Keltec SU-16

[carbineer]

I am looking for an alternative for my AR here in the not so great anymore state of New York! A good friend suggested the Keltec Su-16 series and gave it a glowing review but I was hoping for a little broader opinion. Any one here have one or any experience with them?
Thanks in advance!

 

[browningguy]

There are dozens of long threads about them using the search function. I've had a c model for several years and it's pretty decent.

 

[greyling22]

Periodically I start wanting one pretty bad, then I handle one and it just feels a little cheesy to me so I put it off for a while. then the cycle repeats.

It is innovative and lightweight, and by all accounts runs pretty well, and I like the look of the CA model a great deal. It also feels cheap and overpriced. (not saying it is, just saying how it feels) If I can ever find one for 350 or so I will get one. until then...............

I might also take a look into a ruger mini-14 or 30, an sks, unconverted saiga, or a good 30/30 levergun. they don't have pistol grips and might be non-scary enough for NY.

 

[dvdcrr]

FWIW I think you would like it, I like my SU22, its rimfire cousin. I have looked at the C before.

 

[dvdcrr]

Another alternative to an AR for you might be a lever in 22 mag, or 357 mag. Pretty fast capability. Caveat I dont know your laws, check first.

 

[denton]

Here are two videos I did about mine:

http://youtu.be/8kjK6Fs9AtE

http://youtu.be/Y1Zi_8DucnI

The first thing to realize is that the SU-16C is NOT an AR-15 wannabe. It's a distinctly different design. It's lighter than a comparably equipped AR, and there's a little drop at the heel which makes it a bit more conventional. Mine shoots just fine.

It's more awkward to get a good sling on one. I thought the two split ring idea shown in the video was pretty slick, but it actually interferes quite a bit with shooting.

I do like the rod actuated mechanism rather than direct gas impingement. That's a plus for the SU.

I'm not impressed with the built in sights, but always intended to run it with a scope, so no matter to me. If I had it to do over, I would put the Nikon P223 scope on it. I have one on my AR, and it hits a real sweet spot with fixed 3X magnification.

I did a rudimentary trigger job on mine... lightened it up just a bit.

It lacks nothing in structural adequacy. If you miss the weight, you can always glue a brick inside the stock.

 

[carbineer]

Thanks for the input everyone. I did try to search and came up with nothing. I will give the search some more try's!

 

[meanmrmustard]

Beware using too much torque tightening mounts on receiver rail. I found that after cranking mine down actually pinched the receiver and wouldn't allow for takedown.

 

[Mohave-Tec]

Su16c

I bought mine in 2008 and for years told myself it would suffice for a small caliber semi-auto fighting carbine until one day I decided I just had to have the experience of building my own AR15.
Having thousands of rounds down range, I'll tell you the good and the bad starting with the bad.
Bad:
The very worst part about the SU16C is that the rail and the action have no direct mechanical link. There is no way to guarantee that a scope and the barrel will stay in a direct mechanical relation with one another therefore you can never depend on the carbine to be repeatably accurate as the relationship between the two changes.
The SU16C is an ass sometimes for field stripping. Its assembly is not intuitive and room for pushing parts past other parts for reassembly can be cause for much aggravation.
The weapon is finicky about what ammo it eats.
The frame has enough wobble as to not instill a great sense of confidence in its durability.
The bipod is worthless.
Good:
It is probably the finest bug-out gun on earth. With a flash hider, red dot and 20 round magazine it weighs just over 5 pounds. I fashioned a fiberglass scabbard that mounted to the right aluminum frame post of a quality external frame backpack. I could move freely in our rocky desert allowing me to scramble with my hands free but could deploy the carbine over my shoulder in one swift action and be in full battery in one second. To this day I know of no other system where a man can go from empty hands to deployed semi-auto that dependably and in the short a time.