KelTec RDB vs Eh-R 180

Not sure where you are seeing that price for the X95 but I just went to the SFRC online store and the X95 is listed at $2940
https://theammosource.com/iwi-x95-556-nato-18.6-barrel-semi-auto-black/

The RDB is listed at $1630
https://theammosource.com/keltec-rdb-semi-auto-223-rem-bullpup-20-barrel-black/



I'll give you that manually locking back the X95 bolt is a little fiddly. Its the only thing I don't like about the rifle.

I am signed up for their email notification, use code "Friday" and you see the price. 14 % off above prices and free shipping, It also says it on their home page now.
 
The nation that spawned the Galil, the Uzi, the Tavor and the Desert Eagle rates an "OK" record?
Exactly, they are OK firearms, they are not great and they are mostly secondary in their designs. It's not a bad thing - to use proven designs, it's actually a good thing, however it is different from having a rich history of firearm development, like France, Germany, UK, USA, Austria and so on.
The RDB design is deeply flawed. The barrel is the spine of the rifle, which is a mildly interesting idea but has the problem of the steel barrel expanding with temperature at a different rate from the aluminum scope rail. Take a look at the pic rail and you'll notice the rear screw hole is oblong to allow the rail to slightly float on the barrel mounts. That is not what I'd call a "sane" design.
I am aware about barrel being a main part that holds everything together. However you contradict yourself - you say there's a problem and you point out how KelTec engineers solved this problem. My RDB did not have any noticeable drift as the barrel was heating up. Solution worked.

Not being able to see the chamber and the rifle essentially needing to be partially disassembled to clear a jam in the chamber is a very serious problem for any rifle. Especially one that can easily have the gas system adjusted down to the point where double feeds can be induced. This is not better than the Tavor. It is demonstrably worse.
It's a quite a l flaw for military rifle or competition rifle. It's not a problem at all for sporting/plinking rifle. So its design works just fine for intended purpose.

The RDB gas system is open to being grabbed when it is hot, which will result in a serious burn. Also not better.
Not having adjustable gas on modern firearm is a huge con in my books. Ideally it should have only few positions (cut off, supressed, normal, adverse). 20 positions of RDB is overkill, zero adjustability on X95 is stupid. All military designs without adjustable gas block are over gassed, because this is the simple way to deal with potential issues. Gas bleeding is better solution, but it has its own limitations.
Also I don't agree with your logic. A) Barrel also becomes hot, but it's not a problem? B) Adjustable gas system should have accessible gas regulator. You can't have both hidden and accessible at the same time. Think Bren 2, ACR, XCR. In many designs there's a slot or hole so cartridge or bullet can be used.
Guess what the manual shows about RDB gas adjustment? As if they knew something :)

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The RDB magazine release is interesting but it is not better than the more intuitive release on the X95. It is also much slower than the X95 because it requires the same hand that could also be holding a new mag waiting to be inserted.
Right hand thumb to engage mag release, left hand is grabbing new mag. Just different manual of arms.

I liked my RDB until the trigger went south and required a pretty expensive repair. I also sold my RDB and kept the X95.
Trigger was a design flaw that they resolved. I recall you had same issue as me - doubles. Newer gen trigger doesn't have this issue.

I don't hate the RDB. It's an interesting rifle and I kinda liked it. But it is in no way the equal of the X95 as a whole package. The RDB has a few features that are better but as a package it is beaten out by the X95.
Of course they are not equal. My point was to say that X95 has outdated design with quirks, and low accuracy and some other flaws, but highly reliable and RDB is more modern design, very accurate, but of lower quality and doesn't have highest reliability. But we all have different purposes for firearm. For my purpose X95 works better, but I can easily see how RDB would work better for most of CGNers.
 
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Range buddy has an X95 and I have an RDB. Both very capable rifles but I prefer my RDB. I have had zero problems with the RDB, while he has had cycling issues with .223 and must shoot hotter 5.56 or he gets malfunctions, and his rifle seems pickier with magazines. RDB is softer shooting. The two rifles have comparable accuracy, which is to say that they are both capable of ringing a 12" gong at 300 yards. We spent the same amount of money at the gun store, but he left with a rifle and I left with a rifle and 1,000 rounds of ammo. I would make the same choice again.
 
I watched some reviews of the X95 and RDB on youtube. Yes, the X95 is preferred and a proven design at a steep price tag (lowest prices as mentioned above makes the X95 over $1,100 more expensive). The RDB had some problems and it appears that they have been resolved. Of course people keep focusing on the flaws of older RDB, rightfully so. Or not?

I remember buying a used Chiappa M1-9. That was 3 years ago, it was cheap. I had zero problems with the rifle, ran like a clock/Glock so to speak. The feeding problem of earlier rifles still haunts it's reputation.
 
I don't agree with your logic. A) Barrel also becomes hot, but it's not a problem? B) Adjustable gas system should have accessible gas regulator. You can't have both hidden and accessible at the same time. Think Bren 2, ACR, XCR. In many designs there's a slot or hole so cartridge or bullet can be used.
The exposed gas block on the RDB is situated exactly where one might wrap a hand around the forend. That makes it very easy to burn fingers. Thats a bad design. The others you mentioned do not have an exposed gas block. One does not typically hold onto the barrel when the rifle is being fired.
 
he has had cycling issues with .223 and must shoot hotter 5.56 or he gets malfunctions,
This seems quite odd. One of the criticisms of the X95 is that it is overgassed. That should not require hot ammo.

I have intentionally downloaded my plinking ammo so as to not tear up my steel plates. 55gr ammo running at 2800 fps cycle both of our X95s just fine.
 
This seems quite odd. One of the criticisms of the X95 is that it is overgassed. That should not require hot ammo.

I have intentionally downloaded my plinking ammo so as to not tear up my steel plates. 55gr ammo running at 2800 fps cycle both of our X95s just fine.
No X95 experience here but lots with an original Tavor and I find this statement odd as well. Very, very little 5.56 (M193 or M855) had gone through my rifle. Almost everything that my rifle has eaten over the decade that I've owned it (100% reliably) has been cheap, ####ty, steel cased Russian .223 ammo. MFS or Barnaul, it's never malfunctioned once on me. Even while feeding it garbage. This is a sample of less than 2000 rounds mind you. Maybe at a higher round count things would be different.
 
I've just sorted out a proper sling arrangement for the RDB and what struck me it's how comfortable it is slung across chest or back, there's no weird pots sticking out having me, it wants to lay flat, not roll around.

hands down the most comfortable rifle I've ever had in a sling, even on a thin strap.
 
If you want a bullpup, I'd go the T97 route over the RDB. Had my Gen 1 since 2014 and it just works. It's more accurate than my Tavor too. I can't say the same for friends who owned the RDB.

If you don't mind your brass being tossed into the next century though, it's the better choice.
 
The exposed gas block on the RDB is situated exactly where one might wrap a hand around the forend. That makes it very easy to burn fingers. Thats a bad design. The others you mentioned do not have an exposed gas block. One does not typically hold onto the barrel when the rifle is being fired.
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I think you're a bit too biased about RDB. Keltec could have made short HG, like CZ, but they provided more options by elongating it past gas block, yet you think it's a bad design. Let's agree to disagree.
 
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