Welcome to another American Rifleman Gun Of The Week video, and this time we’re headed to the range with a .410 bore shotgun that is far from boring. This is the KSG410, an American-manufactured bullpup pump-action made by KelTec CNC Industries of Cocoa, Fla. Watch our video above to see this bullpup in use on the range.
KelTec is a newcomer to a market saturated with manually operated shotguns. Having started in 1991 as a machine shop supplying parts for other gun companies, the company’s founder George Kellgren chartered a course directed forward thinking that spawned innovative and unique designs. KelTec one that does not follow traditional lines. Case in point is right here with this latest KSG-series shotgun.
The KSG410 is billed as a bullpup shotgun, which means where the magic happens is situated behind the gun’s grip and trigger. Ejection is downward, and this is an appealing feature for folks looking for a home-defense gun the entire family can use. Left- and right-hand shooters alike can safely operate the KSG410. With its 3” .410 bore chamber, the number available and compatible loads is staggering. So for those recoil averse shooters, there’s plenty to choose from.
Unloaded, the KSG410 is quite light, weighing 5 lbs., 6 ozs. Considering this gun is equipped with twin magazine tubes, with capacity for seven 2.5” shells, each, that weight is sure to increase the moment heavy slugs are loaded. Loading the shotgun is performed through a cutout beneath the action. There’s a selector for each tube here as well. The gun’s overall length measures just over 26” and within that there’s an 18.5” barrel, which is quite impressive and a key benefit of the bullpup configuration.
Control-wise, it operates just like its bigger siblings. There’s a crossbolt safety found in the center and it is marked with a white S for Safe and a red F that means Fire. Forward the trigger guard is the action bar lock. Engaging it will unlock the fore-end, allowing it to be drawn rearward. Moving the fore-end forward will bring a fresh shell to battery. As for ergonomics of the KSG410, it’s easy to get behind. You get a nice rubber recoil pad and the gripping surfaces are textured with a grenade-like checkerboard pattern. There’s nice molded-in hand stops on both ends of the fore-end, which is a nice touch. There’s also a molded-in carry hand on gun’s topside that builds a bridge to the muzzle containing a fiber-optic sight for aiming and M-Lok slots for accessories.
We took this latest bullpup to the range with a mix of shells, and it performed admirably. The soft-shooting nature of .410 bore shotshells adds to an overwhelmingly fun experience on the range. Knocking down steel plates and running through courses of fire with the KSG410 should prove successful. Its compact stature will serve well in home defense scenarios and its ease of use is another exciting feature folks will enjoy. Obviously based on KelTec’s first entry into the shotgun market, the KSG410 enjoys all those original features in a scaled down, palatable version small-frame shooters can easily get behind and manage recoil.
KelTec KSG 410 Specifications
Manufacturer: KelTec CNC Industries
Action Type: pump-action bullpup shotgun
Bore: .410; 3"
Receiver: steel; matte-black
Barrel: 18.5"
Magazine: dual, tubular; seven-round (2.5") each
Sights: triangular, green fiber-optic
Stock: polymer
Overall Length: 26"
Weight: 5 lbs., 6 ozs.
MSRP: $510
