Randy here at Locked N Loaded, and it's product review time.

If you want something small enough to stash in a modest bag but more capable than your everyday CCW, Springfield Armory's Kuna deserves a look. Think PDW: pistol-caliber, high hit probability, less bulk than a rifle, and yes enough presence to give trouble second thoughts.

Basics first. The Kuna I ran was a semi-auto 9×19mm, and its headline move is a roller-delayed operating system instead of the usual straight blowback. Translation: less reciprocating mass, softer recoil, and easier follow-up shots. For a compact platform aimed at accuracy and control, that's a big win.

Build and ergonomics are modern and sensible. The upper is a monolithic hardcoat-anodized aluminum receiver with a full-length Picatinny rail and M-LOK slots for optics and lights. You get a folding low-profile charging handle that can be put left or right, ambidextrous safety, magazine release, and bolt catch - all where your hands expect them. The polymer lower uses AR-style takedown pins, so field-strip is simple and fast.

Barrel is a practical six inches, cold-hammer-forged, Melonite coated, 1:10 twist, threaded 1/2x28. Kuna ships with a multi-port muzzle brake but you can swap devices or attach a suppressor. Magazines are translucent 30-round polymerers with stainless steel feed lips and a last-round bolt hold-open; two come in the box.



On the range the Kuna performed exactly like a PDW should. From a bench at 50 yards, my best five-shot average was roughly 3.2 inches with a 150-grain subsonic; defensive loads grouped mid-3 to high-4 inches. I hit steel silhouettes out to 100 yards without drama. Offhand and positional work showed rapid, controllable strings - much easier to score hits at range than with a handgun.

Trigger: about 5.5 pounds, nearly flat face, slightly long and a touch "mushy" on takeup, but not gritty. Reset is short, and overall the firing cycle is smooth. The roller-delayed action makes the Kuna noticeably softer to shoot than many blowback 9mm PCCs - follow-ups are fast and predictable.

What I liked: modern controls that speed manipulations (mag drops with a button, accessible bolt release), practical accessory mounting, and handling that favors accuracy. It's genuinely fun to shoot - and that matters. Training time goes up when recoil and ergonomics don't fight you.

Price: MSRP sits around $999 without the brace and about $1,149 with the folding arm brace. Not bargain-bin cheap, but for a capable 9mm PDW that's fun to shoot and economical to train with, it's a reasonable play.

Bottom line from Locked N Loaded: the Kuna is a modern, well-thought-out 9mm PDW that delivers controllable recoil, solid accuracy, and user-friendly ergonomics. If you want more reach and hit probability than a handgun offers - without lugging a rifle - this one's worth your attention.

Got an idea for a future article? Shoot it my way and you might see it in the next issue.

Until next time, stay locked and loaded.
- Randy, Locked N Loaded