KelTec Sub 2000 Gen II Review: Best PCC for the Money?

One company that was ahead of the pistol caliber carbine craze was KelTec with its famed Kel Tec Sub 2000 rifle. Today we got our hands on the 2nd Generation of the Sub 2000, specifically the Glock 17 model, and we can consider this a long term review since my ownership spans years.

[Update] I reviewed the KelTec Sub 2000 a couple of years ago, and recently, I got the chance to run a few hundred more rounds through it. After spending more time with it, my perspective has shifted a bit. So, let’s take a fresh look at this carbine and see how my thoughts have changed.

KelTec Sub 2000 Background

I owned the original KelTec Sub 2000, and I’ve regretted selling it ever since. As a former Marine with plenty of trigger time on various firearms, the Sub 2000 has always stood out to me in a way few others have.

2012 was a crazy time in the gun world, and someone offered me a ridiculous sum of money for it.

When the Gen 2 came to be, I knew I needed to add this one to my list of firearms.

I’ve owned this gun for years, and it’s seen a ton of lead downrange.

The Kel Tec Sub 2000 is a one-in-a-million style carbine designed to be light and handy and impossibly compact.

It’s always reminded me of a modernized Sten gun. The SUB 2000 rifle has a tubular steel stock design that contains a round bolt with a return spring. It’s brutally simple.

Simple is good, simple is reliable, and simple is also affordable.

When it comes to firearms, the SUB 2000 rifle is a cheap gun with an everyday retail price of around $350. The low initial investment, coupled with low ammo costs, makes it one of the most accessible rifles.

The SUB 2000 rifle also reduces the cost of ownership by utilizing standard pistol magazines of various types. The SUB 2000 comes in various magazine configurations including Glock, Smith and Wesson M&P, Beretta 92/96, and SIG P226 magazines. This kind of arrangement allows you to share magazines and ammo with your primary handgun and sharing ammo has been an en vogue feature since revolvers and lever guns.

The design of the Kel Tec SUB 2000 allows it to be a personal defense weapon, a handy truck gun, or even folded into a pack as a good woods gun. It’s versatile and convenient due to its size and its ability to fold in half.

KelTec Sub 2000 Features

1 Folding Design

The folding design makes this more portable than ever.

2 Threaded Barrel

9mm version has 1/2 x 28 threads and .40 S&W version has 9/16 x 24 threads.

3 3 Position Adjustable Stock

Customizable to your comfort level.

4 M-LOK and Picatinny Rail Hanguard

Ready to accept almost every accessory you can think of.

5 Multiple Rear Sling Points

You can set up your most comfortable carry.

KelTec SUB 2000 Variants

KelTec SUB 2000 – Our Take

I’ve owned this gun for four years now and have put a ridiculous amount of rounds downrange with it. For a long time, it was my only PCC, and therefore it spent a lot of time blasting away at my home range in the hands of many different shooters. With this all being said, I’ve yet to experience a malfunction not related to the magazine I was using.

The magazine that gave me issues was the KCI 50-round Glock drum and the problem is resolved by downloading the drum by two rounds. Other than that, the simple blowback operation makes the gun quite reliable. You don’t expect a cheap weapon to be this reliable, but the KelTec defies the expectations in a good way.

Ergonomics is a tough bag. It’s a bit of a goofy mix, and there are some real sacrifices made to make it a compact and a folding weapon. The first is the placement of the charging handle beneath your face. It’s just odd and weird, and holy crap, you get a workout every time you rack the weapon. The back news with blowback weapons is either you need a massive bolt or a heavy spring, and the SUB 2000 rifle went with a heavy spring.

The barrel assembly is straightforward and keeps the weapon compact when folded. The 16.25-inch barrel length meets the legal requirements for a rifle, but when the gun is deployed, it remains short enough to stay maneuverable. This longer barrel also helps maximize the performance of the 9mm round, offering better velocity and accuracy compared to what you’d get from a standard pistol.”

The safety is okay and natural to deactivate. The magazine release is a bit of a reach, and it’s a strain to both reach it and press it inwards. It works, but just barely, and I have large hands. The stock length of pull is excellent for me, but you can move the stock to three positions.

Moving the stock isn’t as easy as an AR-15, and you are required to remove a bolt and then realign and slide it back in when finished. Cheek weld is okay, and it feels like the front sight and rear sight could be a hair higher, but they work fine enough. The grip houses the magazine, and with a flush-fitting magazine, the gun can be quite small.

Accuracy is impressive enough. Out to 100 yards, I can ring my 10-inch steel gong without much issue. 9mm rounds, in general, are not that accurate outside of the typical handgun range. It’s not a gun you’d measure groups with at 100 yards unless you wanna feel humbled. Heavier rounds tend to be more accurate, and you can get about 4 MOA on a good day. That’s not that bad for a 9mm carbine.

Accuracy might be better with a better trigger because the 9.5-pound clunker in the SUB 2000 rifle is far from impressive. It has a bit of pre-travel, and then it hits a wall without a distinct peak. If you pull the trigger slowly, you might find yourself wondering when the gun is going to fire. Eventually, it will, but it’s not crisp. The reset is not exactly noticeable via tactile feeling. The trigger guard is well-designed, but it doesn’t compensate for the lackluster trigger performance. Also, the trigger bar could use some refinement to improve the overall feel.

With all that said, I do love this gun. It goes bang when I pull the trigger and goes ding when it hits steel. The recoil is about the same as a 5.56 AR-15, which seems silly for a pistol round, but that’s another issue with blowback guns. It’s still very mild, and the muzzle rise is near nothing. I reduced my muzzle rise to nothing with a muzzle device. As far as unsuppressed guns go, it’s rather quiet and unassuming.

I often let new shooters who’ve graduated from a 10/22 handle the SUB 2000, and they also seem to enjoy it. The simple nature of the gun and its unique appearance seems to make it less intimidating.

The Kel Tec SUB 2000 is an incredibly affordable gun most of the time. Sometimes the value surges based on the fact that KelTec doesn’t produce a ton of guns. When they become scant, a predictable price rise follows. For 350 bucks, the gun is a helluva value. The folding design is neat, and this makes the weapon very small and easy to carry and store. That is how it made its way onto our list of Best Pistol Caliber Carbines for the best portability. It’s capable of being a home defense weapon, a fun gun, and a hiking piece. Add in the low cost of ownership due to caliber and common magazine platforms, and the price is low, and the value is quite high.

KelTec SUB 2000 Pros and Cons

KelTec Sub 2000 Deals

KelTec Sub 2000 Ammo

KelTec Sub 2000 – FAQs

Is the KelTec Sub 2000 suitable for home defense?

Yes, the KelTec Sub 2000 can be a solid choice for home defense. Its compact size and folding design make it easy to store and handle, while its use of common pistol magazines adds to its practicality. The reliability and manageable recoil also make it a practical option for defensive situations.

How effective are the iron sights on the KelTec Sub 2000?

The iron sights on the KelTec Sub 2000 get the job done, but you might find them a bit low for perfect alignment. They work fine for general shooting, but if you’re looking for better accuracy and faster target acquisition, upgrading to a red dot optic could be a worthwhile improvement.

Can the KelTec Sub 2000 be equipped with a red dot optic?

Yes, you can definitely add a red dot optic to the KelTec Sub 2000. It comes with a Picatinny rail on the handguard that makes it easy to attach various optics, including red dots. Adding one of these can really enhance your accuracy and speed up how quickly you acquire your targets.

Is the KelTec Sub 2000 a long gun?

Yes, the KelTec Sub 2000 qualifies as a long gun. With its 16.25-inch barrel, it meets the legal criteria for rifles. Despite its compact, foldable design, it functions as a full-length rifle, making it suitable for a range of uses from personal defense to recreational shooting.

KelTec Sub 2000 Starter Pack

So, you’re planning on picking up a SUB 2000 Gen II, right? If so, you’re going to need more than just the gun to make it safely go bang. You’re going to need proper protections, extra mags, and something to clean it with at the end of a long day at the range. Here are our recommendations:

• Gun Cleaning Kit: Otis All Caliber Elite Range Box on Amazon or build your own personalized cleaning kit with premium components.
• Shooting Glasses: All it takes is one piece of rogue hot brass, and you’ll learn the importance of shooting glasses. But not all glasses are built the same. See our recommendations for the Best Shooting Glasses.
• Hearing Protection: Firing a gun without wearing proper ear protection can be very dangerous and detrimental to your hearing. Find out the best hearing protection for you in our full-length review.
• Storage: Check out our article on the Best Biometric Gun Safes
• Targets: If you want a great resource for shooting practice or zeroing your optics on your optics rifle or pistol, download our FREE Sighting in Targets below.
• Magazine – Glock Magazine – Model 17/34 9mm.

With the basics out of the way, let’s jump into some more accessories you might want to consider when purchasing your KelTec Sub 2000

KelTec Sub 2000 Upgrades and Accessories

There are some options available to accessorize the KelTec Sub 2000, which could include some pistol magazine options or a nice red dot. However, if we had to choose only a few options… Here are our picks.

KelTec Sub 2000 Accessories

1. Streamlight TLR-7 Weapon Light		White LED produces 500 lumens IPX7 Waterproof Low Profile	Check Amazon
2. Blue Force Gear Vickers Sling		2-Point adaptive design Easy to tighten and loosen Provides maximum mobility	Check Amazon
3. Burris Fastfire III		Mini Red Dot Affordable Rugged and Robust	Check Amazon
4. Glock Model 17/34 9mm		Genuine Model 33 Round Capacity	Check Price

HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR KelTec Sub 2000

Not only do you need to keep your firearms safe and secure, but you’re also going to need to know how to take care of it. While scouring the internet, we came across this excellent video;

Important Links and Manuals for the KelTec SUB 2000 Gen II

Looking for more info on the KelTec SUB 2000? Or did you lose your manual? Don’t worry we’ve got you covered. Check out our links below:

• KelTec SUB 2000 Gen II
• KelTec SUB 2000 Gen II Manual
• GlockTalk: KelTec SUB 2k Thread