Thoughts on Keltec KSG?

[enrico]

This is a 24 inch cannon with .625 slugs down its throat, makes my .45 look like BB's.
I purchased mine just before the year end and like all my guns the first thing I did was give it a good-ol-Ballastol bath, polished feed ramps, sears, honed barrel shell end (because plastic shells expand and can get stuck if not smooth) and any friction causing metal mating parts. Went to the range shot 200 slugs from 2.2" to 3.0" shells and no problemo. I remember dry cycling my new PM9 Kahr 500 times like it was suggested to break it in before my first shot, and talking about a sore arm. Never one FTF/E after that.
Anyways, if you do some TLC to the KSG she'll serve you right! Yes, I had reservations to get a Kel-Tec, but after reading the posts on the Kel-Tec KSG forum, 90% of the posts are from two causes, operator induced or no pre-prepping, like I ALWAYS do. Also, mine is GEN-2 fairly debugged ....What a rush from this one weapon!

PS: Kel-Tec's optional thicker recoil pad helps the recoil a lot, remember this is not a BB gun.

Remington Versa Max Sportsman my garage broomstick is shorter

[Quiet]

I have a Kel-Tec KSG Gen 2 and I like it.

Only problems I've encountered is when I let other people shoot it, they first tend to short stroke it and get a failure to feed stoppage. Tell them to rack with authority (don't baby it) and no more stoppages.

[seal20]

Such constructive input. Glad we have such deeply informed members to help...great job!

It's a shotgun designed by children for children.

I watched a KelTec sales rep attempting to demonstrate the "weapon" in front of our local county sheriff and some of his folks. The result was a joke...many failures to feed and jams. The guy apologized and left and has not returned.

For the kids that think they're cool, ask yourselves why KT has never sold the gun to the military or a law enforcement group.

[Oceanbob]

My Gen 2 is perfect.
I consider the KSG a great SHTF and hunting Rifle in a compact 26 inch package.

Running slugs it would work for hunting. Having 14 rounds available makes ammo selection nice. Swap to slugs, to double-Ought, to whatever bird shot you need to put food on the table.

Sure, early models from 2011 had issues but those issues were addressed already.

I run a nice Eotech (as in the video up above).....with my crazy eyes this really
gets on target fast. Amazing. If the Eotech fails those magpul flip up
BUS, pop up and I can see the sight picture Thru the Eotech glass. I can also remove the Eotech because it sits on the optional removable mount (a simple lever).

The angled forward grip works for me. I do have a large recoil pad for the
Stock (not pictured) because my shoulder hurts with my Arthritis once in a while.

Because it is 26 inches long the entire weapon stuffs in a nice zippered bag.
Locked up and transported anywhere.

I would buy another. Especially since the prices are in the $700-800 range.

Yeah, that Eotech was $500 or so. Everything costs money.....

Don't tell my wife.

Be well
Bob



Even smooth bore with slugs works as well....

[enrico]

It's a shotgun designed by children for children.

I watched a KelTec sales rep attempting to demonstrate the "weapon" in front of our local county sheriff and some of his folks. The result was a joke...many failures to feed and jams. The guy apologized and left and has not returned.

For the kids that think they're cool, ask yourselves why KT has never sold the gun to the military or a law enforcement group.

Sold to LE.....

[xxINKxx]

I had one. Sold it after the first range trip. Kicked like a mule even with bird shot And the shells ejected near my wrist in the same spot every time and was quite painful. Other then that, gun functioned flawless, was a bit awkward getting used to loading and switching tubes.

I kinda regret selling it, but I'm not much of a shotgun

[deckhandmike]

Most awkward gun I've ever shouldered, and I really wanted one. Picked it up and said, nope.

[-hanko]

Such constructive input. Glad we have such deeply informed members to help...great job!

So you're saying I did not attend a KSG demo which quickly went straight to hell in a bucket?

[glock_this]

So a single sales rep botching a demo makes the gun a worthless toy? And because it is not military or standard LEO issue, it is not legit? Come on.

I have real world experience as an owner. And, I have had zero issues. No demo, no internet vids, no conjecture.. I own it and use it and have put thousands of rounds down range of all kinds of sizes, styles and brands.

ps - the recoil is not that big of a deal IMHO. The only "issue" for me - which is not weapons related - is that at times the ejected shells hit my wrist. That tends to get uncomfortable after numerous hits in a day.

[G.F.C.]

As a tall guy (6' 4") with monkey arms, shouldering one and working the action is awkward. Reports from locals here say they've worked out the kinks in the gen2 version, but I just don't see the appeal.

For the same money I got my winchester sxp with 3 chokes, a side saddle mounted via picatinny, an adjustable stock with LOP and cheek height adjustments, and a 6 up shell carrier for the same money. My winchester uses recoil force to help pull the slide back so no matter what shape the cheap shell base is in it always ejects with ease... I could never say that for my 870 and compared to my wife's 500 it's like trying to rack glass vs. gravel.

[-hanko]

So a single sales rep botching a demo makes the gun a worthless toy? And because it is not military or standard LEO issue, it is not legit? Come on.

I have real world experience as an owner. And, I have had zero issues. No demo, no internet vids, no conjecture.. I own it and use it and have put thousands of rounds down range of all kinds of sizes, styles and brands.

ps - the recoil is not that big of a deal IMHO. The only "issue" for me - which is not weapons related - is that at times the ejected shells hit my wrist. That tends to get uncomfortable after numerous hits in a day.

The KSG botched the demo, as you put it. The KelTec guy was not alone, others tried the gun and sometimes it worked, others not. I'm glad you've got no problems with the gun.

[stix213]

Mine is a fun gun. I like it and will keep it.

Some of my own take aways:

1) Only use a vertical grip that is locked down with metal bolts (like magpul), and DO NOT use a cheap vg with a little plastic nipple holding it in place. The guy that shot his hand off was show boating with one of those POS cheap vg's that are in no way intended to be racked on a pump action

2) Loading it is a pain. Don't expect to do any fast reloads under pressure, as the location where you load the mags is not nearly as accessible as traditional pumps. Being 7+7+1 though sure helps with this.

3) When chambering a round, it is picky about the angle you are holding it. You need to hold it in a normal shooting position. Having it on its side so you can see what is happening underneath will cause jams.

4) Be VERY CAREFUL about where you're putting your off hand. The thing is so short, if you're used to shooting something like an 870, when you reach out to the natural position where your hand would normally go you will have your hand in front of the gun.

Yeah a lot of this stuff is training training training, I get it. For me I bought this as a fun gun, not an HD weapon, and I'm sure a lot of people will do the same. So for me I'm probably never going to get the level of training to address all of the above with pure muscle memory. The gun could certainly fill an HD role though, I would trust mine from what I've seen so far.

It's a shotgun designed by children for children.
For the kids that think they're cool, ask yourselves why KT has never sold the gun to the military or a law enforcement group.

The gun is practically brand new still, so not much time for either to even have a chance at it yet. Keltec production numbers could never support such a large contract either.

[Quiet]

If you want a Kel-Tec KSG-12, hold off until the KSG-25 is released and the bugs worked out of the first generations of it.

Kel-Tec KSG-25 = 30" barrel with 38" overall length and has two 10 round 3" shell fixed tubular magazines (total overall capacity 20+1 3" shells, 24+1 2.75" shells, 40+1 1.75" shells)

[Jes]

That's actually pretty cool.

[Sandro]

a fun gun.
DO NOT use a cheap vg with a little plastic nipple holding it in place. The guy that shot his hand off was show boating with one of those POS cheap vg's that are in no way intended to be racked on a pump action

2) Loading it is a pain. Don't expect to do any fast reloads under pressure,

3) it is picky about the angle you are holding it. ... will cause jams.

4) Be VERY CAREFUL about where you're putting your off hand.

a lot of this stuff is training training training,

I'm probably never going to get the level of training to address all of the above with pure muscle memory.

Yea, really nice, by the way with all this issues how are you going to address the HD function? and how you can trust it? Only to shoot your hand off.