Kel-Tec P3AT
Encyclopedia
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, weighing only 8.3 oz (235.3 g) empty, and is roughly the same size as many .22 and .25-caliber
pistols.
permits and with Peace Officers 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 similar size and weight of the P-3AT results in increased felt recoil over the P-32 due to the more powerful .380 ACP cartridge (the P-32 fires the smaller .32 ACP cartridge).
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." Since Ruger's introduction of its LCP
pocket pistol, some reviewers have characterized the Ruger offering as comparable to the P-3AT. Kahr Arms
has introduced a similar pistol, the Kahr P380
, that sells for significantly more. At the 2010 SHOT Show
, Smith & Wesson
introduced their S&W .380 Bodyguard and Taurus
introduced the 738 TCP. SIG Sauer offers the P238
with an all-metal frame in competition to those mostly plastic-framed pistols.
.380 ACP
The .380 ACP pistol cartridge is a rimless, straight-walled pistol cartridge developed by firearms designer John Browning. The cartridge headspaces on the mouth of the case. It was introduced in 1908 by Colt, and has been a popular self-defense cartridge ever since...
pistol
Pistol
When distinguished as a subset of handguns, a pistol is a handgun with a chamber that is integral with the barrel, as opposed to a revolver, wherein the chamber is separate from the barrel as a revolving cylinder. Typically, pistols have an effective range of about 100 feet.-History:The pistol...
designed and manufactured by Kel-Tec
Kel-Tec
Kel-Tec CNC Industries Inc. is a United States manufacturer of firearms. Founded in 1991 and based in Cocoa, Florida, the company has manufactured firearms since 1995, starting with small, affordable semi-automatic pistols and expanding to rifles. Kel-Tec is a privately-owned Florida corporation....
based on the P-32
Kel-Tec P-32
The Kel-Tec P-32 is a compact semi-automatic pistol using the short-recoil principle of operation. Chambered in .32 ACP, it is popular for concealed carry in the United States. It was designed by George Kellgren, the Swedish firearms designer associated earlier with the Husqvarna, Intratec, and...
. 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, weighing only 8.3 oz (235.3 g) empty, and is roughly the same size as many .22 and .25-caliber
.25 ACP
The .25 ACP centerfire pistol cartridge is a semi-rimmed, straight-walled pistol cartridge introduced by John Browning in 1905 alongside the Fabrique Nationale model 1905 pistol...
pistols.
Design details
The P-3AT cartridge capacity is 6+1, and trigger pull is 5 lbf (22 N). These attributes have made it popular for citizens with concealed carryCarrying concealed weapon
Concealed carry, or CCW , refers to the practice of carrying a handgun or other weapon in public in a concealed manner, either on one's person or in proximity....
permits and with Peace Officers as a back-up or off-duty pistol. The P-3AT lacks any sort of slide stop
Slide stop
A slide stop, also referred to as a slide release, on a semi-automatic handgun is a function that visually indicates when a handgun has expended all loaded ammunition and facilitates faster re-loading by removing the step of pulling back the slide to advance the first round of a new magazine...
--it was omitted in order to keep the size similar to the P-32. The similar size and weight of the P-3AT results in increased felt recoil over the P-32 due to the more powerful .380 ACP cartridge (the P-32 fires the smaller .32 ACP cartridge).
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." Since Ruger's introduction of its LCP
Ruger LCP
The Ruger LCP is a subcompact, .380 ACP pocket pistol announced by Sturm, Ruger at the 2008 SHOT Show. The pistol lacks certain features required for sale in California or Massachusetts.-Overview:...
pocket pistol, some reviewers have characterized the Ruger offering as comparable to the P-3AT. Kahr Arms
Kahr Arms
Kahr Arms is an American small arms manufacturer founded by Kook Jin "Justin" Moon , who currently serves as CEO and President. It is owned by the Saeilo Corporation , a subsidiary of Tongil Group, a South Korean business group associated with the Unification Church...
has introduced a similar pistol, the Kahr P380
Kahr P380
The Kahr P380 is a compact pistol chambered for the .380 ACP cartridge and produced by Kahr Arms. It uses a double-action only trigger and operates on the short recoil principle....
, that sells for significantly more. At the 2010 SHOT Show
SHOT Show
The ' is an annual tradeshow for the shooting, hunting, and firearms industry. It is the biggest event of this type in the world together with IWA & OutdoorClassics , also taking place annually. "SHOT", besides being a general reference to shooting, is an acronym for "Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor...
, Smith & Wesson
Smith & Wesson
Smith & Wesson is the largest manufacturer of handguns in the United States. The corporate headquarters is in Springfield, Massachusetts. Founded in 1852, Smith & Wesson's pistols and revolvers have become standard issue to police and armed forces throughout the world...
introduced their S&W .380 Bodyguard and Taurus
Taurus (manufacturer)
Forjas Taurus is a manufacturing conglomerate based in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Beginning as a tool and die manufacturer, the company now consists of divisions focusing on firearms, metals manufacturing, plastics, body armor, helmets, and civil construction.-History:Taurus produced its first...
introduced the 738 TCP. SIG Sauer offers the P238
SIG Sauer P238
The SIG Sauer P238 is a compact .380 ACP caliber, single-action pistol announced by SIG Sauer at the 2009 SHOT Show. It is a version of the Colt Mustang pistol with a classic SIG Sauer scalloped slide and finger relief under the trigger guard...
with an all-metal frame in competition to those mostly plastic-framed pistols.
