9mm "uppers".

[Ugly Sauce]

Does anyone make an upper receiver in 9mm, that has the carry handle and kind of mimics the M4? Also, I assume there is a magazine insert to take 9mm mags? What type of mags are usually used with the 9mm uppers? Asking for a friend. Thanks. I did some searching, but could find only flat-top, rail type uppers, mostly not complete.

 

[Jim Watson]

Without combing the catalogs, I can only say maybe, but surely you could put the attachable handle on a rail.

The large majority of 9mm ARoids are set up for Glock magazines. There are some made for the original Colt submachine gun magazine. I don't know the relative advantages... if you don't already have a Glock.

 

[12Bravo20]

I have not seen much of anything as far as complete 9mm uppers with a carry handle. Most that want that will use either an A1, A2 or 604 type upper receiver and build their own. That is what I did. I used a 604 type upper from Fulton Armory for my Colt SMG clone.

The two most prevalent magazines styles are Glock and Colt SMG magazines. You can get a standard lower and use a mag block adaptor or get a dedicated lower for your choice of magazine. You will also need to use a heavier buffer that weighs at least 5.5 ounces with 7.5 to 8.5 ounces being preferred.

Most 9mm AR bolts are made to be compatible with both Colt and Glock magazines now days, That was not the case in the past. No if having a working bolt hold open so that the bolt locks back when the mag is empty , the Colt pattern is the way to go.

For giggles here is a photo of my Colt SMG clone build. I used a brace for now so I didn't have to mess with registering it as a SBR.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Thanks guys. Already have a 5.56 lower. Nice job on the "clone build"!!

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Dedicated 9mm uppers generally have a shorter, fatter ejection port with no dust cover or forward bolt assist, but standard .223 uppers usually work just fine for a 9mm build.

The biggest decision is whether to use a dedicated lower or standard lower with magwell adapter. Ive built both and prefer the dedicated Glock-mag lower for cost and simplicity reasons.

 

[12Bravo20]

You won't go wrong with the Glock style or Colt style magazines or dedicated lowers, they both work.

One thing about the Glock style, is not that many uppers/lowers have a fully functions bolt hold open that locks when empty if that matters to you.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Thanks guys. Already have a 5.56 lower. Nice job on the "clone build"!!

Oh, well then, if you want to go the magwell adapter route, I can highly recommend the unit from Stern Defense. Its not the cheapest, but is VERY well made-

This particular one accepts Beretta M92 mags, but they also make Colt, Glock, and S&W pattern adapters as well.

 

[12Bravo20]

And don't forget to use a heavier buffer with a 9mm upper. I suggest the extended 9mm buffers.

 

[shoobe01]

Yes.

Big thing to notice is the most typical "AR9" is NOT AN AR15. Sure sure, general concept, many parts, but the receiver is much shorter, as the magwell is only as long as the magwell (normally Glock but a few others).

The Colt 6450 was the 16", semi auto version of the Colt 635 SMG. Plenty of people have made clones of that; I even had one, then wrenched it apart to put a Colt 991 (the flat top 635) receiver on it instead.

Anyway, here's one. SMG length barrel would make it an SBR (or pistol I guess) but the 10.5"
https://www.tntesales.com/10-5-9mm-a1-upper/

This is the proper carry handle upper, as the 9mm bolts have no forward-assist notches, etc. No such thing as an A2 SMG as far as I know.


Or, get a wrench, get a gunsmith, or call up someone who makes 9 mm guns, ask them to put one together for you. The Colt style upper is 100% an AR-15, just with a different barrel and you don't install the gas tube so your choice how much like an M4 you make it (get an A2 upper if you want). Optionally, get the gas deflector and shorter dustcover, but not absolutely required to make it run.

 

[mjsdwash]

in general, you'll probably not find that new. Used will be stupid expensive.
Carry handle uppers are not big money makers, so in panic's like today, you won't find that, and in buyers markets you won't find it. I have found them in between. Finding them in 9mm makes it more complicated, but what your describing is very similar to my setup, and i'll give you a major parts list. It was a home build, but they are very easy. Even if you don't want to do a kit, putting a barrel in an upper and attaching that to a complete lower (if you go 16" thats easy) is worth the price of parts compared to what you save trying to find what you want.

Mine is a homebuild, but the major parts/price/supplier are:
Brownells C7 upper, finish blem sale (similar to A1) ($150) Brownells
Frankford arsenal A1 sight kit ($20) Brownells
KAK 9mm Bolt ($90) Midway
AR Stoner (midway house brand) Magwell block ($80) midway
Anderson lower ($33) Local, FFL
RRA 16" midlength 9mm barrel. ($180) 9mmAR.com
CMMG case deflector and short door ($22) 9mmAR.com
generic lower parts kit ($50) midway
PSA M4 stock kit ($40) PSA
A2 style handguards/retainer kit ($5 local, about $40 retail)local, but widely available
ASC and Metalform mags ($12 for ASC, $20 for metalform) midway, greg cote
A1 forward assist ($15) midway
5.5oz tungsten buffer ($20) joebob
9mm buffer spacer ($8) joebob
9mm/.308 spring ($4) Joebob
It came in around $650 total but some of those parts I already had. I included their price because not everyone will have them.

Mine as Colt pattern, and while Glock pattern seem to be taking over, I think the colt pattern looks better. Quality mags -metalform VS Glock factory, Colt pattern mags are far cheaper, when doing the research I found far, far more people asking why their Glock pattern's don't run right. My Colt pattern outlined above has ran about 3K in the last year. It had some issues at first, but has had no problems in the last 2K. It was an OAL issue.... the stoner magblock want OAL below 1.140, and runs fine. Accuracy is decent.

Get an upper with a case deflector, AND a gas deflector. 9mm AR's can knock out teeth left handed The slickside uppers are only for right handed, no exceptions ever.

 

[greyling22]

I have mentioned this before, but I did a glock mag ar9, then got a cz scorpion. Then I built a 9mm ar based off the cmmg banshee radial delayed blowback barrel and bolt and use the mean arms endomag insert that goes inside a pmag. It lets you run your 9mm upper on any regular (or sbr) ar15 lower with an upper and magazine swap. No heavy buffer, no awkward bolt hold open, easily convert from 6.5 grendel to 9mm. It also shoots softer and has less blowback when suppressed than the cz or the ar9. The mags are way easier to load than glock mags too.
And visually it looks better with a pmag than the colt smg mag, and way better than the angled glock mag.

I sold the cz and the ar9. The cz was ergonomically flawed, but even after I fixed all the flaws with aftermarket parts, I still perfered the banshee to it. And I liked the cz over the ar9.

 

[mjsdwash]

.223 uppers will work fine with 9mm. That odd short door/gas deflector is a clip on, and you don't need the special 9mm uppers. The only difference is a 9mm upper will not be drilled for a gas tube.
For magazines, I have no problems with ASC 20, and 30 round, or Metalform 30 round.
Modified Uzi mags are an option too.

If you go the Glock pattern rout, the glock 17/18 mags will be the way to go. The Korean made steel mags seem good to me. I would not use the all plastic type given the round count a 9mm AR is likely to encounter, especially if you reload.

 

[mjsdwash]

Yes.

The Colt 6450 was the 16", semi auto version of the Colt 635 SMG. Plenty of people have made clones of that; I even had one, then wrenched it apart to put a Colt 991 (the flat top 635) receiver on it instead.

Anyway, here's one. SMG length barrel would make it an SBR (or pistol I guess) but the 10.5"
https://www.tntesales.com/10-5-9mm-a1-upper/
View attachment 1015140
This is the proper carry handle upper, as the 9mm bolts have no forward-assist notches, etc. No such thing as an A2 SMG as far as I know.

I did my home build in the 6450 pattern, except with a C7 upper (forward assist/case deflector) because I shoot left handed and wanted the case deflector. I did a midlength barrel though. Its proven to be one of the most fun rifles I've ever had.

 

[12Bravo20]

in general, you'll probably not find that new. Used will be stupid expensive.
Carry handle uppers are not big money makers, so in panic's like today, you won't find that, and in buyers markets you won't find it. I have found them in between. Finding them in 9mm makes it more complicated,

Even when I built my 635 clone build in 2017, true Colt SMG or A1 slick side uppers were hard to find and expensive. I Initially uses a DPMS A2 upper that I had sitting in the safe until I found the 601/604 type upper at Fulton Armory.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

.223 uppers will work fine with 9mm. That odd short door/gas deflector is a clip on, and you don't need the special 9mm uppers. The only difference is a 9mm upper will not be drilled for a gas tube.
For magazines, I have no problems with ASC 20, and 30 round, or Metalform 30 round.
Modified Uzi mags are an option too.

If you go the Glock pattern rout, the glock 17/18 mags will be the way to go. The Korean made steel mags seem good to me. I would not use the all plastic type given the round count a 9mm AR is likely to encounter, especially if you reload.

I've been known to crank out 1,000 9mm's at a time. Scrounged brass, unique powder, and home cast bullets make for some inexpensive ammo. !

 

[mjsdwash]

I've been known to crank out 1,000 9mm's at a time. Scrounged brass, unique powder, and home cast bullets make for some inexpensive ammo. !

in that case, take note of what I said about OAL. Using a 9mm 1911, I was in the habit of loading 1.160, but kept running into a jam where the bullet telescopes into the case, jammed nose up against the barrel/receiver with the 1911 load. Couldn't find any explanation. Figure its an issue with the straight mags feeding a tapered case, and long OAL giving nowhere for the slack to go. So I tried 1.130-1.140, and haven't had a malfunction since. I have had my 9mm dies for 12 years, used them more in the the last year than the 11 previous combined, and that 1911, and AR are why. Starting to burn up the 120lbs of free lead I got years ago with the Lee 356/125rn

 

[Ugly Sauce]

I hear ya. Have a Luger that is very sensitive to OAL, and everything else. Time of day, phase of the moon, you name it.