RDB now that the X95 is near impossible to find?

I

I Dont Care About You

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Now that the X95 have all disappeared and are near impossible to find, do I take a chance on an RDB?

Based upon my last RDB experience, I'd only buy one new from a dealer so as to be able to have a warranty to fall back on.

In general I liked my RDB but it has soured me a bit with the trigger problem that has it sitting at a Smith for the last 6 months. :( When that rifle finally returns it will get sold.
 
Every Kel-Tec I have owned, which is all of them that are legal in Canada, has given me some sort of unacceptable problem. Right up to blowing up in my face after only four rounds of factory ammo. I do recommend buying pretty much anything else.
 
Kel-Tec has bad and good designs. RDB, Sub2k and RFB - these are good from most ppl experience and I personally had experience with first two. You're correct that you need to be original purchaser so you could use warranty because yeah, things happen and these are not military designes proven by decades and backed up by tons of spare part and wisdom of fan base.
Speaking about RDB specifically. Design is much more advanced than X95. It is more simple, easier to manufacture, less parts to break, easier to take down and get access and clean all parts. At the same time it's boutique type of firearm with a lot of stupid screws (X95 is much worse!) and it's hard to clear malfunction and hard to demonstrate empty chamber, latter two items are important when you compete.
X95 is a generation behind, with so many stupid design implementations. But... it is high quality firearm based on military issue design and it just works. Hard so service, but it works even with little service.
I sold my RDB and I kept X95. I hate bullpups, I hate outdated and outright stupid design of X95, but beggars can't be choosers. I know I can rely on X95 in both CQB competition and zombie hunt. I also sold Bren 2, but that's another story. If I were you I would have bought used X95, honestly, though I loved my RDB. It was sub-MOA with heavy bullets as opposed to 2.5ish MOA of my X95. If not competition and zombies consideration I would rather kept RDB. So, act according to your priorities. If it's only plinking - grab RDB, if you value more robust design and don't mind some hassle when cleaning - grab used X95.
 
I get the point about not delaying, which is why I am contemplating a brand new RDB. I kinda missed out on a reasonably priced X95 because the seller was a jerk and annoyed me so I didn't want to play his games and ultimately give him my money.

X95 if a, reasonably priced, used one pops up will be pretty close to twice the price of a new RDB. But can't overlook that the X95 is a proven military rifle and the RDB is purely civilian rifle.

For the zombie / socialist apocalypse, I have several AR's in different configurations. At the point where everything goes bad there won't be any authorities or rules to worry about. ;)

I am pretty old school and really appreciate the AR15, especially in its more M4 type configurations but one has to admire the compactness of the bullpups, even if they are a bit different to use and manipulate.

Why does our stupid government have to be so stupid about the AR15? :(
 
I Dont Care About You said:
I'm only interested in a 223/556 rifle. If things really go bad, I have an L1A1 to fall back on. ;)
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Ammo will be the concern. Buy more. I will just pig out on ammo for the guns I have. Things are starting to look bad with the second phase of WW3 now. Not about MOA anymore or the best scope to hit a deer at 600 yards.
 
Horilka said:
Kel-Tec has bad and good designs. RDB, Sub2k and RFB - these are good from most ppl experience and I personally had experience with first two. You're correct that you need to be original purchaser so you could use warranty because yeah, things happen and these are not military designes proven by decades and backed up by tons of spare part and wisdom of fan base.
Speaking about RDB specifically. Design is much more advanced than X95. It is more simple, easier to manufacture, less parts to break, easier to take down and get access and clean all parts. At the same time it's boutique type of firearm with a lot of stupid screws (X95 is much worse!) and it's hard to clear malfunction and hard to demonstrate empty chamber, latter two items are important when you compete.
X95 is a generation behind, with so many stupid design implementations. But... it is high quality firearm based on military issue design and it just works. Hard so service, but it works even with little service.
I sold my RDB and I kept X95. I hate bullpups, I hate outdated and outright stupid design of X95, but beggars can't be choosers. I know I can rely on X95 in both CQB competition and zombie hunt. I also sold Bren 2, but that's another story. If I were you I would have bought used X95, honestly, though I loved my RDB. It was sub-MOA with heavy bullets as opposed to 2.5ish MOA of my X95. If not competition and zombies consideration I would rather kept RDB. So, act according to your priorities. If it's only plinking - grab RDB, if you value more robust design and don't mind some hassle when cleaning - grab used X95.
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Are you on crack?

The RDB is NOT more advanced than the X95…

They have a million screws, a serious jam is a ##### to clear out…the top rail is too short to run irons and an LPVO and you need to be careful with scope placement so the charging handle can be locked up into place and clear it/have room for you to HK slap it off!

They have a slight edge on accuracy (and the 20” barrel is cool) and price is better but support and spare parts (besides a firing pin and MCARBO trigger spring) are impossible to get as in support in Canada from/for a KEL TEC
 
I'm not gonna argue which is more "advanced" but I would argue the RDB has some seriously strange design elements. The X95 trigger pack drops right out, unlike the RDB which requires a Smith to change anything out .... hence why my RDB has been at the Smith for 6 months now.

The RDB uses the barrel as the backbone of the rifle. The optic rail is aluminum and bolted directly to the barrel. Thus the rail attachment must include a mechanism for the barrel and rail to expand at different rates when heated. Take a look at the rear rail attachment point. It is a slot.

I like the RDB trigger but I don't hate the X95 trigger. While there is an aftermarket solution for the X95 trigger, it is very expensive.

As noted, jams in a RDB are a serious problem. The X95 was designed for military use and its reliability / durability reflect that.
 
Now that I have started this thread, which is bound to devolve into a flaming match, it is ironic that I happened upon a barely used and reasonably priced X95 so my problem has been solved.
 
I am not sure how anyone could even put the RDB in the same league with a straight face. I am not a Tavor fanboy but it is a much, much more durable rifle with much better engineering almost everywhere it matters. I would imagine having very little practical experience with one or both would be involved. Your own analysis is pretty spot on IMO. I still own two X-95 and have completely given up on Kel-Tec after endless frustrations and disappointments. Saving money is meaningless when you have guns that blow-up, jam-up severely and often and are apparently designed by someone who works out of a cheap fasteners store, among other silly crap.
 
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hannibal.black98 said:
Are you on crack?

The RDB is NOT more advanced than the X95…

They have a million screws, a serious jam is a ##### to clear out…the top rail is too short to run irons and an LPVO and you need to be careful with scope placement so the charging handle can be locked up into place and clear it/have room for you to HK slap it off!

They have a slight edge on accuracy (and the 20” barrel is cool) and price is better but support and spare parts (besides a firing pin and MCARBO trigger spring) are impossible to get as in support in Canada from/for a KEL TEC
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RBD is more advanced than X95. You're pointing mostly to the drawbacks I mentioned.
You're clearly choosing to ignore the screws in X95? Rubber extractor spring? Inability to do full cleaning of gas system in "military rifle"? Complexity of the BCG? RBD action and overall design is more advanced than X95, compare it to ACR-lineage and you will see (no, probably you won't). Not without stupid features but still it's more modern. Worse executed, of worse quality, but still more advanced in terms of design.

P.S. If you don't understand what I am saying, consider this. TARA TM-9 is of more advanced design than BHP. But because of implementation, quality and other factors - I would rather recommend outdated BHP.
 
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^ there is enough laughably incorrect stuff in that to out you as a fanboy and nothing more. A rubber spring among other nonsense. The two X-95 and full compliment of parts minus receiver I have have springs and an o-ring. I know from experience it runs fine without the O-ring, I believe one of them doesn't even have it right from the factory. The screws are a thing, I guess? Four for the rail and two for the grip? WOW.

They aren't cheap fasteners from the frigging hardware store at least. The gas system, yes, you can clean it. The included kit has a brush to do so, not that it's special. The BCG is complex compared to what? You have an issue with the piston being attached I guess? The RDB is a toy compared to the X-95, which for all its faults can actually stand up as a military grade firearm. Kel-Tec couldn't get an army to field their crap if they gave it away for free.

Have you ever even held an X-95 before?
 
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B said:
^ there is enough laughably incorrect stuff in that to out you as a fanboy and nothing more. A rubber spring among other nonsense. The two X-95 and full compliment of parts minus receiver I have have springs and an o-ring. I know from experience it runs fine without the o-ring. The screws are a thing, I guess? They aren't cheap fasteners from the frigging hardware store at least. The gas system, yes, you can clean it. The BCG is complex compared to what? You have an issue with the piston being attached I guess? The RDB is a toy compared to the X-95, which for all its faults can actually stand up as a military grade firearm.
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A fanboy that recommended X95? A strange definition of being a fan boy.
Do X95 have rubber "spring" or not? Why do you think other manufacturers don't use rubber in such places? Were there or were there not reports of this part degrading?
I guess you never had to remove degraded X95 screws that are of course not of "hardware store" quality, yet ####ing degraded quickly.. I had and know other ppl who had. How many screws do you in AK, AR, Type 81? But for X95 it is still great design decision?
Jeez. Just don't want to waste time arguing anymore. Be well..
 
An AK with a rail system or any of the others is going to have some way of holding it to the rifle. An AK without won't because why would it? Tons of screws all over are a fundamental Kel-Tec design feature. Of all the ways to attach a rail I sure wouldn't strap it right onto the barrel with no accomodation for expansion. I have never even heard of "degraded" screws on any Tavor. They don't just turn to nothing for no reason so that's hard to even address. You are all over the place grasping at anything to defend a lame rifle. The O-ring is not necessary, I have read about issues but that is it. The actual extractor spring made of steel like most every spring has never failed me. My older gun doesn't even have an O-ring.
 
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Horilka said:
RBD is more advanced than X95. You're pointing mostly to the drawbacks I mentioned.
You're clearly choosing to ignore the screws in X95? Rubber extractor spring? Inability to do full cleaning of gas system in "military rifle"? Complexity of the BCG? RBD action and overall design is more advanced than X95, compare it to ACR-lineage and you will see (no, probably you won't). Not without stupid features but still it's more modern. Worse executed, of worse quality, but still more advanced in terms of design..
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Without taking sides ....

Half of the AR gas system can't be cleaned and with its gas rings etc it has to be one of the most complex BCGs out there.

The RDB is full of small screws, which have a tendency to fall out if not monitored. The means of attaching the optic rail to the rifle is three pretty small screws. Not exactly a solid or durable method.

I actually quite liked my RDB but I wouldn't consider it to be in the same class as the X95 with respect to durability and reliability for serious use.
 
With everything happening I'd avoid plinker-grade rifles and keep looking for an x95. Or other NRs known for reliability - Bren 2, APC, SL8 (w/additional $$ spent to recontour the barrel at minimum), an NR receiver set that takes AR parts etc.
My $0.05.
 
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