Pistol Caliber Carbine Builds - Parts sales and What parts did you use and why?

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LiveLife

LiveLife

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Since interest in Pistol Caliber Carbines (PCC) seems to be increasing, starting a new support thread to help members/guests with their builds and component selection.

I have Just Right carbine and several PCCs using mag blocks and dedicated lowers. JR carbine is used as my primary accuracy testing platform -

- Just Right Carbine uses 1:16 twist rate barrels, modular magwells to accept Glock/M&P/1911 magazines, mag release button on the left side of magwell (compared to right side for AR based lowers), and caliber change kits for 9mm/40S&W/45ACP - http://www.justrightcarbines.com/product/caliber-conversion-kit/

- Palmetto State Armory and many other brand uppers use 1:10 twist rate barrels.

- PSA sells 45ACP uppers with 1:16 twist rate barrels and lowers - http://palmettostatearmory.com/ks-47-ar-45-ar-9/ar-45.html

- Dedicated lowers often feed and chamber more reliably than AR lowers with mag blocks.

- Colt pattern dedicated lowers and AR lowers using mag blocks retain last round bolt hold open (LRBHO) feature.

- Just Right carbine, Palmetto State Armory, New Frontier Armory and other brand dedicated lowers do not retain LRBHO.

- New Frontier Armory and other vendors offer LRBHO upper - https://newfrontierarmory.com/shop/pc-billet-ar-9-45-slick-side-upper-lrbho/

- PSA, NFA and other dedicated lowers have mag release levers (not buttons) on the right side of receivers.

- New Frontier Armory and other vendors offer side charging uppers - https://newfrontierarmory.com/shop/side-charging-ar-9-stripped-billet-upper-with-lrbho/

- New Frontier Armory manufactures products sold under different brands and logos.

- Joe Bob Outfitters sells New Frontier Armory products with their own logo (Spartan) often at lower prices (free shipping on $90+ orders) - https://www.joeboboutfitters.com/Pistol_Caliber_AR_Parts_s/156429.htm

- With carbine recoil spring, 19-22 oz combined weight of buffer and bolt produces more comfortable felt recoil. 16-18 oz combined weight produces harsher felt recoil.

PSA bolt 14.7 oz + PSA buffer 5.3 oz = 20 oz combined weight and produces comfortable felt recoil with various 9mm loads. For longest "in battery" time for more consistent chamber pressures, use heaviest buffer that will reliably cycle the bolt. With 20 oz combined weight, my PCCs will cycle even lighter target loads (115 gr RMR FMJ with 4.6 gr W231/HP-38 or 4.1-4.2 gr Red Dot/Promo) - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...-what-am-i-in-for.824002/page-3#post-10606695

Here are some more for reference:

- H1 buffer weighs 3.8 oz
- H2 buffer weighs 4.6 oz
- H3 buffer weighs 5.4 oz
 
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I know Glock mags seem like o be the most popular but does anyone make a lower that uses M&P mags? A web search showed interest but nothing that looks available. So thought I'd ask to see if I'm missing something.
 
Just Right Carbine offered M&P magwells but I no longer see them on the website.

You could call them and see if they still offer the M&P magwells.
 
I'm not in a hurry as I'm finishing my 223 build. But I think it was them that I saw as the only possibility. So I'll check if I decide to do make a 9mm a possibility for the next build
 
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PSA Hybrid BCG, Colt pattern 16" upper ...http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-...ailed-upper-with-hybrid-bcg-ch-516446602.html in a PSA AR15 lower.... polished the feed ramps and "edge" of the chambers breach.

PSA mag block ( w/ BHO )... can't find a link

Tubbs .308 Flatwire spring...http://www.davidtubb.com/tubb-springs/bufferspring-sr-ar10, and a KAK configurable 9MM buffer ..https://www.kakindustry.com/ar15-config-9mm-buffer-system( the "longer" buffer eliminates the need for a spacer in a carbine tube when using a standard carbine buffer .)

The heavier spring rate and heavier buffer weight helps tame the "bark and blast" of a blowback carbine.

The OEM carbine spring and buffer were WAY to light... the cyclic action was like Linda Blair in the Exorcist in its factory configuration.

It is very important not to have a lot of bolt "over travel" in a PCC... to much will break the BHO latch.

PSA branded Metalform 32rds mags... bought 'em while they were $13 each.
 
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bds said:
- Palmetto State Armory and many other brand uppers use 1:10 twist rate barrels.
Click to expand...
I'd be interested in hearing the reason for such a fast twist in a pistol cartridge barrel. I can't imagine a scenario where that would be necessary.
 
I'd be interested in hearing the reason for such a fast twist in a pistol cartridge barrel. I can't imagine a scenario where that would be necessary.
Click to expand...

1:10 twist is common for 9mm pistols and carbines. My SIG MPX with an 8" barrel has a 1:10 twist. Glocks have an even faster twist of 1:9.84.
 
You're all building them wrong, I didn't see one Marlin, Rossi, or Winchester mentioned. Pistol caliber carbines are supposed to be lever actions!
 
Speedo66 said:
You're all building them wrong, I didn't see one Marlin, Rossi, or Winchester mentioned. Pistol caliber carbines are supposed to be lever actions!
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I actually like lever action carbines and would like to get one in .357 Magnum.

As to 9mm lever action, the pointed nose of FMJ will be an issue for primer detonation and there aren't many factory FP ammunition available.
 
if we are talking semi auto, I have in the past shot three different pistol carbines. all have been replaced by a 300 blackout upper. my thinking is as follows> already have the mags, already have the lower, already have the brass to resize, starting loads are or heavy bullet loads are quiet. no hoops to jump through. just saying. dc.
 
I have a model1sales 9mm AR "kit" I put together and did an integral suppressor on a form 1, it's 16.125 over all with the end cap off so it's just a one stamp gun and will put 10 rounds into less tha 2.5" at 100 yards with good ammo and conditions.

Not as powerful as my "magnum" lever action pistol caliber carbines, they get more benefit from the longer barrels too.

The one currently on my "to do" list is the 357 maximum barrel for one of my Contender carbines. I have the lug machined, the bolts, ejector, blank and scope mount, just need to turn the blank, weld the lug and finish the machine work for the ejector and drill and tap for the scope mount.
 
As to 9mm lever action, the pointed nose of FMJ will be an issue for primer detonation and there aren't many factory FP ammunition available.
Click to expand...

I think getting folks to buy them would be the bigger problem, could always just run JHP's.
 
I, like KUDU, would like to see some reviews of the PSA 45 ACP PCC upper. Usually there are a fair amount of reviews out at this point on a new item like the PA-45. I've not been able to find any. As for lowers, I've been watching Joe Bob Outfitters. They seem to have a good selection at decent prices.
 
I built a 9mm AR based SBR. Quarter Circle 10 Colt pattern dedicated lower, 7.5" barrel from QC10, heavier and longer Spikes buffer. If anyone has any questions on it, let me know. It's always nice to hear what works from others who have already built something similiar when you are building something. If I could do it over again, I'd probably build with a 4-5" barrel to just to make it easier to keep rounds subsonic (I shoot suppressed). Otherwise, I have no regrets.

I could see the argument for building a .300BLK, but for me, being already set up to load 9mm on my Dillon made the decision. I can crank out ammo pretty quick and brass is free, bullets are cheap, and it doesn't take much powder.
 
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