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Work order — Kel-Tec KSG

Taking the firearm apart for a job such as refinishing, and putting it back together to specification. Generated from the Pew-Takedown entry last updated 2026-10-29. Confidence: high.

Shop difficulty: Tier 2 of 3

131 pieces (76 rows), but most are screws, pins and polymer shell halves that go together in order; the action itself field strips into four groups. The traps are the bolt that only goes in sideways and rotated, the twin magazine caps/bolts that must be tightened alternately, loctited inner tube caps, and Kel-Tec's own limit at the field strip. 76 parts (Kel-Tec KSG exploded view and parts list (REV #020714), complete gun; 76 key rows). Pew-Takedown's rating, not the manufacturer's.

Bench time: strip ~55 min, rebuild ~80 min (estimate). Actual: strip ______ rebuild ______

Special tools:

• Coin or large screwdriver — Magazine caps
• Inner magazine cap tool (aftermarket) — Loctited inner tube caps, if tubes are stripped

Watch for:

• Kel-Tec limits owners to the field strip; anything further is for a certified gunsmith or the factory. (both; Kel-Tec CNC Industries, Inc.)
• The bolt only goes back in sideways from the rear with the slide fully back, then rotated to align, and must click as it locks to the barrel extension. (reassembly; American Rifleman (NRA))
• The two magazine caps that hold the fore-end are unscrewed alternately half a turn at a time; on reassembly the bolts into the same piece bind if one is run down faster than the other. (both; American Rifleman (NRA))

1. Clear and make safe

1. Point the muzzle in a safe direction and keep your finger off the trigger.
2. Engage the safety.
3. Cycle the action to eject any chambered shell.
4. Set the tube selector to the first tube and cycle the action repeatedly, catching each shell, until that tube is empty.
5. Set the tube selector to the second tube and repeat until that tube is empty.
   Warning: Both tubes. This is the step people forget on a KSG.
6. With the action open, inspect the chamber and look up BOTH magazine tubes with a light.
   Warning: Chamber, tube one, and tube two.
7. Physically confirm the chamber is empty and remove all live ammunition from the work area.

2. Disassemble

Field Strip

1. Complete the Clear and Make Safe procedure, confirming the chamber and BOTH magazine tubes are empty.
2. Place the magazine selector in the centre position.
3. Engage the safety by ensuring the white "S" is visible.
4. Remove the rear assembly pins adjacent to the ejection port on the grip assembly, and place them in the assembly pin retaining holes.
   Tip: Kel-Tec provides retaining holes specifically so the pins have somewhere to live during cleaning.
5. Remove the grip assembly by lifting the rear of the assembly directly upwards.
6. Grip the stock and pull rearward to remove it.
7. Move the forend to its rearmost position to gain access to the bolt.
8. Reach in and lift the bolt out of the receiver.
9. Clean the bore, chamber, bolt, both magazine tubes and the receiver interior.

Joining the Barrel and Receiver Assemblies

1. Ensure the bolt carrier is properly placed into the forend.
2. Orient the barrel and receiver assemblies and push the two units together, ensuring the magazine bolt screw threads seat into the magazine plug screw threads.
3. If the assemblies will not close, press the CTG stop actuator down for clearance under the mag stop actuator, and slide the forend over it.
4. Screw the magazine bolts into the magazine plugs at the same rate, alternating between the two bolts a half turn at a time until both firmly resist further tightening.
   Warning: Both bolts thread into the same piece. Tightening one faster than the other makes them bind prematurely.
5. Visually check that no gap exists between the barrel extension and the receiver, then try to pull the assemblies apart and press them together, checking for travel.
   Warning: Any gap or any travel means the magazine bolts are not fully tightened. Do not fire it in that state.

3. Refinish

The components the procedures above separate. Coating, masking and cure are outside this database; follow your coating system's instructions. A part the manufacturer marks "factory fit" should not be swapped or reworked.

The manufacturer's full parts list (76 parts) is on the reference page.

4. Reassemble

Joining the Barrel and Receiver Assemblies

1. Reverse the steps of "Joining the Barrel and Receiver Assemblies".

Reassembly

1. Cycle the forend completely rearward before attempting to insert the bolt.
   Warning: The bolt will not seat with the forend anywhere else.
2. Insert the bolt onto the bolt carrier on its side, then rotate it 90 degrees to its upright position.
   Tip: The rear lip of the bolt should fit easily into the square cutout of the bolt carrier. Sideways first, then rotate — it does not go in upright.
3. Push the bolt completely forward on the bolt carrier and confirm there is no gap at the mating surfaces between the bolt lip and the bolt carrier cutout.
4. Move the forend completely forward to lock the bolt into place.
   Warning: Listen for a definitive click. That click is the bolt locking with the barrel extension; without it the shotgun is not assembled.
5. With the forend completely forward, insert the stock, making sure the lifter axes are in place.
   Tip: Kel-Tec notes it may help to lift up on the firing pin while inserting the stock.
6. Place the magazine selector in the centre position and engage the safety so the white "S" is visible.
7. Insert the forward part of the grip assembly under the grip catch and rotate the grip down.
8. Remove the assembly pins from their retaining holes and insert them into the assembly pin holes on the grip assembly.
   Warning: Both pins, fully seated.
9. Check the firearm for proper functioning by pressing down the action bar lock and cycling the action.

5. Torque

No manufacturer torque values are recorded for this firearm.

Notes: The manufacturer's documents give no torque value. They say: "Using your tool of choice, screw the magazine bolts into the magazine plugs at the same rate, alternating between the two bolts a half-turn at a time until both bolts firmly resist further tightening." (Kel-Tec KSG Shotgun Owner's Manual, p. 14 (E. Assembly, step 4)) "You will want these nice and snug (1/4 turn)." (How To: Install a KSG Carry Handle [video] (KelTec support article), p. web page, STEP 3)

Fit or check on rebuild

• Magazine bolts tightened evenly, no gap or travel — Bolts into the same piece bind if tightened unevenly; a gap means the gun is not assembled.
• Bolt locks with a definite click — No click means the bolt is not locking with the barrel extension.
• Function check: safety, trigger/sear release, disconnector and feeding with dummy rounds — Standard after any detail strip; a mis-assembled sear or disconnector can double or fail to fire.

6. Function check

• Verify the shotgun is unloaded — chamber and BOTH tubes — before each step.
• Cycle the action fully and confirm it locks closed.
• With the hammer cocked, engage the safety and press the trigger. The hammer must not fall.
• Disengage the safety and press the trigger. The hammer should fall.
• Set the tube selector to each position in turn and confirm dummy shells feed from the selected tube only.
• Confirm the centre selector position feeds from neither tube.

If any check fails, the firearm is not safe to fire. Stop and see a licensed gunsmith.

If it won't go back together

Sources

1. Kel-Tec KSG Shotgun Owner's Manual — Kel-Tec CNC Industries, Inc. primary
   https://5159794.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/5159794/Firearm_Manuals/KSG_Manual.pdf
2. How To: Install a KSG Carry Handle [video] (KelTec support article) — Kel-Tec CNC Industries primary
   https://www.keltecweapons.com/support-article/install-ksg-carry-handle/
3. KSG Series — KelTec — Kel-Tec CNC Industries primary
   https://www.keltecweapons.com/firearm/shotguns/ksg/
4. Kel-Tec KSG — American Rifleman (NRA) secondary
   https://www.americanrifleman.org/content/kel-tec-ksg

Educational guide only. Some information comes from non-authoritative sources. Always consult your manufacturer's manual and a licensed gunsmith. Verify your firearm is unloaded before every procedure. Full disclaimer: https://github.com/Fundamental-build-LLC/Pew-Takedown

Legal notice: this material is third-party information compiled from sources of varying reliability and is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not gunsmithing, technical, safety or legal advice, it is not verified or endorsed by any manufacturer, and it must not be taken as fact. Any work on a firearm beyond the routine field stripping described in its own owner's manual should be performed only by a licensed and insured gunsmith. You use this material entirely at your own risk. Fundamental Build LLC and the project's contributors make no warranty of any kind and accept no liability for death, injury, damage or loss arising from its use. Full terms: LEGAL.md.