Manufacturer Review: Kel-Tec

Kel-Tec overview and company background

The host introduces a manufacturer-focused video on Kel-Tec, noting that the company has been around since 1991 and is known for lightweight, unconventional firearms. Kel-Tec’s designs often look unusual but have developed strong followings, with models like the Sub2000 selling out frequently. The discussion frames Kel-Tec as a builder of practical, innovative guns that emphasize compact size and ease of use. The host mentions that many shooters seem to treat rifles like the Mosin-Nagant and carbines like the Sub2000 as early purchases, reflecting Kel-Tec’s appeal to newer gun owners. Overall, the segment sets up a tour of several Kel-Tec platforms and their distinctive features.

CP33 .22 LR pistol features and customization

Attention turns to the Kel-Tec CP33, a .22 Long Rifle pistol. The host clarifies that .22 LR refers to the caliber, while the CP33 is a pistol platform that uses a magazine holding 33 rounds of .22 LR. The gun includes fiber-optic sights and a full-length Picatinny rail along the top, making it easy to mount optics. The barrel is threaded, allowing the use of a suppressor. The host notes that owners frequently modify CP33s with stocks, pistol braces, slings, and various accessories, turning them into highly customized rimfire setups. The emphasis is on the CP33 being a light-recoiling, high-capacity .22 LR pistol that lends itself to experimentation and accessory mounting.

KSG bullpup shotgun and bullpup design basics

The video then covers the Kel-Tec KSG, a bullpup, pump-action 12-gauge shotgun with dual magazine tubes. Each tube holds seven shells, giving a total capacity of 14 plus one in the chamber. A selector allows the shooter to choose which tube feeds, enabling different loads on each side or alternating between tubes when the selector is centered. The host explains that in a bullpup design, the firing mechanism and chamber sit behind the trigger group, unlike traditional rifles such as the AR-15 where everything is forward of the grip. This layout keeps overall length compact without sacrificing barrel length, making the KSG a short, high-capacity shotgun while retaining a full-length barrel for performance.

RDB and RFB bullpup rifles and ejection systems

Kel-Tec’s RDB and RFB bullpup rifles are discussed as further examples of compact designs. The RDB (Rifle, Downward Ejecting Bullpup) and RFB (Rifle, Forward Ejecting Bullpup) use different ejection systems to improve ambidextrous use. One example shown is chambered in 5.56, while another Kel-Tec bullpup is noted as being available in .308. On the RDB, the ejection port is located at the rear, allowing spent cases to fall downward rather than out the side. This avoids issues common to some other bullpups, such as side ejection near a left-handed shooter’s face. The host compares these designs to platforms like the Tavor, Desert Tech MDR, and Steyr AUG, emphasizing how Kel-Tec’s ejection solutions help keep the rifles compact while maintaining barrel length and ballistic performance.

Kel-Tec P50 5.7 pistol concept and potential

The new Kel-Tec P50 is introduced as an upcoming pistol that the shop does not yet have in-house. The P50 uses FN P90-style magazines, providing a 50-round capacity of 5.7x28mm in a pistol with roughly a 9-inch barrel. The action opens and closes in a manner likened to a stapler to accept the horizontal magazine. The host is interested in the platform’s potential and expects that shooting it may change skeptical opinions. The P50 is described as shipping with two magazines and a sling, encouraging a forward-push shooting technique similar to sling-supported setups. Because the upper is the serialized component and the lower is not, there is curiosity about aftermarket development of grips, braces, and possibly stocks. The host also notes that broader adoption of 5.7x28mm could encourage more ammunition production during tight supply conditions.

Sub2000 pistol-caliber carbine versatility

The discussion returns to the Kel-Tec Sub2000, highlighted as one of the company’s most popular firearms. The Sub2000 is a pistol-caliber carbine offered in 9mm, .40 S&W, and possibly other calibers, with versions that accept different handgun magazines. Configurations exist for Glock and Beretta magazines, and there is mention of a potential SIG-compatible model. This allows shooters to use the same magazines in both their handgun and carbine. A key feature is the Sub2000’s ability to fold into a compact package suitable for backpack carry, making it useful as a portable carbine for travel or outdoor use. The host notes that Kel-Tec firearms, including the Sub2000 and CP33, are made in Florida and are associated with lightweight, unconventional designs that many shooters find enjoyable.