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
KRISS VECTOR GEN II SDP-SB 9mm
By: Sal Palma
Security details are at times complex requiring
extensive planning and the ability to respond to
any given threat on your principals 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 MP5s 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.
Copyright 2017, Twobirds Flying Publication, All Rights Reserved
2017
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 shooters
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
Blackwaters facility in Moyock, N.C. where TDI
took us through the weapon and its innovative
Super V operating system. Ive 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.
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

.357SIG. My review centers on the KRISS Vector
GEN II SDP-SB.
Right off the bat, when you purchase a KRISS
VECTOR GEN II heres what you get:
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.
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 oclock 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
shooters forearm; you may recall seeing similar
arrangements in some of the SCIFI films. The
Copyright 2017, Twobirds Flying Publication, All Rights Reserved
KRISS VECTOR GEN II SDP-SB 9mm
2017
stabilizing brace made it possible for a handicap
shooter to fire a weapon.
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.
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.
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.
 KRISS VECTOR GEN II SDP-SB 9mm
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.
Copyright 2017, Twobirds Flying Publication, All Rights Reserved
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.
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, youd simply be willing it to
happen.
I was extremely impressed by the SDPs 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
 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. Id 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 SDP-
SB is not an impulse buy but youll 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 its 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
2017

Manufacturer Specifications BARREL MATERIAL 4140 Chrome Moly

SKU KV90-PSBFD20
Closed Bolt, Delayed
OPERATING SYSTEM
Blowback
CALIBER 9x19 mm

ACTION TYPE Semi-Automatic

CAPACITY 17+1

TRIGGER TYPE Pivoting, Single Stage

SUPPORT Arm Brace

TRIGGER WEIGHT 5.5 lbs.

FRONT SIGHT Flip, Adjustable

SAFETY Ambidextrous
REAR SIGHT Flip, Adjustable

MAGAZINE RELEASE Button, Left Side

Advanced Polymer
FURNITURE
Composite
MAGAZINE Glock G17
COMPATABILITY Magazine
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

Copyright 2017, Twobirds Flying Publication, All Rights Reserved