Brand New RFB

[C'Thulhu]

Finally came in today, after waiting upwards of two years for it.

I'm surprised by how sturdy this thing is. The 'sheet' metal on thing is solid. I figured Kel-Tec would have skimped out and used some aluminum, but nope.

The ONLY complaints I have at this point are how small the butt plate area is, and the start of the cartridge chute can be bent slightly, preventing the gun from being reassembled. Nothing a quick hand won't fix though. Balanced beautifully and very ergonomic.

Also includes a brand new DSA mag. Will hopefully get range time tomorrow.

 

[allaroundhunter]

Pictures!!

 

[C'Thulhu]

On the way. Wife has the camera.

 

[armoredman]

Pardon, wiping up the drool...

 

[TITAN308]

What is the allure of these guns and why people hold them up as coveted?

I'm honestly curious as I've seen this trend pretty much across all communities with this gun. I've never held or seen one (besides the internet) and am wondering why everyone seems to go to mush when someone gets one.

 

[RevolvingGarbage]

Your right. There are just piles of good US made 7.62x51mm bullpup ambidextrous rifles for sale at every gun show! Why does everyone get so excited about the RFB?

 

[armoredman]

It is the 308 rifle I would love to own, since fate has determined that every single time I try to get an FAL the money mysteriously gets sucked away...

 

[TITAN308]

Your right. There are just piles of good US made 7.62x51mm bullpup ambidextrous rifles for sale at every gun show! Why does everyone get so excited about the RFB?

Thanks for that insightful information to explain why a 7.62.51mm bullpup is coveted.

Is it just due to rarity? Does its performance outshine other similar calibers? A combo of both?

But thankfully your well thought our and intuitive post has made me understand completely. Do you happen to offer courses on how to cook a pie perhaps? I'll be a master chef in no time.

 

[wally]

I sure hope yours works a whole lot better than mine has.

139 rounds without a failure is its best so far, the current streak is 59 and this is after its been back to Kel-Tec three times

 

[Jackal1]

The RFB fits an 18" barreled 308 into a rifle whose overall length is shorter than a 16" AR15. It balances beautifully with the heavy mag right against your shoulder and a good portion of the barrel behind the pistol grip. Pick one up and hold it and you'll understand the allure as soon as you shoulder it. Also, unlike most other bullpups (all except one on the US market?) this one is fully ambidextrous and doesn't eject shells into your face.

Bullpups are not for everybody, but I think the cult following of the RFB is a good thing. Maybe we'll see more bullpups on the market so people can actually find one.

 

[dcarch]

Pics, please, when you get the chance.

 

[C'Thulhu]

I've heard of your problems Wally, but, as I understand it, the 2nd gen guns are much more reliable. Of course there aren't many out there to verify this, and I won't know until I actually shoot it, but overall I'm SUPER pleased with this.

As to the allure, well....I have most everything else that I want. Being a lefty, and young (24), it's got that tacticool look and feel. Plus I think, if it works right, it'll be a perfect brush gun. And maybe even a little practical shooting, should I decide to try my hand at it. I guess I'm trying to say it's very versatile.

 

[BCRider]

CONGRATS!

It's funny you had to wait so long. THey've even been for sale up this way for a few months now.

I got to shoot a new one that a shooting buddy brought out. He must have put 200 or so rounds through it that first day. Nary a hiccup.

He let me shoot a mag from it. VERY nice to shoot. The impulse through the shoulder pad was more like a pumping action than a smack. Very controllable. Felt nice in the hands until I went to drop the mag. Removing the front hand to do the drop resulted in it feeling like it was slipping down from my shoulder. But a little pressure back to press it in place took care of that quickly.

You're in for a big treat when you get it to the range...

 

[C'Thulhu]

Another note, as some may have heard, is that seating a mag with 20rds isn't going to happen. I've put A LOT of strength into trying and the rifle said NOPE. So I have to down load to 19. Not a big deal, but it is something of note.

 

[Driftertank]

Fondled one at Ranch & Home a few months ago. Was rather pleased with the balance and feel, layout of the controls. Less sold on pretty much needing optics, and the forward-eject system makes me raise an eyebrow. I'm always dubious of any self-loading gun that doesn't spit empties out of a big fat hole near the chamber, but i'd LOVE to function test one.

 

[C'Thulhu]

Edited:

 

[C'Thulhu]

As requested.

 

[C'Thulhu]

Drifter, I love forward ejecting and from my experience with my FS2000, it's as fine a way to get rid of brass as any other. The ONLY slight concern I would have is if I put multiple live projectiles in the chute somehow. But I don't consider that a likely occurrence, or even reasonable possibility.

 

[x_wrench]

It is the 308 rifle I would love to own, since fate has determined that every single time I try to get an FAL the money mysteriously gets sucked away...

i can relate to that. they are called KIDS! biggest money pit in the world. but worth every dime.

 

[BCRider]

Driftertank, the one I shot I watched as the fellow put a few magazines through it all without tipping it forward to let the empties slide out. It just dribbled brass out the front at the same pace that he pulled the trigger.

It would be interesting to see it being shot at an upward angle though. As a firearm designed with some military use potential it wouldn't be that useful if it jammed if fired at a raised angle. But that's not really something that a civilian at a range should be doing.

 

[wally]

Another note, as some may have heard, is that seating a mag with 20rds isn't going to happen. I've put A LOT of strength into trying and the rifle said NOPE. So I have to down load to 19. Not a big deal, but it is something of note.

This depends on the mag. The DSArms mag they seem to be shipping with now will not seat with the bolt forward when loaded to 20 rounds, but most of my surplus FAL mags have enough space for almost a 21st round to load so they seat fine with the bolt closed when loaded to 20.

 

[C'Thulhu]

None of my surplus mags want to load with a closed bolt. Open bolt maybe, but not closed.

 

[Thefabulousfink]

Please ask your wife to let you take the camera to the range

I would love to see a good range report with pics... there are just too few on this rifle.

 

[wally]

Photos of my failures are here:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=609288

None of my surplus mags want to load with a closed bolt. Open bolt maybe, but not closed.

If the bolt is locked back and insertion is "maybe" something is wrong with your surplus mags. Such is often the nature of "surplus".

If my only RFB problem was not being able to load 20+1 I wouldn't complain! Unfortunately its not a problem I seem to have except for some mags that are "too" full at 20 to make room for the bolt.

 

[C'Thulhu]

Damn winter. It's too cold out to shoot.