KelTec Sub 2000 Suppressed: Gen 2 vs. Gen 3 Review
Travis Pike
The SUB 2000 has been one of KelTec’s most popular designs since its introduction in 2001. It’s one of the company’s longest-running semi-auto platforms, and over the years it has earned a strong following among shooters — including those who value a rifle that suppresses well.
KelTec has produced three generations of the SUB 2000, and I own both a Gen 2 in 9mm and a Gen 3 in 5.7x28mm. While there are plenty of differences between generations and calibers, the guns share a fairly straightforward design foundation.
Today, we’re going to take a closer look at both the Gen 3 in 5.7 and the Gen 2 in 9mm. We’ll cover how they handle, how they shoot, how they suppress, and the differences between calibers and generations. But first, let’s look at what the two guns have in common.
KelTec SUB 2000: Simple As It Gets
Like many KelTec guns, the SUB 2000 series is a bit unusual, but internally, they are as simple as they come. The guns use a straight blowback action and an unlocked breech. Essentially, the rear pressure created by the cartridge is what cycles the action. The only thing that keeps the action closed until the bullet leaves the barrel is spring pressure and bolt weight.
The gun always reminds me of the old Sten guns with the tubular stock and blowback action. The KelTec SUB 2000’s claim to fame, and what makes it very un-Sten-like, is its ability to fold in half. The amazing folding SUB 2000 can reduce its overall length by half by simply folding the barrel over the gun and locking it to a specific point on the stock.
Much like a Uzi, the magazine fits into the pistol grip, keeping things simple and reducing the overall length. The SUB 2000 is famously equipped with popular pistol magazines. My 9mm SUB 2000 uses Glock magazines, while my 5.7 option utilizes FN 5.7 magazines. KelTec manufactures models that accommodate magazines from SIG Sauer, S&W, and other manufacturers.
KelTec SUB 2000 Gen 2 vs. Gen 3
The Gen 2 and Gen 3 use similar handguards. They feature a mix of M-LOK slots and Picatinny rail sections. It’s a polymer, but solid. The handguard is the only space to mount accessories, including optics, on both guns. The primary difference between the Gen 2 and Gen 3 KelTec SUB 2000s lies in the folding mechanism and its impact on the handguard.
The Gen 2 features a simple folding mechanism. The trigger guard unlocks the mechanism, allowing the barrel to pivot upward and then backward toward the stock. It locks onto the stock, and boom, that’s it. This prevents you from mounting optics on the rail without a specialized mount. As you can see, I have a specialized mount from MCARBO that folds out of the way.
The Gen 3 features a rotating barrel and handguard that enable the mounting of optics and allow for the gun to be folded without the need for special mounts. The trigger guard unlocks the barrel and handguard, and as you pivot the barrel upward, you can rotate the barrel and handguard left or right. This allows you to mount an optic without the need for a special mount.
The other big difference is that the Gen 2 series comes with iron sights, while the Gen 3 does not. The Gen 2 iron sights are adjustable at the front sight, and the rear sight is a peep sight design.
KelTec Sub 2000 Accuracy and Range Performance
The accuracy and effective range of the gun will depend on its caliber. My Gen 3 KelTec SUB 2000 uses the 5.7 mm cartridge, which, by its very nature, flies further than the 9mm. At 100 yards, the 9mm SUB 2000 feels a bit winded but is still capable of consistently hitting a sheet of printer paper. The Gen 3 SUB 2000 in 5.7, on the other hand, can produce much smaller 3-inch groups.
The 5.7x28mm can go even further. In fact, it’s usable out to 200 yards with relative ease. It’s a flat-shooting cartridge, and if you’re like me, you want to take advantage of that. For that reason, I mounted a 3X prism from Primary Arms.
The KelTec SUB 2000 isn’t a precision weapon. Don’t expect anything fantastic. The minimalist stock, somewhat crude trigger, and barrel/receiver separation all limit accuracy potential.
Within 50 yards, both cartridges perform well and deliver competent accuracy. The 5.7x28mm has a slight advantage at any range. As you reduce the range, the difference disappears. As the guns heat up, you’ll start to see your groups open up, as the aforementioned barrel design and polymer handguards tend to be more susceptible to heat.
KelTec SUB 2000 Shooting Experience and Recoil
Blowback actions are effective, simple, and inexpensive to produce. However, they have a downside, and that’s recoil. Blowback guns have excessive recoil, and the SUB 2000 in particular is known for being a bit violent. The 9mm model especially so. I even added an MCARBO weighted charging handle to help tame it.
The recoil of the 9mm model exceeds that of a 5.56 rifle with a proper gas system. It’s not terrible, but it’s more than you’d expect from a little 9mm carbine.
We get the opposite effect with the 5.7 model. The little cartridge just doesn’t generate all that much recoil, and it handles almost like a rimfire, making it very easy to control. You can shoot a sub-2-second Bill Drill from the low ready with absolute ease.
These guns are reliable. The only issues I had came down to the ProMag included with the Gen 3 5.7. It created several failures that disappeared when I introduced OEM FN magazines.
KelTec Sub 2000 and Suppressed Performance
I was surprised at how well these guns suppress. They are naturally a little gassy as blowback-operated carbines, but the Spectre 9 and Velos 556K didn’t add noticeable gas. You don’t get a hot gas facial that leaves you choking with watery eyes. Keep in mind, I was shooting outdoors, which helps with ventilation.
There are some interesting differences between the 5.7x28mm and 9mm models. First, let’s talk ammo. Finding subsonic 9mm is easy and it cycles reliably. Subsonic 5.7x28mm, on the other hand, is rare, expensive, and often doesn’t cycle semi-autos reliably.
The 9mm has a much louder action “clack” when fired. The heavier bolt and spring send that bolt slamming home, making a distinct noise right next to your ears. The lighter 5.7 bolt makes for a much quieter action. It’s there, but nowhere near as loud.
Both guns handle better suppressed—that’s no big surprise—and both can still fold with suppressors, which is critical to the success of the KelTec SUB 2000 for me.
Why the KelTec Sub 2000 Stands Out
The KelTec SUB 2000 is a unique little series of rifles. They are simple, but reliable and accurate enough for practical purposes. The SUB 2000 suppresses surprisingly well, and comes in common calibers and multiple magazine platforms. They could be used for home defense, as camp rifles, or even light pest control guns. Best of all, they are affordable.
With or without a suppressor, the KelTec SUB 2000 is a capable and versatile firearm. But suppressed, it becomes even more enjoyable to shoot. After more than two decades in production, it’s easy to see why this folding rifle continues to stand out.
Travis Pike
