DOPE BAG
KEL-TEC KSG-25 C
ocoa, Fla.-based Kel-Tec CNC Industries, Inc., forever changed the accepted idea of defensive shotguns with the debut of its highly distinctive, dual-magazine, pumpaction, 12-ga. KSG. Its successful launch lent credence to expanding the line, which the company promptly did with the KSG-NR, KSG Tactical and KSG-25, the latter of which is reviewed here. Like most line extensions, the core characteristics of the KSG-25 stem from the original design. Somewhat unusual in the shotgun world, the KSG-25’s bullpup configuration results in a shorter overall length, even with an almost unheard of 30.5" barrel. Despite that, the KSG-25’s overall length is 38.25", which is slightly shorter than most defensive shotguns. Safe for use with lead and steel shot, the fixed cylinder-choke barrel
must be 30.5" in length to enable the dual magazines tubes—located side by side beneath the barrel—to accommodate 12, 2¾" shells each. Combined with a round in the chamber, that’s 25 (hence the model designation) 12-ga. shells with which to resolve a problem. Alternatively, each tube can hold 10, 3" or 20, 1½" shells for all-up totals of 21 or 41, respectively. The Henry axiom, “... load on Sunday and shoot all week,” seems especially applicable. Loading the tubular magazines requires that the slide be forward. Additionally, the three-position magazine selector switch, located forward of the ejection port, must be moved to the same side as the magazine that you want to load (i.e., left for the left magazine). In doing so, the other magazine is blocked. This action permits the magazines to be filled with differing loads, such as buckshot and slugs, with the shooter switching between them as necessary. Pressing downward on the bilateral action-bar lock, which is situated in front of the trigger guard, frees the slide (fore-end assembly) to travel rearward, thereby lowering the carrier (ejecting downward a hull if one had just been fired) to accept an awaiting shell. Pushing forward on the slide chambers the round. Mounted to dual action bars, the slide is,
unsurprisingly, made from polymer, and beneath it there’s an integral, 6" MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail to which a Magpul Rail Vertical Grip (RVG) is affixed. It can be removed, but the RVG aids in cycling the action forcefully for proper functioning. Beyond the fire controls already described, the KSG-25 has a crossboltstyle safety and single-stage trigger housed in the polymer lower unit. Unlike most shotguns, the squareshaped safety travels from left to right to move from safe to fire. For right-hand shooters accustomed to using the trigger finger to disengage a crossbolt safety, it’ll take time to adjust to using the thumb. Left-hand shooters will need to use the trigger finger. Moving the button results in an audible “click” that resonates through the gun. Consistent with the heavy triggers and long linkages typical of bullpups, the KSG-25’s trigger pull measured 6 lbs., 6 ozs.; however, it’s still lighter than the pull weight of many shotguns. Additionally, there’s considerable travel, though the reset is short. Reaching the polymer trigger shoe from the pistol grip—ergonomically similar to that on the PMR-30, RFB and RDB—is easy for shooters of various hand sizes. Recesses in the side of the pistol grip provide space to hold the
Viewed from the underside through its ejection port, which is behind the pistol grip, the KSG-25’s twin magazine tubes are visible along with the three-position magazine selector that allows loading of the tube at which its serrated end is positioned.
68
JUNE 2018
AMERICAN RIFLEMAN
