Springfield Armory’s Kuna is a compact, large-format pistol with a unique roller-delayed operating system that reduces recoil and offers a smoother shooting experience, further enhancing a package that fits the PDW concept perfectly. Watch our “Gun Of The Week” video above to see the Kuna in action on the range.
“Kuna” is the name Croatians give to the European Pine Marten, which is Croatia’s national animal and is a small, yet fierce animal with a powerful bite. Branding this PDW-style pistol with the name pays homage to Springfield Armory’s manufacturing partner in Croatia, HS Produkt, which produces the firearm domestically for the Croatian military. The submachine gun variant of the Kuna was presented at the 2025 military parade in Zagreb and is intended to replace all HK MP5s and Arma ERO submachine guns in Croatian military service. The semi-automatic pistol variant is being brought to U.S. shores by Springfield Armory.
Like its Croatian cousin, the Springfield Armory Kuna is chambered in 9 mm and feed from proprietary 30-round magazines, two of which ship with each pistol. The heart of the Kuna is its monolithic aluminum upper receiver, which houses the roller-delayed operating system. A single roller located at the top of the action provides enough resistance to hold the bolt closed just long enough for chamber pressure to drop, and the excess energy from a fired cartridge cycles the system fully. This innovative design eliminates the need for a complicated gas-operated mechanism, and it reduces the weight necessary for a simple blowback operating system, which can cause extra wear and felt recoil.
At the back end of the Kuna’s aluminum receiver is a short section of Picatinny rail that allows for the attachment of the optional Strike Industries FSA stabilizing brace, and it also offers an opportunity to add a folding stock, should owners choose to register the design as a short-barreled rifle. The example we have on the range includes the Strike FSA brace, which offers a QD attachment on its rear face for the attachment of a single-point sling. Other attachment points include M-Lok slots on either side and bottom of its integral fore-end, as well as a continuous Picatinny optics rail on the top face of the receiver, which features built-in back-up iron sights for when an optic is not mounted.
of the stand-out features of the Kuna is its entirely ambidextrous control set, with the safety selector, push-button magazine release and bolt release mirrored on either side of the polymer lower receiver. The non-reciprocating charging handle is located on the left side of the pistol from the factory, but it can be easily swapped to either side by the user. A flat-faced trigger offers a clean, crisp break, and the AR-style pistol grip provides a well-textured control surface, but it can be swapped out for any AR-pattern grip you prefer.
For personal defense, the PDW concept is one that hasn’t been fully explored, but when you’re on the range with a firearm like the Kuna, it becomes readily apparent that this is an ideal format when you’re looking to step up without adding too much more bulk. The Kuna offers much more stability and capability than a traditional sidearm, along with much more capacity.
We enjoyed its ease of handling, and the softened recoil was immediately apparent, giving us the ability to get back on target much quicker for that follow-up shot. The double-stack, translucent magazines loaded easily and performed reliably, and while we didn’t care for the fact that it’s a proprietary design, we appreciate that Springfield seems to have followed through on its promise to keep the price of extra magazines low. As a capable and reliable personal defense arm that can also offer a fun, pleasant day out at the range, Springfield Armory’s Kuna is a design that covers all the bases.
Springfield Armory Kuna Specifications
Importer: Springfield Armory (springfield-armory.com)
Manufacturer: HS Produkt (Croatia)
Action Type: Roller-delayed blowback, semi-automatic, centerfire pistol
Chambering: 9 mm Luger
Receiver: 7075-T6 aluminum; Type III hardcoat anodized
Barrel: 6″, cold-hammer-forged steel, Melonite finish; six-groove, 1:10″ RH-twist rifling; 1/2×28 TPI muzzle
Magazine: 30-round detachable box
Sights: U-notch rear and front post with dot (folded); rear aperture and front hooded post (deployed)
Trigger: two-stage; 5-lb., 3-oz. pull
Weight: 5 lbs., 5 ozs.
Overall Length: 16.25″ (folded), 24.25″ (deployed)
Accessories: owner’s manual, soft case, extra magazine, lock
MSRP: $1,149
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