Springfield Armory Kuna Review: Is This the Best Budget PDW?

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Springfield Armory has recently rolled out some firearms that have proven to be as interesting as they are reliable.

The trail they’ve blazed isn’t necessarily revolutionary, but it’s different enough to be noteworthy, with additions like a bullpup, a bolt-action rifle, and most recently, a PDW called the Kuna.

Working with HS Produkt of Croatia, the companies blended their efforts to create a more affordable PCC that’s similar in many ways to the HK MP5. We got one in from Springfield to test it out and see if it holds a candle to the aforementioned legend.

We took it out to the range and ran it through its paces. I’ll tell you up front—it did not disappoint. Read on to find out all we liked about the Kuna, and a couple of minor things we didn’t.

Springfield Armory Kuna Specs & Features

Specs

• Caliber: 9mm
• Action: Semi-auto, roller-delayed blowback
• Capacity: 30+1
• Length: 15.5” (folded) 24.5”
• Barrel Length: 6”
• Width: 1.85”
• Height: 7.8”
• Weight: 5 lbs. 5 oz.
• Country of origin: Croatia
• Comes with: Cardboard box, (2) 30-round magazines,

Features

• Strike Industries Brace
• Roller-Delayed Operating System
• Hybrid Flip-Up Sights

Where Did the Kuna Come From Anyway?

The Kuna is named for a small but fierce pine marten in Croatia, a symbol of national pride. Because of its size and caliber, it straddles the lines of personal defense weapon (PDW), pistol caliber carbine (PCC), and subgun.

Interestingly, the gun began life chambered in .40 S&W and competed for a contract with the Military Police of São Paulo State against noteworthy competitors like B&T. The Kuna passed the trials and won the contract.

The 9mm version was later released to the wider public in 2025.

Range Testing the Springfield Armory Kuna (Performance + Accuracy)

I hadn’t done any research on the Kuna prior to taking it out for testing, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Much later, as we passed the 500-round count without any malfunctions, it was clear the gun was reliable and also a lot of fun!

Recoil

With the relatively tame recoil impulse, I was able to control the Kuna extremely well under sustained fire. Although the stabilizing brace doesn’t perform like a stock would, it still provides more steadiness than you’d have without one.

For example, I wasn’t able to achieve cheek weld, but that didn’t really matter. I pulled the brace into my collarbone and held it firmly in place during strings of fire.

While there is a bit of jump with each shot, it’s pretty minimal for something this small and light. Within the first magazine I found the control leading to faster and faster fire.

This empties out 30-round magazines quickly. Three magazines later, I’d almost emptied a box (100), and a grin was spreading across my face.

Accuracy

After zeroing the GLx MD-21s, I spent time shooting steel at various distances. The control and lack of significant recoil allowed me to spam between targets, hitting with authority.

Speeding up, I began shooting even quicker to try and outrun the Kuna’s performance. It can be done, but the upper limits are impressive.

Downsides

During this phase of testing, I found a few things that weren’t true negatives, but they were noteworthy. First, the ergonomics of the fire control make it easy to remove the safety.

Getting it back on proved more challenging. I suspect it was a combination of the angle and a bit of stiffness on the actual control itself.

When I was shooting the Kuna quickly, I found that sweeping the right side fire control down with my trigger finger was easier. The rapid fire stacked up pretty quickly and I noticed the limitations of the short rail.

That barrel heated up nicely, and my hand started creeping back toward the magwell. Eventually, I started having issues with the magazines not dropping clear.

This was strictly a result of my support hand overlapping the magazine when inserted. My hand was preventing the magazines from dropping clear. I suspect most shooters won’t have this issue.

Another symptom of the short rail out front was heat. After a few magazines, the Kuna heats up quickly and your support hand really doesn’t have anywhere to go.

A pair of gloves or some rail covers would alleviate this issue. The Kuna also cooled fairly quickly when allowed to rest.

As stated, besides the magazine hanging on my hand, I noticed it was important to tug on the magazines to make sure they were seated. There were a couple of times I dropped a bolt on a reload but hadn’t sufficiently seated the fresh magazine, causing the Kuna to not feed.

Performance

All this aside, the performance was great. I stepped up to the 7-yard line to test some accuracy by firing ten-shot groups using practice and defensive ammo.

Using AAC 115gr FMJ, I put 10 shots in a roughly 2-inch group. With Nosler 115gr defensive, I noticed about the same-sized group.

Stepping back to the 25-yard line, I fired another 10 rounds unsupported to see how I’d fare. Here, my group was less consistent and spread to roughly 6 inches.

Overall, accuracy was good at the types of engagement distances I would normally foresee in a weapon of this size. I also suspect these groups would improve with more practice.

In addition, we tested the Kuna as a suppressor host and found that it did a great job. I first threaded on a Banish 9K and was impressed with the impact it had on sound.

I could smell a bit of blowback when I fired, but it wasn’t bad, and the suppressor didn’t affect the Kuna’s reliability. Next, we used the Banish 9 and found it to be even quieter and have less blowback.

Finally, reliability was boringly perfect. Every single function of the Kuna ran the way it was supposed to. There were things (like mag seating) I learned along the way, but these were particular to the manual of arms and what the Kuna needed.

Ergonomics: Fit & Feel

The Kuna feels similar to other subguns in size and weight. It’s fairly light and its controls mirror those of the AR-15, so familiarity with that manual of arms will serve you well.

At a folded length of 15.5 inches, the Kuna tucks away nicely in a backpack or just about anywhere else you’d like to stash it. Compared to a comparably-sized pistol, the power of the Kuna comes when you unfold the brace and put those 30-round magazines to work.

The upper on the Kuna is made from aluminum and has Type III hard coat anodizing. The lower is made from glass-filled polymer but doesn’t feel cheap or poorly done.

Starting at the back, our test model came equipped with an FSA stabilizing brace from Strike Industries. It’s attached via a section of Picatinny rail on the back of the upper.

Folded, the brace tucks neatly away along the left side of the Kuna. It won’t move from this position without a reasonable amount of force, but also locks into place when deployed.

Pushing down on the hinge frees the brace and allows it to fold back into place. Because of the roller-delayed action, the Kuna can be fired with the brace folded.

The grip is very reminiscent of an AR-15. It’s covered with a light but adequate grip texture, which is repeated on the magwell of the gun.

There is ample room for everything on the receiver, though things get a little more condensed toward the front end. Forward of the magwell, there are just a few inches of rail to hold onto.

This is enough room for a non-reciprocating charging handle and two M-LOK slots on either side. There’s ample space for most shooters, though larger-handed folks will find their mitts retreating from the muzzle once the Kuna heats up.

Underneath, there are also one-and-a-half M-LOK slots in the 6 o’clock position. This would be great for a vertical grip, but care should be used when selecting accessories since there is limited real estate up front.

The rail does a great job of covering the 6-inch cold radial hammer forged barrel and 1/2×28 muzzle device. This allows shooters the freedom of mounting other devices or suppressors.

The Kuna has a Picatinny rail running its length along the top. Springfield did a great job of incorporating iron sights into this design as well, since they fold neatly out of the way.

Collapsed, the sights already provide a simple sighting solution with a low-posted white dot in the front and a white U-notch in the rear. These can be folded up for a higher, ringed post and rear aperture setup, which can be used to co-witness with an appropriate-height optic.

The 30-round magazines have a slight curve and are made from translucent polymer. However, they feature steel feed lips, which are proprietary to Kuna.

And while they performed perfectly in all aspects, they took a while to load. Our Uplulas did not fit them and could not be used to speed up the stuffing.

Controls

The Kuna features fully ambidextrous controls on both sides of the gun. This means you can drop magazines, release the bolt, and lock the bolt from either side. In addition, the non-reciprocating charging handle is reversible.

These controls are well placed and easy to reach. They also mirror the same textured surfaces found on the grip and magwell, making them a little more grippy to the touch.

This is true for the magazine release, fire control, and bolt catch/release. And although the trigger guard is not removable, there’s plenty of room for all but the most heavily gloved fingers to hit the trigger.

The trigger on the Kuna is a good one. Made from aluminum, it features a flat shoe that is wide and comfortable to use.

It’s also designed to run. Pressing back, there’s about a millimeter of pre-travel before hitting a defined wall. There is an audible and tactile reset after a crisp break (3 lbs. on a Lyman Digital Gauge).

Who Is The Springfield Armory Kuna For?

The Kuna may be deployed in defensive roles for just about anyone. Because of its size, it can be stashed in a vehicle or set up for the home.

This concealable weapon represents a significant upgrade in firepower when compared to a standard pistol.

While it is a bit large to carry on your body, you can easily fit the Kuna in a medium-sized backpack.

The Kuna isn’t necessarily unique in being a folding 9mm PCC in a PDW size, but its value is going to hold it head and shoulders above many competitors.

Comparable models in the category like the Sig Sauer MPX, B&T APC9K, and SP5 from HK, all ring up around $2,000-$3,000. The Grand Power Stribog SP9A3G is the closest in price to the Kuna’s $1,200 price tag.

By the Numbers

Reliability: 5/5

As stated above, the Kuna was 100% reliable during our testing using three brands of ammo over 500 rounds.

Ergonomics: 4/5

While the safety was a bit of a challenge, I got used to it, and this may also be a result of my hand size. Most shooters will find the Kuna very ergonomic.

Accuracy: 4/5

From 7 yards, the 10-shot groups were both around 2 inches. This spread out when I backed up to the 25-yard line.

Customization: 3/5

You can add limited accessories to the Kuna via the full Picatinny rail or the limited M-LOK slots on the rail.

Value: 5/5

In this category, the Kuna will be tough to beat at a price around $1,200.

Overall: 4/5

Upgrades for Springfield Armory Kuna

The Kuna is a great platform that’s just begging for accessories. We used a Primary Arms GLx MD21s Red Dot mounted flush to the rail, and it was a clean setup.

When we aren’t shooting suppressed, we always use quality protective equipment. ShellShock provides great ear and eye pro that we can wear all day long.

You’ve got to have quality ammunition to make the most out of your range session. AAC makes great stuff that won’t break the bank.

Finally, toss on a can! We used the Silencer Central Banish 9K. They’re also running a deal right now where they will cover the $200 Federal Tax Stamp on select suppressors…the Banish 9K is one of those! Use code STAMP at checkout!

How We Tested the Springfield Armory Kuna

For this review, we tested the Springfield Armory Kuna with a Primary Arms GLx MD21s Red Dot, shooting 10-round groups at 7 yards, and again at 25 yards.

We went through over 500 rounds of ammunition, using both practice and defensive ammo including:

• AAC 115gr FMJ
• 124gr Blazer FMJ
• Nosler 115gr JHP

We also tested the trigger on the Springfield Armory Kuna with a Lyman Digital Trigger gauge to get an accurate assessment of the actual trigger pull weight.

Meet the Experts

At the helm of this review was Pew Pew Tactical Content Producer Sean Curtis. Sean has been shooting since childhood but really began to delve into guns more during his law enforcement career. He spent over two decades in law enforcement, where he became a POST-certified handgun instructor and NLEFIA Red Dot Instructor and received CLEFIA Advanced Firearms Instructor Training and AR-15 armorer training. He has since attended a variety of training, including Tactical Performance Center Handgun Mastery & Carbine Mastery, and earned USCCA rifle instructor certification. Aside from training and prior to joining the Pew Pew Tactical team full-time, Sean wrote for several gun publications evaluating and testing guns and gear and has written hundreds of articles.

This review was edited by Editor-in-Chief Jacki Billings, who runs Pew Pew Tactical’s experienced team of reviewers. Jacki is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, ACES: Society for Editing, and the Professional Outdoor Media Association and has her bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications. She has worked as a media professional for close to 20 years, specializing in gun media for almost 10 years, and has worked as an editor for five years. She uses her extensive professional journalism and editing experience to set testing protocols and editorial standards.

Springfield Armory Kuna Final Verdict

The Springfield Armory Kuna is a compact upgrade in firepower that can be tucked away just about anywhere. Shooters can snap the stabilizing brace into place with a flick of the wrist and have 30 rounds of 9mm ready to take care of their defensive needs.

During our testing, we found the Kuna to be pretty soft-shooting and also accurate. It was also extremely reliable and easy to control. Plus, the price is hard to beat!

Will you be picking up a Kuna? Let us know in the comments below. For even more tiny bois, check out 12 Best Pistol-Caliber Carbines (PCC): 9mm & Beyond!