SHOT Show: Kel-Tec KSG Bullpup Shotgun Explained

The Truth About Guns ^ | 18 January, 2011 | Robert Farago

[marktwain]

Kel-Tec’s KSG is a SHOT Show stopper, with crowds hovering over the bullpup like disaster victims over Red Cross food supplies. OK, maybe not that desperately. But there’s no question that Kel-Tec will sell every one of their 1000-unit initial run of their space-saving man stopper. The company says they’re aiming to produce 5000 units in 2011. With law enforcement types sniffing around, there’s every chance they’ll ramp up from there. Firearms fans familiar with the Kel-Tec brand will cross their fingers on the quality front. We can report that the gun’s fit and finish look fine. Though that chamber selector is a bit far back for my tastes (video after the jump), the ergonomics are sound. It looks crazy, but the $880 msrp KSG just might work . .

Kel-Tec’s thinking about putting holes in the barrels near the grip so owners can see if a given tube’s empty. At the moment, there’s only one way to tell if a chamber’s empty: CLICK. And one way to tell if the gun’s empty: turn it over and look for the followers (neither a follower nor a negligent discharger be).

[marktwain]

Two video clips at the link.

[IrishCatholic]

I really like that. Only.....Kel Tec inspires no confidence in quality. Maybe they have improved or changed. I haven’t followed them.
The shotgun look cool though.

[big'ol_freeper]

I’m intrigued. Wish it was semi-automatic.

[shibumi]

Video link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2pH5yygJ0I&feature=player_embedded

[davetex]

I can’t speak for the KSG, but I’ve had an SU-16c for a while now and it has never malfunctioned. The SU is a great lightweight rifle. Having said that, I have heard of some issues with their pistols.

[knarf]

THIS one interests ME

[Secret Agent Man]

MAybe they will make a semi-auto version of it in the future.

That would make it even better.

[patriot preacher]

Only available in 12 Ga. — or in 20 Ga. too?

[ConservativeChris]

I dont know much about the brand except it doesn't have a good name. I had a F.I.E. .38 EXPLODE in my hands, you would be surprised what kind of an impact, both literal and figurative that has, that morning convinced me, I WILL NEVER buy a cheap gun. (long story, the gun was a buddies, we were at a shooting range, we traded guns for (an attempted) total of 6 rounds, just my luck then it breaks, I had the tiniest pinprick on my thumb from it, I was EXTREMELY lucky.)

LISTEN TO ME, BUY ONLY QUALITY FIREARMS. Might cost a little more, but in the long run you wont be dissappointed.

[davetex]

If it is as good as the SU then you won’t be sorry.

[West Texas Chuck]

Yeah, cool looking rifle, but the vids on YouBoob show some FTFs it appears, this guy (see below) had to pull the charge handle after a few rounds, and the thing only spits brass after a few rounds have been fired, sometimes. WTF is up with that? Doesn’t appear to be real consistent on that point. Plus, inserting mags looks awkward.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ar9KkdVnoGY&NR=1&feature=fvwp

I’m no rifle expert, now do I play one on FR, but there are weird things afoot with this piece, it would appear.

[Iron Munro]

"Only.....Kel Tec inspires no confidence in quality."

They lower price models aren't all heirloom pieces but they are a lot of gun for the money.
Kel-Tec seems to have a good reputation for standing behind their warranty.

I have fired a friend's Kel-Tec Sub-2000 in 40 S&W - a lot of practice rounds and no misfires or jams to date.

Weighs only 4 pounds, folds up to only 16" in length. Fits in a briefcase or under the drivers seat.

Available for less than $300 new last time I looked.

Here is more info on the Kel-Tec KSG Bullpup:

Kel-Tec Unveils The New KSG Dual-Tube Pump Shotgun

January 3, 2011

Kel-Tec’s newest revolutionary bull-pup design was announced over the weekend on the cover of the NSSF’s Shooting Industry magazine. Details of the new shotgun are sketchy, but presumably all will be made known at the upcoming NSSF SHOT Show.

The shotgun bears a stunning resemblance to the South African designed Neostead pump action scattergun. The operator is able to move a switch located near the top of the grip to select the right or left tube, or move the switch to the center to eject a shell without chambering another round. The bull-pup design results in an overall length of only 26″ with an 18.5″ barrel while the bottom eject design makes the firearm truly ambidextrous.

Shown next to the box of slugs in the photo to the left, you truly begin to get a sense of scale. The bull-pup design of the KSG makes it ideal for home defense and CQB. The incredibly short overall length makes it more nimble than a sawed off shotgun, and with a 14+1 capacity you don’t sacrifice ammunition capacity to get a shotty in a small package.

Ammunition capacity is 14+1 with 2 3/4″ shells. The KSG is shown with a factory installed Picatinny rail with flip up sights and a pistol grip. MSRP is not known at the moment, nor is there an expected date of availability.

[West Texas Chuck]

Oh yeah, back to the shotgun, I think it looks very coolish, would love to shoot one. How do the twin tube mags load? I couldn’t hear what the guy in the vid was saying.

[IrishCatholic]

Hey, thanks for the pictures, info, and link. I think I will save up for when the shotgun comes out. My last shotgun was a Remington 870 but that was years ago.
And, at under $300 I might give their carbine a look see if a local gun store has one.

[Leo Carpathian]

Comes with baby violin case?

[moovova]

Kel-Tec s a great gun company but they tend to be a little quick outta the starting gate with their new introductions. Wait until they get the bugs worked out of the new line, then buy one.

They usually start building the hype, drag their heels about getting it made, start selling the new gun, problems start cropping up, then apologize for not de-bugging it BEFORE releasing it for sale. In the meantime, they're making improvements along the way. No thanks, I'll wait til it's right.

That being said, if you do get a malfuntioning weapon, their customer service is outstanding. And, I like my P3AT.

I'm waiting for them to get the kinks worked out of their new PMR-30 pistol (pistol in 22 Magnum, 30 round clip mag!!!).

[Yo-Yo]

Yeah, cool looking rifle, but the vids on YouBoob show some FTFs it appears, this guy (see below) had to pull the charge handle after a few rounds, and the thing only spits brass after a few rounds have been fired, sometimes. WTF is up with that?

This video shows a cutaway RFB so you can see the ejection system.

Basically the spent brass is ejected forward on a chute. If you tilted the barrel down each spend round would fall out of the chute. If you keep the weapon level, it may take a couple of rounds before the first one is knocked all the way down the chute and out of the ejection port. But there is a flap that the brass passes through that prevents spent brass in the chute from jamming the action, so no worries.

Kel Tec RFB Cutaway Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLO7rHjHerk

[Doomonyou]

Zombie killer.

[Iron Munro]

Zombie killer.

Oh yeah!

[steel_resolve]

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