Pistol Caliber Carbine

[Airsick]

I have a Hi-Point 9mm. Inexpensive to buy and indestructible. I put a cheap scope on it and I have accurate fun out to 100 yards.

 

[David Milisock]

Interesting timing on this for me ... today I was polking around investigating AR9s and then took a look to see that AR45s are offered.

Other than the obvious plinking value of an AR9, are there practical advantages over 556?

In my opinion a quality PCC is a decent PDW, low cost practice ammo, and if you study the ammo and find true 9MM+P+ (35,000 PSI like the old 1920's ) loads and you have an 8" to 10" barrel you'll get European 357 Sig velocity out of it. That's 1400 to 1500 FPS with 124 grain projectiles. I've shot several and they're great PDW's especially for truck, the home and urban environments.

With that said I don't own one, I have a Glock 31 in 357 Sig with European loads and a rebuilt M1A1 30 Carbine with round nose soft points, the FMJ will shoot completely through the house.

 

[skeeljc]

I bought a Hi-Point carbine in .40 S&W. I had to tune the trigger a bit. It is a fun gun.

 

[Airsick]

Just be aware that a short barreled gun firing a rifle round will greatly disturb those who unfortunately are near you at the range.

 

[MikeMcCasland]

I picked up one of the newer takedown 9mm Ruger PCCs whenever they came out, but I've played with pistol caliber rifles for some time. I have mixed feelings in general.

Since you're asking about 9mm carbines, I'll share my experience with them.

Pros:
1.) They are without question the most fun "plinkers".
2.) For a bad pistol shooter like me, they are significantly faster at shooting at multiple short range targets.
3.) The compact size does make them handy.
4.) They suppress really well with subsonics.
5.) For short range small game, they are relatively effective.

Cons:
1.) I like the idea of "plinking", but I very very rarely do it.
2.) They have significantly more recoil than you'd think; mine feels almost like 20ga w/ birdshot even when subs and a can.
3.) For practical small game hunting, they become really ineffective really quick once you get past ~75-100 yards. Feels like you're throwing rocks.
4.) Without a can, they're louder than you'd think.

I've used mine for plinking, and to spotlight coons/nutria/rabbits etc., but I rarely put it in the truck anymore. Although they're less "fun", AR15s are just more practical for a general use rifle (at least for my purposes)

The inability to effectively first round hit/kill small targets at distances above 100 yards really is a deal breaker for me. The 'more than expected' also takes some of the fun out of it...it's not like an M1 carbine.

If launching rounds over property lines or noise was a factor for you, the PCCs might be a decent option.

 

[vonb]

I see the Ruger PCC as a novelty item. You don't gain much in 9mm over a handgun. It's not ideal for hunting and it's heavy.

However, the .357 mag in a carbine length barrel really wakes it up. You get on average 500 fps more than a pistol. It's a lighter setup and is decent for medium game. While not a .30-30, a .357 mag in a carbine can break 2K fps with a 125 gr bullet. 158gr bullets will get you in the 1650-1750 fps range.

 

[David Milisock]

I see the Ruger PCC as a novelty item. You don't gain much in 9mm over a handgun. It's not ideal for hunting and it's heavy.

However, the .357 mag in a carbine length barrel really wakes it up. You get on average 500 fps more than a pistol. It's a lighter setup and is decent for medium game. While not a .30-30, a .357 mag in a carbine can break 2K fps with a 125 gr bullet. 158gr bullets will get you in the 1650-1750 fps range.

In my experiance that's a yes and no situation because of the different directions ammo manufacturers have gone.

If you carry a shorter barreled 9MM but carry true 9MM +P velocity ammo you're looking to get about 300 FPS + gain. However regardless of what length barrel you have in your handgun if you carry ammo made for compact handguns or Hornady Critical Defence you're not going to get much of a bump.

My 357 magnum ammo in my 4" revolver saw a much better increase in my lever rifle than my 6" revolver did, my 44 magnum ammo from my 6" Smith saw little increase in my lever rifle. So little in each case that I got rid of the rifles and eventually the 357 revolvers.

However I was able in the 357 Sig duplicate the 4" revolver 125 grain defence load velocities and gain well over double carrying capacity. Hence no PCC.

 

[dantiff2]

https://www.smith-wesson.com/product/fpc

 

[spudgun]

Same here, great weapon. You need a mag-lula Colt 9 loader for the mags.

Bill

I have one of those also for my AR( (home built). They are fantastic.

 

[Cecil S.]

Like it. But gota have 10mm.

 

[AndrewB]

S&W just came out with one for around $660

I saw Jerry Miculek run it on youtube just now . A folder.

 

[Herzo]

My desire has been for a carbine caliber pistol.

 

[rwj]

Pistol Caliber Carbines are the equivalent of when you were a kid, plinking with a 22lr but now you're an adult ; ) HA HA They don't fill any sort of hunting role, unless you consider the survival aspect of having a rifle and sidearm with the same ammo. Which is nice, in my opinion. You won't be tremendously impressed with their ballistics or overwhelmed with their shear amount of power. But, they do leave you with a smile on your face and at my age, that's enough for me !! I sure wish my home range (St.Thomas) was setup like some others, that have steel PCC targets such as this range in Palmyra!

Palmyra Sportsmen's Assoc. - PA Steel League

Palmyra has the best falling steel match in the country! There are many YouTube videos by some very impressive shooters (sadly not me, mid-pack at best). Search for PSA Shootout!

 

[RetiredArmy]

It's been awhile but a quick update. I found my PCC! It's a USA made carbine called Just Right Carbine. I bought the 9mm, but using the same lower have also bought the conversion kits for 40 SW and 45 ACP. I have put a Sig Romeo 7s red dot on it and can ring a 5 in steel plate at 100yds 9 out of 10 rounds with the 40 and 45. Thanks
The nice thing is you can swap out butt stock, and trigger with most components for your standard AR rifle.

Home - Just Right Carbines

justrightcarbines.com

 

[SKWERLZ]

I built a 9mm carbine a few years ago with some spare AR parts and a glock magazine lower.
Fun to shoot and not very loud shooting 147’s.

 

[dantiff2]

I built a 9mm carbine a few years ago with some spare AR parts and a glock magazine lower.
Fun to shoot and not very loud shooting 147’s.

147's @ sub velocity with a suppressor is the best thing out there! Extremely accurate too!

 

[DogBuster]

Few months ago.....bought the Ruger PC9

One of the big draws to it is the Glock magazine adapter which is included

Having no Glocks I stayed with Ruger 17 rd mags

Fun plinker...easy to take down to clean or transport

Heavy ? Yes...Accurate ? Yes Well made...? Yes

Aftermarket trick parts are available from the same mfg's as in the 10-22

Added a Holosun 510C green dot to mine

Have more $$ in it than I expected

Just sold my Hi Point 40 carbine....ran great.....butt ugly too

 

[dontpanic]

The indoor range closest to my house only allows pistol rounds so I built a 9mm AR. A lot of fun to shoot and now I use it for fun shoots at my club

 

[Bamban]

I bought this with the intent to SBR to 10.5, turned out it did not lend itself to such mod. It became a safe queen.

KRISS Vector 10mm 16 inch carbine

 

[spaniel]

I built an AR9 because I wanted a good AR to practice with, that I could shoot steel with at close range. It works great for that purpose. It was also a lot harder to get running reliably than I expected. I wouldn't trust blowback on anything bigger.

I also have a KelTec Sub2000 in 40SW I bought off a friend who didn't want it anymore. For our annual "retirement of the pumpkins" shoot, there is nothing more fun. It's also a great travel gun in the camper due to its compact size.