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Kel-Tec P3AT
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Kel-Tec P3AT | |
|---|---|
 Kel Tec P-3AT pistol |
|
| Type | Semi-automatic pistol |
| Place of origin | United States of America |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Kel-Tec CNC Industries, Inc. |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 8.3 oz. |
| Length | 5.2 in. |
|
|
|
| Caliber | .380 ACP |
| Action | Locked-breech |
| Feed system | 6-round detachable box magazine |
The Kel-Tec P3AT 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 at 8.3 ounces empty. Measuring only 5.2" long, 3.5" high and .77" wide, it is roughly the same size as many diminutive .22 and .25 caliber pistols. The P3AT cartridge capacity is 6+1, but there is a one-round magazine extension available. Trigger pull is a light 5 lbs. These attributes have made it a favorite for civilians with concealed carry permits and with law enforcement as a back-up or off-duty pistol. The P3AT lacks any sort of slide stop, omitted in order to keep the size similar to the P32.
The P3AT had met with some criticism focused on its mostly polymer construction and the allegedly weak performance on .380 ACP round it fires. Both private owners and officers claim that since most self-defense situations occur within seven yards (21 feet) the P3AT is adequate. It has seen reliable sales for home defense, civilian concealed carry, or a law enforcement officer's off-duty or backup.
The P3AT as well as the .380 round it fires have been marketed towards women due to the compactness and lower recoil, respectively. However, the small size and weight of the P3AT results in increased felt recoil, in some respects more intense than recoil from larger calibers in full-sized guns. This recoil is often described as snappy, and is felt primarily as a sting to the fingers, to distinguish from the push of a large caliber handgun that may be felt in the arm and body.
The Kel-Tec P3AT comes with either blue, parkerized or matte chrome slide and black, grey or olive drab green polymer frame. Current production is the second generation model, with improvements to reliability 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.
