Design and Features
All variants of the SU-16 are chambered in 5.56×45mm, and are capable of using standard M16 STANAG compatible magazines (where not prohibited by state or local law). The SU-16 features a 1:9 in (230 mm) twist rifling. The SU-16 incorporates design features derived from several different weapons. It uses the locking bolt design of the M-16, and an operating system similar to that of the AK-47, in which a gas piston drives an operating rod, which is part of the bolt carrier and which rides on a spring contained in a gas tube mounted above the barrel. This design incorporates the operating rod and gas tube into the bolt carrier, allowing them to be removed easily for maintenance and cleaning. As with the AK-47, Armalite AR-18 and AR-180, and compared to the M-16, this design allows for the folding feature of the SU-16 and reduces the amount of propellant residue fouling that accumulates in the chamber and on the bolt carrier. The charging and bolt release handle is located on the right side and reciprocates with the weapon's bolt, allowing it to be used as a forward assist. All versions of the SU-16 incorporate a top-mounted Picatinny rail. In all versions except the short-barreled "D" model, the fore-end opens up to serve as an integrated folding bipod. The SU-16 breaks down into its collapsed configuration with the removal of a single pin, which can be pushed out with a round, and can be broken down for maintenance and cleaning without the use of tools. The bolt-carrier group and receiver constitute the only two assemblies of the weapon.
Despite this simplicity, one significant shortcoming in the design is that the chamber and breech of the barrel are not easily accessible from the rear, being blocked by the back of the upper receiver. This makes cleaning the chamber and the bore somewhat slower and more difficult compared to the AR-15, and prevents the bore from being easily inspected without the use of a small penlight or similar light source. A flexible bore-snake is a recommended cleaning accessory. When cleaning, particular care should be paid to the gas piston and operating spring, bolt face, chamber and barrel.
A further recommendation from some users is to replace the cotter-type pin used to secure the weapon in its open configuration—which is small, could be easily dropped or lost, and may be difficult to insert or remove under certain circumstances—with a larger hitch-type pin. Care must be used, however, as the OEM pin is a slightly smaller diameter than hitch-type pins commonly found in hardware stores.
Read more about this topic: Kel-Tec SU-16
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