[Ultimate Build] Best KelTec Sub2000 Upgrades

Some weapons are over-hyped, while others are massively underrated. The KelTec Sub2000, aka the Sub 2K, finds the perfect middle. 

It might look like a simple pistol caliber carbine, but don’t be fooled. The KelTech Sub2000 is different than other PCCs on the market. 

But how? 

First, it folds in half. We think that’s pretty darn cool. But that’s not the only thing the Sub2000 has going for it. With a handful of aftermarket accessories, you can really kick this gun up a notch.

So, let’s take a deeper look into the Sub2000, find out why you should have one, and dig into the best gear for the perfect build. 

THE QUICK LIST

1. Best Red Dot

   Bushnell TRS-25

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2. Best WML

   Cloud Defensive OWL

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3. Best Sling

   BFG Vickers ONE Sling

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4. Best Muzzle Device

   Kaw Valley Linear Comp

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5. Best Aftermarket Magazine

   ETS 31-Round Glock Magazine

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Perks of the Platform

As I mentioned, I really like the folding capability. Aside from being a neat looking feature, it transports easy! Folding also opens up activities like camping or hiking, since it can slip stealthily in a hiking pack. 

The Sub2000 further sets itself apart by accepting common pistol mags. Running a Sig pistol? Those mags work with the PCC.

Carry a Glock or Smith & Wesson? No problem, you’re covered. Keltec’s PCC is even compatible with CZ mags. (Hipsters rejoice!)

Swap magazine catches to accommodate a multitude of other mags.

The KelTec Sub2000 is also quite affordable. Well, it can be. Online pricing may vary.

Gen 2 models also come with the added bonus of modularity — a trait the older Gen 1 doesn’t have. As a big fan of the platform, I’ve decked mine out with a multitude of upgrades. 

Read on for some inspiration on Sub2000 build-outs. 

My Build Goal 

Sometimes I bolt-on accessories just for fun. Other times I toss on extras just to test them out. But most of the time, I have an overall goal in mind when it comes to a “build.”

“Build” is a controversial term, especially since I’m just tacking accessories onto the PCC. That said, it’s the easiest piece of nomenclature. So, we’re going to run with it.  

With that in mind, my overall goal with my Sub2000 was simple. 

I wanted to improve functionality without sacrificing folding capability. 

As a potential home defense gun, I also need to ensure the weapon light remained in place. 

This was going to be tricky…but not impossible. 

Gear Rundown 

If KelTec can be called anything, it’s creative. Their innovations are a blast, but the downside is their ingenuity often limits aftermarket parts. 

Let’s be real here. The Sub2000 can be challenging to upgrade, but with the right parts and pieces, you can take a good gun and make it a great one.

When it comes to KelTec Sub2000 accessories, you want MCARBO on your side. This small, veteran-owned company does a lot of innovation in the Sub2000 field. When it came to decking out the PCC, I knew I couldn’t do it without them. 

1. MCARBO Scope Mount

Attaching a red dot to the Sub2000 seems easy. Pop it on the top rail and go, right?

Well…

You can do that, but you lose the ability to fold the rifle.

What you need is a specialized scope mount that allows you to fold the optic out of the way if you still want a folder. There are a few options out there for this, but the MCARBO scope mount is clearly the best. 

The MCARBO scope mount attaches to the rear of the handguard via four bolts. It’s available for both righties and lefties. Offering a small section of rail, you can toss on your red dot of choice without impacting the folding capability. 

How does it accomplish this? A small pedal pushes down, swinging the optic out of the way when folding. Lockup is very precise and tight, so the optic mount returns the optic to the same place every time.

I had some slight concern with keeping a good and proper zero with all the movement, but I’ve had no problems. 

Targets still register as hits, and the red dot stays right where I placed it on the front sight. 

Oh, did I mention this is the only Sub2000 scope mount that witnesses with the iron sights? 

That being said, you need a low mount for this to work, but that’s not a tough type of optic to find. The MCARBO scope mount is a must-have component to any Sub2000 rifle. 

2. MCARBO Cheek Rest

Aluminum pipes are not the most comfortable piece of gear to rest your face. Luckily, MCARBO offers a simple and affordable solution for that problem, and it installs easily.

More or less a tube cover, it’s cut to accommodate the charging handle and serial number.

Pushing your face against the Sub2000’s cold steel pipe is now a little more comfortable.

Worth mentioning, the stock and charging handle must be removed to install since it’s a slide-on design. This takes a little effort to get it squeezed on there. Once it’s on, though, it’s not moving anywhere anytime soon.

3. MCARBO Recoilless Charging Handle

Finishing up the MCARBO upgrades, we have the Recoilless Charging Handle. 

The Sub2000 operates on a blowback mechanism that often creates more recoil than necessary for a 9mm rifle. A strong recoil spring keeps the bolt closed until pressure is safe to allow the gun to cycle. 

The original charging handle is teeny tiny, while the Recoilless charging handle is a 3-ounce behemoth. 

It may not seem like much, but the MCARBO charging handle decreases the impact from the blowback action and, ultimately, reduces recoil. 

Simple to install, it’s an awesome upgrade that makes a huge difference in recoil reduction. MCARBO claims 68% recoil reduction.

While I don’t have the means to measure that specific number, I can say the Recoilless Handle makes a huge difference in the felt recoil. 

4. STNGR Axiom

We have an optic mount, so we need an optic, right…

A red dot makes a lot more sense than a magnified optic on a PCC. But when it comes to choosing a red dot, you have hundreds of choices at basically all budget levels.

So, which red dot is the best?

In short, you want something that mounts low. I considered a Bushnell TRS 25, but STNGR contacted me with an offer to test and evaluate their new red dot — the Axiom. It seemed perfect for the job. 

The Axiom is a compact red dot with both a high and low profile mount. The Axiom co-witnesses perfectly with iron sights. 

He’s also a little fella, perfectly suited for the lightweight design. 

The Axiom has a 50,000-hour battery life and IPX7 rating. It also packs 11 reticle settings — including 2-night vision settings. The 2 MOA dot is perfect for the Sub2000. 

Price on the Axiom? It comes in at a solid $115 MSRP.

Precision shoot out to 50-yards with ease with faster and on-point performance than iron sights could ever. 

The Axiom fits perfectly on the MCARBO scope mount, giving you a simplistic option to maximize your Sub2000’s performance. 

The bad news? Axiom isn’t quite available just yet. Keep your eyes peeled, though, as it’s set to hit the market very soon. 

5. Steiner Mk4 Battle Light

Steiner’s Mk4 Battle Light originally lived on my BRN 180 fighting rifle build. It got upstaged, however, by the Cloud Defensive OWL.

Psst…Cloud Defensive offers a 10% off coupon with code “pewpewtactical” for Pew Pew Tactical readers.

Sadly, the Steiner sat in the parts bin for a bit.

I pondered how to equip the Sub2000 with a light that didn’t add a ton of bulk. I experimented with adding rails to the side and lights on the bottom. That didn’t pan out, though.

Then I came across the Mk4 light. Suddenly, it dawned on me. 

The Steiner Mk4 is a 500-lumen rifle light with an integrated mount and tail switch compatibility. It’s got a max effective range of 300 meters, well beyond the Sub2000’s range.

It mounts very tight and almost completely forward of the barrel. 

Since this light sticks so close to the frame, maybe just maybe, it could achieve the compact design I wanted. 

I had another slight problem to solve, though. Mounting it on the 12 o’clock position meant the KelTec would no longer fold.

So, I went with a 6 o’clock position. Setting it up this way eliminates barrel shadow and gives you a clean and clear light. 

The light mounted on the gun’s left side and the Sub2000’s small handguard made it easy to access. Overall, this addition kept the profile light and tight…perfect for this folding rifle. 

Steiner’s light itself is blue-toned. This cooler tint makes it a little more comfortable to the eyes. Very important for indoor use! 

The light is nice and clear, with a little spill. 

Overall, the Steiner Mk4 is an excellent light and a welcomed addition on the Sub2000. 

6. Vickers One 

I used a Vickers One Sling on my CZ Scorpion pistol and really feel it’s the perfect choice for most PCCs. So, I bought another one. 

The One Sling is a Vickers Combat Application Sling that’s only 1-inch in width. Cutting off 0.25-inches reduces weight and makes it perfect for lighter weapons. 

Sharing all the features of the VCAS Sling, the One sports a fantastic quick adjust pull tab. 

Why is this important? 

It allows the sling to shrink and expand as needed.  

Having a quick-adjust pull tab ensures you can pull it tight, letting it hang safely while your hands are occupied. In an instant, it can adjust for maximum mobility. 

Vickers’ durable slings have been my sling of choice since I was issued one a decade ago. (By the way, that first Vickers sling of mine is still in use to this day. Can you say durable!)

7. STNGR QD Port 

The Sub2000’s stock comes equipped with a sling loop but no forward option.

I’ve used the STNGR M-LOK QD ports before and found them to be tough and reliable. It’s a simple fix to add the One Sling to my Sub2000 with the STNGR mount.

8. KAW Valley Precision Linear Compensator 

If you give me a threaded barrel, I have to find something to stick on the end of it. I’ve tried a few muzzle devices and eventually settled on the KAW Valley Precision Linear Compensator. 

Since my Sub2000 is a 9mm PCC with a 16-inch barrel, there isn’t a lot of need for a traditional muzzle brake or compensator. 

If not a traditional comp, then what? A Linear Compensator!

This style works by pushing sound, noise, and muzzle flash forward — away from the shooter. Overall, it brings more comfort to indoor shooting.

It also performs well in self-defense roles.

Pairing the Linear Comp with a 16-inch barrel and subsonic 147-grain 9mm makes for one fantastically comfortable firearm. 

As far as unsuppressed guns go, this is about as comfortable as it gets outside of a .22 LR rifle. The KVP Linear Comp is lightweight, short, easy to attach, and, most of all, it’s affordable. 

9. ETS 31-Round Magazines

My Glock model Sub2000 came with a single 17-round Magpul magazine. 

That works fine, but the ETS mag models offered me an affordable option for a higher capacity. ETS 31 rounders are clear, so this allows me to see the exact load in the magazine. 

A clear design is helpful if you’re like me and tend to leave mags loaded. 

These magazines are affordable, available, and seemingly very durable. 

I’ve heard they have issues here or there, but I’ve used the same three mags for years now without issue. 

I keep them on hand to run through different rifles and handguns. They’ve yet to let me down. 

Conclusion

At its core, KelTec’s Sub2000 can be used as a fun gun or an excellent home defense weapon. On its own, the Sub2000 is a solid PCC, but adding a few extras takes this already exciting PCC to the next level. 

You can even do so without losing the ability to fold the gun or adding tons of weight and length to the weapon. 

What add ons have attached to your KelTec Sub2000? What do you think of mine? Let me know in the comments. Ready for more folding action? Head over to 5 Best Folding Truck Guns: Portable Firepower for the best-of-the-best folders. Also, make sure to check out our list of the best 9mm PCCs on the market.