Industry-leading prices on quality products. Check out what's on sale today!
SHOP NOWThis video compares the Smith & Wesson FPC and Kel-Tec Sub2000 Gen 3 folding PCCs in 9mm. The hosts examine folding designs, magazine options, and performance in range drills.
The hosts introduce two folding pistol-caliber carbines: the Kel-Tec Sub2000 Gen 3 and the Smith & Wesson FPC, both chambered in 9mm with 16-inch barrels. They frame these rifles as compact options for backpack carry, survival use, or home defense, emphasizing how each platform folds for storage. The Kel-Tec Sub2000 shown uses Glock magazines, while the Smith & Wesson FPC uses Smith & Wesson M&P pattern magazines. Both retain their optics when folded, which the hosts note as important for quick deployment from a bag. The discussion sets up a direct comparison between the long-established Sub2000 and the newer FPC, which appears designed as a competitor in the folding PCC space.
The Kel-Tec Sub2000 Gen 3 and Smith & Wesson FPC share a 16-inch barrel length but differ in controls and folding systems. The Sub2000’s charging handle is located at the rear and can be locked in a way that allows an HK-style slap to release it. The Gen 3 introduces a twist-out feature when folded, letting the user rotate the front end to clear an optic and then lock it back into place, preserving zero while remaining compact. It uses Glock magazines and includes a threaded muzzle for attaching a suppressor. The FPC folds sideways and locks more rigidly, so the optic stays in line without needing to twist the barrel assembly. One host questions the durability of the Kel-Tec’s smaller folding interface compared to the FPC’s more substantial locking system, and they note both rifles use polymer extensively.
At the range, the hosts set up timed drills to compare how quickly each folding PCC can be deployed and fired from a bag. They use a shot timer and a triple target stand provided by Double Tap, planning to draw the carbine from a bag, unfold it, load from empty, and fire on steel targets. The Kel-Tec Sub2000 in the segment uses Glock magazines, while the Smith & Wesson FPC uses Smith & Wesson magazines and is equipped with a large EOTech optic. They note that the FPC folds to one side and locks, while the Sub2000 can fold to either side depending on optic placement, which may affect deployment with bulkier optics. The initial drill standard is 10 shots on target after the beep, starting with no magazine inserted to keep conditions consistent between both platforms.
The first timed runs are conducted with the Kel-Tec Sub2000 Gen 3. Starting with the carbine folded and unloaded, the shooter must remove it from the bag, unfold it, insert a magazine, chamber a round, and fire 10 shots on target. One run comes in around 13.27 seconds, and another shooter records a total time of 18.01 seconds, with the first shot breaking at approximately 9.90 seconds. There is some confusion over whether 9, 10, or 11 rounds were fired, which they plan to verify in editing. The hosts comment that the drill feels somewhat unorthodox because they have not practiced it extensively, but it provides a baseline for how quickly the Sub2000 can be brought into action from a stowed configuration using Glock magazines.
The focus shifts to the Smith & Wesson FPC, which ships with its own dedicated bag. The hosts highlight that the FPC can be stored in the bag with the bolt locked open, potentially speeding deployment. In one timed run, the shooter records a last shot at 22.15 seconds with a first shot at 9.22 seconds, which is similar to the Sub2000’s first-shot times. Another run yields a total time of 16.22 seconds, noticeably faster than that shooter’s earlier Sub2000 run. The rear magazine storage on the FPC adds weight at the back of the rifle, which one host feels helps stabilize the gun during rapid fire. They note that the FPC’s grip feels short for larger hands and that inserting magazines can pinch the hand. The trigger on the FPC is described as very good for a folding PCC-style platform.
The hosts compare magazine compatibility and capacity between the two platforms. The Smith & Wesson FPC uses M&P magazines and allows storage of additional magazines in the stock, giving the shooter multiple mags on the gun and higher on-board capacity. The Kel-Tec Sub2000 in the video is the Glock-magazine model, but they mention that Kel-Tec offers versions compatible with other magazine patterns such as CZ and Beretta, increasing versatility. The FPC is tied to Smith & Wesson magazines but is available in different calibers, which they view as a benefit for users already invested in the M&P line. One host prefers the FPC because it carries three magazines on the rifle, simplifying reloads without needing separate pouches. The Sub2000 requires the shooter to carry spare magazines on their person, such as in a back pocket, since the rifle itself does not provide integrated mag storage.
To test the practicality of the FPC’s rear magazine storage, they run a drill with three rounds in the magazine, followed by a reload from the stock and three more rounds. Starting with the bag already unzipped, the shooter unfolds the rifle, fires three shots, retrieves a spare magazine from the stock, reloads, and fires three additional shots. One run records the sixth shot at 12.65 seconds. The shooter describes the reload as cumbersome because the magazine caddy is not intuitive: pressing one side releases the opposite magazine, and the orientation is reversed from what most shooters expect. The magazine often comes out in an awkward orientation, requiring rotation before insertion. Another run yields a time of 13.65 seconds, with similar complaints about hitting the wrong side of the release and needing to twist the magazine. They conclude that storing the magazines inverted for a more natural index would improve the FPC’s reload ergonomics.
Loading... 
