WHY THE KRISS VECTOR KIND OF SUCKS...

Yes I am sorry to the Loyal Kriss fans... but this is my personal Review of the SDP 9mm Kriss Vector

5/8/20244 min read

Yes, it's cool. Unless you're my good friend Bob and you think exactly the opposite! However, if you believe that a small, portable rifle that can easily fit in a backpack is a great thing to have, I'm with you. In the world of survivalists, preppers, and just your average gun hobbyists like me, the Vector certainly fits some niches. Unfortunately, the Vector has some room for improvement.

1) The Kriss Vector Design

The Kriss Vector SDP Pistol is a unique firearm, known for its innovative design and futuristic appearance. It features the Kriss Super V recoil mitigation system, which is designed to reduce felt recoil and muzzle climb. This system allows the bolt and carrier group to move downwards into the grip, rather than rearward into the shooter’s shoulder.

General Specifications:

Caliber: It comes in .45 ACP, 10MM, 9MM (My Current Vector)
Overall Length: 16.75 inches
Barrel Length: 5.5 inches
Weight: 5.9 lbs
Capacity: 17+1 rounds (standard Glock 17 magazine if 9mm variant)
Price: As of Latest via Sportsman Warehouse $1,349.99 (price can vary depending on configuration and location)

Despite its promising specs, my experience with the Kriss Vector SDP Pistol has been mixed, to say the least.

2) I Really Want to Love It...

I was initially drawn to the Kriss Vector because of its design, mitigation system and yeah let's be honest.. it looks really really cool. After purchasing the pistol, I decided to SBR (Short-Barrel Rifle) it, adding a tax stamp and a new upper to make it just right. The additional costs for the tax stamp and the upgrades brought my total investment significantly higher.

I purchased the SDP (Pistol Version) of the KRISS Vector 9mm used on Gunbroker for $800ish

I Paid the Tax stamp to make it a registered SBR $200

I placed a Vector Gen 2 Hinged Upper on the Pistol (after SBR of course) for $269.95

The final configuration looked great and felt good in my hands. The unique design and the upgrades I added made me hopeful that this would be an exceptional firearm. Boy was I disappointed!

3) Reliability, Reliability, Reliability

Unfortunately, the reliability of my Kriss Vector has been a major disappointment. I've experienced frequent stovepipe malfunctions, which are not only frustrating but also unacceptable for a firearm at this price point. You might be thinking "Well that's what you get buying a used gun." Not true. I talked to the seller who happened to be a gun range downgrading their selection. The Vector was recently purchased and had a grand total of 660 rounds through it before I purchased it. The guarantee was that it had also been properly cleaned and maintained (which I don't have any reason to not believe.)

I have shot hundreds of rounds through this now. Even as of late despite using a verity of rounds (115gr Winchester, 124 gr federal, 147 gr Remington), there have been consistent issues regarding "Failure to Feed" and "StovePiping." Stovepipe malfunctions occur when a spent casing fails to eject properly, causing it to get stuck in the ejection port. The problem with the majority of stove pipes I have gotten with this gun is a flaw in the design. As you can see from the two separate pictures below, often when the gun stove-pipes the "ejected" brass gets lodged into the ejection port in the chamber. This particular jam is so bad, it requires a pry tool to remove the stuck casing.

After ordering new recoil springs and even an extractor, I would have happily sent this back to Kriss, but since I bought a used gun it comes with no warranty. Even if it did, KRISS only includes a 1 year warranty for their guns if you buy them new!

I will say I have noticed that cleaning the gun and lubricating it with something like Hoppes Step 4 High Performance Gun Grease, helps. It's just after a few magazines (Maybe 40 rounds) I start to have trouble again.

Thanks to the wisdom found on Reddit, I plan to write another article detailing my experience after replacing the extractor spring with a BCM replacement spring, but the point is that I shouldn’t have to make such modifications to a premium firearm to ensure it functions reliably.

4) Better Options Out There

Given the issues I've encountered, it's clear that there are better options available. A premium product should perform flawlessly out of the box. While the Kriss Vector's design and concept are intriguing, its execution leaves much to be desired. For the same price, or even less, there are other firearms that offer better reliability and performance without the need for additional modifications.

In conclusion, while the Kriss Vector SDP Pistol has potential, its reliability issues make it a less than ideal choice. It's crucial for a firearm, especially one marketed as a high-end product, to function properly and consistently. Unfortunately, in my humble opinion the Kriss Vector falls short in this regard.

The Ghost Gunners

-Austin L

Sources: