Kel-Tec KSG Tactical
Kel-Tec CNC Industries · Shotgun · In Production · 2018
Also known as: KSG Tactical, KSG SBS
Overview
The Kel-Tec KSG Tactical is a short-barreled bullpup pump-action shotgun chambered in 12 gauge, a compact variant of the Kel-Tec KSG introduced by Kel-Tec CNC Industries. It shortens the standard KSG's 18.5-inch barrel to 13.7 inches, classifying it as a Class 3 Short-Barreled Shotgun (SBS) under the National Firearms Act, and trims the overall length to just 21.4 inches. Like the standard KSG, it retains the dual tubular magazine system -- here holding 5+5 rounds of 2.75-inch shells for a 10+1 total capacity -- with an ambidextrous selector that lets the shooter switch between the two tubes to feed different ammunition types such as buckshot and slugs. The bullpup layout places the action behind the pistol grip and trigger, and spent shells eject downward, making the shotgun fully ambidextrous. Picatinny rails on the top and bottom of the polymer receiver provide mounting points for optics, lights, and vertical foregrips.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 2812 g (99.2 oz) |
| Overall Length | 544 mm (21.42") |
| Barrel Length | 348 mm (13.70") |
| Action Type | Pump Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Trigger Pull | 22 N (4.9 lbf) |
| Magazine Capacity | 10 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Tube |
| Effective Range | 40 m (44 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | None |
| Frame Material | Polymer |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Polymer |
| Finish | Matte Black |
Calibers
- 12 Gauge · primary — also known as 12 ga, 12 bore
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Dual Tubular Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Crossbolt Safety, Trigger Disconnect
- Features: Bullpup Configuration, Short Barreled Shotgun, Dual Tube Magazines, Ambidextrous Tube Selector, Downward Ejection, Completely Ambidextrous, Picatinny Top Rail, Picatinny Bottom Rail, 3 Inch Chamber
Base model
Production
Production years: 2018-present
Produced at Kel-Tec's facility in Cocoa, Florida; sold as an NFA-regulated short-barreled shotgun.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: George Kellgren
Notes
The KSG Tactical is regulated as a Short-Barreled Shotgun (SBS) in the United States, requiring an NFA tax stamp and ATF registration to own. Its 13.7-inch barrel and 21.4-inch overall length make it one of the most compact 12-gauge shotguns available while preserving the KSG's high-capacity dual-tube feed system. The dual-tube magazine requires the shooter to manually switch tubes with the selector lever when one tube empties, a technique that requires practice under stress.
Background
By cutting the KSG's barrel to 13.7 inches, the Tactical fits a full 12-gauge dual-tube shotgun into an overall length shorter than many carbines -- but the trade-off is a federal NFA tax stamp, since anything under an 18-inch barrel is legally a short-barreled shotgun.