RackinRay
Master
After recently losing a Shockwave that I bought as a car/travel gun to my brother, I started looking for a easily concealed car gun replacement. I saw a KEL-TEC SU-16 on another forum and snagged it for a reasonable price. The gun had a full-length tactical aluminum fore end, and the instant I held the rifle, I knew that it HAD to come off. The rifle, which turned out to be a SU-16A with 18.5” barrel, also had the rear sight removed and a cheap IR scope with laser and red dot placed on the top rail. The seller did not receive any original parts when he bought it used. As soon as I got it home I started to remove the fore end after removing the 25oz scopetrosity. After having to drill out a stripped screw head; and Dremel off the screw inside the fore end, I found the rifle to be much lighter (as it was designed to be). Between the scope and hand guard it must have lost 3 or 4 pounds!
The next day I ordered a Tech Site adjustable rear sight for the rifle, and took it apart for a clean and inspect. Man, this was the dirtiest gun I have taken apart in decades. Figure the stripped screw (fore end had to be removed for detail cleaning) prevented proper maintenance. I had to use 0000 steel wool and Hoppe's solvent to get all the carbon off the gas rod spring. The top of the gas piston head had a half dome of some accumulation that must have been polymer and brass, likely from steel case ammo being fired along with brass, without cleaning. Had to heat the residue with a propane torch to get it off, and finished with polishing the gas rod and head with the Hoppe's soaked 0000 steel wool.
Today, I called KEL-TEC and ordered their polymer compact fore end, a firing pin (possible early model firing pin issues), and a OEM assembly pin (a previous owner had replaced with a 1/4x2” trailer pin with a key ring for “ease” of removal). This pin extended outside the stock on both sides and I hated how it interfered with the griping of the gun. KEL-TEC, in their great customer service fashion threw the pins in for free only charging me for the compact fore end. This compact fore end has a rail on the bottom, which will allow me to mount the surprise received with the gun. It came with a Harris Ultra-Lite bipod, which was not mentioned in the ad.
In keeping with the light carbine theme, I decided to put a HOLOSUN red dot on it. I snagged a Holosun HS503CU from TGD, and think it will fit the gun perfectly. I have an earlier model on a Ruger 22-45 Lite, and love it on that gun, so this was an easy decision for me. More pics to follow when I get it like I want and get it tested and sighted in.
The next day I ordered a Tech Site adjustable rear sight for the rifle, and took it apart for a clean and inspect. Man, this was the dirtiest gun I have taken apart in decades. Figure the stripped screw (fore end had to be removed for detail cleaning) prevented proper maintenance. I had to use 0000 steel wool and Hoppe's solvent to get all the carbon off the gas rod spring. The top of the gas piston head had a half dome of some accumulation that must have been polymer and brass, likely from steel case ammo being fired along with brass, without cleaning. Had to heat the residue with a propane torch to get it off, and finished with polishing the gas rod and head with the Hoppe's soaked 0000 steel wool.
Today, I called KEL-TEC and ordered their polymer compact fore end, a firing pin (possible early model firing pin issues), and a OEM assembly pin (a previous owner had replaced with a 1/4x2” trailer pin with a key ring for “ease” of removal). This pin extended outside the stock on both sides and I hated how it interfered with the griping of the gun. KEL-TEC, in their great customer service fashion threw the pins in for free only charging me for the compact fore end. This compact fore end has a rail on the bottom, which will allow me to mount the surprise received with the gun. It came with a Harris Ultra-Lite bipod, which was not mentioned in the ad.
In keeping with the light carbine theme, I decided to put a HOLOSUN red dot on it. I snagged a Holosun HS503CU from TGD, and think it will fit the gun perfectly. I have an earlier model on a Ruger 22-45 Lite, and love it on that gun, so this was an easy decision for me. More pics to follow when I get it like I want and get it tested and sighted in.