add a heat shielding handguard. You'll have to modify an existing AR-15 handguard to work on the PLR-16. The folks over on KTOG have done both the VLTOR CASV-EL and the MagPul MOE. CASV-EL -- http://www.thektog.org/forum/f93/illustrated-mounting-vltor-plr16-252350/. MOE - http://www.thektog.org/forum/f93/plr-16-magpul-moe-handguard-204674/.

Second, if you are going make it an NFA weapon, you might as well SBR it. Remember, it's $200 to manufacture either an AOW or an SBR. It's the post manufacture transfer tax that favors the AOW if you're an SOT manufacturing the things.

 

[FREERANGETIME!]

Thanks for the input.

I just joined KTOG yesterday and am hoping a member there will have some experience with the laser question.
I do not intend to go the SBR route, my intention from the start was to have a compact and light pistol that I would be able to point shoot accurately with one hand, which is why I want to mount the laser.
I do not really need the vert grip if I can mount a laser without it ending up damaged, the gun hardly has any recoil so an AFG is not really needed unless I go with the red dot option, in which case I would rather be holding that than the forearm when the gun starts heating up.

 

[WestKentucky]

Until they make one a lot quieter I'm staying far away. 223 out of that short barrel is impressive in both flash and blast. I have heard the joke of swat units using them instead of flashbacks for that reason...no thanks. I did have a really cool picture of my friend shooting his. Caught it breathing a huge ball of fire. Too bad that was on the dead laptop.

 

[MachIVshooter]

I do not really need the vert grip if I can mount a laser without it ending up damaged, the gun hardly has any recoil so an AFG is not really needed unless I go with the red dot option,

If you meant to say AFG (Angled Forward Grip) and not VFG, then you need not do a stamp. Vertical grips require AOW or SBR paperwork, but angled forward grips are GTG on pistols.

I run the AFG2 on my PLR

 

[WC145]

I just joined KTOG yesterday and am hoping a member there will have some experience with the laser question.
I do not intend to go the SBR route, my intention from the start was to have a compact and light pistol that I would be able to point shoot accurately with one hand, which is why I want to mount the laser.

The PLR-16 is pretty much the antithesis of what you're describing. They are certainly accurate, but hardly small or light and are really poorly balanced for any kind of one handed shooting. Unless you're using a bipod or some other solid rest you're going to have a mighty hard time keeping that thing on target one handed, even with a laser, since all the weight is out in front of the grip.

In spite of that, you might consider a red dot sight with a laser built into it. There are several available and that could give you the best of both worlds - a useable optic (since the iron sights suck) and a laser that isn't mounted on or near the barrel so heat wouldn't be a concern.