KRISS USA recently opened a new manufacturing and distribution facility in Chesapeake, near Solider Systems HQ, which gave us the opportunity to try out a few weapons in the Vector and Sphinx line of firearms. After a visit to the facility, KRISS packed up the range guns and we all headed out to C2 Shooting Center to try them out on the steel plate range.
Sphinx Arms is a Swiss pistol manufacturer under the KRISS Group. They offer standard, compact, and subcompact pistols, all chambered for 9x19mm. Sphinx pistols are constructed using steel slides, and two-piece frames which consist of an upper and lower component. The upper components are manufactured from either aluminum or steel, and the lower components can be manufactured from aluminum, steel, or polymer, depending on the model of pistol.
The pistols feed from double stack magazines, with capacities of 17+1 for Standard, 15 + 1 for Compact, and 13 + 1 for Sub-compact models. Additional features shared throughout the various pistol models include ambidextrous decocking levers, reversible magazine catch, a visual/tactile loaded chamber indicator, front and rear slide serrations, and match grade trigger. Most models also support an interchangeable rubberized comfort grip system.
Here you can see a comparison between the standard iron sight, and a model equipped with a fiber optic front sight.
All of the pistols were very smooth firing, accurate, and comfortable to shoot. We favored the compact models the most, as their size made them very comfortable guns to hold, roughly equivalent in size to a Glock 19.
The Vector line of pistols, carbines, and SMGs utilize the KRISS Super V recoil Recoil Reduction System which redirects recoil energy downward, reducing muzzle climb up to 95% and felt recoil up to 60% when compared to traditional weapon designs. At the range, we had the chance to try out the CBR Enhanced, the SDP pistol variant, and the full-auto .45 ACP and upcoming 9mm SMGs.
The Vector series consists of an upper and lower frame, which can be separated by removing three assembly pins along the upper frame. This allows the user to quickly swap out lower frames, and will even allow for a quick caliber change between the .45 ACP and 9mm frames, when the later becomes available later this year.
This is the Vector CRB Enhanced. The CRB is the semi-automatic civilian carbine variant of the Vector, chambered for .45 ACP. It comes with an M4 stock adapter, a Magpul UBR stock, and the enhanced square barrel shroud.
The CRB in action. The recoil reductive action coupled with the pistol caliber makes for an easy to handle and accurate weapon.
Here is the SDP, the Vector pistol variant. It features a 5.5″ barrel and a rear QD sling point.
It can either be fired with both hands on the weapon, or with a single hand, although this is best done with a sling to support and stabilize the weapon.
Here’s the Vector SMG in .45 ACP. This particular model was outfitted with the M4 stock adapter, a Magpul UBR stock, a vertical foregrip, and a Defiance HPS 4GSK Cal .45ACP, a suppressor specially designed for the Vector family of weapons. The SMG variants of the Vector feature a selector switch which allows the operator to switch between semi, two-round burst, and full auto.
For the final gun of the day, we checked out the upcoming Vector SMG in 9mm. The one we fired was marked serial number 000001, no less, and don’t let the frame markings in the image above fool you, was indeed the 9mm variant. Like the .45 ACP model, the 9mm variant is designed to accept Glock magazines, with the 17-round Glock 17 magazine fitting flush with the chamber, although we also had a few 33-round G18 magazines as an analogue to the extended magazines used in the .45 ACP model. As expected of the lighter round, it featured a higher rate of fire than the .45 ACP model, and burned through even the extended magazines quite quickly, yet still remained quite controllable even in full auto.
After what was quite likely a couple of thousand rounds of ammunition spent, it’s quite fair to say that KRISS USA has a solid line of firearms on offer. The Sphinx pistols are solid, accurate sidearms, and the Vector line’s recoil mitigating technology makes them a joy to shoot. We offer our sincerest thanks to KRISS USA for allowing us the opportunity to try out their firearms on the range.
You can find out more on the Vector and Sphinx brands at:
Tags: Kriss USA, Sphinx Arms
That CRB Enhanced is a sexy futuristic looking beast
Looks like a lot of Fun I mean uhm a hard day of work. If you ever need a hand just let us know we will be glad to help out 🙂
Is that new Kriss carbine legally a rifle or is it an SBR, either way it looks really cool.
“This is the Vector CRB Enhanced. The CRB is the semi-automatic civilian carbine variant of the Vector, chambered for .45 ACP. It comes with an M4 stock adapter, a Magpul UBR stock, and the enhanced square barrel shroud.“
I saw all that but I’m curious if all that is enough to add up to legal minimum rifle length or it falls in SBR range. But I suppose it doesn’t matter since I live in CA and I’m not sure that it could be considered featureless and I don’t think they make bullet buttons for Krisses.
My California gun store sells Kriss–with pinned stocks and long barrels–as normal rifles. Notice the lack of a pistol grip…
…which allows detachable magazines of 10x max capacity…
Please dont give him false information like that. CA still requires the bullet button the firearm because of the pistol grip on the rifle. KRISS makes CA compliant models with Pinned stocks and bullet button installed. magazines will be 10rds ONLY, as stated per law. NO DETACHABLE MAGAZINES, as long as you have a functioning pistol grip you will have to maintain a FIXED magazine.
Derp. I stand corrected.
I thought the brace connecting the “grip” to the chassis was a workaround to the evil feature regs.
This is so far down the “to buy” kist that I never asked to peruse one here in Cali…
The CRB Enhanced has a 16″ barrel, so legally it’s a carbine-length rifle. The Square Barrel Shroud gives it a cool, suppressor-esque, futuristic look.
KRISS also manufactures an enhanced version of their SBR, which features a 5.5″ barrel.
Thanks for the info, that’s what I was looking for. Now if someone could just make a bullet button for it, then again, it’s not like I could afford it right now anyway. Maybe by the time I (hopefully) move out of state I’ll be able to get one.
they do. saw one the other day. Are you in socal or norcal?
The dealer I was referring to is Reed’s in San Jose.
I’m in SoCal. I’ll have to keep my eye out for Krisses the next I hit a gun shop.
Riflegear in Fountain Valley probable has some. Or ammo bros. But I haven’t stopped by in a while.
These are next on my list….a sub-compact 9mm and a Kriss carbine in 9mm.
Now I’m trolling Gunbroker waiting for that guy who is in the deep end of a financial cess pool and needs cash fast!!
Cool looking stuff. The pistol slides look like the ones on the P07 and p09
In you experience is the recoil reduction/muzzle actually as noticeable as they claim compared to other like UMPs and MP5s? Always been curious because the action is so unique.
Yeah, we fired MP5 full auto right after as well and there is a distinct difference.
It’s funny you mention that, because KRISS actually brought along an MP5 to fire as a comparison to the 9mm Vector. I have a bit of footage I recorded at the range of SSD shooting both that I’ll splice together.
My hands on impression is there is a noticeable reduction in muzzle climb and general felt recoil with the 9mm Vector when compared to the MP5. With the Vector, I could shoot a mag dump and more or less keep the weapon level the entire time. With the MP5, although it’s not the most recoil intensive weapon, there was noticeable climb as I continued to fire full auto.
Nice. That was pretty smart to bring out the comparison. I’ve heard/seen people say before that it feels less but weren’t able to compare side by side so they were only assuming.
Hopefully they have good luck with the new offerings. Always like seeing companies that bring new/unique stuff to the market place.
Sadly though the Kriss is more hype than reality. I mean if you can’t handle the minimal recoil of an MP5 you shouldn’t be handling firearms. That’s to say you’re even dumping rounds in full auto to even notice.
See here:
http://www.vuurwapenblog.com/general-opinion/lies-errors-and-omissions/why-i-dont-like-the-kriss-vector/
I’m holding off till I move out of the People’s Republic of California before I pick up a Vector. It just doesn’t come close to reaching it’s full potential in that state.
Hopefully my move won’t be too much longer.