Any firsthand experiences with the SU16/SU16TAC?

commissar_lubi

commissar_lubi

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The SU16 has had quite a bad reputation over time due to tales of cracked receivers and all, if possible I'd like some first hand feedback from owners that have shot/owned it. Has Keltec improved their product over time, considering they have a lifetime warranty on their products?

I ask as I feel for its price point, the SU16 seems like a pretty nice NR option (accepts STANAG mags, has rails, etc) especially as I'm not fond of the idea of getting a Type 97 due to its wonky ergonomics/aesthetics.

Anyway, any insightful input would be appreciated, thanks!
 
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I had one for a couple years and it worked fine. Cant remember having any grief with it. It shot ok. The problem with it was even after i added a modded free float rail to it and threaded the muzzle for a brake it still wasnt an AR15, so I was never really happy with it.
 
I've had 3. I think they are the best bang for your buck NR, STANAG mag-compatible rifle out there for under $1000. I will say you get what you pay for, but I have no major complaints. Haters are gonna hate, but for me they were all nothing but fun. I still debate picking up another one and burying it in the back yard with a couple Beowulf mags just 'cuz, but the truth is that money goes a lot further towards enabling my handgun addiction.
 
I very much enjoyed my su16 tactical. I liked everything about it. Sold it because I was worried it would eventually crack.

Light. Shot well enough. Worked with all mags.

If they had su16 with a metal receiver I would but one and sell my t97.
 
Canada tail said:
way too much plastic on that thing. plenty of well documented issues with those
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Here's the smart answer..

jacotsmith said:
I've had 3. I think they are the best bang for your buck NR, STANAG mag-compatible rifle out there for under $1000. I will say you get what you pay for, but I have no major complaints. Haters are gonna hate, but for me they were all nothing but fun. I still debate picking up another one and burying it in the back yard with a couple Beowulf mags just 'cuz, but the truth is that money goes a lot further towards enabling my handgun addiction.
Click to expand...

here's jacotsmith admitting the same thing.

zackstab said:
I very much enjoyed my su16 tactical. I liked everything about it. Sold it because I was worried it would eventually crack.

Light. Shot well enough. Worked with all mags.

If they had su16 with a metal receiver I would but one and sell my t97.
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And zachstab admitting it as well.

You can't say you liked the rifle then say you sold it out of fear it would fail. That means the rifle is junk and you don't/didn't trust it.
 
I've shot the base model folding one and it felt really cheap and the one my buddy owned shot like a shotgun no matter what ammo we fed it. Another friend has the FX model or whatever the one that looks more like an AR is called, it feels much more solid and his shoots fairly decently. Both were reliable and fun but if I was going to suggest one it would be the FX (not 100% sure that's the model name).
 
I never said I didn't trust it. I like the idea of NR black rifles for political reasons more than practical, and practicality dictates that my limited money is better spent on my pistol hobby. But if I see a good deal on a used one in the EE I may very well pick up another one just 'cuz.

When I said you get what you pay for, it's like anything. If you buy a cheap 2 door Kia and take it off roading you will likely learn it doesn't perform like a 4x4 Jeep, whereas it would probably get you around town reliably enough for several years. If you're the kind of shooter who goes through 500 rounds per range day and goes shooting twice a week then you are also the kind of shooter who should be looking at a $3000 rifle. But if you're like me (when it comes to .223 anyway, pistol calibers are another story), I think I have about 800 rounds left of the 2 cases I bought 2.5 years ago, I think the SU16 is great value and lots of fun for cheap minute of beer can plinking in the bush.
 
I bought the SU16F standard folding unit “for the wife” and have had nothing but good things to say. We go to the range and she shoots it and I shoot my AR and yet when we go camping/hunting she takes it along and we shoot clays and rolling targets with it is it a percision rifle? Heck no. Does it feel as solid as my AR? Nope but it is light, it fits in my backpack when I go for a hike and I hit the clay every time (unless I as a shooter mess up) at 5-100 yards and could hit a kill shot on an animal out to 200 without being uncertain. It is what it is and for a NR black style rifle under $1000 that is not awkward to use I don’t see an issue with it. It may crack sure but if it does I give it to my local gun shop and it gets fixed and I continue to enjoy the light weight affordable NR black rifle for what it is. You don’t buy a fly fishing rod to fish for halibut.
 
I had an enjoyed mine.
I admit that I eventually traded it for a T97 though.

Let me first off say flat out, that if you have any other black rifle, it is going to be a let down.
Seriously.

Having said that though, it has a lot going for it.
Best price going, AR mags, reliable, accurate, incredibly simple to operate, maintain and clean.
It works by having the piston recoil the bolt backwards. However the piston is connected to the bolt and it recoils by a spring wrapped around the piston.
It is incredibly light.
Optic ready flat top.

There were complaints about the back of the receiver cracking, probably due to a bad batch of zytel or possibly by guys closing the receives together on a closed pin.
People used to claim that it was due to the bolt hitting the back of the receiver, but I suspect not since the bolt travel is limited by the piston adn spring.
I don't hear any of that any more.
Most guys are off set simply by its incredibly light weight.

If you go for one, I would recommend not going the AR collapsing stock route.
Don't try making it into an AR substitute, just enjoy it for what it is.

I would also recommend that you take a look at Teksite .(sp?)
They have rear sights that are form fitting to the receiver and screw on to the last rail of the flat top.
The A1 style rear sight was a favourite.
A really good iron sighted rifle in 5.56 at about what,,, four poubnds!!!
 
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Kidd X said:
Here's the smart answer..



here's jacotsmith admitting the same thing.



And zachstab admitting it as well.

You can't say you liked the rifle then say you sold it out of fear it would fail. That means the rifle is junk and you don't/didn't trust it.
Click to expand...

I liked the features, weight and handling. It was also accurate and pointed really naturally for me. I think it unlikely it would ever break but I still dont want a 1000$ rifle to break on me and have a cracked reveiver. I wouldnt recommend the gun for the shoddy receiver. That being said I can still like gun for what it was.
Fun gun but a definite non buy.
I wouldnt buy any pickup truck because of gas milaege but I can sure still think theyre fun to drive... Doesnt mean theyre junk because you wouldnt buy it.
 
zackstab said:
I liked the features, weight and handling. It was also accurate and pointed really naturally for me. I think it unlikely it would ever break but I still dont want a 1000$ rifle to break on me and have a cracked reveiver. I wouldnt recommend the gun for the shoddy receiver. That being said I can still like gun for what it was.
Fun gun but a definite non buy.
I wouldnt buy any pickup truck because of gas milaege but I can sure still think theyre fun to drive... Doesnt mean theyre junk because you wouldnt buy it.
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Yet again, you say you wouldn't recommend it but somehow it is still a good gun?? I think some of you have a very confused understanding of what a good product is vs a bad product.
 
I had one. Found it to be quite accurate. And very light weight.

Only issue I had was I kept hitting the screw instead of the mag release.


Sold it... don't miss it.

Pretty forget able firearm.
 
Only put 2 or 300 rds. through mine. Works great. Trigger is better then most ARs actually it's pretty good. E mailed Kel Tec about cracking receivers they said send it back and they would upgrade and repair. When I told them mine wasn't cracked they said send it back or wait till it cracks my call. Told them when I'm in the US I might do that.

Great gun, great price and no NR tax.
 
I quite like them - I've been on the lookout for a broken one for a while now actually.... the design would benefit from an in-place molded metal insert to prevent the upper receiver from cracking. Fortunately if you're even remotely capable of bending heavier gauge sheet metal the design of the gun allows you to easily form a tight fitting external metal clip over the back portion of the receiver and JB weld it in place. If you're careful how you do it, it just blends into the rest of the receiver.

They're a cheap gun, but they aren't bad guns. I particularly like the integrated bolt, gas system and gas tube design. It makes for a very simple gun to maintain and would be very suited in a bullpup design.
 
I wouldnt recommend it solely based on the fact I have seen many incidents of the receiver breaking being posted online. That aside. It was a good gun. And like I said I would buy one if it had a metal receiver..

Im sure 95% or more of them never break and if someone is ok with that 5% chance then im sure theyll enjoy the rifle.
 
Zero complaints about mine so far, I've used it for 3gun 2 years now. IMO it handles better than most ARs I've owned and shot. Only reason why I'd sell it is if I decided to finally step up to a $2000+ .223, but that ain't happening anytime soon
 
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