Kel-Tec SUB-2000

The SUB-2000 is a pistol-caliber carbine manufactured by Kel-Tec CNC Industries of Cocoa, Florida, United States. The rifle is a blowback operated, semi-automatic firearm with its operating spring located in the tubular stock.

It feeds from a grip-located magazine well using magazines designed for various pistols, and is an inexpensive carbine. The distinguishing characteristic of this rifle is that it folds in half for storage and transportation, and its extreme slim shape compared to other rifles. The weapon accepts magazines from semi-automatic handguns (such as Glock). The main advantages of a carbine in a pistol caliber over a handgun include the increased sight radius(aids with accurate shooting); the long barrel more efficiently captures burning powder which increases projectile velocity above what a shorter handgun barrel would be capable of; and more points of contact between the shooter and weapon(increases stability).

Design
It is available in two versions chambered for 9 mm or .40 S&W caliber cartridges. It was designed by George Kellgren, a Swedish-American designer who also designed many earlier Husqvarna (in Sweden), Intratec, and Grendel brand firearms.

The receiver is made of an impact modified glass reinforced Zytel. The front end houses a hinge block holding the barrel and the rear sight. This block is securely locked in place by a swiveling trigger guard. The receiver rigidly attaches to the stock by multiple lugs. The bottom of the receiver forms the pistol grip, also accepting different magazines according to the version specified. The receiver also houses the firing mechanism. The 4130 ordnance steel barrel has a spring-loaded collar to ensure an accurate lock between the receiver and the polymer forend and the fully adjustable front sight. The forend also has integrated the ability to house batteries and/or other small devices. The tubular steel stock contains the bolt and is ended by the polymer butt stock. The heavy two-piece steel bolt holds the firing pin, the extractor and has the operating handle on the bottom. A captive guide recoil spring with buffer actuates the bolt. The firing mechanism is of conventional single action type. It has a positive disconnector, a push bolt safety that blocks the sear and disengages the trigger bar. The hardened steel ejector is internal. This design, with its long bolt travel, allows for very large functioning marginals.

The basic SUB-2000 design is implemented in a rather unusual folding design that folds for storage into half its total extended length. Folding is accomplished by pulling downward on the trigger guard and swinging the barrel assembly back over the top of the rifle. A latch in the buttstock secures to the front sight housing, and the gun can be locked with a key in the folded position for added safety. The gun cannot be fired when folded.

Users
Law enforcement officers use the weapon to supplement their standard sidearms(in 9mm Luger or the more popular .40 S&W) which utilize the same magazine. This simplifies logistics, while providing greater range with high accuracy in certain circumstances. It is also utilized by some backpackers and campers, supplanting the now-discontinued wooden-stocked nonfolding Marlin Camp Carbine as a utilitarian pistol-caliber carbine. Sporting users of this rifle are drawn to its light weight and the ability to use normal capacity magazines for informal competition and plinking.

Variants
Models are available using a variety of single-shot pistol magazines in both 9 mm Parabellum and .40 S&W.