Engineering:Kel-Tec PMR-30

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PMR-30
New gen PMR-30 with red dot, flashlight, and flash reducer.jpg
A new generation PMR-30 with a Burris FastFire II red-dot sight, tactical light, and 5-inch threaded barrel with cone style flash reducer.
TypeSemi-automatic pistol
Place of originUnited States
Production history
ManufacturerKel-Tec
Specifications
Mass
  • 0.851 lb (386 g) empty [1]
  • 1.226 lb (556 g) loaded [1]
Length7.9 in (201 mm) [1]
Barrel length4.3 in (109 mm) [1]
Width1.3 in (33 mm) [1]
Height5.8 in (147 mm) [1]

Cartridge.22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire[1]
Calibre.224
ActionUnlocked Short-recoil,[2] Single Action Only[3]
Rate of fireSemi-automatic[1]
Muzzle velocity1,200 ft/s (370 m/s) [4]
Feed system30-round detachable box magazine[1]
SightsFixed sights; 6.9 in (175 mm) sight radius [1]

The Kel-Tec PMR-30 is a full-size semi-automatic pistol manufactured by Kel-Tec of the United States.[1] It was made available in 2011.[4] It has a single action trigger pull of 3.5 to 5 lbf (16 to 22 N) and a manual safety device.[1] It is chambered in .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire and the special, factory-shipped, double-stack magazine has a capacity of 30 rounds.[1] The PMR-30 uses fixed fiber optic open sights.[5] The slide is also pre-drilled to allow for the mounting of various red-dot sights with the purchase of appropriate mounting plates from the manufacturer. It has a European-style magazine release.[1]

Much polymer is used in the firearm to save on weight and cost, with a steel slide and barrel and aluminum internal grip frame.[5]

Design

Since its initial market introduction, the PMR-30 has undergone several improvements due to problems with the early available design. The twist rate on the barrel rifling was increased to 1:11 to better stabilize bullets and reduce key-holing.[6] A stronger, lightly textured polymer is now used for the frame. This eliminates drooping of the frame that created a large gap previously seen between the front of the frame and the barrel. This also gives the frame a less shiny appearance, and a less slick feel in the hand. More metal was added as reinforcement at the breech to completely cover the rim of a loaded cartridge, presumably for increased user safety in the event of a cartridge case separation.[7] Additional improvements to the newer design include screws that may be loosened to adjust the front sight for windage, and ".22 WMR" stamped on the slide.

Kel-Tec also offers an extended 5" threaded barrel for the PMR-30 with an aluminum flash-hider to reduce the high amount of muzzle flash produced by escaping gases.[8]

Ballistics

While a standard 40gr .22 Magnum (.22 WMR) round reaches velocities near 2,000 fps (600 m/s) [9] at about 355 ft-lbs of energy (Energy = .5 * weight * velocity^2 / 7000 / 32.175) when fired from a rifle, the velocity and energy is significantly lower when fired from a handgun due to the shorter barrel. A standard 40gr .22 Magnum round fired from the PMR-30 is approximately equal in velocity and energy to a standard 40gr .22LR round fired from a rifle. At 1,200 ft/s (370 m/s), this is 127 ft-lbs of energy. Lighter bullets and various .22 Magnum ammunition with faster burning powder specifically manufactured for use in handguns can be expected to reach higher velocities and greater energies.

See also

  • Grendel P30

References

External links