9mm Carbine Suggestions
1 - 20 of 25 Posts
Well, a lot depends on your budget. I'm really fond of my MKE MP5's and my 10.5" 9mm AR, but the price on those vary from $1,000 to $2,000. Friends of mine own the Sub 2000 with Glock magazines and the Just Right Carbines and they're pretty happy with those. I think you can get a Sub 2000 for <$500.
The MP5 platform is very solid, reliable, and is a great overall shooter. The AR platform has been very reliable and the modularity of it makes it very attractive.
I can't speak to the Sub 2000, JRC, or Hi-Point carbines since I have next to no experience with them.
I see that you live in New York, so I'm not sure how the particular state laws will dictate your situation.
The MP5 platform is very solid, reliable, and is a great overall shooter. The AR platform has been very reliable and the modularity of it makes it very attractive.
I can't speak to the Sub 2000, JRC, or Hi-Point carbines since I have next to no experience with them.
I see that you live in New York, so I'm not sure how the particular state laws will dictate your situation.
Joined
·
1,437 Posts
I have a Kel Tec Sub 2000 9mm that takes Glock mags. It's light, accurate and reliable. I love the little sucker so much I just got a Kel Tec SU-16c in 5.56. Both fold and make great vehicle guns. The sights aren't the best, but that can be addressed. The Sub 2000s at the gun show here today were priced at $399.00.
Joined
·
3,418 Posts
I recently picked up a Colt 6450 and could not be happier. The only gripe I have about it is the fixed carry handle on the upper. I wish Colt would have made another version with a rail. I am amazed at how well it shoots and it is very accurate for a pistol caliber ar not to mention that its a ton of fun to shoot. It was chewing up every type of ammo I put through it from WWB to reloads to Federal etc. If you want to switch from 9mm back to 5.56, all you need is a complete upper and remove the two roll pins in the mag well and you are ready to go.
Joined
·
2,198 Posts
I was going to recommend you look at those Beretta Storms too. I don't know anyone who has one and doesn't like them.
That is if you're not set on a 9mm AR.
That is if you're not set on a 9mm AR.
Joined
·
7,957 Posts
Would that include MP5-pattern carbines?
Another +1 for Beretta Storm. I have never seen/heard of one jamming and are legal everywhere but California, if I am not mistaken. Light enough to fire one handed, reliable, very easy to maintain/clean, accurate, very easy to accessorize, reversible controls, cheap and plentiful magazines, etc. I have owned a few 9mm carbines, and it is the best of the bunch by a mile.
Joined
·
6,389 Posts
1) 9mm AR
2) MKE MP5
3) Beretta Storm
4) Nothing else.
(in that order)
2) MKE MP5
3) Beretta Storm
4) Nothing else.
(in that order)
Yes, that includes MP5s, and that includes with a considerable amount of time (2-3,000 rounds) on 9mm SMGs.
Unless there's some odd reason he can't use anything else, you need a rifle, get a rifle. Not an overgrown pistol.
Yeah a pistol caliber carbine will work but it's still a pistol round. If there are restrictions he's operating under where it becomes necessary he use a pistol caliber carbine, the Storm is about as good as it gets. The 9mm ARs, assuming one is competently built and has a good magazine, also work well, as does the (now out of production) Ruger PC9.
Unless there's some odd reason he can't use anything else, you need a rifle, get a rifle. Not an overgrown pistol.
Yeah a pistol caliber carbine will work but it's still a pistol round. If there are restrictions he's operating under where it becomes necessary he use a pistol caliber carbine, the Storm is about as good as it gets. The 9mm ARs, assuming one is competently built and has a good magazine, also work well, as does the (now out of production) Ruger PC9.
Joined
·
39,004 Posts
You made me flashback to our MP5s in 10mm. Thanks for the trip down memory lane. Those things with 175gr Win SilverTip were the bomb. Closest thing we could get to a rifle back then. Even now I would be willing to take one over our ARs since they are shorter and the iron sight are much better.
A reliable MP5 clone in 9mm (with NFA barrel) would be very nice. No experience with Colt SMGs other than armorer's school but they seem pretty good but the still don't have the MP5 sights.
Joined
·
7,957 Posts
There are rail mounted, non-folding HK dioptic sights for ARs that work quite nicely.
Joined
·
6,389 Posts
Not only that, but the AR is a much more solid platform for mounting optics.
Joined
·
2,198 Posts
Man, an AR (besides one coming from Olympic) firing 10mm would be awesome. I always thought 10mm with some genuine hot ammo would make a fantastic sub gun cartridge.
Or what about 9x25 Dillon? Woah.
Or what about 9x25 Dillon? Woah.
Joined
·
16 Posts
Here are some pics of my 9x25 DI Ar. Upper was built by Ron Williams of RMW Extreme and it sits on a Quarter Circle 10 Large Glock Lower. Mags are interchangeable with my glock 20. 9x25 is a great carbine round!
I finally bit the bullet and with the help 0f Ron Williams of RMW Xtreme built an AR in a caliber I have long felt would make an excellent carbine. I am attaching pictures of my latest AR chambered in 9x25 Dillon. Ron supplied the upper and I built a Large Glock Quarter Circle 10 lower for the project.
I have to say that Ron has really made the difference in developing this piece for me and making it run. He is the "go to guy" for D.I. pistol caliber uppers for the AR! Not only did he locate a 9x25 Dillon ream to use, he designed the gas system to function at the 9x25 pressures. Getting the 9x25 ream was important for me as I wanted a carbine that would have common magazines and ammunition with my G20. As is to be expected with a project like this there was some "dialing in" to do with the gun initially? I at first had some failure to feeds and jams, about 6-7 out of the first 50 rounds. Ron spent a lot of time with me on the phone helping to diagnose the problem and explaining how to fix it. I just followed his instructions and reported results back to him until the gun was running fine. Most of the problems had to do with differences between my lower and the one he had used to test the upper with. Ron is so knowledgeable about AR's he was able to take the info I gave him and explain to me what was going on! He is a genius when it comes to this stuff!
The debate I had with myself over the last couple of years was which would make the better carbine, 10mm or 9x25. While the 10mm is probably the more practical round due to ammo availability I felt the 9x25 offered some advantages over the 10 in an AR platform. The 9x25 and the 10 both develop about the same energy at the muzzle with case capacity being nearly the same. But the smaller bore size of the 9 means better gas availability to operate the Direct Impingement system as well as higher velocity at the muzzle. This, along with the better bullet B.C. of the 9 means a flatter shooting piece able to reach out a little further than the 10mm. I anticipate an effective range in excess of 300 meters with good hitting power at that distance. In addition, I followed Ron's advice and had him install an adjustable gas block on the gas system. This has allowed me to dial down the gas to control recoil. That makes for a very nice soft shooting piece that is easy to keep on target.
As you can see from the pics, I have kept my 9x25 AR pretty basic. My thought on a pistol caliber carbine is to build as light as possible for better portability and maneuverability. I have attached a tactical scope, which my old eyes almost require lately, and I intend to mount a Magpul BUIS folding rear sight. It’s a medium barrel with a 35 caliber hole drilled through it, which makes the barrel fairly light. I have not weighed the piece but believe it comes in just under 7 pounds. Recoil is adjustable with the adjustable gas block so the lighter weight feels good when firing the weapon. .
So far, I have to say I have been very happy with my decision! The Dillon is very fast out of a 16 inch barrel and just judging by the way it smacks around various targets at 60 meters I have to say I'm impressed. This thing will toss a 1 gallon milk jug full of water 12 to 15 feet in the air and about the same distance to the rear!
I am still working up loads for the AR that will be usable in my G20 as well as the AR but my base load so far has been 10.6 grs. Of Longshot behind a 125 grain bullet. I do not own a chronograph so I don’t have exact velocity figures but I believe that load is producing in excess of 2200 FPS out of the longer barrel.
This higher velocity has produced a problem of its own though as none of the bullets I have used so far stands up to the higher velocity. I have used ZERO, Hornady HAP's and sierra with the same results. Upon contact with a water jug these bullets immediately disintegrate into BB sized fragments.
Gold dots seem to do a little better and hold up well enough that you can see they penetrate both sides of the jug. I also have plans to load 125 gr. X-TAC by Barnes and 125 grain Montana Gold 357 Sig. The MG has a brass jacket and a harder alloy core that may hold up well to the higher velocity. As time goes by I intend to try other options such as 357 magnum bullets sized to .355. Should be fun!
If you are a fan of the 9x25 I would suggest contacting Ron and looking into building a carbine to match your pistol. This little round has more than enough power and velocity to make a great intermediate rifle. So far, my experiment has gone well and working to dial in the piece and come up with loads for it has proven to be more fun than I have had on the range in quite a while!
Joined
·
42,095 Posts
First, let me say that a 5.56 AR is a far more effective defensive tool than a 9mm carbine. With that out of the way, the only PCC I have any real interest in is the Cx4 Storm. They're pricey at MSRP, but I got my current one (third total) a year ago for right around $600.
Short, light, accurate, reliable, comfortable to shoot, easy to customize. The stock trigger isn't great, but it works, and can easily be upgraded with Sierra Papa fire control parts. Mags are plentiful and fairly inexpensive, with Mec-Gar 20 rounders being my favorite, though Beretta has 30 round mags too. Also very quiet suppressed with 147gr. Gold Dots.
![]()
Short, light, accurate, reliable, comfortable to shoot, easy to customize. The stock trigger isn't great, but it works, and can easily be upgraded with Sierra Papa fire control parts. Mags are plentiful and fairly inexpensive, with Mec-Gar 20 rounders being my favorite, though Beretta has 30 round mags too. Also very quiet suppressed with 147gr. Gold Dots.
Joined
·
16 Posts
First, let me say that a 5.56 AR is a far more effective defensive tool than a 9mm carbine. With that out of the way, the only PCC I have any real interest in is the Cx4 Storm. They're pricey at MSRP, but I got my current one (third total) a year ago for right around $600.
Short, light, accurate, reliable, comfortable to shoot, easy to customize. The stock trigger isn't great, but it works, and can easily be upgraded with Sierra Papa fire control parts. Mags are plentiful and fairly inexpensive, with Mec-Gar 20 rounders being my favorite, though Beretta has 30 round mags too. Also very quiet suppressed with 147gr. Gold Dots.
Hey Nevermore,
good to hear from you. I'm glad that you are happy with your choice of the storm for a PCC. Lets face it, if we all liked the same weapons we would not have nearly the variety we enjoy these days! I actualy looked at the storms back when they first came out. At the time they were available in 9mm and .40S&W. In general I did not like the feel of the storm with it's short butt stock and scratchy trigger and I was not happy with the 9 or 40 as A carbine round. Both are lacking in terms of powder capacity and therefore velocity. In general I wanted something with more power and the ability to reach out farther. Since I had a glock 20 barreled for 9x25 it made since to me to match my PCC to that pistol. This way I ended up with a more versatile weapon that's good for short range and can reach out a little also.
As for the 5.56, let me say I would rather have the 9x25 at close range. The 5,56 is a great round and I have several but they are known for having pass throughs were the bullet does little more than create a 22 caliber hole through the target. This is something the military has experienced time and again and even with the re-design of bullets has not been able to overcome. The 9mm, taveling at speeds the 9x25 is capable of is going to expand in the same way the .357 magnum always has. Again, each to his own.
![]()
Joined
·
32,590 Posts
Are you not allowed to own a 5.56MM carbine?
Joined
·
11,487 Posts
I have a Beretta CX4 Storm in 9mm and love it. In fact, several of my friends have picked up one for themselves after trying mine.
With a Vortex Strikefire II red dot, and 30 round magazines, it's a formidable home-defense weapon that won't destroy my ears if I ever have to use it.
I'm a big fan of the PCC.
You can also go with the Kel_Tec Sub 2000. Make sure you get a Gen 2 version though, as it has many improvements over the original.
Finally, there is Thureon Defense. A little pricier, (in the $1,200 range) but an extremely solid option. For you 10mm fans, you can get it in a version that accepts 10mm Glock mags FYI.
With a Vortex Strikefire II red dot, and 30 round magazines, it's a formidable home-defense weapon that won't destroy my ears if I ever have to use it.
I'm a big fan of the PCC.
You can also go with the Kel_Tec Sub 2000. Make sure you get a Gen 2 version though, as it has many improvements over the original.
Finally, there is Thureon Defense. A little pricier, (in the $1,200 range) but an extremely solid option. For you 10mm fans, you can get it in a version that accepts 10mm Glock mags FYI.
Joined
·
1,205 Posts
1 - 20 of 25 Posts
