Introduced in 2001 with a host of different common magazine well choices, the SUB2000's biggest claim to fame is that it folds neatly in half for storage. Evolving into a second and currently third generation since then, the pistol-caliber carbine had previously been offered in 9mm or .40 S&W, with KelTec adding 5.7mm to the catalog late last year, followed by 10mm Auto more recently.
The 5.7 SUB2000 uses common 20- and 30-round FN Five-seveN pattern magazines. It can also accept aftermarket mags such as ProMag's 55-round drum. Running from a blowback action, standard features include lots of integrated M-LOK and Picatinny rails for accessories and optics. It is also threaded (1/2x28 TPI) for easy suppressor use.
The KelTec SUB2000 Gen 3 Carbine in 5.7 is 30.45 inches when fully extended and ready to go. We added the 2-MOA Aimpoint Patrol Rifle Optic on a QRP2 mount. Weight, so equipped, is just 4.86 pounds. (All photos unless noted: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
Folded, the SUB2000 Gen 3 runs just 16.15 inches in overall length and can be deployed in seconds.
Besides black, KelTec offers the SUB2000 Gen 3 in both OD Green and FDE. (Photo: KelTec)
For full disclosure, KelTec provided this SUB2000 for review purposes. All testing was done on this one gun, which has been under evaluation since January.
Overall Width: 1.54 inches at the widest point over the barrel hinge
Height (Magazine Inserted): 6 inches to the top of the hinge, no optics installed.
Magazine Capacity: 20 rounds; ships with one Pro Mag Five-seveN pattern mag
Sights: None. 12-inch M1913 Picatinny top rail.
Trigger Pull: 5.5 pounds (10-pull average).
Weight: 4.36 pounds, unloaded, sans optics
Weight Outfitted: 5.8 pounds with 20 rounds of Fiocchi 62-grain Subsonic in a loaded magazine, SiCo Switchback modular suppressor, Burris Fast Fire 4 red dot, and Streamlight Pro-Tac HP-X 800 lumen light.
Features
The SUB2000 Gen 3 in 5.7 is a utilitarian little carbine with few frills. Most of the rifle is contained in a clamshell polymer housing, thus keeping the weight down.
Its chief claim to fame is in its folding capability. To activate this transformer, simply unload the chamber, pull out on the polymer trigger guard, and lift on the barrel/handguard assembly.
The forward assembly can rotate to the right or the left, allowing the user's accessories and optics to be stowed in line with the barrel.
Seen outfitted with a Burris FastFire 4 red dot and a Streamlight Pro-Tac HP-X 800 lumen light. Note the position of the light. Should the barrel assembly be folded to the left (port) instead of the right (starboard) side, the mount would prevent the carbine from fully folding.
To release the barrel from its locked-in folded position, the user just depresses the centerline release button in the butt of the stock. The latch inserts into the last M-LOK slot on the handguard. Note the 1/2x28 TPI threaded barrel under a knurled endcap. The removable takedown pin for disassembly is seen on the farthest left of the three circular holes in the stock tube. Users can also extend the stock out into the two other holes, adding an extra 1.25 inches to the length of pull, with each position adding 5/8 of an inch to the pull length. The standard LOP is 13 inches.
Disassembly for maintenance is simple. With an unloaded carbine, remove the takedown pin that holds the stock to the receiver tube after alleviating spring tension by holding down the barrel latch in the butt. Then, slide out the recoil spring and O-ring buffer, remove the downward-facing charging handle, and slide out the two-piece bolt and bolt head.
The bolt head and bolt fit together like puzzle pieces for the blowback action.
Five M-LOK accessory slots run down both sides of the polymer handguard, spanning a bit over 7 inches of real estate. Keep in mind that you can't put anything in the end slot closest to the muzzle, as that is needed to hold the latch when folded. The SUB2000 Gen 3 also has a top 12-inch and bottom 8-inch Picatinny rail.
The carbine ships with a single ProMag 20-round FN-pattern polymer body magazine. We tried FN 20s and 30s as well.
It also worked with the ProMag 55-round drum.
Folded with the drum inserted, the SUB2000 looks more like a spaceship than a rifle.
The KelTec SUB2000 in 5.7 does not have a last-round hold-open feature. The carbine does have a manual left- and right-side bolt hold-open notch on the bottom of the receiver tube that is easy to use. When locked open, it allows the user to "slap" it into battery on a loaded mag.
Surface controls on the left side of the carbine include a push-button magazine release in the pistol grip and a push-bolt manual safety – both of which can be manipulated with the thumb. To engage the safety, the hammer must be cocked.
The right-side controls just offer a bite at the safety bolt, and when the red O-ring is visible with a round in the chamber, the gun is ready to fire. The downward-facing charging handle is ambi, if a bit awkward.
The threaded barrel allows for easy installation of suppressors. We ran it with a SilencerCo Switchback, a hard-use modular can that is rated for both rimfire and 5.7 out of a rifle.
Trigger
The trigger pack on the KelTec SUB2000 Gen 3 is upgraded from previous generations and features an aluminum trigger with the company's new spring and pin system. It has a ton of creep before reaching the wall, where it breaks at an an average of 5.5 pounds. The reset is long and muted. It really isn't a good-feeling trigger, but keep in mind that the SUB2000 is a $500 rifle.
Video of the trigger pull and reset.
Reliability
We put just over 500 rounds of 5.7 through the SUB2000 across a variety of ammo types and found it to run most of the time. In range sessions, we had about 10 stoppages, almost all failures to feed while using the ProMag 20-round magazine in the first 200 rounds of the test. We only suffered one stoppage, an FTE, on an FN-made magazine.
Ammo used in testing included 35-grain Fiocchi Hyperformance defense loads, Fiocchi's big 62-grain Range Dynamics subsonic, FN-branded 40-grain Hornady V-Max SS197SR polymer-tipped sporting rounds, and Federal's 40-grain American Eagle FMJ. The bulk was the FN SS197SR, which is borderline inexpensive (for the caliber) in bulk and hums around at 1,700 fps.
One failure point in the design is that the SUB2000 has an exposed bolt face and chamber when folded, which can allow debris to enter the action. This can be solved with a specially made and easily installed/removed Gummy Bear Plate from T2G, which runs about $20.
About half of the rounds fired in testing were with a suppressor mounted, and the KelTec ate subsonic ammo like a champ. The below is with Fiocchi 62-grain and a SilencerCo Switchback.
Accuracy
When it comes to accuracy, the 5.7 is a flat-shooting round with a reputation for good accuracy in its ballistic envelope, typically dropping only an inch or two in most loads under 100 yards. With either of our red dots installed and zeroed, we were able to get groups near the 2 MOA (Aimpoint) and 3 MOA (Burris) advertised reticles from the bench.
The SUB2000 proved to be as accurate as the red dots we used on it. You could probably use a magnified optic to tighten those up.
Those groups widened in offhand shooting. Keep in mind that the Pic rail under the optic is polymer.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
Affordable
One of the few 5.7mm PCCs
Only production folding 5.7mm carbine
Uses a common magazine pattern
Lots of Pic rails and M-LOK slots
Threaded barrel (and runs well when suppressed)
Accurate for practical use
Lightweight
Cons:
Had a break-in period
Only ships with one (ProMag) magazine
Trigger has a lot of creep
Conclusion
We had issues with FTEs early in testing on the factory-supplied magazine. This problem abated the more we shot the gun and with the use of FN-made mags. The second half of the test proved it to be more reliable. In most configurations, the gun remained under 6 pounds even when loaded and sporting a light, suppressor, and optic. It is simple and intuitive to use, functional, and deploys rapidly.
A good value, especially in the 5.7mm PCC space, the SUB2000 is fun to shoot with almost no recoil and is accurate enough for practical use. For reference, the MSRP on the KelTec is $511, while the Ruger LC Carbine in 5.7mm has an ask of $1K. Most other PCCs in the caliber, such as the FN PS90 and CMMG Resolute, run even higher.
Even in KelTec's own catalog, the 5.7mm SUB2000 is less than the company's R50 rifle, which uses a top-mounted FN PS90 50-round magazine. It is the same cost as the 9mm SUB2000 variant, but of note, the 5.7mm version offers weight savings on a round-per-round basis.
Comparing a 20-round FN pattern Pro Mag filled with 35-grain Fiocchi Hyperformance at 7.4 ounces to a 20-round Glock mag (which would fit the 9mm SUB2000), filled with Federal 124-grain Hydrashok at 11.5 ounces, the 5.7mm has a quarter-pound weight savings. And weight on a 4-pound survival/trail rifle is everything.
When it comes to support, the KelTec takes common magazines offered from FN and others, although they typically run $30-$40 a pop. Florida's MCARBO has a bunch of aftermarket accessories and optimizers on the market for this series.
In the end, while not perfect, the KelTec SUB2000 in 5.7mm is tough to beat in its class and offers solid performance, especially for the price.
The KelTec SUB2000 Gen 3 in 5.7x28mm has an MSRP of $511 at time of publication.
