Kel-Tec SUB-2000 Rifles

It looks like it’s built upside down. The innovative design will have you looking twice at the Kel tec Sub 2000. Designed to fit inside a backpack, this unique, futuristic semi-auto rifle features a hinged barrel and stock that swings to less than 16 inches in overall length. Kel Tec is known for its futuristic, alternative designs and this one is near the top.

The barrel is hinged just in front of the pistol grip and can be swung and locked into place, with the adjustable stock in less than 10 seconds. The futuristic design might catch you off guard, but the performance will surprise you. Compatible with Glock magazines and available in either 9mm or .40 Cal it extends to a manageable 30.5-inch length, has rear peep sights, and a fixed front sight. Capacity varies with the Glock magazines you choose. Lightweight at just 4.25 pounds it could be considered a concealed carry rifle.

Concealment, compatibility with Glock magazines, a high rate of reliable fire, and most importantly, fun, are the reasons to consider the Kel Tec Sub 2000. You can carry it easily in a backpack, knapsack, or carry-on-sized luggage. It’s light, easy to handle, and adjustable for any sized shooter. A 7-inch height, similar to many handguns combined with a rifle length 16.25-inch barrel adds to the uniqueness of this rifle. Kel Tec offers the Sub 2000 in either 1:10 or 1:16-inch twist barrels.

Designed by George Kellgren, the man who designed the wildly popular Tec-9, it is a well-engineered, futuristic firearm. Its availability in inexpensive 9mm or slightly more powerful .40 Cal makes it easy to find ammunition.

The Glock magazines available in 10, or 33-round capacities with a standard magazine and an impressive 50-round drum promise a lot of fun destroying targets in rapid style fire or thwarting a home invader with its impressive rate of fire.

• Caliber: 9mm (or .40)
• Length: 30.5” (16.25” when folded)
• Height: 7”, open or folded
• Barrel: 16.25” with 1:10” or 1:16” twist ratio
• Weight: 4.25 lb.
• Sights: Barrel-affixed steel front, rear peep sight
• Capacity: varies with magazine used (Glock & others)
• Color: Black

The prominent feature of the Sub 2000 is its futuristic appearance. It’s not like any other firearm you’ve ever seen. Aside from the initial impression, it’s a quality PCC with a convergence of pistol and AR features all wrapped into one. The 16.25-inch barrel is well suited to accurate, rapid-fire operation and compatibility with widely available Glock magazines offers several magazine capacity options.

Low-cost 9mm options or a jump up to .40 caliber are two features that proponents of either caliber can enjoy. The trigger is set heavier than most pistol shooters would choose, but it is effective, safe, and supports the rapid-fire option when emptying a 50-round drum magazine on a fun afternoon at the range.

On the plus side is the adjustable stock, but it comes with a caveat, the cheek rest is not comfortable and requires some getting used to. Some consider this more of a utility gun than a fun range model, but that is in the eye of the beholder. You can lose track of how many rounds you’ve fired especially with 33 and 50-round magazines but once it's empty, the “thunk” of the trigger hitting the empty chamber rather than the more common bolt flying back when a gun is empty lets you know immediately.