Cool Find

I have long been aware of the Kel Tec PMR-30. This pistol is chambered in .22 WMR - also known as ".22 Magnum." It holds 30 rounds of ammo in each magazine.

30 rounds!

Got to see one in action at the range when I took my wife a few weeks ago. The lady who owned it was kind enough to chat with us for a while. She carried the PMR-30, because, in her words; it gave her enough ammo (30-rounds!)  and was more powerful than a .380.

Many ask if that is enough gun. Of course, a lot of those same folks carry a .380 from some manufacturer or another (maybe even one from Kel Tec). So lets compare, as a lot of people think the .380 is the "minimum" gun they would carry.

Ballistics information calculated on Handloads.com's free calculator. 



.22 WMR

Muzzle Velocity Caveat
Box states that muzzle velocity (MV) is 1900 fps. Other sources state that from a pistol, the MV is closer to 1400 fps - but those sources use snub nose pistols (1" or 1.5" barrels). The PMR-30 has a 4.25" barrel, so there will be more MV than the pistols used in the sources I found. Still, this is guesswork, so I have included both MVs into the scenario:

@ 1400 fps
40-grain projectile
Muzzle Energy = 174 foot-pounds.

@1600 fps (my estimate)
40-grain projectile
Muzzle Energy = 227 foot-pounds.



.380 ACP

@ 950 fps
95-grain projectile
Muzzle Energy = 171 foot-pounds.



Summary / Notes

1. Carry a rifle if you know you will need a gun.
2. If only a pistol will do, you are not undergunned with 30 rounds of .22 WMR.
3. .380 is not only less powerful, but they usually only hold 6-8 rounds.
4. I saw one of these at the range a few weeks ago. The PMR-30 is LIGHTWEIGHT!
5. No, really: the thing weighs next to nothing! 13 ounces, according to Kel Tec. Having held one, I believe it!


.