9mm AR...is this a good deal?

[wankerjake]

Hey guys, I've been wanting an AR and I think I want one in 9mm. Recently people have told me this is ridiculous and the AR platform is wasted on a 9mm, but I have to disagree. The Pro's over .223, as I see it:

1. I'm already set up to reload 9mm
3. Straight walled pistol cases are WAY easier to reload and it will be cheaper to shoot/reload for.
3. This is not really for hunting or for home defense. I may plug some coyotes at close range with it, but mostly it's to shoot for fun. It will be kept in the safe, I have a handgun and a shotgun for primary home defense.
4. As far as man-stopping power goes (which is a very debatable can of worms), it is my belief that with the slightly improved ballistics of 9mm out of a longer rifle barrel is adequate for property defense or close range combat (inside 100 yards) should zombie day happen or whatever. Not friggin likely in my opinion.
5. If I don't like it, I can sell it or buy/trade for an upper in .223.

Others have told me though that the 9mm cartridge in the AR platform is a "waste of a platform." This is the best argument I've heard, which to me is bunk. If you look at what I'm using it for, I think 9mm makes sense for me. Also my understanding of the goal of the platform is a semi-auto compact rifle with good maneuverability, in which case the 9mm cartridge would sacrifice very little to the .223 caliber, except at longer ranges. I am, however, pretty inexperienced when it comes to the platform.

So really this is two questions; 1. Is my reasoning for 9mm semi-sound? 2. Is this a good deal? I think it's at least decent form what I've seen. I appreciate any imput.

The deal:
Bushmaster lower with Olympic Arms upper 11 ½" Shilen SS barrel with permanent flash hider. No special buffer tube, pull the upper and the block and the lower is ready for a 223 upper. Lower has drop in Hahn block for easy mag change. Includes Hakko Tacpoint red dot sight, BUI sight, 4 unmodified Sten mags and 1 modified Sten mag $750

 

[Walkalong]

9MM AR's are easy and cheap to load for and a whole lot of fun. That seems an OK deal to me. Fair on the upper end I would say. My new RRA was 850ish. That price is of course up from when I bought mine. (Pre-Socialism)

You will lose some velocity with the 11.5" barrel vs a 16", but it will still beat pistol velocities by a good bit. With this set up, you can get an upper later and have both calibers.

I won't debate the platform issue. They are fun, cheap and easy to load for, recoil is light, the kids/grandkids love to shoot them, recoil sensitive/nervous new shooters really like shooting them, etc, etc........

Go for it.

 

[MolleMan]

Is a .22 cal out of the question?

 

[wideym]

The AR in a 9mm platform is great. You get the familarity of the AR with a pistol caliber costs and the ability to change uppers to different calibers easily.

I have 12 ARs and some of my favorites are the pistol caliber models, two in 9mm and one in 40cal. They are low recoil when compared to .223, 7.62x39, or 5.45 and are just a heck of a lot of fun to shoot.

One question though, it the Hahn mag block set up for unmodified sten mags or do you have to modify them the one on the right? I though that the Hahn mag blocks were only made for unmodifed Uzi mags.

 

[wankerjake]

Is a .22 cal out of the question?

Well it was, but given what I'll likely use it for maybe it shouldn't be...

One question though, it the Hahn mag block set up for unmodified sten mags or do you have to modify them the one on the right? I though that the Hahn mag blocks were only made for unmodifed Uzi mags.

I couldn't tell ya, this is out of my realm!

 

[Dr.Rob]

I think if it were me I'd go with a new rifle that uses un Frankensteined magazines and a full 16 inch barrel. (The modified mag is useless with the block installed correct?) I'd wager you could buy or build a new rifle in that same price range without the optic.

The long flashhider has open slots on the bottom, they kick up a lot more dust than an A2 style (have one on my Colt 6920) and since it's 'permanantly' installed you might want to consider that, it's only an issue when shooting prone or across a car hood.

On the plus side Sten mags are cheap and it's a good looking rig. If it's reliable, the price is reasonable.

Any chance you can shoot it before you buy it?

 

[briansmithwins]

My thoughts:

1) That's a really, really, good price. Maybe too good, if you know what I mean.
2) STEN gun mags were a crap copy of a crap design 60 years ago when they were new. Yes they are still available and and cheap. They are still crap.
3) Pistol rounds are weak. Another 6" or so ain't making them rifle effectiveness.
4) I shoot with a lot of guys that have 9mm ARs (local range rules). A lot of them just don't work all that good.
5) If I could only have 1 long gun it's going to be chambered in a rifle cartridge.

Since I already have a rifle and wanted a 9mm carbine, I went with something that was designed for 9mm. BSW

 

[EAJ]

Bushmaster Carbon 15 9mm Carbine

 

[wally]

I won't debate your logic, but I will testify that my RRA 9mm AR is a boatload of fun and inexpensive shooting with easy to do reloads

Sten mags are such a PITA to load, IMHO it will take a lot of the fun out of it, so personally I'd go with one that uses the Uzi derived mags, unless you have the "spoon" Sten loading tool.

I also have the Olympic complete gun version of your upper in .40S&W that takes modified Glock mags so I think you'd be happy with it if the Sten magazine loading doesn't ruin your fun. Seems an OK but not great price, but I paid $700 for mine used.

Check if JG Sales still has any, I seem to recall them in their last flier in both 9mm & .40S&W.

Do some research, its possible it could use the Uzi derived mags (C-Products makes them so they hold the bolt open on the last shot) with a different mag adapter.

 

[strambo]

No need to justify a 9mm AR, esp. for fun, not HD. There may be better options than that one though, I don't know much about them.

I think they really come into their own when SBR'd. A 7.5" barreled 9mm AR with a micro-red dot would make a heck of a home defense firearm as well provided it was reliable.

Someday I'd like to get a 9mm upper or play with a 9mm barrel in my MRP...not a high priority though. I'll get a .22 set up 1st.

 

[Jonny V]

I have a Marlin Camp 9 carbine and love it. The 9mm is great fun in a carbine length, and I bet that the AR platform would be perfect for a fun gun like this. There is no hole in your logic, go for it dude!

BTW, I'm really liking the photo put up by EAJ of the Bushmaster. Might look into one of those......

 

[wankerjake]

Thanks guys for the imput. I'm gonna hold off on the deal, I think an AR will have to wait until I'm making money a year from now after graduation and I pass the boards. I appreciate your advice and I think an AR or two is in my future, just not now.

 

[Hawaiian]

The 9MM AR is alot of fun to shoot and affordable to shoot. There have been problems with getting some of the pieced together guns to run right. I am not one for tweaking to make a gun run. That is why I bought a dedicated 9mm from RRA. I am very happy with my choice.

 

[ironhead7544]

I had an Oly 9mm conversion for my Colt AR. Worked flawlessly. The mags were different. Came with a block and the mags just need a bolt added at the rear. You can probably get the block from Oly and mod the mags yourself.