I’m an unashamed KelTec enjoyer. There may be simply one thing about their weirdness that does it for me. Perhaps it’s as a result of I’m a fellow Florida man. I can’t exactly say, however I like their weapons, particularly their bizarre weapons. The KelTec SU-16 is one in all their bizarre weapons that doesn’t get talked about a lot. It’s an odd, weird, attention-grabbing gun you hardly ever see. I’ve lengthy wished one, however the stars didn’t align til lately.
As bizarre as KelTec may be, they do have a historical past of issues with their weapons. They’ve improved, however the SU-16 collection is an older gun, and their obscurity typically meant you have been paying a excessive worth. A worth I wasn’t prepared to pay. Just lately, I stumbled throughout one for $350 and snatched it up, lastly satisfying my want for an odd and attention-grabbing 5.56 rifle.
The SU-16 – The Odd
KelTec makes seven fashions of the SU-16 with slight variations. That is the B mannequin. The B mannequin encompasses a lighter, 16-inch barrel with an M16-style entrance sight. Mine is unfortunately lacking the rear sight, however it’s a component I plan to interchange. Like a lot of the SU-16 household, the B mannequin comes outfitted with some odd and attention-grabbing options that make it stand out.
Let’s begin from the inventory and transfer our manner up. The primary attention-grabbing function of the inventory is the flexibility to carry two spare magazines. Particularly, two spare ten-round KelTec-branded magazines. The inventory holds each with a spring-loaded design. Sadly, the SU-16 can’t maintain commonplace AR magazines, however the rifle’s journal effectively can use commonplace AR magazines.
The inventory is stable however can fold. You take away a pin, and the gun folds in half, and friction matches to the barrel. That pin is attention-grabbing. Mine requires a punch to take away, so it doesn’t come out simply, however that’s good. I don’t need the pin to randomly fall out whereas taking pictures the gun. Reinserting the pin and returning the gun to a firing place is simple.
The highest of the receiver encompasses a polymer rail for attaching optics. The gun makes use of a reciprocating charging deal with that’s a part of the bolt. We get a easy cross-bolt security and a push-button journal launch. The handguard is a straightforward chunk of polymer with none rails or slots. Nonetheless, it unfolds and acts as a bipod.
Past that, we now have a skinny, gentle barrel with a entrance sight and no hint of barrel threading or a muzzle machine.
Contained in the SU-16
Lately, the world runs on the AR-18 short-stroke gasoline piston system. Each new rifle makes use of some type of AR-18-derived short-stroke gasoline piston, and as a fan of doing issues otherwise, the SU-16 makes use of a long-stroke gasoline piston. The 2 most well-known weapons that use a long-stroke gasoline piston system are the AK collection of rifles and the best battle implement ever devised, the M1 Garand.
Curiously, the gun makes use of an AR-style bolt linked to the piston in a really AK-like vogue. I’m comfy calling the SU-16 a mutt of assorted weapons. They’ve taken a number of options, blended in a little bit of polymer, and let the weapon unfastened on the world.
The rifle collection fires .223/5.56, however there’s a .22LR variant of the gun. Aside from that, KelTec by no means adopted every other calibers. The SU-16 collection stopped any ahead progress, so KelTec may dive into different endeavors.
Getting a Deal with On The SU-16
The SU-16 ergonomics are good for a price range rifle. That is in all probability one of the best folding inventory ever designed. I say that jokingly, however it’s supportive and cozy. The size of pull is 13 ⅜ inches. It’s not too lengthy, however it’s not tremendous brief both. It feels advantageous for me.
The charging deal with sits on the suitable aspect and reciprocates. It’s not how I’d arrange a rifle, however it works for essentially the most half. The journal launch and security are straightforward to seek out. The security may be engaged with the hammer down or up.
The gun does have a last-round bolt hold-open machine, however manually locking the bolt open is difficult. The handbook doesn’t adequately instruct you on how to take action. In entrance of the set off, on the base of the journal effectively, sits a small button. Pull the bolt again and press this button as much as lock your bolt to the rear.
The bipod/handguard is good and lengthy, with a clean nature. It’s not distinctive, however it’s workable. I’m impressed by the rifle’s weight. At 4.5 kilos unloaded, you get a really gentle and helpful rifle that’s straightforward to tote and well-suited as a working gun.
To The Vary
I examined the gun with two optics. First, I used the Burris 2-8X Fullfield to examine its accuracy. I zeroed pretty rapidly and hit the 100-yard line with some 55-grain .223 Rem. Nothing fancy, however this isn’t a elaborate rifle. I wished to examine the zero earlier than I did an excessive amount of taking pictures as a result of these rifles are considerably well-known for getting scorching and shedding precision.
At 100 yards, with a principally cool barrel, I arrange on a bag and bench. I didn’t use the bipod; we’ll focus on why in one other part. With the magnification maxed out and the gun zeroed, I fired a couple of teams at some Sage Dynamics headshot targets.
My greatest group was 2.2 inches, however the gun hovered nearer to 2.5 to 2.7 inches. As soon as the barrel acquired scorching, it opened as much as 3 inches, and I known as it a day. The accuracy is okay sufficient for many purposes, and I don’t anticipate a 1 MOA gun.
Curiously, the set off has a two-stage design, which is sort of good. It’s acquired slightly little bit of creep and is type of of spongy.
Extra Than Meets the Eye
I eliminated the Burris from the gun and changed it with a easy Bushnell TRS-25. I plan to maintain the TRS-25 because the rifle’s optic. The pink dot works higher for my wants, and I’ve different plans for the Burris. The TRS-25 gives a easy however surprisingly rugged pink dot.
I hit the bottom working after a fast zero. The SU-16 may weigh solely 4.5 kilos, however the gun doesn’t have a lot recoil to talk of. Most 5.56 rifles are straightforward recoiling, however the SU-16 has AR-like recoil in a lighter total platform. The long-stroke gasoline piston does have a singular recoil impulse.
You’ll be able to really feel the piston racing ahead because the gun completes its operations. One of these motion makes longer-range, quickly fired, correct photographs harder.
A gun recoils rearward, with the muzzle rise pushing it upward. With the SU-16, we get that very same impulse, adopted by a slight forward-pushing impulse—again and up, the ahead, after which we get well and get again on the right track.
It shocked me barely as a shooter spoiled by the AR’s recoil and impulse. It’s not horrible, and it received’t make you a worse shooter, however it’s noticeable. What is obvious is the shortage of a muzzle machine; the little 5.56 can create some flash.
The Low-cost Gun Runs
The SU-16 makes use of AR-type magazines and comes with two. Unsurprisingly, the KelTec magazines really feel very low-cost, however they have been problem-free. I examined the gun with Magpul P-Mags, Lancers, and ETS magazines and had no constant malfunctions. Loading a full journal, no matter its capability, on a closed bolt takes a pointy slap to seat the journal.
Many of the ammo fired has been brass-cased 55-grain, however for enjoyable, I shot a traditional Tula .223 metal case, after which some commonplace M855. The gun appears to shoot no matter you set via it, with the Tula creating the one malfunction.
We had two failures to feed from a Lancer journal. They have been the highest two rounds within the journal, and the remaining had no additional failures.
Let’s discuss concerning the handguard bipod. It really works, however it works on the bottom. It slips and slides round a desk. If you happen to give it slightly oomph so it digs into the bottom, it’s advantageous, however it should collapse simply. I want it may lock within the ahead place, and it might be slightly extra helpful total. It’s not suited to bench relaxation use.
Dwell Stock Value Checker
The Level
The SU-16 feels prefer it could possibly be a stable ranch-type rifle. It’s a working gun that folds up and out of the best way in a bag. It’s gentle, too, which makes it straightforward to hold and sling in your again. It’s suited to the truck, ATV, or side-by-side. The caliber and design make it effectively suited to coping with coyotes, hogs, and critters like whistle pigs.
It’s an AR substitute, however a rifle that may do one thing considerably completely different than the AR. That’s the place its worth comes from, to me. I believe it’s an incredible rifle and could possibly be an incredible possibility if you will get it for below or at the very least close to MSRP. I wouldn’t pay the $750 price ticket I see bouncing round, however for $350 it’s a helpful rifle.
About Travis Pike
Travis Pike is a former Marine Machine Gunner, a lifelong firearms fanatic, and now an everyday man who likes to shoot, write, and discover methods to mix the 2. He holds an NRA certification as a Primary Pistol Teacher and is the world’s Okayest firearms teacher.
