Kel-Tec SUB-2000

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The SUB-2000 is a pistol-caliber carbine manufactured by Kel-Tec CNC Industries of Cocoa, FL. The rifle is a blowback operated, semiautomatic firearm with its operating spring located in the tubular stock. It feeds from a grip-located magazine well from magazines designed for various pistols, and is an inexpensive carbine. The distinguishing characteristic of this rifle is that it folds in half for storage and transportation.

1 Design
2 Users
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] Design

It is available in two versions chambered for 9 mm or .40 S&W caliber cartridges. It was designed by George Kelgren, a Swedish-American designer who also designed many earlier Husqvarna (in Sweden), Intratec, and Grendel brand firearms.

The gun is constructed from two plastic shells joined together. The bolt is solid steel and the buttstock is tubular and houses the operating spring and bolt. The front site tower is plastic as is the butt. The SUB-2000 uses an internal hammer and is single action. A manually-operated cross-bolt safety is provided. Magazines are retained in the pistol grip with a push-button located on the side of the grip.

The basic SUB-2000 design is implemented in a rather unusual folding design that folds for storage into half its total extended length. Folding is accomplished by pulling downward on the trigger guard and swinging the barrel assembly back over the top of the rifle. A latch in the buttstock secures to the front site housing. The gun cannot be fired when folded. A compact rifle even when extended, when folded, the SUB-2000 is easily concealable.

The SUB-2000 has an effective range of over 100 m. At distances closer than 50 m, the 9mm bullet approaches the muzzle velocity of a .357 Magnum. At 200 m, velocity approximates .380 ACP muzzle velocities. The SUB-2000 weighs 4 pounds (1.8 kg) unloaded.

[edit] Users

There is a wide market for this type of weapon. Law enforcement use the weapon to supplement their pistols which utilize the same magazine. This simplifies logistics, while providing greater range with high accuracy in certain circumstances. It is also utilized by some backpackers and campers, supplanting the now-discontinued wooden-stocked nonfolding Marlin Camp Carbine as a utilitarian pistol-caliber carbine. Sporting users of this rifle are drawn to its light weight and the ability to use high-capacity magazines for informal competition and plinking.