Suppressor host reviews · editorial reference

Kel-Tec P17 Threaded: A Budget-Minded Suppressed .22 Pistol

The P17 is about as simple as a threaded .22 pistol gets. Simple has trade-offs, and a suppressor is one of the things that shows them.

Short answer

The Kel-Tec P17 is a light, 16+1 .22 LR pistol that comes in threaded versions, making it a low-commitment way to try suppressed pistol shooting. Confirm the listing is the threaded model, expect ammunition fussiness, and do not mistake it for a precision tool.

The pitch: a pistol that stays out of the way

The Kel-Tec P17 is a compact polymer .22 LR pistol with a 16+1 capacity. Published first-look coverage has emphasized how light it is, with one outlet's headline putting it under 14 ounces loaded. That lightness is a feature when you plan to hang a suppressor on the muzzle, because the can adds weight at exactly the wrong end of a small pistol.

The listing we link is an olive-drab version with a 3.8-inch barrel listed in the product details and a note that a threaded variant is available. That wording matters. Kel-Tec sells both threaded and unthreaded P17 models, and retailers list them side by side.

What to verify on the listing

Before you click anything, work through this short list. It is the same routine we recommend for any host.

Thread status. The product page should say "threaded" or show the thread spec. If it does not, treat it as unthreaded until proven otherwise.
Thread pitch. Rimfire pistols often use 1/2x28, but the manufacturer's spec for your model is the only reliable source. See the thread pitch cheat sheet for how the common sizes compare.
Barrel length. The details list a 3.8-inch barrel, so be aware that the muzzle sits close to the slide's front. Check that your intended suppressor mount clears the slide and any front sight.
Magazines in the box. The model is listed as 16+1, but check how many magazines ship with it.

If the model you want turns out to be unthreaded, pick the threaded model or a different gun. This site does not give instructions for modifying firearms to accept suppressors.

What suppressing a light .22 pistol is like

There are a few general points worth knowing, drawn from how this type of firearm works rather than anything we have personally put through the gun.

Weight at the muzzle changes how the pistol sits in your hand. A very light gun with a suppressor on the front can feel nose-heavy, and some shooters find it fatiguing. Choose a lightweight rimfire can if you want the pistol to remain nimble.

The slide still makes noise. Even with the muzzle blast tamed, a blowback pistol's slide moving back and forth is audible. Lots of people describe suppressed rimfire pistols as "quiet" and mean "quiet compared with the unsuppressed version." That is not the same as silent, and hearing protection is still advisable. For the long form of that argument, read A Suppressor Is Not Hearing Protection.

Ammunition affects both cycling and sound. Subsonic .22 LR avoids the crack of a supersonic bullet but offers less energy to cycle a light slide. Standard-velocity loads cycle more readily, but a bullet that breaks the sound barrier is audible. The subsonic .22 LR loads comparison on RimfireAmmo is good reading before you buy ammo in bulk, and our subsonic ammo by caliber page puts it in context.

Maintenance is not optional. Rimfire suppressors collect lead and carbon quickly, and a dirty pistol and can are a bad combination. Plan to clean both. See the cleaning guide when it is time to set a routine.

Where the P17 fits, and where it does not

The P17 is aimed at someone who wants a value-oriented gun, shoots a lot of .22 and is curious what a suppressor is like. It is not trying to be a premium target pistol. If your first priority is a crisp trigger and fine accuracy, there are other .22 pistols designed with that in mind, and RimfireAmmo's best .22 LR pistols by role breaks them down by purpose.

Choose the P17 if...	Choose something else if...
You want a light, value-oriented threaded .22 pistol	You want a fixed-barrel target pistol with a refined trigger
You are fine with doing your own ammo experimentation	You want a gun known for eating every load
You like a polymer, no-frills design	You want a metal-framed, traditional handgun
You want a first rimfire host with a 16-round magazine	You want a duty-style pistol with the FN 502's feature set

The nearest alternative worth comparing is the FN 502 Tactical, which is described in our existing host guide as ready out of the box. The 502 is a more feature-laden pistol, and the P17 is the more minimalist one; which suits you depends on how much you value extras.

The legal side in a paragraph

You need a lawful suppressor to make any of this work, and that is regulated federally and by individual states. Federal rules changed in 2026 and the picture keeps shifting, so check your state first, then read our buying walkthrough. A pistol host on its own is a normal firearm and ships to a licensed dealer like any other.

Bottom line

The P17 is a plain, light, value-oriented way into suppressed pistol shooting. Confirm the threaded version, test your ammunition, and keep your expectations realistic about noise from the action.

Editorial note: This is an independent editorial overview built from manufacturer specifications and publicly available information. We have not performed hands-on testing of the products discussed, and nothing here is a performance guarantee. Verify specifications, compatibility and legality for your own situation.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Kel-Tec P17 threaded?

Kel-Tec offers P17 versions with threaded barrels, and retailers list them separately. The listing we link is labelled as a threaded variant being available, so read the exact product page to be sure which one you are ordering.

Does a .22 pistol like the P17 need a booster?

Rimfire pistols of this type generally use a fixed barrel rather than a tilting one, so a booster is typically not part of the picture. Check the suppressor manual to be sure. Our pistol booster explainer covers when boosters matter.

Can I use any .22 LR ammo in a suppressed P17?

You can try, but pistols this light can be sensitive to the ammunition you feed them. Test small boxes of a few loads before committing to a case.

Is the P17 a good choice if I want the quietest possible setup?

It is a light blowback pistol, so the action itself makes noise. A suppressor quiets the muzzle blast, not the slide.