Sizzling on the scene is the brand new Springfield Armory Kuna 9mm pistol! This roller-delayed, little marvel seems to be to make its mark on the firearm scene as a powerful contender as a PDW (private protection weapon).
The gold commonplace for a roller-delayed fuel system is the Heckler& Koch MP5, or the closest semi-auto equal that’s obtainable in the USA, the H&Ok SP5.
Does the brand new Springfield Armory Kuna 9mm have what it takes to dethrone the it? Let’s run by way of the gauntlet to see!
Construct High quality & Options: Reasonably priced but Uncompromising
Springfield Armory does a variety of issues effectively within the build-out of this roller-delayed pistol. For starters, their barrel is chilly radial hammer solid, which merely produces a greater barrel: better accuracy for an extended period of your possession. There’s additionally the monolithic, solid higher receiver that eliminates the stacking of tolerances in different multi-piece higher receivers.
Cartridge: 9mm
Barrel: 6″ Chilly Radial Hammer Cast, Melonite®, 1:10
Sights: Hybrid Flip-Up
Higher Receiver: Monolithic Cast 7075 T6 Aluminum, Kind III Hardcoat Anodized
Decrease Receiver: Injection Molded Glass-Stuffed Polymer
Fuel System: Curler-Delayed
Handguard: Integral, M-Lok®
Pistol Brace: Strike Industries FSA
Set off: Flat Aluminum
The place To Purchase
Shifting by way of the remainder of the spec record, you merely see a variety of fashionable touches within the Kuna’s design. A Picatinny receiver finish plate makes for simple mounting of braces, and shares – in case you go the SBR route. There are additionally a bevy of ambidextrous options and even a standardized AR sample pistol grip providing you with an abundance of choices.
Muzzle System: Multi-Port Muzzle Brake
Receiver Finish Plate: Picatinny
Charging Deal with: Ambidextrous, Non-Reciprocating
Security Change: Ambidextrous
Set off Guard: Integral to Receiver
Grip: AR-Sample w/ Adaptive Grip Texture
Magazines: (2) 30-Spherical
Weight: 5 lbs 5 oz
Size: 15.5″ – 24.5″
On the time of this announcement, Springfield Armory has 2 variations of the Kuna 9mm: one with and with out a brace. The Strike Industries FSA Brace geared up model we’re testing as we speak has an MSRP of $1,149 making it an astounding $2,240 cheaper than an H&Ok SP5.
Efficiency & Reliability: Does it have What it Takes?
To check the Kuna, I headed to Josh Froelich’s F5 Vary in Minnesota. Whereas there, I put a wholesome various weight-reduction plan of ammo that included full metallic jacket (FMJ) vary ammo in addition to some defensive hollow-points (HP). Roughly 500 rounds in a single vary session whereas taking pictures each suppressed and un-suppressed.
With some completely different grain weights and bullet profiles, the Kuna chewed by way of this meal no downside. On a distinct vary day, I fired some fistfuls of thriller ammo out of a 9mm vary bucket of mine and it devoured that ammo as effectively. The Kuna isn’t a choosy eater and ran flawlessly throughout testing.
Accuracy & Silencers: Can It Hit its Mark?
Being the Kuna is a compact, defensive firearm, we undoubtedly wished to check it with a silencer. The can deployed for this evaluate was one from JK Armament which may connect to the Kuna’s standardized 1/2″ x 28 TPI threaded muzzle.
Throughout stay fireplace, I spent all of my time inside 50 yards or much less on metal. With the Kuna 9mm pistol un-suppressed, it was extremely correct. I may magazine dump onto silhouette metal by no means lacking a single spherical. Trying more difficult feats like hitting 5″ metal gongs at 50 yards or much less proved to not be troublesome in any respect both. For a PDW, this factor had point-and-hit accuracy. I used to be calling my photographs all day lengthy.
Including the JK 105 CCX silencer had no point-of-impact shift or change within the accuracy of the Kuna. The superior roller-delayed fuel system nonetheless cycled completely, consuming ammo, and yeeting instances throughout the vary as one would count on.
Shut Quarters: How Good is it in Tight Areas?
As a PDW, the Kuna is extremely compact (shock, shock). So, I opted so as to add a Strike Industries Bikini Hand Cease to maintain my hand on the very small forearm space and to not by accident prolong to far contact a burning sizzling silencer or the screaming Multi-Port Muzzle Brake.
Whether or not I used to be sprinting round a mock pistol stage or making an attempt to do car work – suppressed or un-suppressed – the Kuna’s type issue is extremely straightforward to wield and manipulate in tight areas.
Furthermore, whipping out the brace from a folded place is simple when you get the cling of it.
Within the case of self-defense, what typically determines a positive consequence for you, defending your self, is being the first one to put a deadly shot in opposition to a menace.
What this boils right down to is the flexibility to get your gun within the struggle and to amass a quick, correct sight alignment to permit for that to occur. All of which I discovered to be straightforward with the Kuna.
Room for Enchancment
I communicate very extremely of the Springfield Armory Kuna. So, the place can it do higher? What features did it fall quick? From entrance to again, this PDW runs amazingly effectively and performs far outdoors its value level of $1,149. The one factor that Springfield ought to look to enhance is the shortage of a hand cease. The forearm is such a small space to grip, and it locations your hand suspiciously near the muzzle.
Hand Cease – Add a hand cease for higher dexterity and security whereas dealing with.
Whereas the magazine effectively space is textured for gripping, I’ve by no means favored gripping the magazine effectively of any platform because it makes you too “choked up” on the firearm. A easy $10 hand cease just like the one I used from Strike Industries is all you want.
Last Verdict: BEST Curler-Delayed PDW?
For less than $1,149 at full retail, the Springfield Armory Kuna 9mm is the most effective roller-delayed PDW available on the market as we speak.
Within the month and half of testing I’ve carried out main as much as the announcement of this firearm, the Kuna has confirmed itself to dependable, correct, quick to deploy, and reasonably priced. All you have to end off this PDW is so as to add your favourite pink dot, a hand cease, and a silencer in case you personal one.
The PDW market isn’t recognized for being reasonably priced or wholly dependable to be sincere. Many producers have this “race to be the smallest” or “most compact,” and this inevitably impacts the functioning and reliability of these firearms all at the price of having the ability to say one thing is tiny. The Springfield Armory Kuna 9mm has thread the needle of carrying out reliability together with a compact footprint.
Should you’ve been dying so as to add a roller-delayed firearm and/or PDW into your life, that is it. The Springfield Armory Kuna 9mm goes to be the discuss of 2025. Mark my phrases.
