Thoughts and Opinions Wanted

[Swamp Yankee]

I am currently  researching my next purchase of a tactical type of Semi Auto. I am not a big fan of the AR platform. I am currently impressed by the Kel - Tek  SU-16B due to its features. But not sure about its accuracy both long and short range. Is this gun able to handle the new heavier 5.56 and 223 loads that are currently available ? If you have any other suggestions or input it will be greatly appreciated

Mike Mc

[DDMac]

Good question. I was considering the 16C folder as it looks light enough to pack when working in the woods. Seems like there aren't many Kel-Tec owners, other than pocket pistols, here, but I too would appreciate any owner's opinions. AND, Hillary hates'em! Another plus.    Mac.

[2HOW]

Do you want to stay with the 5.56/.223 round or would you consider an alternative?

[Swamp Yankee]

I would concider an alternative type of round as long as it performs well.

Mike Mc

[2HOW]

545x39 round 1080 for 139.00 very affordable in a AK variation called Polish "tantel" rifle is under 500.00 ,cant beat the operating system IMO seems to be very close in ballistics to 5.56, altho nothing like a .308 or 762x39 obviously. I have been checking these and they look good. They are wire side folders, can be seen on classicarms.us

[Sponsor]

[warhawke]

The Tantel's are great rifles IF you can find one the grinder-monkeys at CIA haven't jacked up. Personally I would go to Atlantic arms and get the non-CIA versions they sell. I concur that the 5.45x39mm is a viable alternative to the 5.56mm, neither is a great round for animals (except varmints) and neither will give you the heavy "stopping power" of a .308, but the 5.45 doesn't depend on high velocity to make it effective like the 5.56 does.  I would say that fi you get one you need to stock up on ammo now while it's cheap, with a case going for $120 and up it is about the cheapest "High-tech carbine" round out there, but it won't take much to get the price rising like all the rest. The Bulgarian 5.45mm in sealed tin's is the original ammo design with the air-pocket tip, and while it is corrosive most AK-74's have chromed bores and gas-systems so it's not a big deal. Atlantic arms also has the Bulgarian AK which is also a fine weapon and an RPK (looks Romanian but they don't say) which I would prefer as I like the longer barrel and the flash-hider is better than the muzzle-break (IMHO) the $1000 price-tag is a bit steep however.

If you go this route I suggest you get 10 or more ($200 to $275 depending on type and source) and 5000 rds ($600 to $800 depending), thats under $1600 for the lot if you go with the CIA Tantel, which is about what you will pay for a good AR and 10 mags with no ammo, and 5.56 is running $300 to $500 a case except for wolf and that is well over $200, and that assumes that you can find it as 5.56 is pretty scarce right now.
 

[Swamp Yankee]

Looked up the Tantel and the 5.45 cartridge. Nice looking gun just needs to lose the folder wire stock and replace with an adjustable M4 type stock. I like the bullistics of the load for the 50gr cartridge but I was not able to find any information on the 70gr cartridge. Not too much availability  of the 5.45 either of all the Ammunition sights I cheked only three had them. Average cost was around $200 per 1000. I will keep looking  to see what I am able to come up with. Thanks for the info.

Mike Mc

[texcaliber]

hello Swamp Yankee, let me start by saying i am far from tactical  , but would like to fix that soon. FN's 5.7 carbine is really cool. I had a ball shooting it and couldnt believe the accuracy using a C-More on top. There is probably better tatically speaking but its an option that I liked man.

Hope I didnt waste your time man

Tex

[warhawke]

The 5.7mm is a waste of time as you cannot get the good military ammunition and the civilian stuff is not as good as the 5.56 or 5.45 stuff.

As for the folder on the Tantel, I'm not a big fan either but they do have fixed stocks and TAPCO sells M-4 style stock if that is your thing. The folder is pretty sturdy though, a friend of mine has the same kind on his WASR.

[USSA-1]

If you're looking into an AK system.  I would start with Arsenal Incorporated.  They make outstanding AK's.  An AK-103 in 7.62x39 with some CorBon ammo would make a very potent and reliable weapon.

7.62 ammo is still reasonably priced compared to 5.56 and magazines and other components are plentiful and relatively inexpensive.

Now comes my word of CAUTION!!  Pay attention.

If you deploy an AK in any situation, you will be presumed to be the bad guy!  Be prepared for that and recognize that fact that the guy with the AK will get shot first when the cops respond, regardless of how "in the right" you were.  There will be a lot of hair triggers pointed at you, so be careful and prepare for the assumption that you are the bad guy.

Second, the AK was designed over 50 years ago.  Ergonomics were not a concern.  Most of the controls are not in convenient locations.  Dedicate plenty of training time to intuitively learn the AK.  It's not an easy thing to do compared to an AR, but it can be done if you put in the time.

If you do these two things, the AK will serve you well.

Erik