9mm AR build questons

[daehawc]

I am looking to build up a 9mm AR15 carbine for use with a slide fire stock. The slide fire is what is pushing me to stay with the AR platform.

Currently, the easiest option I am seeing is purchasing the Lone Wolf Glock AR lower and their upper. Complete rifle for about $1k that uses reliable Glock 33rd magazines. I also own a KelTec Sub2000 so the Glock mags are already owned and can be used interchangably.

My question is: Is there a better way to go? Trying to research building a 9mm AR has me completely confused with the multiple options and compatibility between makes. Also, I am concerned about having to modify mags, availability, and reliability of them. I want a reliable 9mm carbine to use in competitions and for my wife to shoot defensively. I intend to SBR and possibly suppress it down the road.

I have a stripped lower available for the build. What parts would I need to buy and what would a rough total cost (-the lower) be looking at? If it is significantly cheaper I would build a carbine using other mags than glock as long as its reliable.

Any advice from those who have experience would be helpful. I am deployed and have limited internet access so I appologize if I missed a previous thread on this.

 

[esheato]

I bought one of these:



...and turned it into this:

Not Glock mags, but boringly reliable. I've got a bit more than 1k in it.

 

[Captain33036]

I just put together a 9mm AR build. I had some significant issues with failure at first, but found that this was due to the cheap magwell block I tried first. I think it was a Pro Mag (plastic one).

At any rate, I replaced that block with a Hahn dedicated 9mm magwell block and the gun is 100%. Butter smooth. I could not be happier. And a lesson learned.

My build now is a Bushmaster lower, CMMG 9mm upper. Hahn dedicated magwell block and a 9mm buffer. I use good quality Metalform colt style magazines.

That is all you need. And this gun is running 100%, reliable and accurate.

In talking with CMMG regarding the issues I was having (they were incredibly helpful), they commented that a dedicated lower is usually the most reliable way to go. I did not want a dedicated lower because I wanted a truly versatile AR platform that had a standard 5.56 (or multi-caliber) lower that I could use with any compatible upper. They also mentioned that good quality mags are a very good idea, if you want a reliable system.

SO...to your question. If having a lower that you can use with another upper is not a concern, then I would say go with a dedicated lower and upper that use Glock mags. The main issue with 9mm builds are the magwell block and the quality of the magazines. You avoid these issues using a dedicated system and Glock mags. This could result in the reliable weapon you want.

As for cost....really all about the same. You can hardly get away with a 9mm AR build for less than $1000-1100 or so. I tried...really tried.

I thought about doing this ultra cheap using a Plum Crazy lower, CMMG upper and Pro Mag Plastic magwell block. THAT would have been terrible. It would have been about $750 or so....but would have been unreliable and not the gun I would have wanted.

My build came to just under $1100. Did not intend to spend that much...but glad I did.

Hope this helps

best

John

ps - wish I had a pic to post, I put a Pro Mag sculpted finger groove grip on, and a Magpull MOE handguard....fantastic