NRA Gun of the Week: Kel-Tec SUB-2000 Carbine

by
posted on February 20, 2016
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
There’s a lot to be said for a carbine that folds in half, is quickly deployable and accepts a variety of common semi-automatic pistol magazines. Chambered in 9 mm or .40 S&W, the SUB 2000 is available in configurations that accept Glock, Beretta, Smith & Wesson or SIG Sauer pistol magazines, making it an ideal rifle to pair up with your semi-auto handgun. Introduced in 2001, the updated version of this carbine incorporates many of the features that previously required the purchase of additional accessories. For more, watch the video hosted by American Rifleman's Kelly Young. For more on Kel-Tec, please visit keltecweapons.com

Kel-Tec SUB-2000
Manufacturer: Kel-Tec CNC Industries, Inc.
Action: blowback-operated, semi-automatic center-fire rifle
Caliber: 9 mm Luger
Stock: adjustable
Sights: windage and elevation adjustable post front; aperture rear
Trigger: 9-lb., 5-oz. pull
Barrel: 16.25”; threaded 1/2”x28
Overall Length: 30.5”; 16.5” (folded)
Weight: 4 lbs., 4 ozs.
Magazine: detachable-box; 17-round-capacity, Glock 17 configuration (tested)
Accessories: owner’s manual
MSRP: $500

For more on the Kel-Tec SUB-2000, please enjoy the following articles:

The Kel-Tec SUB-2000 9 mm Carbine 
Field-Tested Trunk Guns

Latest

target with holes
target with holes

Resisting the Temptation of "Good Enough" for Firearm Performance

No matter what firearm you're using for whatever purpose, even if it's simply a trip to the range, always resist the temptation to accept “good enough” if there is the possibility of better performance.

Armed Citizens Stop a Lot More Criminals Than Most in the Media Will Admit

Since January 2025, the Crime Prevention Research Center has documented 16 defensive gun uses in which police say armed citizens stopped mass public killings.

Federal & Mossberg Collaborate on Autonomous Airborne Drone Defense

Federal and Mossberg are working with Palladyne AI in the creation of SwarmShot, a kinetic defense system that employs swarms of armed drones to shield troops from unmanned aircraft system threats.

Cold Performance: How to Prepare for the Uncertainty of Self-Defense

Defensive gun use is defined by uncertainty. You don’t know when it will happen, how far away the threat will be, how many threats you will face or what position you will be in when it begins.

Derya Goes Silent: The OBone Suppressor

In 2025, Turkish manufacturer Derya Arms opened a new facility in Florida, enabling the company to produce a number of new products domestically, such as its new OBone suppressor.

The Armed Citizen® Oct. 26, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.