TDI Vector
Encyclopedia
The KRISS Vector series is a family of NFA and non-NFA weapons based upon the parent submachine gun
design developed by KRISS USA. KRISS USA is formerly known as Transformational Defense Industries (TDI). They utilize asymmetrical recoil and in-line design to reduce recoil
and muzzle climb
.
. This action, the so-called Kriss Super V, is an articulated mechanism which allows the block and bolt to recoil off-axis into a recess behind the weapon's magazine well. The Vector family of weapons is the first to use this action; the company claims the .45 ACP
chambering was chosen to demonstrate that the action could "tame" such a powerful round. Variants chambered for the .40 S&W
and 9x19mm Parabellum round are currently in development. All KRISS Vectors operate with standard Glock magazines with the .45 ACP caliber weapons using the 13 round G-21
magazine.
The Vector's barrel is in line with the shooter's shoulder as in the M16 rifle
, but also in line with the shooter's hand as with many target pistols. Combined, these factors reduce felt recoil
and muzzle climb
by eliminating the distance between the shooter's hand and the bore axis along with the action of the Super V Mechanism.
KRISS USA also produces three semi-automatic versions of the Vector that are for sale to eligible parties in the US. The Vector CRB/SO is the semi-automatic carbine version of the SMG with a 16 inches (406.4 mm) barrel. 'CRB' stands for carbine and 'SO' stands for Special Operations. The standard model for 45 states comes with a folding stock with the option of a fixed stock in states where state law prohibits folding or collapsible stocks (California, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts).
Similarly, the semi-automatic short-barreled rifle (SBR) version is labeled as Vector SBR/SO. It is nearly identical in fit and form as to the SMG. The only difference is in function: it is not a machine gun and thus does not have an ambidextrous selector switch.
Of current production weapons, there is also an ATF-classified pistol variant of the weapon platform. This is the Vector SDP. 'SDP' stands for Special Duty Pistol or Security Detail Pistol. It is essentially identical to the SBR except it has a permanently affixed cap instead of a folding stock.
An updated second generation version of the Vector called the K10 has recently been announced and shown to the firearms community as of SHOT Show 2011. .. This .45 ACP weapon also uses Glock 21 magazines and is a slightly more compact sister weapon that utilizes the same Super V mechanism. The largest known functional difference is the use of a metal, telescopic stock that will collapse into the upper housing rather than the injection molded plastic folding stock of the Vector's. It is also purported that the safety and fire selector switches will be combined. The cocking handle also goes downward instead of horizontally.
KRISS has announced in the past that they have looked into adapting the Super V system for higher-power cartridges in the future, with mention of a 12-gauge shotgun and a .50 BMG
heavy machine gun
called the "Disraptor" which is planned to use a double-sided, horizontal version of the Kriss mechanism.
KRISS is also developing a semiautomatic pistol called the "Kard", utilizing the Super V mechanism in a much smaller package to minimize recoil and muzzle rise in 9mm Parabellum and .45 ACP calibers. It will not have a blowback slide; instead it has a T-shaped cocking handle on the rear.
Submachine gun
A submachine gun is an automatic carbine, designed to fire pistol cartridges. It combines the automatic fire of a machine gun with the cartridge of a pistol. The submachine gun was invented during World War I , but the apex of its use was during World War II when millions of the weapon type were...
design developed by KRISS USA. KRISS USA is formerly known as Transformational Defense Industries (TDI). They utilize asymmetrical recoil and in-line design to reduce recoil
Recoil
Recoil is the backward momentum of a gun when it is discharged. In technical terms, the recoil caused by the gun exactly balances the forward momentum of the projectile and exhaust gasses, according to Newton's third law...
and muzzle climb
Muzzle climb
Muzzle climb refers to the elevation of muzzle of automatic and rapid-fire semi-automatic firearms caused by combined recoil from multiple shots being fired in quick succession....
.
Design
The Vector's action was originally developed by French engineer Renaud KerbratRenaud Kerbrat
Renaud Kerbrat is a French gun designer and inventor. He is the owner or co-owner of various patents related to armament and medical equipment....
. This action, the so-called Kriss Super V, is an articulated mechanism which allows the block and bolt to recoil off-axis into a recess behind the weapon's magazine well. The Vector family of weapons is the first to use this action; the company claims the .45 ACP
.45 ACP
The .45 ACP , also known as the .45 Auto by C.I.P., is a cartridge designed by John Browning in 1904, for use in his prototype Colt semi-automatic .45 pistol and eventually the M1911 pistol adopted by the United States Army in 1911.-Design and history:The U.S...
chambering was chosen to demonstrate that the action could "tame" such a powerful round. Variants chambered for the .40 S&W
.40 S&W
The .40 S&W is a rimless pistol cartridge developed jointly by major American firearms manufacturers Winchester and Smith & Wesson. The .40 S&W was developed from the ground up as a law enforcement cartridge designed to duplicate performance of the FBI's reduced velocity 10mm cartridge which could...
and 9x19mm Parabellum round are currently in development. All KRISS Vectors operate with standard Glock magazines with the .45 ACP caliber weapons using the 13 round G-21
Glock pistol
The Glock pistol, sometimes referred to by the manufacturer as Glock "Safe Action" Pistol, is a series of semi-automatic pistols designed and produced by Glock Ges.m.b.H., located in Deutsch-Wagram, Austria. The company's founder, engineer Gaston Glock, had no experience with firearm design or...
magazine.
The Vector's barrel is in line with the shooter's shoulder as in the M16 rifle
M16 rifle
The M16 is the United States military designation for the AR-15 rifle adapted for both semi-automatic and full-automatic fire. Colt purchased the rights to the AR-15 from ArmaLite, and currently uses that designation only for semi-automatic versions of the rifle. The M16 fires the 5.56×45mm NATO...
, but also in line with the shooter's hand as with many target pistols. Combined, these factors reduce felt recoil
Recoil
Recoil is the backward momentum of a gun when it is discharged. In technical terms, the recoil caused by the gun exactly balances the forward momentum of the projectile and exhaust gasses, according to Newton's third law...
and muzzle climb
Muzzle climb
Muzzle climb refers to the elevation of muzzle of automatic and rapid-fire semi-automatic firearms caused by combined recoil from multiple shots being fired in quick succession....
by eliminating the distance between the shooter's hand and the bore axis along with the action of the Super V Mechanism.
Variants
The selective fire sub-machine gun variant is marketed as the Vector SMG, and features a 5.5 inch 16x1 left-hand pitch threaded barrel, folding stock, flip-up Midwest Industries MBUIS iron sights, upper and lower picatinny rails, and selective fire for three modes (single, 2-round burst, full-auto). The SMG is an NFA weapon and is not available for purchase for the general population.KRISS USA also produces three semi-automatic versions of the Vector that are for sale to eligible parties in the US. The Vector CRB/SO is the semi-automatic carbine version of the SMG with a 16 inches (406.4 mm) barrel. 'CRB' stands for carbine and 'SO' stands for Special Operations. The standard model for 45 states comes with a folding stock with the option of a fixed stock in states where state law prohibits folding or collapsible stocks (California, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts).
Similarly, the semi-automatic short-barreled rifle (SBR) version is labeled as Vector SBR/SO. It is nearly identical in fit and form as to the SMG. The only difference is in function: it is not a machine gun and thus does not have an ambidextrous selector switch.
Of current production weapons, there is also an ATF-classified pistol variant of the weapon platform. This is the Vector SDP. 'SDP' stands for Special Duty Pistol or Security Detail Pistol. It is essentially identical to the SBR except it has a permanently affixed cap instead of a folding stock.
An updated second generation version of the Vector called the K10 has recently been announced and shown to the firearms community as of SHOT Show 2011. .. This .45 ACP weapon also uses Glock 21 magazines and is a slightly more compact sister weapon that utilizes the same Super V mechanism. The largest known functional difference is the use of a metal, telescopic stock that will collapse into the upper housing rather than the injection molded plastic folding stock of the Vector's. It is also purported that the safety and fire selector switches will be combined. The cocking handle also goes downward instead of horizontally.
KRISS has announced in the past that they have looked into adapting the Super V system for higher-power cartridges in the future, with mention of a 12-gauge shotgun and a .50 BMG
.50 BMG
The .50 Browning Machine Gun or 12.7×99mm NATO is a cartridge developed for the Browning .50 caliber machine gun in the late 1910s. Entering service officially in 1921, the round is based on a greatly scaled-up .30-06 cartridge...
heavy machine gun
Heavy machine gun
The heavy machine gun or HMG is a larger class of machine gun generally recognized to refer to two separate stages of machine gun development. The term was originally used to refer to the early generation of machine guns which came into widespread use in World War I...
called the "Disraptor" which is planned to use a double-sided, horizontal version of the Kriss mechanism.
KRISS is also developing a semiautomatic pistol called the "Kard", utilizing the Super V mechanism in a much smaller package to minimize recoil and muzzle rise in 9mm Parabellum and .45 ACP calibers. It will not have a blowback slide; instead it has a T-shaped cocking handle on the rear.