Back in August of 2004, I reviewed Kel-Tec’s
SU-16 rifle. It was a handy little lightweight 5.56mm that proved to be very reliable, and plenty accurate
enough for a defensive rifle or to serve as predator control
around the farm. Back then, Kel-Tec had only one model of the
SU-16. It has now become the SU-16A, as Kel-Tec now has three
other designs of their SU-16 carbine. The SU-16B is very much
like the SU-16A, but with a thinner and shorter barrel. The
SU-16 CA model has the stock of the A and B, but with a sixteen
inch barrel that is threaded to accept attachments. The SU-16C
is the model featured here, and it has a true folding stock, and
the weapon can be fired with the stock in its folded position,
unlike the A, B, and CA models that are rendered inoperable with
their stocks folded for storage. The final model is the SU-16D,
which is like the C model but with a shorter barrel and a
bayonet lug. The SU-16C is, I believe, the best of the bunch.
Like the earlier SU-16 that I reviewed back in 2004, the forearm
deploys without tools into a lightweight bipod, which makes a
good field rest for better accuracy. It is not a heavy,
rock-solid machine rest, but does help to steady the rifle, and
adds no weight or bulk. Like all of the SU-16 models, the C can
use any AR-15 magazine of any capacity, including the
one-hundred round Beta C-Mag. The magazine release works just
like on an AR, and is a push-button on the right side. Even with
a thirty-round magazine in place, the SU-16C stock can be easily
and quickly folded or deployed without removing the magazine. In
either position, the stock locks in place solidly, and is very
secure and steady.
The SU-16C is also very light weight. It
weighed in at just four and three-quarters pounds, empty without
a magazine. The sixteen inch barrel measures .622 inch in
diameter, and has a one-in-nine inch twist. The overall length
measures 35.5 inches with the stock deployed, and 25.625 inches
with the stock folded. Again, it can be fired with the stock in
either position. It will also fold by removing the cross-pin,
like the rest of the SU-16 family, reducing the overall length
even further for storage. The SU-16C has a crossbolt safety that
pushes from right to left to fire, and blocks the trigger when
in the “on safe” position. The SU-16C has an integral
Picatinny rail atop the receiver for mounting a scope or other
optical sight, and the windage-adjustable rear aperture sight
mounts to the rail as well. The front sight is a marked
improvement over the sight that was on the SU-16 that I reviewed
earlier. The SU-16C front sight is a vertical post, adjustable
for elevation correction, like the sight on an AR-15/M-16, and
is well-protected from damage. Very good choice. The muzzle of
the barrel is threaded 1/2x28 to accept standard flash
suppressors, muzzle brakes, or sound suppressors, and wears a
knurled thread protector. Disassembly for cleaning is very quick
and uncomplicated. The gas system uses a piston above the
barrel, and is both simple and reliable. As for reliability, it
was perfect. Using a variety of 5.56mm and .223 ammunition,
every round fed, fired, and ejected perfectly. The action
remains open after the magazine is empty, and empty cartridge
cases were thrown slightly forward and to the right. The cases
showed no damage of any kind. The operating handle on the right
side also functions as a case deflector, and even though I shoot
left-handed, no brass or powder fragments were thrown into my
face. The trigger pull measured six and three-quarters pounds,
about like a typical AR-15 trigger feels, but with a slightly
crisper release. Pretty good trigger for a carbine of this type.
Shooting the SU-16C for accuracy, I mounted a
Vortex Viper 6.5 to 20 power target/varmint/sniper scope atop
the Kel-Tec’s Picatinny rail. Vortex is a relatively new scope
company, and I had never used one of their scopes before. Vortex
is a new advertiser on Gunblast.com, so I was anxious to try
their product. The Viper is built on a 30mm tube, wears a
non-glare black finish, and multi-coated lenses. This Viper has
a mil-dot reticle for range estimation, adjusted for accurate
ranging at the 14 power setting, and side focus for better
target clarity and ease of use. The adjustment turrets are
well-protected by heavy-duty caps, and each click of adjustment
is equal to one-quarter minute-of-angle. The turrets are
resettable for zero, and are marked for easy reference. The
adjustments seemed to track true throughout the tests, and the
adjustments proved to be repeatable. The view is very clear
through this Viper scope. They claim ninety-five percent light
transmission, but I have no way to measure that. However, the
image is mighty clear looking through the scope. I really like
the power adjustment ring on this Vortex Viper. It is easy to
grasp, and the power setting can be read from the shooter’s
position with the rifle shouldered. The Vortex has a lifetime
repair/replacement warranty, and is priced well below the
competition. As I stated above, the Vortex is new to me, but so
far, I am impressed. I will be using it again on other rifles to
see how well it holds up.
As an aside, while testing the SU-16, I tried
out a new flash suppressor that I had here. It is made by Micor
Industries, and is a good-looking, very well-crafted flash
suppressor. Micor cuts the slots into the flash suppressor to
match the rifling twist of the barrel. Interesting concept.
Micor makes three claims for the suppressor; reduced muzzle
flash, better accuracy, and higher velocity. I threaded the
Micor suppressor onto the SU-16C and set out to test those
claims. While I have only tried the Micor on this one rifle,
there was little to no difference in velocity readings firing
the Kel-Tec with or without the flash suppressor attached. In
some cases I got higher velocity readings, and with other ammo I
received lower readings. In no case did the readings exceed the
normal shot-to-shot variations, so on this particular firearm,
the Micor flash suppressor made no difference in velocity. The
results might be different on another weapon. However,
Micor only claims a velocity increase over the velocity using a
standard A-2 flash suppressor, not a claim of higher velocity by
simply adding the flash suppressor, so my velocity tests were
not relevant to their claim, but just as a curiosity. For the claim of
better accuracy, that claim is true, with some ammunition. With
the ammo that this carbine liked the best, the Winchester 62
grain load, accuracy was greatly improved using the flash
suppressor, cutting the group size by about forty percent. With
the Wolf Gold 75 grain load, no improvement was observed. This
load was already a very fine performer in this Kel-Tec. However,
with other ammunition like Black Hills 55 grain and Winchester
USA 55 grain, a noticeable accuracy improvement was observed
using the Micor suppressor, with group sizes reduced by about
one third. For the claim of flash suppression, the Micor
definitely makes a huge difference, as can be seen in the video.
The Micor adds one and one-half inches to the overall length of
the SU-16C, and about two ounces of weight, but it is one of the
best flash suppressors that I have ever tried.
The SU-16C turned in very good accuracy
performance. Very good indeed, especially for a lightweight
folding-stock carbine. While the SU-16C is well-suited for
social work and as a knockabout carbine to throw in the pickup
or on an ATV, this rifle is accurate enough for varmint hunting,
especially with the Micor unit attached. The relatively
inexpensive Winchester USA white box 62 grain load would group
into less than one inch at one hundred yards, repeatedly. The
Wolf Gold did almost as well, shooting right at the one inch
mark every time, with or without the Micor flash suppressor. I
am well-pleased with the accuracy performance of this little
Kel-Tec carbine. It is lightweight, compact, one hundred percent
reliable, and made in the USA. I like it.
For more information on this and other
Kel-Tec products, go to www.kel-tec-cnc.com.
For the location of a Kel-Tec dealer near
you, click on the DEALER FINDER at www.lipseys.com.
To order the SU-16C online, go to www.galleryofguns.com.
To order the Micor flash suppressor for this
or other rifles, go to www.micorind.com.
For more info on the line of Vortex optics,
go to www.vortexoptics.com.
Jeff
Quinn
| For a list of dealers where you can
buy this gun, go to: |
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To buy this gun online, go to: |
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Buttstock folds for compact use or storage.
SU-16C can be fired with buttstock folded.
Micor Industries flash suppressor.
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