I have been thinking over the idea of a pistol caliber carbine. I already have a Winchester 1892 in 357 magnum on order to go with my revolvers, but I was also considering something as a companion to the Glock 9mm. I general don't get too into the "tactical" type firearms, but a cursory internet search brought the Just Right Carbine and the Olympic arms offering to my attention. They both use Glock magazines, but other than that, I don't know much about them. Does anyone have any current first-hand info on them? Or are there any other carbines I should be looking at?
Pistol caliber carbines
- Thread starter freyasman
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chris in va
Member
Beretta CX4. Simple to use, completely ambidextrous, easy to fully break down for cleaning. I like how handy and compact it is.
The 92fs version has the most versatile magazine selection. Mine came with two 15rd mags but I like the MecGar 18 rounders.
I looked into the JRC, but earlier versions had spotty quality issues. I don't know how the newer ones stack up.
The 92fs version has the most versatile magazine selection. Mine came with two 15rd mags but I like the MecGar 18 rounders.
I looked into the JRC, but earlier versions had spotty quality issues. I don't know how the newer ones stack up.
Devonai
Member
Here is a new M1 Carbine-style rifle that takes Beretta mags, if you want a more classic look:
http://www.legacysports.com/m-1-9mm-carbine
http://www.legacysports.com/m-1-9mm-carbine
benEzra
Moderator Emeritus
Kel-Tec also makes one that takes Glock magazines and folds in half for storage.
Oooo, I'm likin' that 9mm M1 carbine!
FWIW - I have three HiPoint carbines, two 9mm and one .40, and they're deadly accurate and lots o' fun. Not real pretty, but affordable, accurate and reliable. Also three M1 carbines, two USGI and one Plainfield, all accurate, reliable and fun. And a Winchester Trapper carbine in .44 magnum. Small rifles in small cartridges rock!
FWIW - I have three HiPoint carbines, two 9mm and one .40, and they're deadly accurate and lots o' fun. Not real pretty, but affordable, accurate and reliable. Also three M1 carbines, two USGI and one Plainfield, all accurate, reliable and fun. And a Winchester Trapper carbine in .44 magnum. Small rifles in small cartridges rock!
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wally
Member
Me too, except my past experience with Chiappa customer support and their 1911-22 suggests stay away!
Edit: I just saw the link and it says "Citadel", correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe its still made by Chiappa which is what I saw at the NRA Convention a couple of years ago. IF its made and backed by someone else, I may regain interest in it.
I'm working on this, a pistol that passes for a carbine using a QuaterCircle 10 lower that takes Glock mags and the new SIG SB-15 Gen II arm brace:
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JP Enterprises 9mm Carbine
Gun Review: JP Enterprises GMR-12 9mm Carbine
http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2013/12/foghorn/gun-review-jp-enterprises-gmr-12-9mm-carbine/
Except now I think it is called the GMR-13
Gun Review: JP Enterprises GMR-12 9mm Carbine
http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2013/12/foghorn/gun-review-jp-enterprises-gmr-12-9mm-carbine/
Except now I think it is called the GMR-13
The Citadel (made by Chiappa) has gotten some bad reviews. I really want a 9mm carbine but I took a pass on the Chiappa.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zv8KgSUPso
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zv8KgSUPso
"The GMR-12 is a dandy rifle all by itself, but when you consider the price and the options it gets even better. You’d expect something by JP Enterprises to be astronomically expensive, but this gun clocks in at a modest $1,499. "
I was interested until right there. You would have to shoot a LOT of 9mm through that thing before you could even think of breaking even vs shooting 5.56 in your AR.
If you ballpark about 10 cents average price difference between 5.56/.223 and 9mm, to cover the $1,500 cost of that carbine (vs using an AR you already have), you'd have to fire 15,000 rounds.
A money saving venture, this is not.
Even if you bought it instead of an AR in 5.56...since you can get a pretty good AR for about...let's round high and say $950...you'd still have to fire 5,500 rounds before you broke even vs buying a 5.56 AR and just shooting 5.56
And all of that is ignoring that steel case .223 is THE SAME PRICE AS 9MM and a viable option for target shooting and the like.
MCgunner
Member
I've got the .22 caliber version of this rifle and like it a lot. It's got MORE polymer on it. This guy seems to think polymer is a bad thing, not necessarily. I can confirm the trigger is quite stiff, but very crisp. Should be lighter, though. But, I'd rather have a stiff trigger than a creepy one.
I've put 500 rounds or so through the .22, eat's 'em up. It's picky with what it's most accurate with, though. The sight on the .22 is plastic and the M1 original sight can be fitted to it which I might do in the future. I really don't concern myself with stuff like a non-functional bayonet lug.
I'd get the Chiappa 9mm if I wanted an auto pistol carbine just because I like M1 Carbines, the looks. I don't own the original for the same reason I don't want a 9mm, worthless round for anything I do, too big for squirrels, too little for deer/hogs. Same for the 9mm, but the .22 plinks without need to police brass for reloading and is handy in the field for small game.Oh, he was having trouble with the sight. If he were to remove the aperture, he'd find a set screw under there. When you remove the sight, though, you need to be careful to capture the little spring and detent ball under it. I'd apply some loctite to that set screw before tightening, be sure it didn't back out again.
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J_McLeod
Member
The Kel Tec Sub2000 can use Glock magazines. I bought one yesterday and took it to the range. Typical Kel Tec build, but it functioned flawlessly and was fun to shoot. My biggest complaint is that the sights are too low.
bikerdoc
Moderator In Memoriam
My favorite is the Ruger PC 9 carbine. It takes any of the ruger P series mags. They stopped making them but used are avalable. I paid 450 for mine 4 years ago. I love the accuracy and performance has bee flawless
I had a Hi-Point that was great but the PC9 is 10 times better.
I had a Hi-Point that was great but the PC9 is 10 times better.
wally
Member
Of course depends on how much you shoot, but I average ~1500 rounds of 9mm a month at steel plates, so if this carbine was all I shot it'd pay for itself in less than a year. My plated bullet reloads run about $0.10 each, cheapest 5.56 is about $0.30 these days, although reloading might be a bit more these day -- my components were purchased in depth before the Sandy Hook panic.
While I shoot pistols a lot more than rifles, the 9mm SBR and "braced" pistols get a real workout when we shoot with friends because of the fun factor and low report.
You can put the SB-15 braced 9mm AR pistol like I showed in the photo for about $1000 if you shop carefully. The major costs are: $275 QC10 stripped lower, $140 bolt/carrier (+$45 if you can't mill it yourself to fit between Glock mag lips), $170 for barrel, and $200 for Gen II brace and extended buffer tube. If you build it as a real 16" carbine a basic MagPul stock and MilSpec buffer tube will be about half the cost of the Gen II brace and extended buffer tube. Wait for "deals" on stripped upper & parts, lpk, and handguards and you get exactly what you want for a pretty good price and some simple assembly.
The Glock mag Kel-Tecs are OK if you can live with the sights or the difficulty of adding an optic without losing the folding feature, but they are hard to find and the last Glock mag 9mm I've seen were running ~$500
moxie
Member
"modest $1499"
Almost spit up my pablum over that one!
Almost spit up my pablum over that one!
I'm a huge fan of pistol caliber carbines. I have a Marlin 1884 in .357, a Henry Big Boy in .357, and a pair of Marlin Camp Carbines, one in .45, and one in 9mm. I absolutely love shooting them all. My favorite s are the 1884 and the .45 Camp Carbine.
I'm selling the Henry if anyone is interested.
I'm selling the Henry if anyone is interested.
crazysccrmd
Member
I've never had any issues with the Keltec Sub 2000. Light, accurate, compact and reliable.
Stormin.40
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I am an owner of a Beretta CX4 and love it as a companion to my PX4, however, the OP is looking for a companion to his 9mm Glock. If I were in his shoe's it would be the Kel Tec Sub 2000 without hesitation.
PCCs are just a lot of fun to shoot.
PCCs are just a lot of fun to shoot.
chris in va
Member
Considering he already has a Glock, it would be the natural choice to get a MechTech upper.
Phaedrus/69
Member
I don't know much about the carbines that take Glock mags. From what I've read the JR Carbines have some virtues but also some quirks. I like the form factor and they're pretty reasonably priced. FWIW I happen to love PPCs (Pistol Caliber Carbines). A lot has been written here about them over the years, and I've added my comments several times. To recap them briefly I'll acknowledge that a PPC is inferior to a true rifle when it comes to terminal ballistics but has several redeeming virtues to counterbalance some of the shortcomings. PPCs- especially in 9mm- are cheaper to shoot than a 5.56, much quieter and can be used on virtually any range that allows handguns. In contrast my local range doesn't allow rifles or rifle-caliber pistols. Some people say that if you're going to live with rifle size and weight you might as well have rifle power. Fair enough, but if you have to live with the limitations of having nowhere to shoot a real rifle then the PPC is a great option.
IMO the PPC should be compared to a handgun, not a rifle. In that comparison the PPC shines on a lot of levels. It's easier to shoot them well, and very rapidly. The combination of more mass and more points of body contact allows the shooter to control recoil more effectively on the PPC.
If something goes bump in the night I'm not going to reach for one of my pistols- I'm grabbing my Beretta CX4 Storm carbine. It's loaded up with a 30 round mag full of 147gr Federal HST and it's equipped with a 650 lumen light and a RDS. I'm pretty confident in my ability to put rounds on target accurately and rapidly with my Storm. And while it's not as potent as a .300 Blackout or 5.56 NATO I think 30 rounds of 9mm will get the job done.
Lastly PPCs are a blast to shoot! That counts for a lot of shooting is a hobby and not just a means to defend yourself.
IMO the PPC should be compared to a handgun, not a rifle. In that comparison the PPC shines on a lot of levels. It's easier to shoot them well, and very rapidly. The combination of more mass and more points of body contact allows the shooter to control recoil more effectively on the PPC.
If something goes bump in the night I'm not going to reach for one of my pistols- I'm grabbing my Beretta CX4 Storm carbine. It's loaded up with a 30 round mag full of 147gr Federal HST and it's equipped with a 650 lumen light and a RDS. I'm pretty confident in my ability to put rounds on target accurately and rapidly with my Storm. And while it's not as potent as a .300 Blackout or 5.56 NATO I think 30 rounds of 9mm will get the job done.
Lastly PPCs are a blast to shoot! That counts for a lot of shooting is a hobby and not just a means to defend yourself.
chris in va
Member
I'm pretty sure he meant PCC. Pretty easy to get terms mixed up.
It is easy to do...but he used the term PPC eights times in one post without using PCC once, which is weird.
silicosys4
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one time I drove my LTD from the LGS to the PPC to check my PCC for FTE's, but it was GTG.
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