[MadDogDan]

I love the bullpup platform and already have a KSG and two MSAR E4's (one with a dedicated suppressor and one cut down to 13.5" and a Noveski Flaming Pig blind pinned on). I have weapons chambered in 14 different calibers but none in .308 Nato. I just saw a new RFB in FDE color with an 18" barrel for $1,495.00 I was about to buy the new SRM 1216 shotgun but may divert those funds to this RFB.

Is $1,495.00 a good price for this Kel-Tec? I have looked on Gun Broker but you really can't determine what good prices are by them as sometimes you can find a great deal but many times sellers are trying to make a killing. What say you all?

 

[Junkie]

Seems like a great deal vs what we see here in California, easily over 20% off MSRP (77.5% of price for a black one, 71.6% of price for FDE).

 

[BlakeHanson]

I love the bullpup platform and already have a KSG and two MSAR E4's (one with a dedicated suppressor and one cut down to 13.5" and a Noveski Flaming Pig blind pinned on). I have weapons chambered in 14 different calibers but none in .308 Nato. I just saw a new RFB in FDE color with an 18" barrel for $1,495.00 I was about to buy the new SRM 1216 shotgun but may divert those funds to this RFB.

Is $1,495.00 a good price for this Kel-Tec? I have looked on Gun Broker but you really can't determine what good prices are by them as sometimes you can find a great deal but many times sellers are trying to make a killing. What say you all?

If I didn't own one already, yes in a heartbeat.
Be glad it isn't a Hunter.
If KT discontinued the RFB tomorrow, the price will double.
It's an expensive and time-consuming gun to make. They can make a larger profit making other guns using the same resources.
How long will they continue to produce a low-profit line? And why?
Number of other good short .308 rifles? Zero.
Have you shopped for a good light bulb that makes as much light as a legacy 100 watt bulb lately? <not found>
Here's what RFBs will look like:

(yeah, it's real)

 

[jonnin]

Me personally? If I wanted one, its a nice deal. When they get into that price range I always double check myself as to why I want it. That's solidly into the "I could have had 2 other guns" territory. And sometime the big price tag wins for me too ... we have at least 4 pistols and probably 10 long guns in that price tag region, so its not a show stopper, just a self-check

 

[Wraith0513]

Got my 18" for right about $1400 about 6 months ago, so I would say go for it. Granted, mine had to go back to the factory for 12 weeks due to problems, but since its return has been doing fine.

 

[hotwings]

I paid retail new for my 24" hunter 1 month ago for 1649$

In Michigan. No issues so far.

 

[Liberty4Ever]

I missed the chance to get an 18" RFB at Bud's Gun Shop for $1425, a long time ago, and I've regretted it a few times since then. I called to ask if they had the RFB as advertised on the website. I heard some keyboard clicking and was told they have it in stock aaaaaaand it's gone. Someone just bought it online. It was in my online cart. I guess I should have clicked the buy button instead of calling, but at that time it was a bit like someone offering to sell me the Shroud of Turin for $1425. Is that for real? Blink and you miss the miracles that appear before your doubting eyes.

It's an expensive and time-consuming gun to make. They can make a larger profit making other guns using the same resources. How long will they continue to produce a low-profit line?

I think Kel-Tec will probably continue to produce the RFB until they are making a version of their RDB in .308. I'm now in that boat, with a lot of other people waiting for the .308 RDB, which is taking some of the demand pressure off the RFB supply-demand price curve.

For the same barrel length, the RDB design will be slightly longer than the RFB. I hope Kel-Tec makes their .308 RDB the minimum legal overall length of 26", with the longest barrel that will fit, rather than keeping the 18" barrel to produce a 28" RDB. I think it would also be great if they make a 24" version of the .308 RDB, comparable to the RFB Hunter.

 

[Deinodontosaurus]

I missed the chance to get an 18" RFB at Bud's Gun Shop for $1425, a long time ago, and I've regretted it a few times since then. I called to ask if they had the RFB as advertised on the website. I heard some keyboard clicking and was told they have it in stock aaaaaaand it's gone. Someone just bought it online. It was in my online cart. I guess I should have clicked the buy button instead of calling, but at that time it was a bit like someone offering to sell me the Shroud of Turin for $1425. Is that for real? Blink and you miss the miracles that appear before your doubting eyes.





I think Kel-Tec will probably continue to produce the RFB until they are making a version of their RDB in .308. I'm now in that boat, with a lot of other people waiting for the .308 RDB, which is taking some of the demand pressure off the RFB supply-demand price curve.

For the same barrel length, the RDB design will be slightly longer than the RFB. I hope Kel-Tec makes their .308 RDB the minimum legal overall length of 26", with the longest barrel that will fit, rather than keeping the 18" barrel to produce a 28" RDB. I think it would also be great if they make a 24" version of the .308 RDB, comparable to the RFB Hunter.

I would not hold my breath for a .308 Winchester Cal. RDB ; the carbine / rifle is just WAY TOO Light to take the kind of pounding that the .308 Winchester round can / does dish out . That is why the RFB weighs what it does and is built the way it is built . K-T would have to completely up-grade the RDB to handle the .308 Win. . K-T is not enamored with the .308 Win . , and if / when they do finally discontinue the RFB , they will forget about the .308 Win. Cal. for good .

If they were smart , they would start producing the RDB in .300 Blackout . All that they would have to do is just change the barrel , and now you have a .30 Cal . Carbine that will use the same magazines with the same number of rounds in them ! It is only wish full thinking on my part as K-T management has already stated that they have no intention of producing any RDB's in .300 Blackout Cal. . I believe that they will eventually produce a version of the RDB in 7.62 mm / 39 Russian Cal . , but I don't believe that it will be a big seller . And , as for an RDB in 6.5 Grendel Cal. , I would not hold my breath in anticipation , either . Not exactly a big market for guns in that round either .

 

[Liberty4Ever]

I would not hold my breath for a .308 Winchester Cal. RDB ; the carbine / rifle is just WAY TOO Light to take the kind of pounding that the .308 Winchester round can / does dish out . That is why the RFB weighs what it does and is built the way it is built . K-T would have to completely up-grade the RDB to handle the .308 Win. . K-T is not enamored with the .308 Win . , and if / when they do finally discontinue the RFB , they will forget about the .308 Win. Cal. for good .

If they were smart , they would start producing the RDB in .300 Blackout . All that they would have to do is just change the barrel , and now you have a .30 Cal . Carbine that will use the same magazines with the same number of rounds in them ! It is only wish full thinking on my part as K-T management has already stated that they have no intention of producing any RDB's in .300 Blackout Cal. . I believe that they will eventually produce a version of the RDB in 7.62 mm / 39 Russian Cal . , but I don't believe that it will be a big seller . And , as for an RDB in 6.5 Grendel Cal. , I would not hold my breath in anticipation , either . Not exactly a big market for guns in that round either .

Obviously a .308 version of the RDB is not a simple barrel swap. It's a completely different gun. All new injection molding, etc. It'll have a lot more steel in it too. Sort of like the SCAR (.223) and the SCAR Heavy (.308). The .308 RDB mechanism would operate the same as the .223 RDB, probably with the same number of parts, just a little larger, so it'd still be less expensive to produce than the RFB.

Kel-Tec has said they'll produce a .308 version of the RDB. They also said they'd make a .300 BLK version of the SU-16 and I'm still waiting on that. Apparently they changed their minds.

I'd love to see a .300 BLK version of the RDB, and that should be a fairly simple conversion although sometimes the gas porting is problematic when trying to get subsonic and supersonic 300 BLK to function properly. That might have been what discouraged Kel-Tec from a 300 BLK SU-16.

Kel-Tec has also expressed interest in a 6.5 Grendel version of the RDB. It's not a popular caliber yet, but it does have a lot to offer. Kel-Tec usually aims for the least common caliber denominator (9, 40, 223, 308), but it's rumored that George Kellgren is a bit sweet on the 6.5 Grendel... at least this week. I need another caliber like I need another tax to pay or another gun control law, but I might need to jump on the 6.5 Grendel bandwagon. If Kel-Tec made a rifle in that caliber, it'd probably push me over the edge and I'd order the reloading dies.

 

[BlakeHanson]

I would not hold my breath for a .308 Winchester Cal. RDB ; the carbine / rifle is just WAY TOO Light to take the kind of pounding that the .308 Winchester round can / does dish out . That is why the RFB weighs what it does and is built the way it is built . K-T would have to completely up-grade the RDB to handle the .308 Win.

Exactly.
If KT could make the RDB work a 30-cal round, it would have been available from day-1 instead of the .223 . Even the 7.62x39 (which is certainly common) would have been a better choice since the market is already flooded with a gazillion choices of rifles in .223 .
The 7.62x39 is much less punishing to a rifle than the .308 round and they are not building it in that chambering either.

On the flip-side, as inexpensive as the current RDB is to make, and how much they are selling it for, it is a money-maker for KT.
Maybe soon they will be able to afford to build another 30-cal rifle.

Until then... take a number to get an RFB. (while you still can)

 

[BlakeHanson]

Since this thread is about the RFB, let's put it into perspective.
Here's a FN SCAR in FDE color, 7.62x51, 16" barrel, holds 20 rounds just like the RFB:
http://www.gunbroker.com/item/600037751
Bid is at $2900 and has not met the reserve price of $3799. Buy-it-now price is $3900.

The RFB has exactly the same firepower but in a much smaller package (26" verses 38.5").
MSRP is $1929.09 ...

Hmmm

. Is $1500 a good price?

 

[henshao]

December 2011 I paid $1415.

 

[MadDogDan]

I decided you guys are a bad influence on me and I went ahead and got the 18" FDE RFB for $1,495.00 I already had a Trijicon 4x ACOG laying around as well as a spare Insight MRDS on a 45 degree mount so I didn't have to buy optics for this rifle. I intend on replacing the stock muzzle device with a PWS CQB and adding the 3" quad rail as well.

Just wanted to give you and update.

 

[hotwings]

Congratz! Ive only had mine a month and it is by far my favorite firearm i own. (Its just plain fun!)

You will not regret.

 

[hotwings]

http://www.bulkammo.com/bulk-308-win-ammo-308147fmjbtpmc-500

FYI this is what ive been shooting so far for plinking. Anyone else have better suggestions for price?


Edit: ~400 rounds through so far. No issues with the stock mag.

 

[BlakeHanson]

I decided you guys are a bad influence on me and I went ahead and got the 18" FDE RFB for $1,495.00 .

Welcome to the club of people that bought one while they were still available.
Check your inbox for your $2400 reward for not using the 'buy it now' on the SCAR:laugh2:.
As Hot Wings stated, it shoots and it is a lot of fun to "bring the heat" to swinging metal targets.
When the AR guys make it go "ding" and you can make it go "dong" and dance around, it is awesome to see the ft-lbs of power it brings.
@Hot Wings: Steel Tulammo is the cheapest. It always goes bang and will cycle the RFB well. But it's dirty.

If you clean your RFB more than once a year, it won't make any difference.
Strangely enough, it is sold out everywhere today:headstratch: [got war?]

If you're a guy that doesn't own a cleaning kit, stick with brass.

 

[henshao]

Bah! FAL action, nitrided barrel. You can't hurt the RFB with dirt!

 

[MadDogDan]

http://www.bulkammo.com/bulk-308-win-ammo-308147fmjbtpmc-500

FYI this is what ive been shooting so far for plinking. Anyone else have better suggestions for price?


Edit: ~400 rounds through so far. No issues with the stock mag.

Where are you guys buying spare mags? I have always had terrible luck with 5.56 Thermold mags so I am a little hesitant with FAL Thermolds. That is probably why the Canadian military nicknamed them Thermelts. Anyone use the DSA FAL mags? Looks like they can be had new for $19.00 each

 

[hotwings]

Welcome to the club of people that bought one while they were still available.
Check your inbox for your $2400 reward for not using the 'buy it now' on the SCAR:laugh2:.
As Hot Wings stated, it shoots and it is a lot of fun to "bring the heat" to swinging metal targets.
When the AR guys make it go "ding" and you can make it go "dong" and dance around, it is awesome to see the ft-lbs of power it brings.
@Hot Wings: Steel Tulammo is the cheapest. It always goes bang and will cycle the RFB well. But it's dirty.
View attachment 26769
If you clean your RFB more than once a year, it won't make any difference.
Strangely enough, it is sold out everywhere today:headstratch: [got war?]

If you're a guy that doesn't own a cleaning kit, stick with brass.

Grr i am 50/50 on this.... I have run 3000 rounds of TulaSteel through my AR with zero issues but everyone at gunsmith and range says stay away from steel. Hard to say. My RFB is new.... I dont want to put steel through her yet

 

[TNC]

Where are you guys buying spare mags? I have always had terrible luck with 5.56 Thermold mags so I am a little hesitant with FAL Thermolds. That is probably why the Canadian military nicknamed them Thermelts. Anyone use the DSA FAL mags? Looks like they can be had new for $19.00 each

I got the several I have at CDNN for $16 each a year and a half ago when I bought my RFB from them. I see they're up to $20 now. I use the 20-round models. There's a ton of hot-and-cold results with these, and I believe I'm finding all DSA FAL mags are not identical for some reason. The ones I have are solid feeding with no issue. Some have had very inconsistent performance with them. Again...just by comparison there seem to be subtle changes in some that posters here have when compared to the ones I got from CDNN. Not sure what else to tell you.