[blue86buick]

I recently picked up a Kel Tec SU-16, and took it out to the range the other night to start breaking it in following Flyer's break-in recommendations...well, sorta. Anyway, with the gun, you get 2 10 round plastic mags, plus I had picked up a 20 round GI mag, and a 30 round aluminum in some other brand.

Using Flyer's instructions as a guideline, I started with 1 round, then was doing 3 round loads. With 3 rounds loaded in the plastic magazine, upon releasing the bolt (pull back and release with mag inserted), the first round would jam up at about a 45 degree angle. After this happened a few times, I decided to try the 20 round USGI mag. This had no problems. I ended up shooting a total of 16 rounds before it got too dark, so this is in no way a thorough test of the gun. Has anyone else had this problem with the plastic mags?

[LAR-15]

What do they look like?

Most 10 round mags are junk, the new Bushmasters apparently an exception.

[Chipperman]

Mag springs too tight?

Try loading them full and leaving them for a few days. Try again next week.

[hksw]

I agree with Chipperman. Sounds like heavy/tight new springs. Load them up to loosen them up a bit. Might want to make sure the feed lips (the sections that touch the cartridges) are smooth too to help things along.

[mrapathy2000]

third chipperman's comment. try using 8 rounds at the range and see if you get the problem otherwise load the mags full and let them sit couple days then unload them and reload them and let them sit and unload and reload. after a week or two should work with full capacity intended if not check ktog.org for best suggestion and advice if none give kel-tec a ring.

[H&Hhunter]

86Buick,

Besides the feeding thing how do you like the rifle? I've been eyeballing one with bad intenet to my pocket book for several days now..

[AK103K]

The two 10 rounders that came with mine have worked flawlessly. I just loaded them with ten from the start and had at it. I didnt know you had to break them in. I did have a little trouble with some GI mags. I have some Adventure Line GI mags that needed about three tries with each mag to get working, then all seems to be OK. My Colt mags work fine. There is a difference in the rear of the mags between the two, so that may have something to do with it. It may also be a mag catch issue, I dont know. Once the bolt carrier "wore" the tops of the AL mags I've had no trouble with them and they run fine. I do like the 10 rounders better as they dont hang down.

[Sven]

I have feeding problems with the Winchester 40-pack Varmint round from WalMart - fails to feed and actually not only sets the bullet back, but pushes the bullet INTO the case. If I had not looked and had shot that, surely the rifle (and possibly me) would have been damaged / destroyed.

[blue86buick]

What do they look like? I can take a picture, but wouldn't be able to post it for a day or so. They do have "different" feed lips than the alum GI mags I have, i was thinking maybe that was the problem.

It might be that the mag springs are too tight, but I was only loading 3 rounds, not a full mag (10). I would doubt that that would be it, but I'll try leaving them loaded for a few days anyway.

AFAIK, you don't need to break anything in...mags or the gun. I just thought it wouldn't hurt to follow the instructions posted here (http://www.ktrange.com/articles/a9/a9.html) before I tried shooting for accuracy. I didn't follow them exactly though; I only shot 3 sets of 1 round, clean, repeat...then went to 4 sets of 3 shot magazine loads. And I wasn't thorough about cleaning...just used a Hoppes-wetted boresnake once or twice. I did find though, that for whatever reason (bore smoothing out, snake getting compressed, etc) on the last couple sets I ran it through it went a lot easier than the first couple. YMMV, as they say.

Overall, I'm liking the rifle. The 10 rounders are nice and small, but I prefer the look/feel of 20 round USGI's. Plus, they hold exactly one box of ammo ($2 more downrange....$2 more downrange... :D) I'm DEFINITLY adding a decent red dot, likely the Bushnell with 4 adjustable recticles. As I said though, I didn't even shoot a full box of ammo through, and I wasn't shooting at anything in particular, so I really can't give a judgement on how well it shoots. I'm hoping to get out this afternoon or tomorrow morn, and put 100+ rounds through it though. I'll post again with a better review at that point.

[blue86buick]

whoops, we'll try this again...mods, feel free to delete this post.

[blue86buick]

Took me a while to get my camera and mags together, then even longer to find my card reader! Anyway here are some pictures of the magazines...the one on the left seems to have it's feedlips spread out a little compared to the one on the right. (i think i may have reversed them in the 2nd photo)

I've done some "investigative shooting", and realized that it's not the 1st round...it's the 2nd to last round that's jamming. This is whether I have 3 rounds loaded, 5, or the full 10. This was with standard factory loaded, 55gr, brass case, FMJ, Winchester and Federal AE rounds. I think it might actually be that instead of the springs being too tight, that they're too loose, and when the 2nd to last round is feeding, the rear of it is able to push the last round down into the mag, and it jams. I'll try bringing a camera along to the range and photograph the jam next time it happens.

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=912873

[blue86buick]

and another view...

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=912886

[AK103K]

blue86buick,
If your mag's not right, drop Kel Tec a line, I'll bet they send you a new one. You may want to ask about the firing pin upgrade while your at it. They said mine should have the new one, but it didnt, They sent me two right away for free.

[blue86buick]

I sent an email friday, but they use AOL, and I know emails from out domain somehow get into the spam folder (i have an AOL mail too...tested it), and I'm not sure if they'll notice. I'll try giving Marty a buzz on monday.

AFA the firing pin, I already followed instructions I found somewhere to strip down my bolt, and checked; mine has the new style pin. The take down pin retainer clip though...that's another story. :D

[Sven]

Having the same problem, but it happens on the first, second, third.... shots. In other words, my SU-16 has become a single shot. Serial number is #81 - maybe teething problems? KelTec are stand-up folks, I'll give them a call.

Tried everything, ball, HP... different mags, different followers. The bullet lodges against that sprocketed thingy near the chamber mouth.