There’s nothing conventional about survival rifles but the Kel-Tec RDB-S takes that to the next level. I’d even go as far to say that these rifles are out of this world, especially when outfitted with the green finish. As a bullpup, the Kel-Tec Survival Rifle offers a lighter, more ergonomic shooting experience ideal for tactical shooting. Bullpups are growing in popularity primarily because they allow for a shorter weapon without sacrificing any barrel length. Likewise, they allow for all kinds of maneuvering, so it was no surprise to see Kel-Tec make a bullpup survival rifle. Let’s get to it and take a close look at this unusual and exciting firearm.

Survival Rifle

Survival rifles belong to a niche of firearms slowly building a huge following. As their name suggests, these rifles were designed with versatility at the forefront, be it in size, caliber, or function. In practice, survival rifles are built to handle all of your shooting needs, including plinking, small game hunting, and self-defense.

Nowadays, you can find survival rifles, carbines, pistols, and shotguns from some of the biggest names in the industry. In fact, Ruger has two top-selling models with their impressive 10/22 Takedown and SR-556 Takedown. However, some companies are known primarily for their survival rifles, as is the case with the TNW Firearms Aero Survival Rifle.

Kel Tec RDB

While Kel-Tec is known for their unique designs, the RDB survival rifle is truly in its own category. The American gunmaker incorporated some pretty innovative features into their new rifle that are worth checking out. For instance, they changed things up and incorporated downward shell ejection instead of the traditional side ejection. This nifty upgrade is actually the source of the RDB designation: Rifle, Downward-ejection, Bullpup.

Kel Tec Survival Rifle
Kel Tec Survival Rifle

The RDB-S stands out for many reasons, but it’s hard not to notice the flip-up sight system and FDE green finish. However, Kel-Tec threw on a mid-length accessory rail for users who want to upgrade and attach a scope. Although it’s pretty compact, the bullpup provides shooters with a pretty heavy punch, especially with full-size AR 5.56 magazines. If you want to add even more tactical advantage you can affix a muzzle device or suppressor to the threaded barrel.

Overall, the Kel-Tec survival rifle is easy to handle and surprisingly ergonomic for a firearm with such an unusual build. Likewise, they made all of their RDB models highly-customizable, which we’ll get to soon. However, I must warn you that the barrel can get pretty hot, so don’t put too many rounds through it in rapid succession. You’ll notice some heat after about a dozen shots, but it can handle around 50 rounds before it needs to rest.

Accessories

Although the Kel-Tec RDB-S can take accessories and attachments, keep in mind that it was designed for quick and easy storage. That being said, many shooters will modify their mag setup, sight system, or muzzle arrangement. To keep things lightweight and affordable, I’d opt for a Primary Arms red dot or micro dot sight. However, you can’t go wrong with Aimpoint and their many incredible sights.

Conclusion

Kel-Tec has been producing unique firearms for many years and there’s no end in sight. I’ve been a big fan of survival rifles for a while, so I knew I had to check out the RDB-S when Kel-Tec announced its debut. In the end, I had a good time with the survival rifle, though I was a bit surprised with the MSRP. I’d gladly pay up to $800 for a gun like this, but the high price tag really turns me off. Nevertheless, it’s a solid niche gun that has a lot to offer.

Thanks for reading with us here at Gunivore!

Sam M

Sam is an avid firearms enthusiast who loves sharing his knowledge and experience with fellow gunivores.

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