Anytime KelTec releases something, you can expect it to be new, creative, and possibly innovative. They aren’t a company that does “average.” So, what could KelTec bring to the micro-compact world that’s a little different? They answered that question with the P15.
At first glance, KelTec’s entry into the micro-compact market doesn’t seem wild. It’s a 9mm pistol with a thin grip and a 12- to 15-round magazine. They even offer a metal-framed version alongside the standard polymer frame.
It’s a striker-fired gun with a rail and uses a Browning short-recoil design. So, what’s the twist?
KelTec P15 Features: The Micro-Compact Twist
KelTec took the micro-compact genre to a lighter and thinner level than we’ve ever seen. The P15 is just 7/8-inch wide yet manages to hold 12 to 15 rounds of 9mm. That’s nuts.
Unloaded, the pistol weighs only 16 ounces. For comparison, the SIG P365, a gun with a barrel that’s nearly an inch shorter, weighs 17.8 ounces unloaded. The P365XL, which is a better comparison, weighs 20.7 ounces.
Do four ounces matter? That’s a quarter of a pound! It matters more than you think. Pick up the P365, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how much lighter the P15 feels.
That’s the twist that will sell P15s, but like all things KelTec, the quirks show up the more you shoot and handle it.
KelTec P15 Specs and Dimensions
We’ve covered width and weight, so here are the key specs:
- Barrel Length: 4 inches
- Overall Length: 6.6 inches
- Height: 5 inches
- Width: 0.875 of an inch
- Weight: 16.2 ounces
- Capacity: 12/15 rounds
The P15 ships with a flush 12-round magazine and an extended 15-round magazine with a spacer that lengthens the grip.
Unfortunately, the standard model isn’t optics-ready, though the metal-frame version is. The polymer frame has a removable plate on the slide, and hopefully, KelTec will produce a replacement to allow it to mount optics.
We do get adjustable sights. The rear sight can be adjusted for both elevation and windage. The front and rear sights are high-visibility polymer. The front sight is massive and quick to find.
The P15 comes with two safety devices: a magazine safety and a grip safety. I’m no fan of either, and this would be a major downside to me, but KelTec has another twist. You can disable either or both of these safeties if you choose.
Up front, we have a single slot rail for accessories, and it would fit something like the TLR-7 SUB. Other than that, the only other noticeable feature is the KelTec gator grip texture, which is unique and fairly nice, but ugly.
Shooting the P15
The first thing you’ll notice when firing the P15 is recoil. This is a snappy little gun.
That thin, lightweight grip does nothing to help with recoil. It makes the gun hard to hold onto, especially during rapid fire. You have to ratchet down on the grip to maintain control.
The P15 demands proper technique. Single-handed shooting is possible, but don’t expect to be fast at it. One thing I’ll give this gun credit for is making me realize my grip sucks after I draw.
I noticed my first shot would be terribly snappy, and then follow-up shots would be a lot easier to shoot. I learned something valuable from shooting the P15.
Rapid, accurate fire is tough. I can keep my shots inside an A-zone, but man, they are spread around a lot at seven yards compared to guns like the P365, the S&W CSX, and the Masada Slim.
Your best bet is to ratchet down on the grip to get maximum control over the gun. Anything less, and it starts to get away from you.
Shooting Straight
My P15 came with the sights maxed out to the left and down, so I was off target immediately. I dialed it in with an Allen wrench and felt a sigh of relief when I got it zeroed. It’s nerve-racking when your first group doesn’t hit paper. Teaches me to check the sights before I start shooting.
Overall accuracy isn’t bad. The big front sight obscures a bit of your target, so you can’t get too precise, but that only seems to affect hitting two-inch dots. For self-defense purposes, the sights and gun accuracy are more than adequate.
The gun didn’t perform well at 50 yards compared to other micro-compacts. Even when I took my time, it was tough to hit an IPSC target. Twenty-five yards and in is where this gun shines. For self-defense, it’s fine, but it’s not impressive.
The trigger has a rolling movement, a bit like a Kahr. It’s smooth and light, but longer than you’d expect. Ultimately, it’s nice and suitable. I don’t make a big hubbub about triggers unless they suck or are fantastic.
KelTec P15 Ergonomics and Grip
I do appreciate that Gator grip texture. It’s aggressive, which is needed to control this thin and lightweight gun. It does a good job of keeping the gun from slipping and working its way out of your hand.
I have big hands, and I need to shoot with the 15-round magazine for that extra grip extension. The 12-rounder leaves a hanging pinky, and that compromises my control overall. The 15-rounder makes a big difference in controlling the gun.
In terms of controls, all we have is a magazine release and slide lock. Both are larger than I expected. The slide release is a massive step design that’s easy to engage and drop the slide with.
KelTec went with a big magazine release that’s triangular in shape and easy to find. While the grip is thin and the magazines are thin, it’s not hard to put a mag in the gun and keep shooting. Ergonomically, it’s not bad; no slide bite to be had and no pain when shooting.
The thinner frame doesn’t blunt recoil impact, so your hand will get fatigued, or at least mine did after shooting several hundred rounds.
KelTec P15 Size and Carry Considerations
KelTec must be on a diet to make a gun this thin. It’s certainly a different take on the micro-compact genre. It’s not the smallest, but it’s most certainly the thinnest and lightest. We all knew it wouldn’t be normal.
KelTec aimed to target high concealability for AIWB or IWB carry and achieved that goal with vigor. While it won’t replace my current EDC, I can see its utility, and my hat’s off to KelTec for always innovating.
