So i finally got my hands on Kel-Tec KSG. Great thanks to Seth, Sara, Dillon and others at Lanz Shooting Supplies. It's always a pleasure to deal with those guys.
Now we can have a closer look and compare these two new shotguns side by side. As most of you know, UTAS released a 2nd gen. model of UTS-15 with several modifications like removable 8" barrel extension, improved loading system, integrated laser/light combo and so on. The last i heard, is that by 18th of June UTAS will ship out the new models, to replace the once we have received initially. So As far as reliability tests go, we will have to wait until the improved version comes in.
I will start with my opinion on KSG. When i first felt it in my hands, i was very surprised how solid it was, very much like the RFB
but only half the weight. Fit and finish on the gun is excellent, i expected to see a lot more polymer on it then there actually is. Pump is smoother then any other pump i have tried, and the trigger is short and super crisp (also kinda like the RFB trigger). Even loading the tubes from the bottom is not that big of a deal, once you place the shell inside, i finds its way into the tube easily. I was a little upset that there were no chokes or compensator options, but later i found out that Kel-tek is working on the adapter that will screw on instead of the barrel nut allowing the use of chokes. And there is also a manufacturer in US that makes the compensator for KSG that fit the same way as the choke adapter. So that was a relief .
Over all i'm extremely happy with KSG and i thing that it is a very close competitor for UTS-15.
As for UTS -15, my first impression was a little different. As i got it out of the box i didn't like how fragile it felt. Even though the fit and finish was great, the amount of polymer parts was making the gun very light and toy like. Only after shooting the gun and taking it apart several times i started to see that it is a great new gun, with a lot of potential.
It is quite hard to compare these two guns , both have some unique cool features..
UTS has top loading ports which will save you some time while loading, an auto switch for the mag tubes, so as the variable length barrel that uses Beneli chokes, not to mention the built in Light and laser that doesn't take extra space on your rails. The only downside i see compare to KSG, is that UTS is slightly larger, and the reloading mechanism is more complicated, so it could mean more chance for something to go wrong..
Maybe not, time will tell.
The KSG has very simple and smooth reloading mechanism, slightly smaller, has better LOP, and has more metal parts on it than the UTS.. The downsides for KSG would be the need to switch manually between the
mag tubes, little slower loading time with the bottom loading port, shorter sight radius.. shorter top rail ..
I might find more things later.. we'll see.
Also i always thought that UTS was lighter than KSG.. apparently not, Unloaded with no irons KSG is 3.2kg and the UTS is 3.5..
Here are the pictures (both guns are in original form) still deciding on the upgrades.
KSG
UTS-15
and a video:
[youtube]yRM3VDfwI1M[/youtube]
Side by Side
cat having hard time deciding which one she likes more..
Love my bullpups
Unfortunately, when i picked up the KSG, it was raining hard for most of the day, the friend that was suppose to come with me, changed his mind. So i didnt get a chance to take videos, but i will do that in the near future. So keep an eye out for updates.
Now we can have a closer look and compare these two new shotguns side by side. As most of you know, UTAS released a 2nd gen. model of UTS-15 with several modifications like removable 8" barrel extension, improved loading system, integrated laser/light combo and so on. The last i heard, is that by 18th of June UTAS will ship out the new models, to replace the once we have received initially. So As far as reliability tests go, we will have to wait until the improved version comes in.
I will start with my opinion on KSG. When i first felt it in my hands, i was very surprised how solid it was, very much like the RFB
but only half the weight. Fit and finish on the gun is excellent, i expected to see a lot more polymer on it then there actually is. Pump is smoother then any other pump i have tried, and the trigger is short and super crisp (also kinda like the RFB trigger). Even loading the tubes from the bottom is not that big of a deal, once you place the shell inside, i finds its way into the tube easily. I was a little upset that there were no chokes or compensator options, but later i found out that Kel-tek is working on the adapter that will screw on instead of the barrel nut allowing the use of chokes. And there is also a manufacturer in US that makes the compensator for KSG that fit the same way as the choke adapter. So that was a relief . Over all i'm extremely happy with KSG and i thing that it is a very close competitor for UTS-15.
As for UTS -15, my first impression was a little different. As i got it out of the box i didn't like how fragile it felt. Even though the fit and finish was great, the amount of polymer parts was making the gun very light and toy like. Only after shooting the gun and taking it apart several times i started to see that it is a great new gun, with a lot of potential.
It is quite hard to compare these two guns
, both have some unique cool features.. UTS has top loading ports which will save you some time while loading, an auto switch for the mag tubes, so as the variable length barrel that uses Beneli chokes, not to mention the built in Light and laser that doesn't take extra space on your rails. The only downside i see compare to KSG, is that UTS is slightly larger, and the reloading mechanism is more complicated, so it could mean more chance for something to go wrong..
Maybe not, time will tell.
The KSG has very simple and smooth reloading mechanism, slightly smaller, has better LOP, and has more metal parts on it than the UTS..
The downsides for KSG would be the need to switch manually between the mag tubes, little slower loading time with the bottom loading port, shorter sight radius.. shorter top rail ..
I might find more things later.. we'll see.
Also i always thought that UTS was lighter than KSG.. apparently not, Unloaded with no irons KSG is 3.2kg and the UTS is 3.5..
Here are the pictures (both guns are in original form) still deciding on the upgrades.
KSG
UTS-15
and a video:
[youtube]yRM3VDfwI1M[/youtube]
Side by Side
cat having hard time deciding which one she likes more..
Love my bullpups
Unfortunately, when i picked up the KSG, it was raining hard for most of the day, the friend that was suppose to come with me, changed his mind. So i didnt get a chance to take videos, but i will do that in the near future. So keep an eye out for updates.
Last edited:
