Kel-Tec Sub-2000 Gen 3 Review

Few guns are as fun and affordable to shoot as pistol-caliber carbines. Not only are they lightweight and have soft recoil, but they also make great suppressor hosts. But most of these carbines are too large to use as a bugout gun or truck gun - except The Kel-Tec Sub2000.

But what exactly is the Kel-Tec Sub2000, and what makes it so popular? Let’s look at this futuristic folding firearm and find out more.

For the uninitiated, all Kel-Tec 2000 carbines are direct blowback, magazine-fed semi-automatic carbines chambered in 9mm or .40 S&W. Although they might not seem like it, the Sub 2000 is a bullpup. A Bullpup means the action behind the magazine is well-balanced, offering a better-balanced setup than traditional firearms.

Previous-generation guns were available with different pistol grips and magazine compatibility, but the Kel-Tec engineers have narrowed their Gen 3 models to the most popular configuration: the 9mm Glock 19 version.

This configuration features a shortened pistol grip that a 15-round Glock 19 magazine (or compatible alternative) fits flush inside. Wait, the magazines fit in the grip? Indeed, the Sub2k’s pistol grip doubles as its magazine, which is a brilliant idea for a bugout or survival gun. 

Why?

Because of the hands-find-hands ergonomics principle. In short, we all know where both hands are at all times. If you’re reloading the Kel-Tec in the dark, you can simply hold the gun by its pistol grip and naturally find the magazine well with your other hand, which presumably has a fresh magazine in it. 

It drastically reduces the training needed to reload the gun quickly under pressure or in low-light conditions. But that isn’t what makes the Sub2000 such a great survival and bugout gun. That honor belongs to the Sub2000’s most unique feature: the folding mechanism.

The Kel-Tec gun’s claim to fame is that it effortlessly folds in half, making it perfect for shoving in a go-bag or a vehicle. A large hinge in the center of the gun, just ahead of the pistol grip, achieves this.

When folded, the Sub2000 cannot be fired since the back half contains the bolt and magazine, while the front half contains the chamber and barrel. This also means you can’t fold the gun with a round in the chamber, as it will just fall out. 

This technology seems cutting-edge, but militaries have been building guns like this for a long time—albeit for slightly different reasons. For militaries of the 20th century, paratroopers needed a compact gun to shove in a bag that wouldn’t interfere with deploying a parachute. Nearly all of these guns actually consisted of two parts that locked together, and while effective, they weren’t nearly as quick to deploy as the folding Kel-Tec. 

The Sub2000’s folding mechanism is incredibly fast, thanks to its ingenious locking mechanism. The top of it consists of a steel hinge, while the bottom is a simple locking tab. The tab is released by pulling down on the trigger guard, at which point the shooter simply folds the front of the gun up and rearwards. The front of the handguard clips into a small catch on the buttstock, and the gun is ready to be transported. But there’s one issue with the gun folding that has held back the design for years: the barrel is railed for optics, and the gun can’t be folded with optics installed. Thankfully, this has been addressed in the new Gen 3 models.

The new Sub2000 Gen 3 functions like previous models, but the handguard also rotates 90 degrees to move the optic out of the way. This is a brilliant solution to an issue many shooters are frustrated with, or purchase an aftermarket solution from MCARBO or Midwest Industries.

The only downside to the new design is that it does away with the old versions’ integral polymer iron sights. Speaking of which, let’s take a closer look at the Sub2k’s ergonomics.

While the trigger and magazine release are reasonably standard fair, the charging handle is unique due to the gun’s linear bullpup design. The bolt and charging handle are behind the pistol grip to shorten the weapon’s overall length. This means a shooter has to reach into their armpit to charge the gun essentially. 

The rear tube containing the charging handle and bolt also lacks a bolt release but does feature a simple notch to hold the action open. To do so, pull the charging handle all the way back and rotate it 45 degrees into a small notch. To release it, simply push or slap it sideways and free of the notch, and the bolt will fly forward, pick up a round from the magazine, and chamber it. It sounds complicated, but it is straightforward.

Another aspect worth mentioning is that the charging handle does reciprocate between shots. So be sure to keep your hands and arms away from it while firing.

Other noteworthy features include a three-position adjustable stock with an integral sling loop, a polymer railed handguard with Picatinny slots on the top and bottom, and Mlok slots on both sides. The Kel-Tec carbine’s barrel is also threaded to 1/2x28, making it compatible with nearly all 9mm muzzle devices, including brakes, compensators, and, my favorite, sound suppressors.

With all that out of the way, let’s get to the meat of the review—accuracy and reliability.

Although not a comprehensive test of the gun’s capabilities, I personally fired around 2,000 rounds of 9mm ammo through the Kel-Tec Sub2000 Gen 3 using a mixture of the factory Magpul magazine, Glock OEM factory magazines, Korean KCI magazines, and KRISS Vector 40-round extended magazines. In all my testing, I only experienced a single malfunction due to a dead primer in an ancient round. 

The Sub2k ate everything. I fed it like a champ while consistently ejecting rounds in a neat little pile. This was true even with my Resilient Arms RS9 suppressor installed—remarkable because adding a sound suppressor increases operating pressures and bolt velocity. With more complex firearms like the SIG MPX or the HK MP5, adding a suppressor can dramatically affect the reliability or longevity of the weapon.

The Sub2000 uses a simple delayed blowback mechanism, so no mechanical lock keeps the chamber closed during the detonation portion of the cycle. Although, in my experience, the gun ran flawlessly with a standard bolt, Kel-Tec offers a heavier bolt with suppressors that will reduce felt recoil while making the gun cycle more consistently. 

Another noteworthy element of this testing is that the gun never struggled with defensive ammo, which can occasionally cause reliability issues with some guns. This is mostly because hollow-point rounds may drag on the feed ramp of some guns (especially older ones) and make the weapon unreliable. This was 100% not the case with the Kel-Tec—it gobbled up everything I fed it like it was starving!

As for accuracy, the Kel-Tec achieved very surprising results. While not a particularly expensive or complex firearm, the Sub2000 proved remarkably accurate. When fired from a rest at 50 yards, the Sub2k achieved groups as small as 1.75 inches with match-grade ammo. 

With cheaper plinking ammo and just a red dot sight, the gun grouped around 2.5 inches at this range. With a magnified optic and a proper rest, the carbine effortlessly blasted soda cans and bowling pins at 100 yards. Given the limited effective range of pistol calibers, this is more than acceptable.

Depending on the needs of the shooter, absolutely. If you’re looking for the perfect truck or bugout gun, the Kel-Tec Sub2000 is your ticket. Accurate, reliable, and compatible with a wide array of aftermarket accessories, the only limiting factor is a shooter’s budget. 

It also makes a great companion carbine for a Glock pistol or a PSA Dagger since both guns can share ammunition and magazines. This makes the entire setup a fantastic addition to a survival or bugout kit. 

Ultimately, the Kel-Tec Sub2000 Gen 3 isn’t the high-speed, low-drag performance gun that wins pistol caliber carbine matches, but it was never built to be. Instead, it’s an excellent workhorse gun that extends the range and effectiveness of your sidearm in a compact package small enough to shove into a backpack or truck box.

If that’s what you need, the new third-generation Kel-Tec will deliver. Plus, it makes a great training platform for new shooters to learn the basics of marksmanship without breaking the bank on expensive ammo or instilling bad habits with harsh recoil. Overall, the Kel-Tec Sub2000 Gen 3 is just a great all-around tool with enough versatility that it’ll meet nearly every need you would have for the gun.