FOG HORN
2017 Twobirds Flying Publication
KRISS VECTOR GEN II SDP-SB 9mm
Copyright 2017, Towbirds Flying Publication. All Rights Reserved.
KRISS VECTOR GEN II SDP-SB 9mm
2017
KRISS VECTOR GEN II SDP-SB 9mm By: Sal Palma
In 2007, Washington D.C. based, Transformational Defense Industries (TDI) introduced the KRISS Vector, a .45 ACP SMG, that featured the patented Super V operating system. This revolutionary operating system dramatically reduced recoil and the subsequent muzzle climb by redirecting the recoil impulse downward and away from the shooter’s shoulder. The KRISS Vector 1200 round per minute cyclic rate, along with its .45ACP chambering, made it a formidable competitor to the venerable MP5. Nothing says “stay down” like the kinetic energy of a 230 grain projectile moving at 880 fps within 25 to 50 yards. My first encounter with the KRISS Vector was at Blackwater’s facility in Moyock, N.C. where TDI took us through the weapon and its innovative Super V operating system. I’ve got to admit that it was extra cool doing a full auto magazine dump with total control. This was in .45ACP mind you - Great! And, so it was that I fell in love with the KRISS Vector platform.
Security details are at times complex requiring extensive planning and the ability to respond to any given threat on your principal’s safety. The limited confines of a vehicle restrict firearm selection to pistols and/or compact submachineguns. For years, the Heckler & Koch MP5 was, by orders of magnitude, your best option. Over the years, the MP5’s throne has been challenged by the FNH P90, IMI UZI and H&K MP7, these platforms possess two important attributes, compactness and a high volume of fire; all essential in security applications.
Fast forward to 2017, TDI is now KRISS USA located in Chesapeake, VA with a vastly expanded product line that includes the Vector CRB carbine, Vector SBR (short barrel rifle), Rimfire offerings, Vector SDP, Vector SDP-SB (stabilizing brace) and the Sphinx pistols. KRISS USA also expanded the chambering for both military and commercial products. The LE/Military select fire Vector is now available in both .45ACP and 9x19mm. The commercial Vectors are semiautomatic offerings chambered in .45ACP, 9x19mm, 10mm, 40S&W and
Copyright 2017, Twobirds Flying Publication, All Rights Reserved
KRISS VECTOR GEN II SDP-SB 9mm
2017
.357SIG. My review centers on the KRISS Vector GEN II SDP-SB.
stabilizing brace made it possible for a handicap shooter to fire a weapon.
Right off the bat, when you purchase a KRISS VECTOR GEN II here’s what you get:
In April of 2017, the ATF clarified its position on the stabilizing brace to affirm that as long as the brace is not redesigned (in ATF parlance modified), shouldering the brace does not constitute a redesign and the weapon remains a pistol.
Key features include:
Patented KRISS Super V Recoil Mitigation System, Glock™ Magazine Compatible A superb 7 lb. trigger with audible and tactile reset, Toolless caliber interchangeability, Quick detach sling swivel Ambidextrous short throw safety lever a full length MIL-STD 1913 Picatinny top Rail and MIL-STD 1913 Picatinny bottom rail Low profile folding sights 4-pin toolless disassembly.
Calling KRISS VECTOR GEN II “feature rich” is an understatement.
Prior to its clarification in April of this year, the ATF had a rather strange position that shouldering the weapon constitutes a redesign and therefore subject to NFA rules. That position was ambiguous and equivalent to using toilet tissue to clean up a juice spill then reclassifying toilet tissue as a paper towel. To make a long story short, the SDP-SB is a pistol and exempt from NFA rules. The KRISS VECTOR GEN II SDP-SB keeps the traditional Vector form factor with the addition of a fixed stabilizing brace.
The KRISS SDP-SB is classified by the ATF as a pistol. That classification comes with specific restrictions; for example, attaching a vertical grip to the 6 o’clock Picatinny rail is not permitted, and doing so converts the weapon from a pistol to a Class III firearm designated by the ATF as “Other Weapon” , and subject to NFA regulations. Ridiculous I know, but those are the rules? The “SB” in the SDP-SB designation stands for stabilizing brace. The brace is a design by Alex Bosco of SB Tactical that made its debut in 2013. The brace is intended to stabilize a firearm by anchoring the weapon to the shooter’s forearm; you may recall seeing similar arrangements in some of the SCIFI films. The
Dissecting the firearm leaves us with three subassemblies: frame and fire control group, the lower receiver which is the actual serialized firearm and the Super V operating system. Taking down the Vector requires no tools and involves removing four takedown pins. Copyright 2017, Twobirds Flying Publication, All Rights Reserved
KRISS VECTOR GEN II SDP-SB 9mm
2017
During blowback, the bolt travels rearward over the cammed bolt slots. The impulse energy is applied downward against the mass of the bolt carrier and against the recoil spring tension. The recoil spring then returns the bolt carrier upwards allowing the bolt to engage and strip a fresh round and chambers it; ready for the next shot.
Once the pins are removed, you can easily separate the lower receiver from the frame and fire control group revealing the Super V operating system.
At the heart of the Super V operating system is the bolt and bolt carrier implementation.
The genius behind the Super V operating system cannot be understated. The mechanism is extraordinarily simple and reliable, and if the KRISS Vector were any simpler or easier to field strip and lubricate, you’d simply be willing it to happen. I was extremely impressed by the SDP’s trigger. I was expecting a heavier trigger pull with a long reset but happily it was quite the opposite. The trigger pull was in the order of 7 lbs. with a crisp break and a very reasonable trigger reset. Shooting the Vector Gen II SDP-SB was very much a pleasure and it performed extremely well. No misfires, extraction problems, failures to eject or failure to feed. Succinctly stated, the Vector ran like a Rolex and my first 5 round group was without issue.
I then fired 10 rounds, in as rapid succession as legally allowed at the range, with equally
Copyright 2017, Twobirds Flying Publication, All Rights Reserved
KRISS VECTOR GEN II SDP-SB 9mm
satisfactory results. All live fire was conducted at 25 yards using Federal 115 grain ball. Glock magazine compatibility is nice but not a huge deal for me and yes it does accept the Glock 17 33 round magazines. I probably would have liked to see Colt SMG magazine compatibility, but as I said not a huge deal for me. During live fire testing, I used the KRISS suppressed and unsuppressed with no significant point of impact (POI) shift
2017
more readily avail themselves of different caliber lower receivers, but KRISS USA felt it would be a complicated process. I’d like to see them run it past the ATF and obtain a determination from the agency. At an M.S.R.P. of $1549 the KRISS VECTOR SDPSB is not an impulse buy but you’ll be hard pressed to find a more exciting and reliable pistol caliber system to shoot. As a military or LE customer, KRISS reliability, simplicity, multi-caliber flexibility and 1200 round per minute performance should be given serious consideration. Maybe it’s time to retire the venerable MP5. -SP
The KRISS VECTOR GEN II SDP-SB is an amazing firearm. Buyers derive all the benefits of compactness, reliability and simplicity with multi-caliber flexibility and none of the NFA burden. However, KRISS VECTOR GEN II SBR owners face having to Form IV each caliber option as an SBR and pay for the corresponding $200 tax stamp. Since the lower receiver is the firearm and serialized, each caliber option is considered a separate SBR. In discussing it with KRISS USA, I suggested they serialize the frame and fire control group so that SBR owners can Copyright 2017, Twobirds Flying Publication, All Rights Reserved
KRISS VECTOR GEN II SDP-SB 9mm
Manufacturer Specifications SKU
BARREL MATERIAL
4140 Chrome Moly
OPERATING SYSTEM
Closed Bolt, Delayed Blowback
ACTION TYPE
Semi-Automatic
TRIGGER TYPE
Pivoting, Single Stage
TRIGGER WEIGHT
5.5 lbs.
SAFETY
Ambidextrous
MAGAZINE RELEASE
Button, Left Side
MAGAZINE COMPATABILITY
Glockâ„¢ Magazine
KV90-PSBFD20
CALIBER
9x19 mm
CAPACITY
17+1
SUPPORT
Arm Brace
FRONT SIGHT
Flip, Adjustable
REAR SIGHT
Flip, Adjustable
FURNITURE
Advanced Composite
2017
Polymer
FINISH
Cerakote
OVERALL LENGTH
24.25 in / 616 mm
WEIGHT
6.7 lbs. / 3 kg
HEIGHT
6.8 in / 175 mm
WIDTH
2.56 in / 65 mm
TOP RAIL LENGTH
13 in / 332 mm
BARREL LENGTH
5.5"
TWIST RATE
1:10" RH
THREAD PITCH
1/2" x 28 RH
BARREL FINISH
Black Nitride (QPQ)
# OF GROOVES
6
G17
Copyright 2017, Twobirds Flying Publication, All Rights Reserved