Hello, I purchased a KSG a few weeks ago. I experienced problems with the KSG properly being able to cycle training rounds (Like snap caps). We teach students with training rounds and use them extensively in class. I then fired several different live loads through it. I experienced several failures to extract and also failures to cycle shells out of the mag tubes. I used both high brass and low. Is there an answer to this problem of a $900 shotgun that continues to have massive reliability issues. I am a law enforcement and security firearms instructor and this shotgun failed miserably during a 47 hour firearms training class directly in front of students. Not the best presentation. I run my Rem 870 and Moss 500 which are $300 base guns with absolutely no reliability issues. Should I scrap this KSG? Is there hope? Any ideas.
Jbrown01
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I've had a few of the same issues with my KSG. When pulling the pump handle back, the last 5mm or 1/4 inch is when... things begin to happen?(do to the lack of better or proper terminology) It's at that point the outer catches release the shell into the stock pre-load chamber and needs a fair amount of force to do so. There are a few things I found helped this operation. First, was to carve away a small area or the pump handle fixed lower rail. Someone in KTOG did the same awhile back and had a nickname for it, can't remember what it was though... Haertig knows of what I speak of. The other was to dab a small amount of grease on both outer catches where the mag stop actuator makes contact. You need the lower trigger grip removed to see the area I'm speaking about.
I need to say I've added a vertical Magpul grip too, best money spent on this gun. A must as far as I'm concerned. This upgrade was probably better than the other two things combined.
I was disappointed at first too with my KSG but after a few small tweeks and putting just short of 1K rounds though mine since, it operates like a dream. It's really a break in period is the best way to describe it. I would never consider getting rid of it, it's a whole lot of fun.
Be warned, those aluminum snap caps are suspect to prematurely breaking the inner catch. Speaking from personal experience.
![Pipe Wood Roof Plastic Metal]()
Photo of modification.
I need to say I've added a vertical Magpul grip too, best money spent on this gun. A must as far as I'm concerned. This upgrade was probably better than the other two things combined.
I was disappointed at first too with my KSG but after a few small tweeks and putting just short of 1K rounds though mine since, it operates like a dream. It's really a break in period is the best way to describe it. I would never consider getting rid of it, it's a whole lot of fun.
Be warned, those aluminum snap caps are suspect to prematurely breaking the inner catch. Speaking from personal experience.
Photo of modification.
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Sounds to me like another one that needs the chamber honed. I totally agree with the notch.
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114 Posts
I agree with shifterkarter, if there is an issue with the bolt not pulling the empty shell casing out of the chamber. Check the bolt extractor, just to make sure it's not missing teeth and that the bolt spring is working. If they are, then it looks like a trip back to Keltec. If that's the case, so much for every unit being test fired, eh?
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Mine doesn't like snap caps but I have no issues with regular length shells and the mini shells. Only other problem I have had is when I was tinkering with sighting the laser and wasn't racking it like I meant it. I've added a vertical Magpul grip to my KSG too!
This really is unacceptable. Initially having a few slip through quality control with rough chambers can be forgiven. Too many guns have required the home polish job to become even moderately functional. These are the kind of details that keep Kel Tecs reputation in the quirky, finicky zone. There is no reason for a $700+ Kel Tec not be inspected and be made as reliable out of the box as a $280 Mossberg budget level shotgun!!!
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From what ive seen, those complaints have dropped off. Seems there was a bad batch. Seems as though Keltec addressed and fixed the issue. Guess some are still filtering down to the end user. Oh, and they've had decades and millions produced to refine the Mossberg. I bet their return percentages are higher than Keltec.
Mossbergs are loose, rough, simple guns that have a well deserved reputation for reliability. They do what they are designed to do, reliably send lead downrange. Kel techs are innovate designs that are outside the box. They can be excused for hickups but it shouldn't take literally years to sort out a quality control issue such as rough cylinders causing MAJOR reliability issues. This is especially puzzling as the market KSG is geared for is law enforcement, home defense. The number one criterion for such weapons is RELIABLY.....PERIOD! Capacity is worthless if one has to hold their tongue just so and concentrate on the perfect stroke to cycle the next round, I may be a bit distracted if the gun is actually called on under stress.From what ive seen, those complaints have dropped off. Seems there was a bad batch. Seems as though Keltec addressed and fixed the issue. Guess some are still filtering down to the end user. Oh, and they've had decades and millions produced to refine the Mossberg. I bet their return percentages are higher than Keltec.
While my KSG is light years better than it was when I got it, it still falls miserably short in the reliability dept compared to my Mossberg SPX, flawless performance out of the box, and my old well worn Winchester 1200 Defender. I am not a Kel Tec hater, I do confess to be disappointed in their QC. I really do not think it is unreasonable to expect $700+ shotgun to at least function properly out of the box. The idea was to have the short handy KSG take the big long SPXs place as house gun........at this point I doubt that will happen.
As to a higher percentage of Mossbergs being returned..well you made me laugh
KSG function testing
I polished the KSG. I tested it Saturday. I fired a mix of ammo. High brass expensive and cheap low brass. It functioned well. I had no failures. I am pretty happy with the end results. I will have to get several hundred rounds through it be
fore I am going to trust it.
I polished the KSG. I tested it Saturday. I fired a mix of ammo. High brass expensive and cheap low brass. It functioned well. I had no failures. I am pretty happy with the end results. I will have to get several hundred rounds through it be
fore I am going to trust it.
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4,026 Posts
Great to hear!
On the rough chamber issue, it could be that when Keltec upgraded the finishes in an effort to make a better product, it was discovered that sometimes during production, that the rough chambers created operational issues. And seems as though this issue has died away, but a simple polishing, helped this members problem.
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