Kel-Tec in general

[Bitter Muppet]

It all started when I started looking into some kind of ak-47 pistol or ar-15 pistol and I ran across the PLR-16 and the SU-16D9 from Kel-Tec.

First off, I know that a large number of readers feel that any sort of "pistol" like this has no place in the world and is entirely impractical. Go rant about that somewhere else because I want one (whether it's a Kel-Tec remains to be seen).

I've seen other threads about the PLR-16 but none about the SU-16D series.

Basically I'm trying to get a feel for what the firearms community thinks about Kel-Tec in general. Until I saw the PLR-16 almost a year ago I never heard of them.

Are they worth the money? Do they stand behind their product? Do Kel-Tec owners regret their purchases or buy more?

Let me know if you own one or know someone who does.....Not just the two models I mentioned but any Ket-Tec.

[Sloppy Joe2]

one of my buddies just bought a PLR-16, and he seems happy with it. dont know much beyond that, but from opinions flying around they seem to be decent firearms.

[punchinout]

The only Kel-Tec product i've had good luck with was the PLR-16. I've heard good things about the SU16 family...i just never liked the way the handled. The PLR's are sick guns to plink with, loud and just plain cool.

I'm waiting to see how this whole .308 bullpup turns out.

[Bitter Muppet]

The only Kel-Tec product i've had good luck with was the PLR-16. I've heard good things about the SU16 family...i just never liked the way the handled. The PLR's are sick guns to plink with, loud and just plain cool.

I'm waiting to see how this whole .308 bullpup turns out.

I'm unusually cautious about that one. I'm thinking of a "catastrophic failure" but instead of at arm's length it would be next to your face.

Funny though because I don't hesitate to put my Mini-14 in a bullpup.

[sergey31]

I like my SU16, it's accurate, accepts AR15 mags, can be modified a little bit and so far has been very reliable, I bought mine about 4 years ago. Well worth the $ if you ask me.

I'm actually thinking of getting another, CA model
http://www.impactguns.com/store/media/keltec_SU-16CA.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0803/sergey25/Guns/kt6.jpg

[Bitter Muppet]

I like my SU16, it's accurate, accepts AR15 mags, can be modified a little bit and so far has been very reliable, I bought mine about 4 years ago. Well worth the $ if you ask me.

I'm actually thinking of getting another, CA model
http://www.impactguns.com/store/media/keltec_SU-16CA.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0803/sergey25/Guns/kt6.jpg
Thank yoU! That's what I'm looking for. So 4 years and you can still call it reliable?
I'm so tempted to get some type of AR but I still hear issues about them not being the most reliable thing to shoot...even when compared to a Mini-14. Of course they have the legendary accuracy.

How's the accuracy on your Kel-Tec?
About how many rounds have you fired though it?
Is the forend grip you have there with the rails on it the one they sell for the PLR-16 or is it a quad-rail that is for AR/M16 that you were able to fit?

[sergey31]

Thank yoU! That's what I'm looking for. So 4 years and you can still call it reliable?
Yes, I don't shoot as much as I would like but whenever I get a chance to shoot it it's always works.


I'm so tempted to get some type of AR but I still hear issues about them not being the most reliable thing to shoot...even when compared to a Mini-14. Of course they have the legendary accuracy.
In a way you are right, AR15 is a very accurate and nice rifle but the gas system is it's main drawback, anyway you look at it its not a nice thing for burnt powder reseidue to be blown back in to action.
SU 16 has pretty much the same bolt as AR but it uses piston similar to AK so it's a best of both worlds.
And yes, it will out shoot stock Mini 14 any day.


How's the accuracy on your Kel-Tec?
I can do 1.5" at 100yd fairly easy with this scope
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0803/sergey25/Guns/GT09.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0803/sergey25/Guns/GT03.jpg
although I'm not sure about PLR 16 accuracy.


About how many rounds have you fired though it?
About 1,200 +/-

Is the forend grip you have there with the rails on it the one they sell for the PLR-16 or is it a quad-rail that is for AR/M16 that you were able to fit?
No, The main (lower) is a add on or replacement from Kel Tec and the side ones are regular rail for AR that I was able to fit.

[Bitter Muppet]

I really appreciate all the feedback about your rifle. I'm almost positive I'm going to dive into the PLR-16 first but if all goes well I'll probably get the SU-16C second. If you can PM me any info on that quad-rail or what I might need to buy if I want to put that on the SU-16C (safe bet I'll be getting them both).

Anyone else have any experience with Kel-Tec?

[orionhawk]

I have a PF9, their new slimline 9mm pistol. It was cheap, and I needed a pocketable carry pistol. had a couple of minor malfunctions in the 200 rds I put thru it at first shoot, I don't remember what kind. gun weighs about 14oz. never shooting 200 rds thru it at once again. slide stop lever is very definitely a slide stop ONLY. impossible to release slide using just down pressure on lever. I tried to take it down far enough to polish down the edge of the lever, and rendered it nonfunctional. the local gunsmith I took it to got it functional, but broke other vital parts to the point where it could easily throw its slide down-range. I am gonna have to send it to the manufacturer and get it fixed. they have a very good reputation for service; effctively, anything broken, short of a blown-up gun, they fix free. anything lost, they will replace cheap. the company appears to encourage amateur gunsmiths.

Kel-Tecs have a rep of looking like they're molded out of play-do. lots of little molding seams and fit/finish issues. The PF9 fixed a bunch of those.

I have heard only good things about the 16 series, other than from those who automatically reject all Kel-Tecs.

[Bitter Muppet]

Thank you Orionhawk.
That sucks about your pistol. I mean it's good to know that they'll stand behind you when you have a problem but I'd almost prefer to have an uncooperative manufacturer that just gets it right the first time.

Glad to hear that after all that you still endorse them for the 16's.

[orionhawk]

they got it pretty much right, I'm more po'd that I fisked it up, and much more po'd that my local smith then cursed me out when I tried to give him the opportunity to fix the stuff he screwed up.

I'm debating contacting the county bbb, but I just get too pissed whenever I think about it, and they probably wouldn't care, since it involves any evil gun.

[Bitter Muppet]

they got it pretty much right, I'm more po'd that I fisked it up, and much more po'd that my local smith then cursed me out when I tried to give him the opportunity to fix the stuff he screwed up.

I'm debating contacting the county bbb, but I just get too pissed whenever I think about it, and they probably wouldn't care, since it involves any evil gun.



This is why my most feared weapon is my PPL card ;)
PPL=PrePaid Legal.
I find it's just a common thing for gunsmiths and gunshop owners to be ****s and I have yet to figure out why. A lawyer getting involved usually makes them STFU.

****before the entire community here flames me for that comment I have to say that it certainly doesn't apply to ALL the gunshops or gunsmiths that I've ever dealt with but for some reason the majority of them seem to have a chip on their shoulder and that's just not good for business.

[LimaOscarSierraTango]

I've had my SU16 for a couple of years now. It's fairly picky on ammo (a few cartridge ejection issues with cheap brass...but fired Wolf and some others ok), but still a fun rifle to shoot. I've got a few friends hooked on it, and one of them picked up their own and loves it.

A lot of people say Kel-Tec is cheap and you get what you pay for. I've really enjoyed mine, but it sits more after building my AR. :oops:

Kel-Tec has a small BB with a ton of info over at KTOG.org. Do some research over there and see if that helps with your decision at all.

[Bitter Muppet]

I've had my SU16 for a couple of years now. It's fairly picky on ammo (a few cartridge ejection issues with cheap brass...but fired Wolf and some others ok), but still a fun rifle to shoot. I've got a few friends hooked on it, and one of them picked up their own and loves it.

A lot of people say Kel-Tec is cheap and you get what you pay for. I've really enjoyed mine, but it sits more after building my AR. :oops:

Kel-Tec has a small BB with a ton of info over at KTOG.org. Do some research over there and see if that helps with your decision at all.

That's a great idea and thank you for the link.

[James]

****before the entire community here flames me for that comment I have to say that it certainly doesn't apply to ALL the gunshops or gunsmiths that I've ever dealt with but for some reason the majority of them seem to have a chip on their shoulder and that's just not good for business.

Oh, I agree, there are a lot like that. You contact them and say "Hi, I'd like you to perform the work that you advertise yourself as doing, and I will pay you a great deal of money for your time and expertise." First they are hard to pin down and get any kind of commitment from, and then they act like they're doing you a huge favor. This was a big reason I became interested in learning to do things myself.

[Bitter Muppet]

Oh, I agree, there are a lot like that. You contact them and say "Hi, I'd like you to perform the work that you advertise yourself as doing, and I will pay you a great deal of money for your time and expertise." First they are hard to pin down and get any kind of commitment from, and then they act like they're doing you a huge favor. This was a big reason I became interested in learning to do things myself.

LOL.....same reason why I learned how to build & repair computers and design networks ;)