Like many shooters, I wanted one the first time I laid eyes on the KelTec Sub 2000. The Sub 2000 folding rifle is seemingly the perfect bugout/camping/companion gun for other 9mm pistols like the Glock, which it can share magazines with. But now that I’ve owned and shot two of them for a few years, is the magic gone?
Let’s take a closer look at the KelTec Sub 2000 and find out.
Features
The KelTec Sub-2000 Carbine is a 9mm direct blowback carbine that feeds from stagger-column Glock-pattern magazines. You read that right, the KelTec Sub 2000 feeds from Glock magazines – at least, this version does. The model reviewed is designed specifically for Glock 19-pattern mags, meaning it can utilize Glock 19, Glock 17, and any 9mm Glock magazine with a capacity of over 15 rounds. (Or ten rounds in ban states.)
Keltec also makes a version in .40 S&W, and they make versions of each for both the compact and full-sized Glock magazine versions.
Regardless of which model a shooter chooses, all KelTec Sub versions feature a polymer railed handguard with Picatinny rails on the top and bottom and M-Lok slots on the side. Other noteworthy features include a 1/2×28 threaded barrel and an adjustable front sight post. Conversely, the Sub 2000 features a folding rear sight that automatically deploys when the gun is unfolded.
Yes, you read that correctly. The KelTec Sub 2000’s main claim to fame – the entire rifle folds needly to fit inside a backpack or a footlocker.
The trigger guard locks the entire rifle action in the deployed position and can be released by pulling down on this same guard. This means that the entire weapon can be quickly deployed or unfolded in seconds – even with a magazine inserted into the gun.
The only downside is that the gun can’t be locked in the folded position if an optic is installed. Unless shooters are using the pivoting optic mount from Midwest Industries.
Underneath all this, the Sub 2000 features a crossbar safety and a standard push-button magazine release that makes the gun handle more like a pistol than a rifle – at least in terms of reloading.
Behind the pistol grip is the only aspect of the KelTec that I’m not entirely thrilled with: a reciprocating charging handle located underneath the stock. As the previous statement informs, this charging handle rapidly travels back and forth when the gun fires. So shooters should keep their support hand away from the stock to prevent accidentally injuring themselves. At the very rear, the stock features a small cutout that allows the action to be locked in the open position.
In testing, the best way to release this during a reload is to perform a reverse HK-slap, where the support hand reaches under the shooting hand and slaps it free from the catch. While initially awkward, it becomes second nature pretty quickly.
Performance
Now that we have a solid handle on all the KelTec Sub 2000 9mm features let’s talk about performance. To better get a feel for both the mechanical as well as practical accuracy, I installed a Shield RMSx micro reflex sight on top of a tall ADE Advanced Optics Picatinny mount. This setup permits a lower third co-witness with the irons while providing an excellent field of view and bright sight picture.
Hitting steel plates at 75 yards and clearing plate racks at 15 yards was laughably easy and felt as natural as pointing a finger. When fired from a Lyman Bag Jack rest, the gun proved capable of shooting between 1.5 and 2.5-inch groups at 75 yards. While not precision rifle accurate, this is more than enough for the ideal role this gun would be pressed into. One aspect of accuracy that I found odd is how the gun performed with a sound suppressor. In testing, the gun’s point of aim was drastically shifted by adding a suppressor – several feet at 25 yards!? This was confirmed with two different suppressors: a SilencerCo Osprey45 and an Innovative Arms 9mm can. So be certain to zero the gun with a can if you intend to run one.
Regarding reliability, I fired 200 rounds through the Glock-19 grip Sub 2000 and 2,500 rounds through my old Glock-17 tan mode, and in both cases, I never encountered a single malfunction except for a dead primer.
Verdict
If a shooter is looking for the perfect companion gun to a Glock 17 or 19 (or even a Glock 26 if they use extended mags), the KelTec Sub 2000 is in a league of its own. No other carbine can be so easily converted into a portable package for so little money – around $578.
SUB-200 Rifle Specs:
- Model: Sub-2000 Rifle (GLK-G19)
- Caliber: 9mm
- MPN#: 60288
- Style: KLT-SUB2K9GLK19BBLKHC
- UPC: 640832004816
- Brand: Kel-Tec
KYGUNCO: Keltec Sub 2000 Gen 2: $296.99 W/Rebate
Live Inventory Price Checker
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Kel-Tec SUB 2000 Gen 2 Tan 9mm 16.25 Barrel 17-Rounds Glock Magazine | GrabAGun | $ 560.99 |
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Kel-Tec Sub-2000 Gen 2, 9mm, 16.25 Barrel, 1- 17 Round Glock Magazine, Folding Carbine, Black, Rifle | BattleHawk Armory | $ 595.00 $ 369.35 |
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Kel-Tec Sub 2000 Gen 2 9mm 16.1 Barrel 10-Rounds Uses Glock Mags | GrabAGun | $ 458.99 |
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Kel-Tec Sub-2000 Gen 2, 9mm, 16.25 Barrel, 1- 15rd Magazine, Folding Carbine, Black, Rifle | BattleHawk Armory | $ 595.00 $ 349.99 |
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Kel-Tec Sub-2000 Gen 2 .40 S&W 16.1 Barrel 10-Rounds Glock 22 Magazines | GrabAGun | $ 436.99 |
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Parts & Accessories Used in This Review:
- KelTec Sub-2000 Pistol Caliber Carbine
- Midwest Industries KelTec Sub2k Optics Mount
- Glock 30 Round Magazines
- Shield RMSx Micro Reflex Sight
- ADE Advanced Optics Picatinny Mount
KelTec Sub-2000 Pistol Caliber Carbine Rifle Owners Manual
About Jim Grant
Jim is one of the elite editors for AmmoLand.com, who can wield a camera with expert finesse in addition to his mastery of prose. He loves anything and everything guns but holds firearms from the Cold War in a special place in his heart.
When he’s not reviewing guns or shooting for fun and competition, Jim can be found hiking and hunting with his wife Kimberly, their son, and their dog Peanut in the South Carolina low country.
Product Reviews:
“The little KelTec Sub-2000 might not have the fit & finish of pricier rifles, but you can’t debate its unstoppable reliability & solid accuracy.” ~ Jim Grant. How would you rate the KelTec Sub-2000 Pistol Caliber Carbine?
I’ve had the 40 for +/- 5 years. Love it!!!
Never had a misfire. Fits in my briefcase with two extra mags….66 rounds….
no printing.
I have a .40 cal Sub-2000 and I really like it. My only complaint is that the stock is much too short to be comfortable. There are a ton of customizations you can do for this gun and there is a pretty avid community built around it. I just need to get motivated to find a solution to this issue. Having an easily transported foldup PCC that shares magazines is the BOM. My kingdom for one in 10mm.
Elite Editor? WOW…
I won one, took a Kimber Micro 9 instead, WAY too much plastic for my likes, and the clamped on HIGH plastic front sight NFW… I’ll pass.
THIS HAS TO BE A OLD ARTICILE BECAUSE KELTEC HAS PUT OUT A NEW MODEL SUB 2000 WITH A ROTATING BARREL SO MOUNTED OPTICS WILL NOT PREVENT THE FOLDING OF THE GUN. I HAVE THE OLDER MODEL AND USE THE WILSON OPTIC HOLDER, WHICH WORKS WELL.
A little ‘short’ on info overall. For example there is a variant that uses Beretta 92 series mags.
Several comments about it not being ergonomic – that is so dependent on the size/shape of the individual it should not be an immediate dis qualifier. As with ANY gun, if it fits you and your specific needs, it ain’t a bad choice.
FWIW I have one of the original Sub 9s that uses S&W 59 series mags. It fits nicely in a soft book bag I had on hand, along with ‘several’ extra mags.
I wonder if this is one of the guns KelTec was sending to Ukraine to help prop up the Biden-Zelenskyy regime. A friend bought one that was made for G-17 mags a few years ago. We went and shot it at an outdoor range. Overall, I was not super impressed with the accuracy, sight system, or critical parts made of plastic or aluminum. He showed me where you could order tons of aftermarket parts online that would replace the aluminum and plastic that would eventually fail. Looked good but kind of expensive and labor intensive for my taste. I trust… Read more »
Having shot the gun, I can tell you it epitomizes being NOT ERGONOMIC.
And it has recoil impulse snappier than any other straight blowback PCC, other than short-barreled Ruger PC’s.
But to each their own – we know this is actually a PAID ADVERTISEMENT… Since you posted an ADVERTISEMENT for the gun the SAME DAY you posted this rehashed article from two years ago, just to earn more clicks to your Keltec add.
Not good behavior.
I have a first generation .40 S2K, and regarding the recoil impulse snappier bit I experienced the same… until I stopped using 180 grain. 165 grain and under is a completely different experience.
Nothing else worked with the 180 gr that I could find, including the foam inserts to cushion the bolt.