SU-16FX Worth the cash?

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WbyNut

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Been debating picking up one of the fx models and hoping a few with first hand experience can shed some light on a few things.


  • How strong are they made? They look like a polymer or plastic. Are the rails strong enough to tighten down accessories?
  • Are they consistent/reliable as far as the action goes?
  • How are they for gumming up as well as easy to clean?

Thanks!
 
Welcome to GunNutz.

Worth the cash? Not my cash.
Google "broken Kel Tec" to answer questions 1&2
Q-3, cleaning a broken gun is pointless. ;)

My hands on experience is with a su16, and a pistol, I don't remember the model. I've put rounds through a RFB and KSG, but won't call a few rounds experience.
 
I have an SU16 ,with tactical stock and red lion forend,and have no problems with it. Never a ftf or fte yet. At 100 yards I can do about 2 or 3 moa. It's a nice rifle but it's the only one I've had. Rails are strong enough for whatever and it's very reliable. Had I known about the cracking I probably wouldn't have bought this gun. Out of the thousands that are sold it has happened to a few,at least that's all I can find on the net. Regards to cleaning ,I haven't had it apart yet, I have about a thousand rnds through it and no problems yet..... Knock on wood. :)
 
1. The SU16 is built like the SUB2000 so it feels like cheap plastic.

2. The one that my buddy has was patterning like a shotgun no matter what ammo we tried in it.

3. They are a pain in the A$$ to clean. He just runs a bore snake through it and keeps shooting.

If you want quality you have to pay for it. These rifles fill a place in the market and deliver exactly what they are built to do. If Kel Tec was to build them better then they would cost more. I've owned an RFB and a KSG and both were excellent firearms but my Sub2000 felt cheap. I never had any problems with the Sub2000 but I could tell it was not designed to take much abuse and I enjoyed it for what it was until I sold it.
If you plan to buy one of these then dress it up like an AR then save your money because you will never be happy with it and when you are finished you could have just bought a better rifle with the money you will have tied up in it.

I don't know what kind of budget you have but I would save up longer and buy something like a used XCR or an AR180-B if you can find one. If you can afford a little more then a used ACR that has been converted to non restricted is the way to go in my opinion. You can also buy a used restricted ACR for around $2000 and then spend $550 on the Dlask barrel and have them install it and do the paperwork.
There are better options than the SU-16 but not many cheaper options.
 
Mine works great. Never a stoppage, shoots 2 inches, has smoked over 100 beavers and many many yotes. I betting it's killed more actual animals than any of these prissy guns mentioned here... Har! I don't profess it to be the end all, but as my cheap farm, truck gun it's been flawless. At 5.5 pds, it's also a joy to carry.... And unlike my buddies 5 inch group mini 14... I'm using .50 Beowulf mags....
 
The keltec is junk unfortunately, spend the money on a 580 series mini 14 if you want a non restricted semi in 5.56mm/.223 and save yourself the headache dealing with a cracked receiver.
 
The standard folding SU-15 is an interesting piece, lightweight, compact and non-restricted. It's not a "Modern Military Rifle" in any sense. It has neither the durability or solid construction required of a Black Rifle IMO. It's not "bad", but you can tell it was never designed as a plinker/military rifle, but a light utility rifle instead.

I will add that the incident reported by lone ranger is unsettling. I did handle a SU-16 recently and it felt... Cheap. I never had an issue with my polymer AR180b lower, but the SU-16 felt too flimsy.
 
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I was at the range a week or so ago, and the fellow beside me was shooting the Pistol version and the back end of the gun blew off! he wasn't impressed.
 
lone ranger said:
I was at the range a week or so ago, and the fellow beside me was shooting the Pistol version and the back end of the gun blew off! he wasn't impressed.
Click to expand...

Lol. Not the first complete SU-16 receiver failure I've heard of! I wonder what would happen in sub-zero temperatures? Seems like a p.o.s to me. I agree with the mini 14 as an excellent choice instead. It is designed with durability and reliability in mind. The Garand design is extremely proven!
 
LOL love this post.
CreamySmooth said:
Mine works great. Never a stoppage, shoots 2 inches, has smoked over 100 beavers and many many yotes. I betting it's killed more actual animals than any of these prissy guns mentioned here... Har! I don't profess it to be the end all, but as my cheap farm, truck gun it's been flawless. At 5.5 pds, it's also a joy to carry.... And unlike my buddies 5 inch group mini 14... I'm using .50 Beowulf mags....
Click to expand...
 
Scary, but do wonder how much of a real issue this is.
stvjeep said:
Lol. Not the first complete SU-16 receiver failure I've heard of! I wonder what would happen in sub-zero temperatures? Seems like a p.o.s to me. I agree with the mini 14 as an excellent choice instead. It is designed with durability and reliability in mind. The Garand design is extremely proven!
Click to expand...
 
Do your research, join the kel tech owners group and read up. I was so stoked when i pre ordered my su16fx. Gave up waiting for the barrel fiasco and bought an xcr l. After shooting a few su16's and then shooting my xcr i knew i made the right choice.
 
Sorry to have to go against the grain again but also avoid the mini 14 in my opinion. It is built much better than the SU-16 but the one I had (1987 production stainless ranch with 1:7 twist) was minute of barn door and was so overgassed it would throw brass 30 feet and hit other guys at the benches when I was at the range.
The T-97 is a disposable rifle with zero parts support and zero warranty. I would also avoid those even though the one I got to play with for a while was quite accurate and didn't have any stoppages.

If you want non restricted and are on a budget I would find a used Armalite AR180-B but wait for one on the EE for under $1600 and then pounce on it. If you can't find one of those then the next best thing is the XCR. After that you get into the Tavor and converted ACR price range.
These rifles may cost a little more but you will be much happier with one of them once you have it.
 
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