Kel Tec Sub2000, anybody own one?

[Elkins45]

I'm considering a Sub2000 in 40 S&W as a trunk gun and range toy. I know it's a low cost hunk of primarily plastic, but so is the Hi Point and I have firsthand experience that they are reliable. Anybody care to share their Sub2000 experiences?

 

[1stmarine]

My personal experience resulted in lots of problems with a couple of trips back to the factory.
Other fellows who got into them at the local range had similar problems.
I think they produce an innovative product and they are fun but execution lacks.
I don't even care about the cosmetics or finishing that is subjective but key components and function.
I think they are ok for backpacking and occasional use and as soon as they are not for for any type of serious duty.
Even for a budget gun it would be nice a bit more beefed up design and reliability.
I really like the idea of light modular systems.

 

[Speedo66]

. I know it's a low cost hunk of primarily plastic.....

As is the AR, but who's counting plastic pieces? I have one in 9mm, great gun that eats up cheap Russian steel like popcorn and never misses a beat. Get one, you'll like it.

 

[dusty14u]

I have a 9mm that takes Glock magazines. It has been reliable and hasn't missed a beat. My step sons love to do mag dumps using the 33 rd mags and it has held up. The accuracy is fairly decent at 50 yds and I can hit a target at 100. It is more accurate at 100 than I am because of my old eyes. I like to put it in a computer bag and take it on trips when I stay at hotels. Lightweight (4.5lbs) and folds in half so it is very easy to conceal.

 

[Walkalong]

Mine 9MM Sub 2000 has always worked, although the plastic mag catch wore out. They sent me a steel one which I put in. Still works. They offered to put it in or send me one. I opted to put it in myself.

They have a short length of pull, not much to rest your cheek on, but are very shootable (IMHO) despite that. I have had it a long time, and I'll be keeping it.

I had a Sub 2000 in .40, but sold it to another THR member. It also worked well. My kids shot a lot of rounds through my 9MM Sub 2000. Well, I shot a few too.

 

[SteadyD]

I've have a 1st gen 9mm sized for glock 17 mags. I shoot rifles lefty and it would drop the mag sometimes because the mag release sticks out so far that I'd bump it with my trigger finger. I took a drimmel to the release and that did the trick. I've never had a problem with it (never have cleaned it, not even once ) but the round count is pretty low on it. The grip seems cheap and flimsy but it is what it is. I liked my cx4 storm better, all told.

 

[entropy]

I recommend not shooting steel cased ammo through them. I had four KA-BOOMS in my S&W mag. version-all with steel cased ammo. Three of them were reloaded Tula 9mm Boxer primed cases (done as a feasablilty study, which needlessly to say, failed) and a Chinese steel cased surplus round that caused some light injury beyond the numb hands from the other three. (all fired out of battery-it never happened with factory or reloaded brass, or the factory Tula.) As 100% reliability with whatever ammo might be available was a non-negotiable parameter for me, I traded it for a Star BM with caveat to the buyer to not shoot steel cased ammo. Other wise, I found it accurate, a joy to shoot, and very handy.

 

[ewlyon]

I have a gen 2 in .40 that I bought during this past summer. Nothing but reliable with both factory ammo and lead reloads, seems accurate although the factory sights are garbage and mounting an optic while retaining the folding feature is a little restrictive. I put in a few aftermarket parts (trigger, folding lever), but in hindsight I shouldn't have bothered. Only a slight improvement and not worth the hassle of taking the kel tec apart and getting it back together.
The one thing I wished I had known before I bought it was that the recoil is actually quite unpleasant. Between the blowback design and the bare buffer tube, each shot feels a bit like a smack to the cheek. It takes a bit of getting used to. The one change I am glad I made was putting a sleeve over the tube for padding.

 

[Speedo66]

I recommend not shooting steel cased ammo through them. I had four KA-BOOMS in my S&W mag. version-all with steel cased ammo. Three of them were reloaded Tula 9mm Boxer primed cases (done as a feasablilty study, which needlessly to say, failed) and a Chinese steel cased surplus round that caused some light injury beyond the numb hands from the other three. (all fired out of battery-it never happened with factory or reloaded brass, or the factory Tula.) As 100% reliability with whatever ammo might be available was a non-negotiable parameter for me, I traded it for a Star BM with caveat to the buyer to not shoot steel cased ammo. Other wise, I found it accurate, a joy to shoot, and very handy.

I have a hard time understanding how you can categorically not recommend steel ammo when your problems with them were admittedly caused by your own tinkering with reloading steel cases, and the other by pretty much non available Chinese surplus. Commercially available (non home reloaded) Wolf steel ammo works fine, I've had no problems with it, I recommend it.

 

[Stumper]

I have one in 9mm. Very reliable, acceptably accurate(not nearly as accurate as the Beretta Storm though) NOT comfortable to shoot. The folding feature is uber-cool but to make it all work it is necessary for most face shapes to cheek it hard in order to see the sights and it beats me up in extended shooting.....so I recommend-what else fits in a satchel with 200 rounds in loaded mags to toss in the car inconspicuously but the Storm carbine is a much nicer range gun.

 

[jonnyc]

I've tried the Sub, HP995, and CX4. All are neat, but I didn't like the cheek weld on the Sub, didn't like the trigger on the Storm. Even with the mag issue, I still have the Hi-Point.

 

[entropy]

I have a hard time understanding how you can categorically not recommend steel ammo when your problems with them were admittedly caused by your own tinkering with reloading steel cases, and the other by pretty much non available Chinese surplus. Commercially available (non home reloaded) Wolf steel ammo works fine, I've had no problems with it, I recommend it.

Basically so someone doesn't get a hold of some Chinese surplus, (yes it's out there. The guy who was injured shooting the Kel-Tec brought it with-we had shot quite a bit of it through his 9mm Chinese Tokarev.) and end up digging small steel fragments from their chest. Yes the reloaded Wolf wasn't a great idea, but some folks do reload steel. And I did say the factory Wolf worked fine. OK, amend my statement to a caveat while shooting steel.

 

[Elkins45]

The best bargain for one now seems to be the 40 models that take Beretta 96 mags, but I don't own a Beretta 96 so the mag cost would quickly offset the lower cost unless there's a source of cheap, good used mags from a police trade in.

The ones that take Glock mags are hardest to find, but I may get the M&P 40 model. I have a M&P 357 and the mags are the same even if the ammo isn't.

 

[Fleetman]

Mine is the go-to for groundhogs at my place. A friend of mine did the forend and brake before losing his sight.

 

[WessonOil]

I'm considering a Sub2000 in 40 S&W as a trunk gun and range toy. I know it's a low cost hunk of primarily plastic, but so is the Hi Point and I have firsthand experience that they are reliable. Anybody care to share their Sub2000 experiences?

For what it's worth I was minutes away from purchasing the Sub 2000 for 3 Gun in 9mm when the Freedom Ordnance FX-9 popped up at $599.00 and I went with it.

It too uses Glock mags and while it doesn't fold in half (not really sure that's so big a deal) the stock does telescope.

 

[WYO]

I've got the latest iteration of the Gen 2 in 9mm (Glock 19) and, so far, so good. I have not had any malfunctions with factory or handloaded ammo. The front sight post appears to be too short to allow a traditional ghost ring sight picture. (It will shoot too high for me if centered.) Once I got it figured out, it seems to work pretty well out to 100 yards, and I definitely am faster than with my Glock 19 for consistently hitting a 3"X5" index card offhand at 50 feet. It should get a better evaluation after hunting season.

 

[Nature Boy]

For what it's worth I was minutes away from purchasing the Sub 2000 for 3 Gun in 9mm when the Freedom Ordnance FX-9 popped up at $599.00 and I went with it.

That looks like it could scratch my 9mm carbine itch

 

[bassjam]

The ones that take Glock mags are hardest to find, but I may get the M&P 40 model. I have a M&P 357 and the mags are the same even if the ammo isn't.

Maybe that depends on where you live. Around here just about every one I see for sale in 9mm and .40 takes Glock mags, but I want one that accepts SIG mags.

 

[Mosin Bubba]

I know a guy who has one in 40 S&W, he paid a premium for one because he wanted a long gun that could fit in his motorcycle bag.

It fills that job well, but according to him, it kicks a lot more than you'd think. I'd guess it's because of the gun's light weight and the position of your head on the stock.

 

[Speedo66]

.......... and while it doesn't fold in half (not really sure that's so big a deal)...... .

It's a big deal to people who live in an urban or suburban environment and wish to keep their gun ownership private. Nobody looks twice at a laptop bag, which the K-T fits in when folded.

 

[ewlyon]

The folding ability of the Sub2k is neat but comparing my Sub2k to my MPX with a sidefolding brace makes less attractive. A sidefolding brace allows a pistol length barrel and when folded is very compact. The sub2k is flatter when folded, but you lose the ability to mount optics normally. While the longer barrel does boost velocity a bit, it does not make a pistol cartridge into a rifle cartridge.
For me, the MPX is worth the extra cost and proprietary mags. Easier to shoot, just as compact, very high quality, more traditional design. But, the sub2k is readily available in 40 and can use cheap and available pistol mags so I am glad I got one.

 

[anchor]

I hear of this gun. My opinion inferior to VZ Evo and for me, almost same price. Kel-Tec maybe have issue with early generation aimsight?

 

[WessonOil]

It's a big deal to people who live in an urban or suburban environment and wish to keep their gun ownership private. Nobody looks twice at a laptop bag, which the K-T fits in when folded.

In my case optics were going to be mounted for 3 Gun, which is awkward with the folding stock.

Outside of that, I think the Kel Tec is a great gun in that price class.

On a funny note, some years back I read a post online where a gun owner cringed whenever he had to carry a rifle case to his vehicle, in fear it would tip off potential thieves.
To solve the problem he bought a trombone case.

 

[Speedo66]

I used to carry a rifle on the NYC subways in a marked Venetian blinds box. Most people believe what they read.

 

[Legionnaire]

I have never shot one, but have handled many. Just could never bring myself to "pull the trigger." I've had a couple of Kel-Tec P11s over the years, and one of the very first P32 mouse guns; they all worked just fine, so it isn't a general aversion to Kel-Tec. But as I noted on the "aesthetics" thread, I won't own a gun I don't like the look and feel of.

I recently purchased a Just Right Carbine take-down model (Glock magazines) that scratched my stowable PCC itch. Not as fast to deploy as the Kel-Tec, but I like the feel of it. YMMV.