SU-16 refers to a series of
semi-automatic rifle
A semi-automatic rifle is a type of rifle that fires a single round each time the Trigger (firearms), trigger is pulled while automatically loading the next Cartridge (firearms), cartridge. These rifles were developed Pre-World War II, and w ...
s and
carbines
A carbine ( or ) is a long gun that has a barrel shortened from its original length. Most modern carbines are rifles that are compact versions of a longer rifle or are rifles chambered for less powerful cartridges.
The smaller size and light ...
manufactured by
Kel-Tec CNC Industries, Inc. of
Cocoa, Florida
Cocoa is a city in Brevard County, Florida. Its population was 19,041 at the 2020 United States census, up from 17,140 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Palm Bay, Florida, Palm Bay–Melbourne, Florida, Melbourne–Titusville, Flori ...
, referred to in KelTec's marketing as "Sport Utility rifles". The SU-16 series is notable for its compact, lightweight and simple design; and for being able to be broken down and folded into a compact configuration for transportation and storage. While the barrel, bolt-carrier and mechanism are steel, the SU-16's stock, receiver, and fore end are manufactured of high-strength polymer plastic.
Variants
There are seven variants of the SU-16.
SU-16A
The SU-16A has an barrel and comes with a windage-adjustable hooded light-gathering blade front sight mounted near the muzzle.
[ A Picatinny rail is equipped on the top of the receiver. The stock and trigger mechanism fold down below the upper receiver and clamp to the barrel when the weapon is broken down (the weapon is non-operative when in this configuration). The fore-arm of the rifle opens out into an integrated collapsible bipod. The stock has a hollow recess with spring detents capable of holding two 10-round magazines or one 20- or 30-round magazine.
]
SU-16B
The SU-16B has the same features of the A model, but has a lighter barrel, an M-16-type adjustable-post front sight, and a windage adjustable rear sight.[ The B model has been criticized by some users for the light construction of its barrel, which is said to be too light for sustained firing.][
]
SU-16C
The SU-16C has a true folding stock as it can be fired with the stock folded, rather than the folding stock and trigger group design of the other weapons.[ The C has a medium-weight barrel, presumably in response to the criticism against the lighter barrel of the B model.][ The barrel is threaded at the muzzle, and can be mounted with accessories, such as a flash-hider. The front sight, which is an M-16 adjustable-post type, is incorporated over the gas block and is not removable.][ The C also includes a reciprocating dust cover over the ejection port and a case-deflecting charging handle.][
]
SU-16CA
The SU-16CA model incorporates most of the features of the C model, except for the true folding stock design, instead using the collapsible stock and trigger group design of the A model, which prevents the weapon from being fired when broken-down.[ This change makes it legal for sale in jurisdictions with an ]assault weapon
In the United States, ''assault weapon'' is a controversial term applied to different kinds of firearms. There is no clear, consistent definition. It can include semi-automatic firearms with a detachable magazine, a pistol grip, and sometime ...
ban, such as California.[
]
SU-16D
The SU-16D model is a short-barreled version which makes the weapon NFA-regulated as short barreled rifles
Short-barreled rifle broadly refers to any rifle with an unusually short barrel. The term carbine describes a production rifle with a reduced barrel length for easier handling in confined spaces. Concern about concealment for illegal purposes ha ...
, subject to ownership restrictions and transfer taxes.[ Owing to the short barrel, the D does not include the folding bipod, but otherwise contains the same features as the C model, including the folding buttstock.][ The D models also include a second bottom-mounted Picatinny rail.][
]
SU-16E
The SU-16E model is a pistol grip version of the rifle, It has a 16-inch barrel, that is also threaded at the muzzle and can be mounted with accessories.
SU-16F
The SU-16f model is a longer barreled version which cannot be fired when broken down. It has an 18.5 inch barrel, making it compliant with the Canadian Firearms Act, making it legal for sale in Canada as a non-restricted rifle. It includes the folding bipod/fore end.
References
External links
Kel-Tec's SU-16 homepage
— Contains descriptions of each variant, plus downloadable manuals and parts lists
Kel-tec Owner's Group (KTOG)
* https://web.archive.org/web/20070830075151/http://world.guns.ru/civil/civ002-e.htm
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