Kel-Tec P-3AT

Infobox Weapon
name=P-3AT


caption=The Kel-Tec P-3AT pistol
origin=flag|United States
type=Semi-automatic pistol
is_ranged=yes
designer=George Kelgren
design_date=
manufacturer=Kel-Tec CNC Industries, Inc.
production_date=
number=
variants=
weight=oz to g|8.3|abbr=on|precision=0|wiki=yes
length=in to mm|5.2|abbr=on|precision=0|wiki=yes
width=convert|0.77|in|abbr=on
height=convert|3.5|in|abbr=on
part_length=
cartridge=.380 ACP
action=Short recoil operated, locked breech
feed=6-round detachable box magazine

The P-3AT is a locked-breech, double action only .380 ACP pistol designed and manufactured by Kel-Tec based on the 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 [http://www.mouseguns.com/PocketAutoComparison.jpg] weighing only convert|8.3|oz|abbr=on empty and is roughly the same size as many .22 and .25-caliber pistols.

Design details

The P-3AT cartridge capacity is 6+1, and trigger pull is convert| 5|lbf|0|lk=on|sp=us|abbr=on. 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." ["Kel-Tec P-3AT." "Guns & Ammo". 23 September 2004. [http://www.gunsandammomag.com/ga_handguns/keltec_092304/] ] Since Ruger's introduction of its LCP pocket pistol, some reviewers have characterized the Ruger offering as comparable to the P-3AT. [Quinn, Jeff. "Ruger’s New LCP Lightweight .380 Pocket Pistol." GunBlast.com. 29 February 2008. [http://www.gunblast.com/Ruger-LCP.htm] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.kel-tec-cnc.com/p3at.htm Official site]
* [http://www.kel-tec-cnc.com/images/downloads/p3atv2manual.pdf Instruction manual]
* [http://www.ktog.org Kel-Tec owners group]
* [http://www.mouseguns.com/PocketAutoComparison.jpgPocket pistol comparison chart]