Springfield Armory Announces the Kuna PDW

Springfield Armory just released a new PDW—the 9mm Kuna. The Kuna PDW is a roller-delayed action built by Springfield’s partners in Croatia. It’s a slick-looking setup, so let’s take a look at what it has to offer.

The Kuna PDW

The Kuna is named after the European Pine Marten, which is known in Croatia as the Kuna. In fact, it’s Croatia’s national animal. It shows up on Croatian currency and even has military units named after it. Springfield Armory named the new PDW the Kuna as a tribute to HS Produkt, their manufacturing partner in Croatia.

The Kuna PDW is built around a monolithic aluminum upper that houses the roller-delayed operating system that dramatically reduces felt recoil. The integrated handguard has M-LOK slots for accessory mounting. The Kuna features a 6-inch cold radial hammer-forged barrel with 1/2×28 threading and a multi-port muzzle brake.

There’s a full-length Picatinny rail on top with integrated flip-up front and rear sights. The Kuna comes with a reversible, non-reciprocating charging handle that automatically folds down out of the way after using it.

The Kuna PDW’s lower is made from injection molded glass-filled polymer and has fully ambidextrous controls. It uses an AR pattern grip with an adaptive grip texture. I’d need to get it in hand to say for sure, but I like the look of it. It’ll take any AR grip, though, so if you have a favorite, you can swap it out. There’s a rear Picatinny mount for adding a brace or stock.

The Roller Delay System

The Kuna PDW’s heart is its roller-delayed operating system. The roller delay system is simple and reliable. It eliminates the need for a heavy bolt like with a blowback system, or extra components for a gas system. This results in a lighter firearm while minimizing muzzle flip and enhancing controllability.

Options and Pricing

The Kuna PDW comes in two versions: a base model and a model with the optional Strike Industries FSA brace installed. Both models ship with two 30-round translucent magazines with metal feed lips. The base model has an MSRP of $999, and the model with the Strike Industries Brace goes for $1,149.

It’s a slick-looking package and should make a great suppressor platform. I haven’t worked with a roller-delayed system much, and this one is quite tempting. It’s got a great set of features, and is light and compact. I won’t say it’s cheap, but it’s a very competitive price for a roller delay system.

Springfield Kuna PDW Specs: