Kel Tech RFB Range Report

[FSJeeper]

Got around to shooting the RFB today. With Privi Ammo using 147 grain bullets the gas adjust settled in out at 10 clicks out. Took ten rounds to get it dialed in. Its a First Gen RFB with a mid 400's Serial Number. I put a Swarvorski 1.5 x 6 scope on it that seems perfect for this rifle.

I have read a lot of bad things about the early RFB's so took my time and fired about 80 rounds through it. Zero issues at all. Performed perfectly. Very windy in Texas today and because of the length and design, does not lend itself very well for fitting in my BullBag that I use to sight rifles in with. I averaged about 1 1/4" at 50 yards. I'll get serious about accuracy and handloads after I put a few hundred rounds through it and break it in.

First impressions was it has little recoil, handles very well, and I like it. I shoot left handed and the RFB is totally set up for both a right or left handed shooter which was a selling point with me. This thing is so different from my main go to M1A National Match it is going to take some time to get used to it but I think it is going to make a dandy fast handling brush and Hog rifle.

 

[TIMC]

You will find the need for a muzzle brake when using as a pig rifle if you are going to try and take multiple tagets when shooting. The muzzle flip on my RFB would throw me completely off the target area by the third shot when shooting at multiple targets. I solved this issue by adding a JP Enterprises muzzle brake, it made the gun very loud but very controllable during rapid fire.

I do however really like my RFB and find it to be more than accurate enough to be a good pig rifle. Here are some pics of mine in the field.

 

[wally]

I'd like to hear how yours goes. My longest run of shots without failure is something like 283. Its been back to Kel-Tec three times and I've done two broken part exchanges.

Love the way it handles, but because of the way the gas vents I doubt you'll ever be happy with shooting for groups. I doubt mine will ever earn enough confidence for anything but a range toy, but its a real hoot to shoot it suppressed. I use a 1.25-4X Trijicon Accupoint on mine.

 

[TIMC]

Which parts have you had issues with? Mine is one of the first 700 guns out and had a catastrophic gas block failure on the second round out of the gun but no issues since.

 

[urbaneruralite]

How's the muzzle blast feel vs a standard ~22" barreled rifle?

 

[FSJeeper]

Wally, stories like yours have always concerened me and there are a number of these out there. At the KTOG site they bear down into detail on issues.
I think it is safe to say that most RFB owners have not had issues and the ones that have had issues really make it known. At least Kel Tech makes it right on the service end.

Which suppresor are you running? I am interested in getting one for my RFB.

 

[Girodin]

Mine is one of the first 700 guns out and had a catastrophic gas block failure on the second round out of the gun but no issues since.

I mentioned the gas block problems on here once, and a KT apologist accused me of making it up.

I think it is safe to say that most RFB owners have not had issues and the ones that have had issues really make it known.

I think it is safe to say that given the number of guns actually released to the public there have been a pretty significant number of guns that have had some form of issue. We are not talking about a gun that has sold thousands and thousands and thousands of units and had a handful of online reports issued. We are talking about a gun that when mere hundreds were in the wild, we were seeing dozens and dozens of reports of problems, including the catastrophic gas block failures. Some things seem to have been addressed by KT. Overall I think I'd be hesitant to pay the price RFBs command given the RFBs rocky history. I still have never seen one in person for sale in a shop so it is largerly academic at this point anyways.

 

[wally]

Which parts have you had issues with?

Broken parts exchanges were the bolt assembly for the extractor/elevator mechanism, and the bolt carrier -- the welds holding the recoil spring guides broke.

Its not totally clear what was done to it the first two times back but the third time I basically got a new rifle around the original serial number. The bolt carrier broke after the third return, the bolt exchange happened between the first and second returns. I recall they replaced the gas block with the new design for the second return.

Which suppresor are you running? I am interested in getting one for my RFB.

Gemtech HVT-QD.

How's the muzzle blast feel vs a standard ~22" barreled rifle?

I don't notice much of anything different from my SA M1A when shooting it muzzle blast wise. However standing along side while someone else shoots it is much worse than for the M1A.