At the 2015 SHOT Show, Kel-Tec introduced their new pistol caliber rifle: the SUB-2000 Gen 2.
The original SUB-2000 has been a very popular folding carbine, and one of the company’s better known products. However, based on the feedback provided by thousands of shooters, Kel-Tec decided to enhance the classic gun and release it as the Gen 2.
Let’s take a look at the new gun, and how it differs from the orignal…
Many readers may be familiar with the original SUB-2000. It is a pistol caliber carbine that can fold in half for storage and transportation. The gun is largely polymer, uses a blowback design and is offered in a variety of models that allow for the use of Glock, Beretta, SIG SAUER and Smith & Wesson (59-series) magazines.
SUB-2000 Gen 2 Features
Many of the key features from the original gun carry forward to the Gen 2 rifle. Both guns fold in the middle, and both are available in 9mm and .40 S&W. However, there are a few changes that shooters will be interested in.
accessories – Adding lights, lasers and other accessories is a popular American pastime. The original SUB-2000 did not have any rails or other easy ways to attach things. Part of Kel-Tec’s upgrade to the carbine includes Picatinny rails at the 12 and 6 o’clock positions of the hand guard.
Kel-Tec also added Magpul M-Lok attachment points to the 3 and 9 o’clock positions on the hand guard.
adjustable stock – The new gun has a three-position adjustable buttstock. The stock does not rapidly adjust like an M-4. Essentially, you find the right position and lock it in. Adjustment lengths can add either 0.625″ or 1.25″ to the LOP. It is not adjustable on the fly.
sling attachment points – The new stock includes several new options for adding a sling. There is a wide slit in the stock for the attachment of a web-type sling. In the crook of the buttstock’s L-shape there is a single point attachment. A sling with a mash-type clip will work perfectly here.
new polymer – Kel-Tec is using a new polymer for the rifle stock. The new polymer uses a different blend of materials and has a different feel. I liked the new feel of the stock. Frankly, it feels like it is a higher quality material.
front sight – The front sight has been redesigned and is now made of aluminum. It is also removable, which exposes threads for the attachment of a flash or sound suppressor.
pistol grip – Combined with the new polymer, the redesigned pistol grip feels good in the hand. It is hard to quantify the feel of a grip, but I like the new version a lot.
Specifications
Here are the specs on the new Kel-Tec Gen 2 SUB-2000:
| Caliber | 9mm, .40 S&W |
| Action | blowback |
| Barrel Length | 16.05″ |
| Twist Rate | 1:10″ (9mm) or 1:16″ (.40) |
| Overall Length | 29.25″ – 30.5″ |
| Folded Length | 16″ |
| Length of Pull | 13.25″ – 14.5″ |
| Weight | 4.25 lbs |
| MSRP (at launch) | $500 |
New Magazine Options
The Gen 2 SUB-2000 will have models available that accept a variety of pistol magazines. New for the Gen 2 will be guns that will take Smith & Wesson M&P and Springfield XD magazines. The Kel-Tec rep said the two new magazine options are being introduced due to significant customer demand.
Shipping and Price
Kel-Tec products tend to be in high demand. The company’s guns seem to hit the right balance between price and performance with a dash of coolness mixed in. I expect the new Gen 2 SUB-2000 carbines to be very popular.
Currently, Kel-Tec expects to begin shipping in the third quarter. If past performance indicates future behavior, I would expect the initial production to be low volume that builds as the manufacturing process is perfected.
The expected MSRP is $500. This number is subject to change, but I would not expect it to increase by very much.
What do you think? Do you like the look of the new guns?
Update
At the 2015 NRA show I was able to follow up with Kel-Tec on the Gen2 rifles. There are several things I want to pass along.
First, the guns are still on track for a Fall 2015 release. There are no anticipated delays.
Second, the MSRP is still at $500. I was afraid that in the time between announcement at the SHOT Show and the release there would be a price increase. Thus far, pricing remains the same.
Third, I was told that Kel-Tec is doing everything they can to ramp up production to meet consumer demand. According to the company, several design improvements in the SUB-2000 were made so that production is actually increased. So, for a given amount of time, Kel-Tec will be able to make more Gen 2 rifles than they were the original guns.
Last Update: October 17, 2022
36 replies on “Kel-Tec SUB-2000 Gen2 – New Version of the Popular Rifle”
And the new handguard is not retro-compatible….
Sub 2000 was my dream gun but right now I just find it good for nothing in particular. I should have spent the money on an ak pistol.
Do you still have your Sub2000? I have an AK pistol that I’d be willing to trade.
I have a sub2k I might discuss Johnnyhamer at yahoo dot com
Almost bought the original when they first came out, they were $299 at my local gun shop but after picking it up I decided it was made from cheap plastic and metal tubing, it weighed like a pound, I handed it back to the person behind the counter and got something.
Then years later I find they are selling for an astronomical amount of money, my only regret was I wish I had bought one at that gun shop so I could sell a few years later for 3 times what I had bought it for…LOL
I paid $425 for my PMR30, have over 1,000rds through it with probably 3 or 4 failure to feeds that could be attributed to mag loader error (me). It is a wonderful pistol and I would recommend it to anyone. You’re correct about one thing though, you are a fool for not buying one of the original Sub2000’s. A friend of mine has had one since they first came out. It’s only issue is that it HATES any magazine that is not a genuine GLOCK product. Other than that it functions flawlessly and the .40S&W round is actually quite accurate out to reasonable distances through the longer barrel that the carbine offers. You should re-think judging the entire worth of a firearm simply from a few brief moments of you fingering it on the showroom floor.
Kel-Tec is crap…LOL
Oh no you didn’t lol. I dislike Keltec’s distribution and Keltec fanboys. But I do own a few, and they have done alright. My friend’s RFB works great, my first KSG was finicky, my second KSG was way better than the first-( fanboys said I was shooting the first one wrong, no way it could be bad quality control). My p32 shot flawless, my pmr30 shoots awesome, while another friend’s pmr 30 exploded, although he was shooting non recommended ammo. (He assumed they meant the ammo would just jam) My sub 2000 shoots great, trigger could be better, and the charging handle did pull my beard just once, the stars must have aligned to make that happen, never happened again.
my p32 had endless problems. solved the problem by buying a ruger lcp…..a kel tec that actually works and is available for purchase.
Yeah I got lucky with my P32, but I have seen others at the range have problems with theirs. They tried my P32 and shot fine, so probably quality control, definitely not limp wrist ing their guns.
my cousin has a p32 he loves, my uncle has one that is a disaster.
love my ruger lcp….if you want the p32/p3at design in its perfected form, the ruger is really hard to beat.
I had a SIG P239 that jammed like Smuckers made it. Everyone makes lemons.
My PLR-16 has worked flawlessly for over 4 years, but it has a pretty heavy trigger pull. Lots of fun to shoot, noise like you wouldn’t believe. My PF-9, on the other hand, failed 3 different times in 3 different ways and was sold on after the last repair. In my experience Kel-Tec customer service was exemplary. They upgraded my pistol with the latest mods each time I sent it in, and turn-around time was great. I just felt like there was no point in owning a gun that wasn’t fun to shoot and was too unreliable to carry. YMMV.
obviously you have a post recall pmr-30.
you and like, five other guys in america..lol
One of the most enjoyable surprises in a firearm purchase I’ve made! Love it and have over 500 RD’s of a mixed bag of steel, alum and ammo with zero issues and no cleanings!
I’d love to have one for hiking in the mountains, but around here, Kel-Tecs are like unicorns and sasquatch……
I saw a Sasquatch last week…LOL
Does anyone know where I can buy today, a Gen II Sub 2000 9mm rifle?
Kel-Tec advised me at the SHOT Show that these would ship in the fall of 2015.