KRISS Sub-Machinegun Ready for Prime Time

Authors Current Events Paul Helinski

KRISS USA
https://www.kriss-tdi.com/

The thing you have to love about the Swiss is that they don’t mess around. The KRISS subgun is now being made in the US, in both full auto (with burst), and semi auto for the civilian market. I’m sure many of you have seen the Discovery Channel episode featuring the KRISS. We are probably three years now from when that first aired, and the gun is finally maturing from simply a good idea to useful and usable complete weapons system.

The concept and design of the KRISS hasn’t changed and it is still something of revolutionary. The recoil of the .45ACP cartridge is driven down instead of back into the shoulder, and this makes the gun much more controllable than a standard .45ACP subgun.

Unfortunately the folks at KRISS, Discovery Channel or not, are still in the explaining the concept phase. As I’ve said in many other articles here, new concepts don’t go very well in the gun industry and the Kriss is no different. I think this new version that will be coming out in the summer with rails and a collapsible stock will bring them finally into the mainstream. I hope they also upgrade to a a native English speaker to explain the product. We get it that you can “punch your opponent with good old .45ACP slugs.” What we really want to know are the details of the cyclic rate, the burst feature, how many rounds it goes between cleaning, the wear parts, +P ammo, etc.

For police and military use I think the KRISS technology needs some real hardcore testing. Recoil is a brutal force that can wear and break the insides of a firearm pretty fast if it isn’t handled right. I’m sure police armorers will be ordering test guns when they see this new refined model. I saw the KRISS handle tens of thousands of rounds on SHOT Media Day with no real failures, but this is the kind of thing that you have to prove out yourself if you plan to rely on a firearm in real and not just theoretical gunfights.

For sheer firepower on target the .45ACP KRISS and its unique recoil management system has the potential to take significant market share in the police and military market. Now that it will be updated with rails and an comfortable and adjustable stock it may just be ready for prime time. I’d like to see our experienced police writers (Brian Jensen and Jim Higginbotham) compare it side by side with the H&K platform, and even the AR platform.

The semi-auto version doesn’t get a lot of play from KRISS. It could be that they just sell themselves and the potential for sales profits in what is probably still a handmade gun are greater in the law enforcement and military market. I hope to get a test gun from KRISS myself in the near future, so stay tuned for that. Until now I have considered the KRISS a nifty novelty gun available in small numbers. This year I think the commercial market will take off, and we’ll be there first to show you what you get for your money.

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  • John July 15, 2012, 5:46 am

    How about a KRISS chambered for .50 GI?

  • hammer head March 6, 2011, 2:11 am

    And where is the safty button on the shorty.

  • hammer head March 6, 2011, 2:09 am

    Who developed this gun, and who the heck would ever see that gun on the streets.

    • Q April 28, 2011, 5:24 pm

      Not real sure how this would be utilized on the streets of GUNSAMERICA, but I just purchased the SDP for concealed carry in a 5.11 Select Carry bag…still waiting for the item to arrive at my FFL, can comment when I receive. Could be a bit heavy for daily carry (in a bag of course), but maybe not too bad to have around for the impending Invasion of the Zombies (lol!). I got for the sheer purpose of having fun.

  • pennhead January 29, 2011, 12:33 am

    Where is the trigger guard on the shorty he was holding?

  • Fred Pezok January 28, 2011, 9:43 am

    Sounds too good to be true. How many bullets can it hold at one time. Any side kick, or up kick. Your video didn’t show anyone firing it. Is it legal in the USA? Do you have to have a Class 3 FFL to own one? What kind of price are you asking?

  • RICHARD ZIMMERMANN January 28, 2011, 2:37 am

    Gentleman,

    Since I am a life long user of the 1911 .45 and the Thompson 1928 .45 from time to time I would love to be a tester for this new Kriss, I am also a Firearms Instructor and a Exexutive Bodyguard/Instructor. Should you need test personnel that can and will evaluate your product ,Please consider Me………

    Thank You,

    Richard Zimmermann

  • JCitizen January 27, 2011, 11:26 pm

    I don’t know Rob; I know five or six civilians that would just love to get their mitts on a CRISS. It is just that the economy is slowing things down. Just as soon as things pick up. I plan on buying the full auto version!

  • Rob January 27, 2011, 8:15 pm

    The civilian Kriss will not gain market share despite it’s recoil management advantage over existing designs. I know ‘asthetically appealing’ does not win in a gunfight, but most owners of the civilian version of the Kriss .45 subgun will never be in a gunfight.

    • mackie February 5, 2011, 12:01 am

      I say that the KRISS .45 will go into a gunfight and win.

  • Luisito January 27, 2011, 7:34 pm

    about the price? how much it cost?

  • Mat Weeks January 27, 2011, 7:14 pm

    Can I get one in 9mm with .25 recoil for my wife? With a mag well accepting 30 rd Glock mags would be fine. Pretty cool, but that downward charging action would take some getting used to. I wonder if the slide locks back on empty? I would not complain if I had one in my stocking this year!

  • John Thompson January 27, 2011, 4:35 pm

    I like your comment that new concepts in the gun industry don’t go very well. We introduced a new gun clearner in 2002 called Enviroclean FA. Enviroclean FA is low odor, biodegradable and has a flash point greater than 200F so it is classified as nonhazardous by DOT. Enviroclean FA is a true gun solvent and contains no water, detergent, alcohol or ammonia. With that said, we do have some converts but the general shooting population continues to tell us that they like their current gun cleaner and are not going to switch. Oh well, we plan to keep trying as we feel we have a great product, we just can’t get people to switch. As you said before new concepts don’t go well in the gun industry.

    REgards,
    John Thompson
    Tech Mgr.
    Ogre Mfg. LLC

  • chris January 27, 2011, 4:13 pm

    so is it still a .45? lol j/k he said that alot!
    but i am very excited for this one.

  • thomas hulsey January 27, 2011, 3:22 pm

    how about a picture of this?

    • Administrator January 27, 2011, 3:37 pm

      Nobody shot one it is in the video.

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