AR-9 vs Ruger PC-9

[Crosshair]

Accuracy also is going to be all over the place. The AR9's are often put together from parts, so who knows how many different configurations you would find.

This is a big thing. Pretty much all the AR-9s are not so much "guns" as they are "Parts flying in close formation". This is both an advantage and disadvantage. For many here, this is great because they can fine tune it to exactly what they want. The fact the guns might need a little tweaking is irrelevant to them.

For the gun owners who get confused about 9mm Luger, 9x19, and 9mm Parabellum, it's a HUGE disadvantage. For them, the gun needs to work out of the box like a kitchen blender. Taking apart to clean is fine, but if they need parts they want ONE phone number to call.

 

[Fatelvis]

Do you already have an ar15? Is so, use an endomag conversion to make your lower feed 9mm. Then you just need an upper.m

Do the conversion units make for as reliable carbine as a dedicated lower? I am debating both options for a future build myself.

 

[greyling22]

I am using the cmmg banshee upper on my endomag, and it has worked great. Actually better than the dedicated glock lower I had for a while. Cmmg liked it enough the license d and sell it on their website
That said, if you were to use a regular blowback upper, the ejector is a plastic tab built into the endomag, and that makes me a little nervous. And a lot of people screwed theirs up getting the ejector fit to their gun. Once fit it seems to hold up fine, but it is a weakness to the design.

 

[halfmoonclip]

Concur that AR pistols look really badass, but aren't terribly useful. A stock or brace makes the concept both useful and accurate. It does appear an energized BATF is going to mess with braces.
Since this thread began, really glad to not be in the market for anything right now. Tracked down a G19 in '16, and that got silly.
Personal take; Ruger makes good stuff; not crazy about the aperture sight on the barrel (***????).
AR9; works like an AR; personally prefer this platform.
But then there are Scorpions, assuming you can find one.
Moon

 

[Robbins290]

I ended up getting the PC9. They were 599.99 and local. All the PSA's i saw at the time were short barreled pistols. I wanted a full size rifle.

 

[ECVMatt]

I have a CMMG Resolute 300 with Endo mags that runs pretty good. It is the softest shooting rifle I own. I do get some light strikes on all types of ammo and thus don't feel comfortable using it for HD. The Endo mags work 100%, but seem a bit consumable. They do show wear on the follower pretty quickly. I also have a Ruger PC Carbine that has been 100% with everything. It is not a sevelt as the CMMG, but works. My family likes it because it runs just like a 10/22. I think the CMMG is cooler, but in the end the Ruger gets the nod.

 

[Fatelvis]

I have a CMMG Resolute 300 with Endo mags that runs pretty good. It is the softest shooting rifle I own. I do get some light strikes on all types of ammo and thus don't feel comfortable using it for HD. The Endo mags work 100%, but seem a bit consumable. They do show wear on the follower pretty quickly. I also have a Ruger PC Carbine that has been 100% with everything. It is not a sevelt as the CMMG, but works. My family likes it because it runs just like a 10/22. I think the CMMG is cooler, but in the end the Ruger gets the nod.

I’m weighing buying one those two platforms, and I value your opinion on both.

 

[Gordon]

I think the Ruger PCC 9mm is a tank of an operating system. I have yet to have any failure to function with any non squib ammo its fed. It also feeds well with any Glock mag from a G26 up to a G17 33 round mags; Glock OEM or otherwise. It even feeds ok with Korean 50 round drum mags . That big breech block just shoves the rounds in from an ideal magazine placement height ; very well designed. The quick detach barrel is very nice and with a suppressor screwed on is the right length and takes apart easily. The folding SIG brace I put on it is not under scrutiny currently like others are. It works super well with an Aimpoint Patrol mounted . I exchanged the front hand stop for a flashlight , an Olight 600 lumen rechargable. I have no more desires for a 9mm longer type arm. Here is before SIG folding (right side) brace and flashlight:

 

[Elkins45]

I’ve owned both, still have the Ruger. In my opinion the Ruger is in a whole other league compared to the AR. The Ruger was designed from the beginning to be a PCC while the AR has been kludged to work with a cartridge it wasn’t designed for.

 

[Gordon]

I’ve owned both, still have the Ruger. In my opinion the Ruger is in a whole other league compared to the AR. The Ruger was designed from the beginning to be a PCC while the AR has been kludged to work with a cartridge it wasn’t designed for.

I whole hardily agree ! Now if we were talking a real MP5 or a real Sterling Pachett it might be a different outcome. But as it is the Glock magazines sitting in proper alignment to a Tungsten dead blow bolt in a heavy duty hard aluminum receiver with a good trigger wins.

 

[Fatelvis]

I whole hardily agree ! Now if we were talking a real MP5 or a real Sterling Pachett it might be a different outcome. But as it is the Glock magazines sitting in proper alignment to a Tungsten dead blow bolt in a heavy duty hard aluminum receiver with a good trigger wins.

How is the Ruger’s trigger?

 

[Gordon]

How is the Ruger’s trigger?

Mines 4.5 # with 1/16" movement after a light take up. Ithink a drop in trigger modele like Ruger uses in there BX Trigger up grade is coming, but frankly for 9 mm PDW the one in it is GTG with a 2m0a Aimpoint at least. I have hit in K zone , mostly IPSC Shilos to 200 yards. Head shots are doable to half that or slightly less (you have to be sure of head shots being in a 4.5" circle or better.) , full size shilos at 50 to 75 yards are very doable by experience shooters . What more can a 9mm be expected to do ?

 

[kBob]

does MCarbo have a PCC 9 kit yet?

-kBob

 

[Alex Clayton]

How is the Ruger’s trigger?

Mine and the couple I have shot are very nice for a factory PCC. On par with my 10/22's. FAR better than the originals were long ago. If you can find one in a shop see if they will let you handle it and try. Not to mention the way they have sold since they hit there has got to be a drop in trigger coming if they have not already hit with one.

 

[Dustbowl]

Honestly skip the hassle and get a Ruger PCC. I was in the exact same situation and just went with the ruger. You won’t regret it. They are rock solid, takedown, easy to ambi the controls, multiple mag options, and have easy mounting options for optics. It even comes with 3 buttstock spacers so you can adjust length of pull. Mine eats everything I put in it and cleans pretty easy.

Plus if the next few months are rough in the political side of things it’s not in the “Assualt Rifle” category because it doesn’t have the scary pistol grip and *gasp* Telescoping Stock!

 

[cfullgraf]

I have an AR-15 9x19 carbine. It works fine.

I kind of do not care for guns made for larger cartridges with adapters to allow them to shoot smaller cartridges. Besides the 9x19 AR, I also have a 22 RF AR-15. (The latter is a 22 RF version of my Service Rifle Competition rifle--cheap practice back in the day.)

If I was serious about wanting a 9x19 carbine, I'd get one designed for the cartridge, not one adapted to the cartridge.

 

[mavracer]

Ya, if/when braces get taken away, pistol setups will have no appeal to me.

I'm not sure they'll push for more, I think they're afraid if this ends up in Scotus Heller's common use will have the SBR removed from NFA.

 

[robert4301]

I have both a PSA AR-9 16" and a Ruger PCC carbine, both using Glock mags. I shoot the Ruger more. It has a really good factory trigger, 100% cycling with a wide variety of ammo and less gas to my face than the AR-9. I have had one out of battery firing with the AR and occasional doubling (fixed with a heavier mil trigger).

 

[armedwalleye]

I think the Ruger PCC 9mm is a tank of an operating system. I have yet to have any failure to function with any non squib ammo its fed. It also feeds well with any Glock mag from a G26 up to a G17 33 round mags; Glock OEM or otherwise. It even feeds ok with Korean 50 round drum mags . That big breech block just shoves the rounds in from an ideal magazine placement height ; very well designed. The quick detach barrel is very nice and with a suppressor screwed on is the right length and takes apart easily. The folding SIG brace I put on it is not under scrutiny currently like others are. It works super well with an Aimpoint Patrol mounted . I exchanged the front hand stop for a flashlight , an Olight 600 lumen rechargable. I have no more desires for a 9mm longer type arm. Here is before SIG folding (right side) brace and flashlight:
View attachment 964943

I’m working on finding the exact pistol to build something similar. I assume you’re a lefty based on the charging handle configuration. Does your brace then fold to the right side of the pistol and will it cycle and eject properly in the folded position? Thank you

 

[Gordon]

I’m working on finding the exact pistol to build something similar. I assume you’re a lefty based on the charging handle configuration. Does your brace then fold to the right side of the pistol and will it cycle and eject properly in the folded position? Thank you

I am a righty ! I like to keep my hand on the firing grip unbroken when I charge a weapon and dont like reaching over the top AK style either ! The left charging handle as the FAL and HK's have is certainly very desireable to most who tried it ! Yes I "flipped" my SIG folding brace I mounted on it ; easy thanks to the swiveling butt end, er brace end , to swing right and it clears the ejection port so gun could be fired folded ! If I had swung it left it foul a left charging handle too closely for my taste.

 

[ECVMatt]

I installed an MCarbo trigger and extractor in mine. The trigger was an upgrade and did not lighten the pull, but made it more predictable.
The extractor appears to be more well made than the factory one it replaced. Overall the gun is a winner with or without the MCarbo parts.

 

[Alex Clayton]

Honestly skip the hassle and get a Ruger PCC. I was in the exact same situation and just went with the ruger. You won’t regret it. They are rock solid, takedown, easy to ambi the controls, multiple mag options, and have easy mounting options for optics. It even comes with 3 buttstock spacers so you can adjust length of pull. Mine eats everything I put in it and cleans pretty easy.

Plus if the next few months are rough in the political side of things it’s not in the “Assualt Rifle” category because it doesn’t have the scary pistol grip and *gasp* Telescoping Stock!

One warning on the cleaning these for anyone who gets one from Santa
I almost left mine dead in the water the first or second time I took it apart. The bolt assembly is made to it looks be adaptable later. It comes apart just by squeezing it the right way. I had the bolt in my hand, outside on the patio spraying it with cleaner. Suddenly it came apart due to how I was holding it and one small part went flying. I was lucky enough to find it, then had to open the exploded drawing to see how it all went back together. If I had lost that one part it would have been dead till I could get another which would really have been a bummer I was having so much fun with it. So just a warning to watch it when you have the bolt taken out.

 

[JJFitch]

My AR-9 is a purpose built Quarter Circle 10 to replicate my "AR"s. I use the AR-9 for games and home protection.
I want the ergonomics, controls and weight to match the AR's I've trained with professionally. Before you ask I have a RISE 3.5# trigger to match my former patrol rifle. Yes, it was about 50% more $$ that the Ruger but worth it to me. It has never missed a beat except for a broken mag catch after slamming it into a barricade.

At club 2 gun matches (USPSA style) it more than gets the job done but so do the Rugers.
But best of all my wife likes it and gets the giggles slammin' steel at 100 yards! 's

 

[stevebla]

I like my PCC 9 haven't changed a thing.

 

[mjsdwash]

built one just in time for the shortage, total cost was around $640, but a big discount was Midway birthday drop. Its a conversion block model. Fun to shoot the 100 yard steel plate at the range. For the exact configuration I have, it would be about $900, but Brownells/PSA/Midway all had discounts and I ordered some stuff just because it was cheap.
It took some figuring to get running, I would say the Ruger is a better buy, but I know mine will take some hard abuse being a 7075/T6 rifle with some extra parts, as opposed to a plastic wad with some metal where absolutely critical. But PCC's are about fun, so nothing wrong with that. Ammo on the other hand?

If you go with a common AR type, I ordered some Colt SMG Metalform mags from Greg Cote, and they were around $25. On the forums a common reason to "go Glock" is the mag cost. I can't fine Glock 18 mags for anywhere near $25, at least not all plastic, so I'm not sure where they're coming from. If doing an AR type, do not go slick side. Do not get a dedicated upper without a dust gate. You need the rod to put a case deflector in. Even if you never intend to shoot left handed, someone may someday, and those can cause serious injuries to left handed shooters. The cases eject about 50X harder than normal 5.56, and will occasionally hit you in the face, with the force of a paintball gun. That big ugly horn on the Colts is for that. CMMG also makes one, that I use.


Edit to add, my weight comes in at around 6.5LB. If you can wait for the market to come back to sanity, and sign up for Midways birthday special, savings are huge. If interested, I or most other forum users can give a parts list.