KelTec RDB question

[armoredman]

Ok, that title probably turned off 3/4 of the people here. But, seriously, the Keltec RDB Survival really intrigues me quite a bit, and now I see they used that same setup for the RDB-C, with a fixed stock and 20 inch barrel...California compliant, yes, but really looks quite nifty, even for us non restricted folks. I like uncomplicated and simple.
The Survival is 2 pounds lighter with almost 2 inch shorter barrel, but for some reason MSRP is over $200 higher. Looking for a light handy 223/5.56, that can do in house defense duty, to plinking, to small game/varmint hunting, (coyote and such), and no, I'm not into ARs, know practically nothing about them.
Downsides are price, (I found one RBD C for under a grand, by one penny), and the other, of course probably will only be seen in magazines for a few years.
Thoughts, other than, "Shaddap you idiot, buy an AR and shaddap!"

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Ok, that title probably turned off 3/4 of the people here. But, seriously, the Keltec RDB Survival really intrigues me quite a bit, and now I see they used that same setup for the RDB-C, with a fixed stock and 20 inch barrel...California compliant, yes, but really looks quite nifty, even for us non restricted folks. I like uncomplicated and simple.
The Survival is 2 pounds lighter with almost 2 inch shorter barrel, but for some reason MSRP is over $200 higher. Looking for a light handy 223/5.56, that can do in house defense duty, to plinking, to small game/varmint hunting, (coyote and such), and no, I'm not into ARs, know practically nothing about them.
Downsides are price, (I found one RBD C for under a grand, by one penny), and the other, of course probably will only be seen in magazines for a few years.
Thoughts, other than, "Shaddap you idiot, buy an AR and shaddap!"

As a HALO fan, I love the sci-fi styling of the Kel-tec rifles, so I say go for it! Do they offer any practical advantage over an AR or Mini.........eh, probably not. But who cares- they are too cool!

 

[Stumper]

What's not to love? I admire KelTec firearms. They work utilizing innovative design feature combinations. I love blued steel and walnut firearms for different features and reasons. And yeah, the AR is a a reliable and fun to shoot platform also. Stand out from the crowd with a KelTec if that is what you like.

 

[CapnMac]

Ian (and Karl too, if grudgingly) liked the 5.56 RDB--there's an InRange to prove it, too.
It did not fair well in their mud test (if a little better than the .308 RFB).
Now, I can't remember if they ran a 5.56 RDB in a 2-gun match or not.

The RDB still intrigues me. So I keep an eye out for them. At the shows, all I seem to see are .308, and those seem "stuck" at $1399, with the occasional outlier at $1199. Bud's seems continuously out of stock. GB seems to be right at $1050, but, that's before all the fees.
The RDB-17 catches my eye particularly. Would be cool with a Holosun 503G on top and, maybe, an angled foregrip below.

 

[mshootnit]

When's Keltec coming out with the ODB?

 

[armoredman]

"ODB"?

 

[CapnMac]

Well, at last Saturday's Fort Worth Gun Show, there were no RDBs at all. Was one RFB. Only about 6 Tavors.
So, either they are popular, or they are hard to get from distributors.

 

[zaitcev]

I think the main advantage of RDB-C and Survival over the base model is the magazine catch that is not easy to bump while moving with the gun. This is the same exact evolution that Tavor underwent with X95.

If I didn't have a SU-16 already, I'd get me one of the new RDBs. They are better in every way, except for the larger parallax.

 

[JShirley]

What's not to love?

I've owned several KTs, and still own 2. Reliability is a problem with many of their products. At the 2013 SHOT media day, 5 KT employees couldn't get the KSG shotgun working.

 

[wally]

Like the designs for their creativity, but in my experience not suitable for any serious use. I've had range sessions ended by ejection failure that would be minor in an AR end my day at the range but required tools to un-wedge it.

I would probably agree that the RDB has the best trigger yet on a bullpup. I like my Tavor better, but it cost a good bit more, mostly becasue its never ended a range session due to a "bad round".

 

[Hasaf]

Frankly, I am waiting for these to hit about $800 from the online vendors. They are real close to that now; but they are not quite to my completely arbitrary line. My friend has a Travor; so we will be able to do a complete side by side. I expect I will have my High Tower/High Point bullpup before a RDB; it will be fun to do a side by side of apple, apple, and tangerine.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

If you want a 5.56 rifle, but not an AR, check out the KelTec SU16. I like the SU16c model with the underfolder.

I had one and loved it. Like an idiot, I sold it... for a profit but I still should have held onto it. Super light and takes AR mags.

 

[armoredman]

I have a non-AR with my BREN 805, arguably an awesome rifle...but that sucker is heavy for a fat old man like me. The Survival appeals to me in many ways, but obviously reliability would be a big question, as well as how easy is it for a traditionalist like me to use...plus when could I get one? It took years for Keltec long guns to trickle down to here - one example is I have never ever seen the RFB out in the wild.

 

[Demi-human]

I am afraid I would lose all the little screws. That and I don't have anywhere near good enough an angry, hardcore stare.

I am sure the front sight would not snag anything either...

For a fun gun though, probably can't lose. They look neat and are compact.

(A thousand could get you one nice AR, with none of the short comings. But it may not look as cool.)