Kel Tec Sub 2000 40 S&W review

someguy2800

someguy2800

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I’ve kind of rediscovered how much I like 40 S&W in the past 6 month and wanted to add a 40 PCC to the collection. I stumbled on a sub 2000 on sale for $344 shipped plus they have a $100 mail in rebate right now so that was a deal I couldn’t resist.

I got it today and it is pretty much is what I expected. It is a cheesy plastic last resort gun with a terrible trigger and has a 500 lb recoil spring. But it works! And it’s accurate! And it folds! And it weighs as much as a tube of pringles!


I shot 60 rounds today plinking on steel and zeroing the sights. It shoots about an 1-1/2” group at 50 yards off the bench which I was duly impressed with. I have to cock my head sideways and hold the buffer tube on the side of my cheek bone rather than under it in order to get low enough to get a sight picture. It’s also pretty unpleasant to shoot as the bolt hits the back of the buffer tube at half the speed of sound and slaps my cheek bone hard. Despite that I never missed a plate with it and had no problem hitting a 6” plate at 50 yards offhand shooting quickly. It was also 100% reliable during my short 60 round session. I would never choose to shoot this for fun, because frankly it’s not fun, but it should make a good survival gun to put in my truck or in my boat when I’m going camping, or in a backpack on my snowmobile or dirt bike.

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I've been looking at one of those for a while, but haven't heard much from people who actually shoot them. Sounds like a RDS would be a perfect fit, and maybe an upgraded spring or buffer would help with the smacking bolt.
 
Howland937 said:
Looks like it has a rail, which should solve that problem.
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Problem is if you put a red dot on it you can’t fold it anymore. There are aftermarket handguards that spin so you can rotate your optic out of the way, but that more elaborate and expensive than I’d be willing to get for what is basically a modern semi auto sten gun.

Howland937 said:
I've been contemplating a Sub2000 myself...I'd maybe take the plunge at the $250 mark the OP's at.
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That’s about where they should be priced in my humble opinion.
 
someguy2800 said:
Problem is if you put a red dot on it you can’t fold it anymore. There are aftermarket handguards that spin so you can rotate your optic out of the way, but that more elaborate and expensive than I’d be willing to get for what is basically a modern semi auto sten gun.



That’s about where they should be priced in my humble opinion.
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They make a swing-away mount that still permits folding, though of course it makes the whole package wider when stowed.
 
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My kids enjoyed mine as well. I have to scrunch up pretty good to get a sight picture, but it's still fun.
 
NIGHTLORD40K said:
Could just hang it on a 45deg offset mount from the rail too. Something tiny like a SIG Romeo might not be too bulky.
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Kinda the first thing that came to mind after "some guy" popped my bubble. I've never paid close attention to them and how they fold, but I wonder why they bothered with the top section of rail?
Maybe a quick detach optic mount...
 
Locked and Loaded had them cheap, but after shipping, taxes, and transfer it doesn't seem as good of deal. If I could one locally for the $350 then go online then minus the $100 rebate I'd get one in .40SW. I've shot one, horrible cheek weld. But it be something to toss around as a beater or trunk gun
 
In reference to the folding aspect and not being able to fold with a red dot … I have repeatedly taken a red dot off, folded it, put the red dot back on, and it maintains zero. Can still make reliable hits out to 100 yards all day long. I consider this a non issue. It takes 6 seconds to screw a red dot back on.
 
I like my Sub 2k more than my Ruger PC carbine, both of them are 40 S&W versions. I installed almost every available upgrade that MCARBO offered for the Sub 2k before I ever fired a round out of mine. It was well worth the extra expense, IMO.
The optics mount that MCARBO sells is a great piece, I have the LH version on mine, and it works perfectly & maintains zero every time. I did modify / fabricate a real recoil pad on the buttstock. It solved the harshness of the recoil this little carbine dishes out.

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https://midwestindustriesinc.com/mi-gen2-sub-2000-mini-optic-mount/

The above is a good option for mounting a red dot. It doesn't add any dimension to the Sub2k like the M*Carbo side folding mount which I like.

And for anyone looking for a great bag dedicated to the Sub2k Skinner Sights (also make great peep sights for levers) makes a really nice "Sub 2000 Sandwich Bag" that will hold a Sub2k 4-5 33rd Glock magazines (it shows short standard capacity magazines but the long stick mags fit just fine) a Glock 17/19 and a few standard capacity magazines, and even has a spot for a cleaning kit. The link I listed doesn't take you right to the bag, you have to scroll down a page or two and it's there.

This makes for about the best compact travel companion setup I can think of.
 
I have one in 9mm. Put on the tube cover, homemade recoil pad, wrapped the bolt handle with paracord. Now if I could just figure out what it's good for other than a range toy. I have the bag and a couple of 32 round magazines. Thought it would be a good truck gun, but in its kit is slow to deploy.
 
Coyote3855 said:
I have one in 9mm. Put on the tube cover, homemade recoil pad, wrapped the bolt handle with paracord. Now if I could just figure out what it's good for other than a range toy. I have the bag and a couple of 32 round magazines. Thought it would be a good truck gun, but in its kit is slow to deploy.
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I look at my kit as pistol as primary and if things escalate use the pistol to buy time to get the carbine deployed, much like an officer with his carbine in the back of the squad car as in a lot of the recent cases we've seen on video.

I'm not police and certainly not looking to engage myself into a troubling situation, but if I'm traveling a distance from home a carbine is a nice option to have if trouble should arise.

I can deploy my Sub2k in less than 20 seconds which includes a red dot and 33rd magazine. This is if the Skinner case is within hands reach, which it can be right in front of the front drivers seat. I need to figure a way to keep it from sliding forward in the event of a front collision, but it's compact enough to fit in that area, and the Sub2k is small enough folded to retrieve from that position.
 
Txhillbilly said:
I like my Sub 2k more than my Ruger PC carbine, both of them are 40 S&W versions. I installed almost every available upgrade that MCARBO offered for the Sub 2k before I ever fired a round out of mine. It was well worth the extra expense, IMO.
The optics mount that MCARBO sells is a great piece, I have the LH version on mine, and it works perfectly & maintains zero every time. I did modify / fabricate a real recoil pad on the buttstock. It solved the harshness of the recoil this little carbine dishes out.

View attachment 1148147

View attachment 1148148

View attachment 1148149
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Sweet! I like that, need to check the MCARBO mount out.

What bag is that?
 
I have a S2K and it is a great little rifle. Mine has yet to jam and can easily hit man sized target to 100 yards and beyond. I keep mine in a hydration bladder backpack and it is unnoticeable. I use this while on the road to go with my CCW Glock pistol.

I mount my red dot in a QD mount on the bottom rail while folded. I can either deploy the rifle and immediately use the iron sights or if time allows, mount the red dot topside. Like others, mine went through the whole MCarbo upgrade and that made a huge difference. Since you basically have to take the whole gun apart to add the upgrades, I suggest doing them all at once, even if it means waiting a bit and saving up.

I know they look funky and cheap, but they work great.
 
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