Overview of TEC-9
This month, we’re going back to the mid-1980s, when a designer called George Kellgren came up with the concept for a revolutionary rifle that quickly gained a following.
The TEC 9 has a poor reputation in America for being employed in street crimes, but there is much more to this unique and exciting system’s tale.
The TEC-9’s beginnings began
with Interdynamic AB, a Swedish guns manufacturer, and its inaugural model, the MP-9, a low-cost submachine gun designed for military usage.
After failing to achieve momentum in this area, it moved its focus to the civilian market, which Kellgren introduced to the United States via a subsidiary business called Interdynamic USA.
The first versions lacked a collapsible stock and vertical foregrips but remained an open bolt configuration for a brief time before regulation required a modification to a closed bolt design.
It was dubbed the KG-99 at this stage.
Being cited for the open bolt design is only one of countless instances in which this handgun fell afoul of ever-changing legislation.
The TEC-9 was quite unlucky
in that, it was singled out for a variety of reasons, including its expanded magazine capacity, magazine loading in front of the grip, barrel shrouds, and threaded barrels.
It had become something of a one-stop-shop for all of the “poor” qualities that might be found on a pistol in certain circumstances.
It was officially prohibited in the state of California in 1989.
It was reintroduced a year later under the designation TEC-DC9 for the following four years, with DC denoting “Designed for California.”
A few minor aesthetic alterations, like the placement of its sling loops, had been made, but it remained practically the same.
Then, in 1993, California modified its prohibition list to include any pistol with barrel shrouds.
At the time, such handguns were relatively rare.
TEC-9 series
In 1994, the whole TEC-9 series and over twenty others were outlawed in the nation, thereby putting a stop to their manufacturing.
Again, Intratec did not remain inactive for long; the following year, a new model known as the AB-10 (short for After Ban) was introduced.
This variant omitted the heat shield and threaded barrel and had 10 round magazines; however, prior versions capable of carrying more remained functional.
Between 1988 and 2000, a similar-looking handgun chambered in.22LR was also available as the TEC-22 and subsequently Sport-22, as well as the TEC-25, a.25 ACP chambered variation.
Intratec was dissolved, and all manufacturing halted in 2001, yet its name remains prohibited in certain jurisdictions.
While this may have been the end of the line for this specific rifle and Intratec, Kellgren’s work is far from complete.
He then founded another firm, Kel-Tec.
As predicted, the TEC 9 series has developed a reputation as a collector’s item due to its distinctive profile, restricted availability, and the fact that many have been lost to time.
Between 1984 and 2001, about 257,400 units were produced.
Perhaps its worst design flaw is the use of polymer for the lower receiver, which has a reputation for fracturing and leaving the pistol useless, especially on early versions.
According to Wikipedia, the early versions were designed to fire 115-grain bullets because larger or hotter rounds would press the receiver’s rear into the frame, resulting in shattering.
Later versions seem to have addressed this issue by including threaded end caps.
The weapon I was able to study (and which is on exhibit here at the Range of Richfield) is designated TEC 9 and is a closed bolt version, perhaps the most famous variation of the gun’s half-dozen variants.
In comparison to a standard pistol, the TEC 9 is a monstrous weapon that instantly begs the issue of how you’re expected to wield it tech nine
The early submachine guns included a vertical grip connected to the heat shield, but this option was eliminated when the weapon was converted to a pistol tech 9
You may either hold it by the magazine well’s front, which feels uncomfortable, or like a vast handgun.
Grasping it by the heat shield is another possibility, although I did not test it with this grip.
These weapons weighed between 2.7 and 3 pounds, with the stamped steel tube, barrel, and bolt up top providing all of the weight teck 9 gun
By alone, the polymer lower is absurdly light, including relatively few metal parts.
The sear resembled a scrap piece of metal from a hardware shop, replete with a few minor rust areas.
Even though the lowers seem as cheap as possible, the internals of a TEC appear pretty sophisticated; I only started to appreciate the design after taking a closer look at how they function with so few components.
Due to the simplicity of the blowback design, no complicated locking mechanism or moving components are required; all that is needed is an upward-angled reciprocating charging handle positioned on the left side.
To activate the safety, press the charging handle in, which locks the bolt and disconnects the trigger.
Although iron sights are rudimentary, they are rather pleasant to look through.
Although the notch and post are broad, precise shooting was never intended with the TEC.
They are equipped with double-stack double-feed stick magazines positioned before the trigger guard. They are available in sizes ranging from 10 to 20, 32, 36, and 50 rounds, and a 72 round drum.
The magazine catch is similar to that of an AK or a CZ Scorpion, consisting of a tiny ambidextrous tab that is readily reached with a thumb while grasping the magazine body.
Indeed, all of the controls functioned flawlessly.
Despite the short bolt throw and heavy blowback spring, charging the TEC 9 is simple.
Disassembly starts by removing a non-captive cross pin from the front, similar to how an AR-15 is disassembled, and then gently pushing up and forward to remove a rear post from the polymer frame’s back.
The end cap has a central post that fits into the polymer lower, and I’m guessing this is one of the spots where they might fail since pulling the upper receiver at an extreme angle puts a lot of strain on this region.
The TEC-9’s interior has an offset guide rod, a shorter striker rod, and a spring with relatively few components.
Another location that has been known to deteriorate with time is the rubber buffer beneath the plate that supports both of these rods; these pads tend to crack.
Although locating a complete parts diagram has been challenging, the rifle without a magazine seems to have just around thirty components.
Due to the short-range time, I could only fire a few rounds through the TEC-9, but they proved to be sufficient.
The shooting experience is much different from most other firearms on the market, starting with determining where to place your off-hand.
I attempted to hold the mag properly on the front but found it pretty tricky and quickly found myself carrying it like any other pistol in a two-handed grip.
The trigger pull was lengthy but surprisingly smooth, making it impossible to anticipate just where or when it would fail.
Reset required virtually the whole of its range of motion.
Additionally, the trigger is relatively tiny and slightly rough around the edges.
Due to its blowback design and hefty top end, the TEC enjoys jumping backward during recoil but dislikes returning to aim.
This narrower trigger tended to bite into my index finger during recoil; after only a few bullets, I could feel where it had caught me.
Recoil felt more like a rapid push than a traditional pistol snap and was rather pleasant; however, there is practically nothing to fight muzzle flip with just the rear grip.
When used in this manner, the TEC is ineffective for follow-up rounds.
The Intratec line of weapons epitomizes the 1980s, which has seldom seen a revival today (although Swiss company B&T had done a limited run of some firearms which bore a strong resemblance.)
I doubt that these firearms would survive in their original configuration and characteristics in today’s market, but I would not quickly write them off.
With the return of pistol caliber carbines, my imagination has gone wild with the possibility of a rebuilt TEC-9 for the twenty-first century.
Modern polymer construction would significantly strengthen the weakest places.
A Picatinny rail for bracing or stocks, an M-Lok barrel shroud, improved sights with an optics rail on top, and maybe compatibility with freshly made magazines might breathe new life into the system.
As a braced pistol or a short-barreled rifle, I believe they might perform well and provide a sense of nostalgia while maintaining an intrinsically economical design.
After firing one, I suggest they’d have a more vital recoil impulse than some of the newest PCCs; a new TEC may even give the Scorpion a run for its money.
TEC 9 may be purchased online
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TEC 9 – History & Specifications
The TEC 9 was initially intended to be a fully automatic submachine gun. It was developed by Intratec, the American subsidiary of Swedish Interdynamic AB.
The TEC 9 was chambered in 9x19mm Parabellum and was developed for military usage. It was based on the Carl Gustav M/45.
After failing to get a military customer, Intratec altered the TEC 9 from an open-bolt to a closed-bolt mechanism that made fully automatic conversions more difficult and sold it to US civilian shooters.
Between 1985 and 1990, the TEC 9 was produced as a semi-automatic handgun and appeared in films and television series such as Miami Vice.
Between 1990 and 1994, when the TEC 9 was added to California’s list of prohibited weapons, Intratec renamed it the TEC-DC9.
Very similar in design, the most visible variation was the relocation of the rings connecting the carrier sling to the gun’s side to a detachable metal clip on the gun’s rear.
Soon after, the TEC 9 and TEC-DC9 were prohibited in the United States, causing Intratec to develop the AB-10, a tiny TEC 9 with a threaded muzzle/barrel shroud and a ten-round magazine instead of a twenty- or thirty-round magazine.
However, the AB 10 retained compatibility with its predecessors’ large capacity rounds.
Intratec ceased operations in 2001, bringing the AB-10’s manufacturing to a halt.
BEST TEC 9 Use in games 2023
Last Words
The TEC 9 is the season’s second weapon.
Because this submachinegun is generally semi-automatic, it has specific unusual firing modes.
With the addition of accessories, it may be converted into a burst fire or fully automated SMG.
The TEC 9 is a free item obtained by completing Tier 31 of Season 5’s Battle Pass.
You only need to climb a few Tiers in the Battle Pass to access the new weaponry.
You may progress to higher Tiers simply by playing the game or purchasing ranks.
