Kel-Tec has a new Patent for a 33 round .22LR Magazine

Gun Watch ^ | 24 January, 2015 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

Toby Obermeit, Lead Design Engineer at Kel-Tec, holds a PMR-30 magazine.  That magazine holds 30 .22 WMR cartridges.  The design is popular, with Kel-Tec shipping 500 of the pistols each week.

I talked to Toby at the Shot Show this week.   He and Kel-Tec recently obtained a patent on a new magazine design that would create an even larger capacity for the .22LR cartridge.  It would fit in a pistol grip, with a preliminary capacity of 33 rounds.

Toby said that Kel-Tec CNC has been granted the patent just a few weeks ago.  It is specifically aimed at the .22LR.   The one pictured in the patent drawings holds 33 LR cartridges, but would likely fit in a regular pistol grip.  The patent is a departure from Kel-Tec's more common practice.   Kel-Tec has generally followed the strategy of getting product to the market, rather than filing for patents.   Here is the abstract from the patent.  From uspto.cov:

 Abstract from the patent:

Double stack magazines have a tubular body defining an elongated passage and a lower and upper end, a floor plate element connected to the lower end, an elongated separator element within the passage, a follower defining an aperture receiving the separator element and movable within the elongated passage, a spring within the passage having a first end contacting the floor plate, and having an opposed second end contacting and biasing the follower toward the upper end of the body. The separator may be a rod spaced apart from the body surfaces. The spring may be spaced apart from the separator element. The spring may be a coil spring having multiple winds, each encompassing the separator element. The separator element may be medially located in the body. The separator element may be positioned to define first and second stack passages between the left and right side walls and the separator element.

It makes sense to me, in that the rod keeps the two columns of rimed cartridges separate, while using only a single spring system.  Knowing Kel-Tec and Toby, I assume that it was prototyped with a 3D printer.

Toby made no promises as to when a product might come of this patent.  He said that it would be at least a year in the future.

I have often thought that there was a lot of space inside .22 LR pistol grips that was not being utilized effectively.  A 30+ shot full sized .22LR handgun with a 5 inch barrel, threaded for a suppressor, and weighing about a pound, would be a very nice backpacking and general field or "kit" gun.   A simple blowback design would allow for multiple barrel lengths and configurations.

I would like to see arrangements for an optical sight.  A small reflex pistol sight would work nicely.  A fixed barreled .22 pistol with an optical sight might be usable for small game to 60 yards.


©2015 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
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[marktwain]

Kel-Tec has few patents; they did not pursue them as a strategy. A number of their designs have been extensively copied, though.

Many would say the copiers executed the designs better.

[Crazieman]

Ah, Kel-Tec.

Cheap, realiable.
Big, boxy, heavy.

Take your pick

[Gaffer]

Many would say the copiers executed the designs better.

I have a PMR30 and a KSG. Early problems with the PMR with FTF's every 2nd or 3rd round - factory replaced slide and barrel. Great concept gun, but IMO too closely tolerance and finicky to be a carry weapon.

The KSG is a great concept but there are idiosyncrasies with it that I don't particularly like. I took a look at the new KSG competitor from DP (online) and it seems to be something I'd want more than the KSG.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

22WMR is a potent little round, if this turns out to be reliable.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

http://youtu.be/2MWvmVV4Qx8

[MaxMax]

I would never be caught carrying a handgun with a threaded barrel.
Good grief, asking for trouble gets a new face on an old body.

[piroque]

The first with .22 WMR 30-round mag.

[Vigilantcitizen]

Yep...love the .22wmr round.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

[oldbugleboy]

——STOOPID QUESTION: Where will we buy the ammo????

[jaydee770]

I would never be caught carrying a handgun with a threaded barrel.

Sounds like you may have had a bad experience. Would you mind sharing your objection to threaded handgun barrels?

[SampleMan]

Cans a fairly common now, what’s your issue with the barrel being prethreaded for one?

[Yo-Yo]

The PMR30 is a 30 round 22WMR pistol that has been out since around 2010 or so, and has been proven as reliable as a rimfire can be. Early problems with bullet keyholing was solved with a new higher twist rate barrel.

This patent is for 22LR, a considerably shorter case.

[DCBryan1]

I would never be caught carrying a handgun with a threaded barrel. Good grief, asking for trouble gets a new face on an old body.

Good grief..Do you believe a bayonet lug make a rifle an "assault weapon"?

[Tupelo]

I think I understand MadMax’s concern with carrying a handgun with a threaded barrel. My concern is not the gun but the perception of some LEOs and threaded barrels. Arguing with them (on the street) is a losing proposition.

[Boomer One]

Friend had a PMR and found it to be unreliable. He rarely gives up a gun once he has it, but couldn’t get rid of his fast enough. Hope yours is doing better.

[.45 Long Colt]

I wonder why George Kellgren is the only one to try this? I like .22WMR and like the idea of 30-rounder, but in my area I still can’t find a PMR-30 and online sellers are routinely sold out. Based on their seeming inability to meet demand, it’s obviously an idea that appeals to a segment of the shooting public. Major manufacturers have essentially copied his other designs (Ruger LCP for instance), why not copy the Grendel P-30 or PMR-30?

No, I don’t NEED this pistol, but I would enjoy it.

[Gaffer]

After I got it back from the factory I ran through two mags (25 rounds) worth and it worked flawlessly.

That said, It is VERY difficult to load up 30 rounds (many excusers for KT say “you have to ‘break in’ the mags”), but I never had that trouble with Glock mags, Beretta mags, 1911 mags or mostly any other pistol I own like that.

Frankly, it isn’t a gun I’d consider as a carry weapon if my life were to depend on it. To me, it’s a range gun or a plinker - nothing more.

[DCBryan1]

Arguing with them (on the street) is a losing proposition.

"Yes officer, that is my legally acquired and owned firearm. I use it only for all lawful purposes. Here is my ID, and a business card to my attorney. Any further questions you may have, I will answer only with him/her present".

[Gaffer]

The threaded barrel on a PMR 30 is for a fancy looking flash suppressor. They recommend against trying to use a silencer. It is a marginally tuned weapon IMO.