Kel-Tec P-3AT

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Kel-Tec P-3AT

Kel Tec P-3AT pistol
Type Semi-automatic pistol
Place of origin Flag of the United States United States
Production history
Designer George Kelgren
Manufacturer Kel-Tec CNC Industries, Inc.
Specifications
Weight 8.3 oz (235 g) unloaded
11.1 oz (315 g)
Length 5.2 in (132 mm)
Width .77 in (20 mm)
Height 3.5 in (89 mm)
Cartridge .380 ACP
Feed system 6-round detachable box magazine

The Kel-Tec P-3AT is a locked-breech, double action only .380 ACP pistol based on the Kel-Tec P-32. The frame is made of polymer with an aluminum insert, and the slide and barrel are steel. It is the lightest production .380 ACP pistol in the world[2] at 8.3 ounces empty and is roughly the same size as many .22 and .25 caliber pistols.

[edit] Design

The P-3AT cartridge capacity is 6+1, and trigger pull is 5 lbf (22 N). These attributes have made popular for civilians with concealed carry permits and with law enforcement as a back-up or off-duty pistol. The P-3AT lacks any sort of slide stop--it was omitted in order to keep the size similar to the P-32. The small size and weight of the P-3AT results in increased felt recoil over the P-32.

The Kel-Tec P-3AT comes with either blue, parkerized or matte chrome slide and a polymer frame in either black, grey, navy blue, or olive drab green. Current production is the second generation model, with improvements over the first generation. The most easily distinguished difference between generations is the extractor. The first generation has a traditional external extractor parallel to the side of the gun, while the second generation has a button-head hex screw to the rear of the extractor, which is at an angle to the side of the gun.

In a Guns & Ammo review, Wiley Clapp said, "Ingenuity is often nothing more than a combination of existing principles applied in unique ways. Kel-Tec's new P-3AT has no single feature that is not established in modern pistol design, yet it has no competition in its niche."[1]

[edit] References and external links

  1. ^ "Kel-Tec P-3AT." Guns & Ammo. 23 September 2004. [1]