Keltec Su16

[daniel craig]

Any y’all own one? Seems like a good choice for someone who doesn’t like AR ergos. I’ve heard they’re fairly reliable too. What are your impressions?

 

[denton]

I like mine a lot.

If you are going to mount a scope, it needs to be a short one, or you have to remove the scope to disassemble it.

Mine shoots about 2 MOA, which is plenty for my use.

It's light, handy, and folds down nicely. Even fits in some tennis racket cases.

 

[tactikel]

I've had my SU-16C for over 10 years and really like it. At the time where I lived ARs and AKs were banned so it was my only choice. I've learned to appreciate it's strengths: light weight, ability to fire when folded, packability, and reasonable accuracy (2 moa). It will not jam.
It is NOT a battle rifle like the AR ( I now own 2) but a sport utility carbine, it does everything well, but nothing great. My has over 6K rounds thru her with only 1 trip back to KelTec.

 

[daniel craig]

I've had my SU-16C for over 10 years and really like it. At the time where I lived ARs and AKs were banned so it was my only choice. I've learned to appreciate it's strengths: light weight, ability to fire when folded, packability, and reasonable accuracy (2 moa). It will not jam.
It is NOT a battle rifle like the AR ( I now own 2) but a sport utility carbine, it does everything well, but nothing great. My has over 6K rounds thru her with only 1 trip back to KelTec.

That’s all I need!

 

[daniel craig]

I like mine a lot.

If you are going to mount a scope, it needs to be a short one, or you have to remove the scope to disassemble it.

Mine shoots about 2 MOA, which is plenty for my use.

It's light, handy, and folds down nicely. Even fits in some tennis racket cases.

2 MOA is about as good as a mini 14 and those are twice the price.

 

[Cornhusker77]

I've got an old SU16A, and for all the reasons stated above, I really like it.
It's light weight, accurate enough for my use and it's kinda different.

 

[greyling22]

I really wanted a C or even a CA model, but when I finally got hold of one, they just felt so CHEAP. I really really wish keltec would just become a design studio and sell their designs to some outfit that would build a higher quality weapon. Or else cut their prices. When AR's were $800, a $400 su16 seemed like a better value than when AR's became $400.

And to be clear, I'm not talking about actual durability or function, I'm talking feel. The benchmade bugout is a great knife, but the plastic handles flex and so it FEELS cheap. But the design is solid, so people replace the plastic scales with something more rigid and are very happy. I think the su16 is the bugout of the gun world. It could use some stiffening etc. I feel much the same way about the ruger american rifle.

 

[troy fairweather]

I'd look into the keltec rdb survival as well.

 

[daniel craig]

I'd look into the keltec rdb survival as well.

Apparently the models without the pistol grip are hard to find... at least in the under $500 range.

 

[troy fairweather]

Apparently the models without the pistol grip are hard to find... at least in the under $500 range.

There a more expensive gun, around $800. The cheap for a bullpub.

 

[daniel craig]

There a more expensive gun, around $800. The cheap for a bullpub.

I’m looking for a centerfire semi-auto rifle for about as cheap as one can be had, thay isn’t an AR

 

[WestKentucky]

If your specifically looking for rifle calibers then that’s one thing, but if your open to pistol calibers then I would also suggest looking at the sub2k.

 

[troy fairweather]

If you want cheap get a sks.

 

[daniel craig]

If you want cheap get a sks.

That’s the plan right now. I’m probably just going to bite the bullet and take my chances ordering one from Classic

 

[zaitcev]

SU was introduced before red dots became ubiquitous on rifles. It is intended to be used with a cheap scope, a-la Ruger Mini-14 Ranch. So, co-witnessing with the red dot is a problem. The comb is low, so if you put the red dot on a raiser, you get a jaw weld. But you cannot jam it low enough for the stock sights to be visible. Some people report success with TRS-25, but it didn't work for me (not without swapping the rear for TechSight). Overall, the gun has a lot of baggage from the 2001. KelTec never updated it, while ARs made major strides in the meantime.

 

[tubeshooter]

I bought one of these fairly recently as an impulse buy. I got the "A" model.

Haven't fired it yet, but I have no delusions about what to expect. For me it is something that will take AR mags that isn't an AR. On a related note - I may go on to pick up a Mossberg MVP one day for basically the same reason.

The shop had brand new Mini-14s also that day, but they were running 2x the price. I've always kind of liked the Mini...

I do wish the build quality was higher on my SU-16. I plan to go ahead and order the nicer front sight from Kel-Tec.


It's light, and it's different. And it's something the entry-level AR guys feel that they can look down their noses at, and that's fine too.

 

[daniel craig]

I ended up getting an SKS because the price was better and nobody had su16s in stock.

 

[MAKster]

I bought one when they first came out and were significantly less expensive than ARs. The price points have changed since then. To me the Kel-tec is a good idea but as Kel-tec does with most of their models they go too flimsy on the materials and ruin a good idea. All the screw heads holding it together look so cheap. My advice is only consider one if you specifically are looking for a semi-auto that has a traditional style stock and don't want something with a pistol grip.

 

[daniel craig]

I bought one when they first came out and were significantly less expensive than ARs. The price points have changed since then. To me the Kel-tec is a good idea but as Kel-tec does with most of their models they go too flimsy on the materials and ruin a good idea. All the screw heads holding it together look so cheap. My advice is only consider one if you specifically are looking for a semi-auto that has a traditional style stock and don't want something with a pistol grip.

That’s actually exactly what I’m looking for. Went with an SKs instead.

 

[Mosin Bubba]

That’s the plan right now. I’m probably just going to bite the bullet and take my chances ordering one from Classic

That’s actually exactly what I’m looking for. Went with an SKs instead.

The cosmetic condition of the SKS might be luck of the draw, but I don't know how in the heck you could stop one from functioning. Just clean it out really thoroughly if it's cosmo'ed...