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SHOP NOWKyle and Jason break down the Kriss Vector SDP Gen 1, Gen 2, and Gen 3 across 9mm, .45 ACP, and 10mm. They examine design updates, controls, recoil behavior, and on-range performance.
The discussion opens with an overview of the Kriss Vector platform from Kriss USA, a distinctive SMG/PCC-style firearm recognizable from video games like The Division 2. The hosts note its futuristic appearance and explain that design work began around 2006. Gen 1 appeared around 2009–2010 and ran until about 2014, followed by Gen 2 in 2015. Gen 3 arrived in January 2024 and is the current focus. They plan to compare Gen 1, Gen 2, and Gen 3, highlight the main design and control differences, and then take the newer guns to the range. The goal is to help viewers decide which generation and caliber configuration of the Kriss Vector SDP best fits their needs.
Gen 1 Kriss Vectors are described as innovative but somewhat clunky compared to later models. They used Glock magazines and were known for the Super V recoil mitigation system, where the bolt travels rearward and then down in a “waterfall” motion before returning, directing recoil mass lower in the gun. Gen 1 was only offered in .45 ACP, with barrel lengths around 5.5 to 6.5 inches. The design places the recoil system low in the housing, concentrating weight near the shooter’s hands and giving the gun a balanced feel, though overall weight is roughly 6–7 pounds depending on configuration. Gen 1 featured a longer charging handle, a folding stock, a scalloped magazine release molded into the grip area, and a flat, more forward bolt catch that could be inadvertently pressed under a hard grip. The trigger was often criticized as mushy, and these issues informed later revisions.
Gen 2 introduced several refinements over Gen 1 while retaining the same operating system. The stock was changed to a fixed style that some users reported could break, and Kriss offered options like an M4-style buffer tube and a knuckle similar to early SIG MCX setups, including folding capability. Safety selector travel changed from about 120 degrees on earlier setups to a shorter 45-degree throw on later configurations. Gen 2 still used the longer charging handle, which could snag on gear. Controls such as the bolt catch remained flatter and more forward than on Gen 3, leaving some potential for accidental activation with an aggressive support-hand grip. The trigger feel was improved compared to Gen 1, addressing complaints about the original mushy break, but the platform still had room for ergonomic refinement.
Gen 3 Kriss Vectors receive the most attention, as they are the current production focus. The charging handle is shortened and repositioned to reduce snagging on gear. The magazine catch is redesigned to be larger, better shielded, and reversible, making it “ambidextrous ready” for left-handed shooters once swapped to the opposite side. The bolt catch gains a slight radius and different angle to reduce the chance of accidental activation under a strong grip. The trigger is further refined with a skeletonized appearance. Kriss returns to a folding stock setup using a 1913 interface, allowing a wide range of modern stock or brace options. Gen 3 shaves weight through lighter upper and lower housings while keeping the same Super V operating system and overall balance. It is offered in popular PCC calibers including 9mm, .45 ACP, and 10mm, with barrel lengths around 5.5 and 6.5 inches, plus rifle-length options of 16 and 18 inches for states with stricter requirements.
At the range, the hosts start with a 9mm Kriss Vector. The short bolt travel makes the charging stroke feel unusual, as it does not move as far rearward as expected. While shooting at roughly 30 yards, one shooter experiences the bolt locking to the rear. He attributes this to his own grip, noting that his support hand is pressing on the bolt hold-open and potentially the magazine catch. He explains that gripping lower on the handguard helps avoid self-induced malfunctions. The gun’s Super V system and overall design make it feel like it sheds weight as rounds are fired. The presence of M-LOK on the front is noted, and the shooter comments that a vertical grip would help control and prevent contact with the controls, though adding one would require SBR status if the overall length is under 26 inches.
They move on to the .45 ACP Kriss Vector, commenting again on its futuristic, almost sci-fi aesthetic and joking about it fitting into cyberpunk or Tron-style settings. The .45 ACP version is fired on steel, and the shooter notes the feel without going into detailed recoil analysis. The 10mm Vector is then introduced, with the shooter calling it the “most unlocked skin” in a modern shooter game. Charging the 10mm requires a firm pull on a relatively stiff bolt. On firing, the shooter remarks that the gun feels good but clearly has a lot of energy behind each round. The ejection pattern is described as sending brass far away, even into the “next county,” emphasizing the forceful extraction typical of the 10mm chambering. Visual appeal and distinctiveness of the different caliber variants are highlighted.
After trying the different calibers, one host leans toward the .45 ACP version, especially when imagining it suppressed. He suggests that a specialized trigger system, such as an FRT-style design, would pair well with the Vector’s characteristics and says he would buy one if such a setup existed. They mention prior experience with select-fire Kriss Vectors in full-auto and three-round burst configurations. In that role, the platform is described as having an extremely fast cyclic rate and being among the quickest SMGs they have shot. The recoil impulse is compared to a full-auto G36, with a relatively flat and forgiving feel. Overall, they agree the Kriss Vector looks distinctive enough to warrant a place on a wall display. One host admits he is not fully comfortable with the ergonomics yet, but clarifies that unfamiliarity does not mean the design is bad, only that it is different from what he is used to.
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