Any love for the KelTec Sub 2000?

[otis24]

Does anyone have any live for the KelTec Sub 2000? I’ve been hankering for a 9mm carbine. I found the Ruger to be a little heavy and the Henry Homesteader is not affordable for me at this time. I just picked up a KelTec Sub 2000 Multi Mag on trade. Does anyone else have one? What are your impressions?

 

[hkcavalier]

I had one for a number of years, but as a lefty shooter I could never mitigate the hot powder blowing back into my face. I had a somewhat unusual hard chromed S&W 59 mag compatible model. I did have fun getting some aftermarket parts for it, but in the end it just wasn't fun to shoot and sight adjustments were a big PITA.

In the PPC hierarchy, they are above the Hi-Point carbine, but nothing else.

 

[crc4]

Does anyone have any live for the KelTec Sub 2000? I’ve been hankering for a 9mm carbine. I found the Ruger to be a little heavy and the Henry Homesteader is not affordable for me at this time. I just picked up a KelTec Sub 2000 Multi Mag on trade. Does anyone else have one? What are your impressions?

Since the S&W FPC arrived the price for a new Keltec has fallen by 100-200. The plastic trigger group of the Keltec isn't popular and aftermarket parts to semi-improve it make the price of an improved Keltech close to an FPC.

Considering the price of a FPC and it being a major step-up from the Keltec in several critical ways, Keltec's popularity has seriously declined.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I have a friend that works at a LGS. He loves them and is the SUB 2000 salesman of the year. He gets fair or better carbine accuracy by firing 50-100 rounds a week. Folded in his small pack it goes everywhere.

They are only in 9mm or 40 S&W, I don't do those rounds anymore. So all my lever PCC's are in Cowboy cartridges, 357, 44 Special and 45 Colt. My Simiauto PCC's are in 45 ACP and 30 M-1. Not really a fan little plastic guns.

Ivan

 

[alwslate]

I have a Ruger standard model 9mm carbine, bought for a very reasonable price on sale from Rural King. It's a bit heavy, seems to be very high quality and a little overbuilt for the 9mm round. Stock is very strong synthetic, not cheap plastic. It should last a couple of lifetimes. A best buy among 9mm PCCs in my opinion.

 

[Model 15-4ever]

I've owned a Glock-version Sub-2000 Gen 1 for 20 years, and also had a Gen 2 and later sold it. Fired several hundred rounds out of them.

Honestly, it's light-duty. The latch mechanism for the folding action is polymer. It's not rare to see them cracked under varying levels of use/abuse. Never happened to me, but after enough reports, I save the gun for emergency use only.

It's neither easy to operate nor fun to shoot. The "iron" sights are set rather low considering the straight-line stock/recoil spring tube, and acquiring a proper stock weld takes work. And once you do, you get whacked every shot as the steel recoil tube is right on your cheekbone, not under it.

The controls, especially the cocking handle, are difficult to operate and in an inconvenient position. The crossbolt safety works opposite of every other crossbolt safety.

The front sight is light duty and difficult to adjust on the Gen 1; on the Gen 2 it's merely wiggly (un-solid).

Mounting a RDS on this firearm is an aftermarket Rube Goldberg style affair which also defeats the purpose of the carbine as being lightweight, compact and simple. Maintaining zero with any of the RDS mounting options is crop shoot.

Recoil is substantial for a 9mm, since it is straight blowback and a light weight firearm with a nice hard checkered polymer buttstock. Also, do not entertain the thought of ever completely disassembling this firearm. It is a collection of screws and small wound springs and other small miserable components that you will regret trying to re-assemble.

Having said all that, it is reliable. Never had any kind of a malfunction with any 9mm ammo.

I have a PC Carbine - which is not without it's own set of Ruger-level fail - but I shoot that a heck of lot more often, and I think it's the better choice if you don't require lightweight.

The Sub-2000 has it's share of fanboys who mostly are into "cool gadgets" and spend an equivalent sum of the purchase price in various aftermarket accessories, the end result being no more capable than the stock original. It's like buying a Mini-14, and a bunch of aftermarket items, and when you are all said and done, for the same money you could have purchased a more capable AR and a whole lotta ammo.

 

[alwslate]

Checked prices on GB. About $459 for the Keltec and $549 for the Ruger. Buying the Keltec to save $100 as the saying goes would be penny wise and pound foolish. If you bought the Keltec and later wanted to sell it who would give you anything close to your money back?

 

[Tom K]

I like the KelTec for its compact size and lightness, and the folding feature is kinda neato. The "iron" sights on it are virtually unusable, an optic of some kind is nearly mandated. I put a red dot sight on it using a 45 degree side mount so that it will still fold. An alternative would be a quick-detach sight mount, or just leave it unfolded - it's still very compact either way.

I also have the Ruger PCC which by comparison to the KelTec feels heavy and solid, which has its own appeal. Both are set up for Glock mags, but the KelTec can also be had in S&W M&P or Sig flavor, and even in .40 S&W.

I'm left eye dominant so I shoot long guns left handed. As I have it set up with the 45 degree red dot mount, it actually works pretty well left handed. Canting the gun 45 degrees to the right points the ejection port downward, away from my face. It's not at all uncomfortable or unnatural to hold it that way, just different. Bonus for reloaders - the brass falls more at your feet rather than being flung away.

I also have the stock adjusted for maximum length of pull and a Missouri Tactical recoil pad added, which moves the ejection port even further away from my face. The recoil pad is designed specifically for the Sub2000 so it just snaps right on, and is notched at the top so that it doesn't interfere with folding the gun.

I do have to say the trigger is pretty terrible. There are spring kits available but I haven't gotten around to trying one yet.

 

[rwsmith]

There are MANY reason that I like.......

...the Kel tec and a few that I don't. I am a real CARBINE NUT. It was maybe the first 9mm carbine available that was designed for consumers and and I actually coughed up for new one. I've shot the dickens out of it and it's an extremely fun gun. It's light, compact and handy. Simple in design and shoots well. The folding design is ingenious and makes it ultimately portable to backpack or whatever. When I go to the range I may have a rifle or two in cases but my Kel tec is folded up in my range bag.

Now the bad points. You really have to work to get your head in a position to see well through the sights. If you put an optic that folds out of the way it's really expensive (unless they've come up with something new) The phoney plastic nut keeps coming loose, I've a mind to tack it down with something. I ended up getting a Ruger which has it's own very good points, and I consider the Kel tec to be a 'skeleton gun' in comparison. The last problem is a big one. It pulls my beard hair that catches in some cracks.

 

[Tom K]

Checked prices on GB. About $459 for the Keltec and $549 for the Ruger. Buying the Keltec to save $100 as the saying goes would be penny wise and pound foolish. If you bought the Keltec and later wanted to sell it who would give you anything close to your money back?

I see several NIB Sub2000s on GB with Buy-Now prices under $400. Kel-Tec also has a $100 rebate on the Sub2000 good through March 1, 2024. SUB2000 $100 Rebate Promotion - KelTec That puts the base price for a Sub2000 under $300. Of course if you go through GB, there will be taxes, shipping and FFL fees added for either gun.

 

[LVSteve]

The Sub 2000 was always at least $150 overpriced for what it is. In fact, most PCCs are stupid overpriced. The perfect example of this is the price of AR based 9mm carbines. With the exception of the radial delayed blowback guns, I cannot see where the $800+ cost comes from, especially when I am getting emails twice a week showing 5.56 NATO ARs for sale at $349.

I own a Hi Point 995. Low capacity and execrable trigger are features, but mine will shoot 2" groups at 50 yards with a red dot and it cost me less than $200.

 

[Fishinfool]

If you have to have a folder, it looks to me like the S&W is the way to go. I have shot a few Sub2000's, and was never really impressed, though its compact folding design made it a great pack / stow away gun.

Otherwise I might take a real close look at the Beretta CX4 Storm 9mm carbine. Very lightweight and compact, with an almost semi-bull pup design. Feature rich and reliable. Soft shooting and accurate. And importantly, unlike a lot of 9mm carbines, it is very ergonomic, and just feels great in the hands. I have about a case and a half thru mine so far, with no issues. The kicker is just this week, I have noticed several retailers have them marked down to five hundred and change. A lot of gun for the money.

Larry

 

[rwsmith]

The Keltec and Ruger...

The 3 brands I’ve fired over the years and have never cared for are KelTec, Kahr and Secamp. I’ve never owned any of them but have shot friends guns and have had major reliability issues. I could just be unlucky but that has been my experience.

... are very reliable for me and I'll bet that the Beretta Storm PCC would be reliable.

 

[alwslate]

I see several NIB Sub2000s on GB with Buy-Now prices under $400. Kel-Tec also has a $100 rebate on the Sub2000 good through March 1, 2024. SUB2000 $100 Rebate Promotion - KelTec That puts the base price for a Sub2000 under $300. Of course if you go through GB, there will be taxes, shipping and FFL fees added for either gun.

The best price I've seen with a rebate comes out to a bit over $300. That means dealers get them for less. So what ever a buyer pays if he decides to trade his used one in at a gun shop or show he is probably going to get an offer of about $150 or so.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I despise every ugly thing keltec makes.....

 

[Hawg Rider]

Here in Central Florida, George Kellgren and Kel-Tec are a firearms institution. Kel-Tec firearms are extremely popular, very reliable, and reasonably priced. My son manages several Florida gun stores, and they sell a bunch of K-T guns and he says that their customer service is outstanding. The attached photo is a Kel-Tec display wall that is under construction at one of my son's gun stores (sponsored by Kel-Tec). Kel-Tec recently acquired a facility in Wyoming to augment their Cocoa design and manufacturing plant. Regarding your Sub2000...read this 2022 excerpt from the BCSO. They obviously feel that the Sub2000 is a dependable PCC. Many of the Deputies that we see at our local schools have one strapped across their chest.

"COCOA, FL, August 12, 2022 – The Brevard County Sheriff’s office has ordered 42 KelTec SUB2000 rifles as part of the new uniform and level of preparedness for School Resource Deputies. These SUB2000 rifles will meet the needs of the new School Resource Deputy uniforms...". Enjoy!

 

[rwsmith]

I have a solution....

The best price I've seen with a rebate comes out to a bit over $300. That means dealers get them for less. So what ever a buyer pays if he decides to trade his used one in at a gun shop or show he is probably going to get an offer of about $150 or so.

Don't trade it in. I know I'll never get what I paid for mine when they were new and hard to find.

 

[rockquarry]

The 3 brands I’ve fired over the years and have never cared for are KelTec, Kahr and Secamp. I’ve never owned any of them but have shot friends guns and have had major reliability issues. I could just be unlucky but that has been my experience.

I'm not criticizing Keltec as I know nothing about them, but based on statements like the above, it seems it would make good sense to just spend more and get a Colt. That way you should have reliability, accuracy, and resale value should you ever want to trade or sell - you'll have something desirable to many rather than just a few.

 

[Inusuit]

KelTec. Love 'em or hate 'em. I happen to like them and have several - PMR30 (2), PF9, P11, P40, Sub2000 Gen 2, P3AT, P32. All have been reliable. I do prefer other handguns for EDC.

Made some minor mods to the Sub2000 Glock version. Recoil pad, tube cover, bolt handle wrap, etc. Buying today, I would probably get the Ruger. The Sub2000 meets my needs for a lightweight, foldable, reasonably accurate 9mm PCC.

 

[Rammer Jammer]

I've only shot one once. The small size makes it hard to "get down" on the rifle and use the sights properly.