A KelTec that's actually good?

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Godsgunman

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I've never been a gun snob and never really poo poo anything but have never found KelTec to be something that really appeals to me. At least until now. I recently traded for a KelTec SU-16. Kind of a gimmicky AR/AK mishmashed polymer rifle with a foldable buttstock and hand guard that can double as a bipod.
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Anyways I have been completely surprised and actually love the gun. The trigger is on par if not even better than most stock AR triggers I have fired. Even though the buttstock is foldable it is very sturdy and solid when extended. It is very light since it is mainly polymer, around 5 pounds or so. Comes with basic iron sights and a rail for a scope. Comes with a 10 rnd mag but can take any standard AR 20 or 30 rnd mag.
Despite the light weight of the gun there is very little recoil shooting .223. The rifle is plenty accurate even with the iron sights. At 40 yds with iron sights I kept 10 rnds within 4 inches at a rate of 1 round per second. Just enough to get back on target. 4 rounds within the size of a penny. Pretty dang good for shooting cheap tulammo in my opinion.
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Sorry target got a little bit wet and messy because I waylayed some pumpkins for fun after I tested the accuracy. :thumbup:

All in all I believe this will be a fun, reliable, easily backpackable rifle that should last a while. Nutnfancy did a review on his which he's had for over 10 years and thousands of rounds through with no major issues or malfunctions. Gets a :thumbup: from me.
 
All my KelTec products have been great too! I especially love my Sub 2000 9mm carbine. Nothing wrong with their products, they are just a little different in design and execution.
 
Congrats....as long as it runs and puts a smile on your face, is all that really matters
ill be pickin up my first kel tec today
 
I have carried KelTecs almost exclusively since 2004, first a P-11 then my current PF-9, and bought my gf a Sub-2000.
They were all priced right and aside from a few issues with the PF-9, which were quickly fixed by the factory, they work great. I've considered getting a SU-16 myself a few times, and one of my friends got one just to taunt me.
Hate all you want, but it's worth it having a carry piece one doesn't worry about the finish and that goes bang when you want it to.
 
Kel-tec gets a lot of criticism for their products. I think some is justified and a lot isn’t.

IMHO they make decent products at decent prices. Not high end, not great, but decent.

My first pistol was a PF9. It’s a nice size, but fit and finish is just ok. The trigger is heavy nd functional. Recoil is harsh, and compared to more expensive guns it’s unrefined.

I guess the thing people need to keep in mind is price plays a role in perceived quality. KelTec isn’t selling as a top tier gun company and their prices reflect that. Unfortunately their prices are appealing to new gun owners. So many buyers who doesn’t have much experience use bad technique and blame the gun. I mention this as my PF9 shoots anything I put in it without issues as long as I don’t limp wrist.

So imho there are better guns than KelTec but if you know what you’re buying and what to expect, they can be decent functional guns for the price.
 
Not to rain on anyone's parade but the SU-16 made a whole lot more sense when they were about $500 and a decent AR was more like $800. Now the SU-16 appears to go for about $625+ while you can get a stripped AR lower for $50 and something like this
https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa...nitride-odg-freedom-rifle-kit-5165449753.html add a rear MBUS sight and have a rifle for about $400. And if you think assembling an AR is too much work I've seen new assembled rifles (usually with polymer lowers) for $399.

There's 2 things I think the SU-16 has over a cheap AR. One, the folding stock. To me it's not worth the price difference, especially when there are options for about $200 that will allow an AR to have a folding stock. You can't fire a gas impingement AR with the stock folded but.... And two, you just want a .223/5.56 semi-auto that ISN'T an AR. And that's just fine. That's more than enough reason to get one. The SU-16 just isn't my thing.
 
I have a RFB that I had a few initial problems with, but, as I got them ironed out, I now have a .308 bullpup that runs like a well oiled machine, both with, and without, suppression.
Initial problems, yes, but all easily correctable by me, or Kel Tec.
 
KansasSasquatch said:
Not to rain on anyone's parade but the SU-16 made a whole lot more sense when they were about $500 and a decent AR was more like $800. Now the SU-16 appears to go for about $625+ while you can get a stripped AR lower for $50 and something like this
https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa...nitride-odg-freedom-rifle-kit-5165449753.html add a rear MBUS sight and have a rifle for about $400. And if you think assembling an AR is too much work I've seen new assembled rifles (usually with polymer lowers) for $399.

There's 2 things I think the SU-16 has over a cheap AR. One, the folding stock. To me it's not worth the price difference, especially when there are options for about $200 that will allow an AR to have a folding stock. You can't fire a gas impingement AR with the stock folded but.... And two, you just want a .223/5.56 semi-auto that ISN'T an AR. And that's just fine. That's more than enough reason to get one. The SU-16 just isn't my thing.
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Totally agree that an AR can be had for cheaper and I do have an AR in 300 BO also. The KT is lighter and actually has a better trigger. Also the KT looks more like a normal rifle and less like the scary 'black assault rifles' the left is so afraid of and trying it's best to ban.
 
I've got a Sub 2k that takes the same magazines as my truck pistol. To me, the carbine makes sense, and, while not the equivalent of my AR, it's a handy little packable rifle that's a hoot to shoot. To me, it's the modern equivalent of the old wheelgun and the lever action rifle that took the same ammo.
 
Godsgunman said:
Totally agree that an AR can be had for cheaper and I do have an AR in 300 BO also. The KT is lighter and actually has a better trigger. Also the KT looks more like a normal rifle and less like the scary 'black assault rifles' the left is so afraid of and trying it's best to ban.
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Have you tried a PSA EPT (Enhanced Polished Trigger)? I recently bought a build kit from PSA and was going to upgrade the trigger. But it came with their EPT and I said "what the hell" and installed the EPT. PSA's mil-spec triggers have been decent for me but the EPT ended up actually being a nice trigger, easily worth the $30 they sell for. When I build a .224 Valkyrie I'll probably get something nicer but for a typical 5.56 carbine I don't think I'll ever go with anything more expensive than the EPT.
 
1KPerDay said:
I beg to differ. But I won't hijack this thread. :)
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IME, they're OK range shooters, but just a little too plastic and light gauge to depended upon. Which is a shame,
considering some of their innovative creations. With a little better QC work in design, the company could be another
Sturm Ruger.

I like the
one I've got, but doubt I'll buy another. Which, in a nutshell, is the difference between them, and Ruger.
 
Dibbs said:
IME, they're OK range shooters, but just a little too plastic and light gauge to depended upon.
Click to expand...

I beg to differ with you on that. Both my P11 and PF9 both put up with a lot of abuse in the form of being carried close to my body on a lot of hot days, regular range time using sometimes less-than-ideal ammo, and generally being subjected to the wear and tear of being a daily carry weapon. My P11 handled with minimal issue, some 7k rounds between 2002 and 2013 when I traded it in part for my PF9. Not bad for what many call a junk gun, IMHO. You can do a lot worse and pay more for it nowadays.
 
I’ve shot a lot of Keltecs. The PF9 was the only one that sucked so bad I got rid of it ASAP. Just wouldn’t run.

The rest of their guns seem to be perfectly acceptable for the price points.

I want a PMR30 - I think they’re cool pistols.

The PLR 16, I think it was, was a fun gun to play with at the range - in a turning money into noise quickly kind of thing. :)
 
A good friend had three Keltecs, one SU-16 and two 380 pocket pistols. We broke all three, just shooting them. Keltec replaced all three without question.
 
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My only issue with KelTec, and this definitely bears repeating... I don't think they use enough phillips head screws in the build.
 
RedlegRick said:
I beg to differ with you on that. Both my P11 and PF9 both put up with a lot of abuse in the form of being carried close to my body on a lot of hot days, regular range time using sometimes less-than-ideal ammo, and generally being subjected to the wear and tear of being a daily carry weapon. My P11 handled with minimal issue, some 7k rounds between 2002 and 2013 when I traded it in part for my PF9. Not bad for what many call a junk gun, IMHO. You can do a lot worse and pay more for it nowadays.
Click to expand...

You trust 'em, you use 'em. I'm not calling them junk, but based on my experience, I wouldn't feel
comfortable carrying one.
 
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