Introducing the Kel-Tec RDB Bullpup Rifle

[Zarvan]

The new Kel-Tec RDB bullpup rifle is essentially the same weapon system as the original Kel-Tec RFB, except the new RDB is chambered in .223/5.56, whereas the RFB is chambered in 7.62x51mm.
Kel-Tec’s RDB comes with a 17.5-inch barrel with 1-in-7 twist, and operates with an adjustable short-stroke gas piston.
It also features a polymer Picatinny rail on top and bottom of the bullpup chassis. The RDB weighs 7-pounds, accepts standard AR-15 magazines and ejects empty casings out the bottom of the action.
The Kel-Tec RDB bullpup rifle will be available in the fourth quarter of 2014 for $2,000.
For more information, check out our video from the 2014 SHOT Show
NEWS: Introducing the Kel-Tec RDB Bullpup Rifle

Kel-tec RDB and M43 semi-automatic rifle (USA)

Kel-tec RDB. Photo by Oleg Volk




Kel-tec M43. Photo by Oleg Volk



Calibers

5.56x45mm / .223 Rem

Length, overall

696 mm / 27.4”

Weight

3.2 kg / 7 lbs

Barrel length

442 mm / 17.4”

Magazine capacity, rounds

30



Kel-tec RDB and M43 semi-automatic rifles were first announced during ShotShow-2014 in January, 2014, and scheduled for production late in 2014. Rifles are designed by innovative American gun-making company Kel-Tec CNC Industries. Both weapons are similar to each other, with differences in furniture and looks only – RDB features polymer furniture while M43 features “old-style” wood and metal furniture. Like their predecessor, the .308-caliber Kel-tec RFB rifle, new RDB and M43 are designed to be 100% instant ambidextrous weapons of bullpup layout, and RDB stands for Rifle, Downward-ejecting, Bullpup.



Kel-tec RDB is gas operated, semi-automatic carbine. It uses short-stroke gas piston, located above the barrel, with manual gas regulator. Unlike the earlier RFB, the RDB employs more conventional rotary bolt locking, and ejection port is facing downward behind the magazine housing. This setup requires longer-than-usual bolt stroke, which softens felt recoil and allows for more reliable feeding as the bolt group has more kinetic energy when stripping the top cartridge from magazine. To clear the ejection chute, hammer has inverted U-shape. The backbone of the rifle is formed by the barrel and its extension, which runs rearward to serve as bolt group guide and structural support for external housing, which is made of plastic (in RDB) or sheet steel (in M43). Both Kel-tec RDB and M43 rifles use STANAG (M16 / Ar15 compatible) magazines, and magazine release lever is centrally located in front of the magazine housing. To release the magazine, one has to push this lever backwards, and this can be done by either non-firing hand, or by the back of the firing hand, depending on situation and user preferences. Kel-tec M43 rifle is equipped with adjustable iron sights with folding bases; RDB rifle is provided with integral Picatinny rail on top of the rifle, which can host any type of iron or optical / red dot sights depending on the choice of the user.
Modern Firearms - Kel-tec RDB and M43 semi-automatic rifle (USA)