Current .45 ACP carbines

[bernie]

I would like to get some form of a pistol caliber carbine for my wife to use if there is ever some sort of "civil unrest." Also, fun factor would be a nice plus. I would like to stay with .45 ACP because I already shoot this caliber. I would prefer it to be a current production gun, with readily available mags such as grease gun, 1911, or Thompson mags. I would like reasonable accuracy out to about 75-100 yards. What is available, and is it reliable?

 

[james_bond]

The Hk USC is the olny (modern) one I can think of right now

http://hkpro.com/usc.htm

 

[DiN_BLiX]

Ive seen carbine kits for glocks and 1911s somewhere before. cant remember where or what it cost.

 

[zinj]

The Beretta Cx4, though I don't know what mags it uses.

 

[gravis86]

The Beretta CX-4 Storm is a great little carbine. I had one in 9mm, but had to sell it due to financial issues. If I hadn't need the money, I wouldn't have sold it.

The 9mm version uses standard Beretta 92 mags. I don't know what mags the .45 version uses.

 

[jpwilly]

The Auto-Ordinance Tommy Gun comes to mind!

 

[taliv]

HK USC is a heckuva fun gun. but it doesn't qualify as current, and it's definitely not easy to find magazines for it

 

[MMcfpd]

There's the Thompsons of course, and while I've never fired one, I've handled a couple. They are heavy.

I've got an HK USC which is an available gun, but they are pricey. Beretta makes their CX4 Storm in .45 ACP, but magazines are limited to 8 rounds. Feather makes a RAV45ACP and there is a MechTech conversion to make a carbine out of a 1911 or a Glock. Hipoint has long promised their carbine in .45, but that's yet to appear. And Valkyrie makes an M3A1 Grease Gun replica as well as a DeLisle Carbine replica - I really don't think either is a viable HD gun investment. There's also a .45 carbine offering from Masterpiece Arms that looks like an ergonomic nightmare.

I'm on the verge of assembling my second .45 ACP AR-15. Upper receivers are Olympic Arms and lower options include: Bazooka Brothers BAZ45 (which I'll be using for #2) that takes 30 round grease gun mags, CNC/Khalan AR45 (also takes grease gun mags), Cavalry Arms MKII lower that takes grease gun mags with a Hahn magwell block and a standard AR lower with 16 round Uzi mags modified with a magwell block welded on (which is my #1's configuration). Obviously, I wouldn't be building a second one if I didn't like the first. But it will take some effort to assemble the pieces.

For an off the shelf solution, the Beretta is probably your best choice.

 

[Hoppy590]

talk of a high point .45 coming soon. i donno if its hi cap. butim gunna get one anyway to keep my 995 company

 

[MudPuppy]

I *think* the storm uses Cougar 8045 mags. A guy at work is on me to sell my 8045 because he already has the carbine. I'd agree that its at the top of the list in choices.

 

[Bones11b]

I have been looking in to this myself as of late. Am also using my wife as an excuse to add another gun to my collection Here's a couple of links I would suggest looking into.

First is CNC Guns who make 10% lowers.
http://www.cncguns.com/

Then this is the service for completion If you don't have the means to complete it yourself.
http://www.khalan.com/shop/default.htm

 

[foghornl]

I'm waiting for the Hi-Point .45 Carbine, too. Rumor has it sometime late this year...maybe December if "The Force" is with us, and all the planets are properly aligned . . .

Ruger has dropped production of their PC9 & PC40, and never made a PC45. I haven't seen a Marlin Camp Carbine on the used racks ANYWHERE in more years than I care to recall.

 

[dracphelan]

I suggest a MechTech carbine conversion. You can get it for a 1911 (regular or Para-Ord) or Glock. http://www.mechtechsys.com/

 

[jefnvk]

talk of a high point .45 coming soon. i donno if its hi cap. butim gunna get one anyway to keep my 995 company

It has been coming for years now.

The original plan I heard was to use 1911 mags.

 

[Kman]

The marlin .45 can be had for about $500 on gunbroker regularly. It's a good carbine, reasonably accurate, very reliable and uses the 1911 mags. I use the power 10 mags in mine and have never had a problem.

 

[collateral]

I would suggest the beretta. The .45 ACP model uses 8 round magazines. If you arent dead sure you want it in .45, i would suggest .40 just because of the higher capacity. Thats just my 2 cents though.

 

[gb0399]

I'm not sure what the h&k USC is, but they make a model called the UMP45 for SOCOM. They made it to replace the MP5 for use aboard ships. The .45 rounds bounce around less inside of a steel box. Anyway it is very simple and reliable. I just am not a fan of folding slocks.

 

[MMcfpd]

The bottom gun is an HK USC - a decidedly non-military .45 ACP semi-auto carbine, mostly plastic, that uses 10 round magazines. Some people do what is called a UMP conversion on them that allows them to use 30 round magazines.


For the curious, the top gun is also a .45 ACP carbine, a Fox Wasp that is rare for a reason - it makes an AK seem like a sniper piece.

As long as I'm hittin' Photobucket for this thread, here's #1 .45 AR-15:


And here's a modified Uzi mag that it uses (this one's only a 10 rounder):

 

[22/22mag]

Mech Tech upper with a Kimber Poly 1911 14+1 of 45acp great shooter.

 

[ogree]

Vector makes an Uzi in .45, uses a modified pistol grip utilizing grease gun mags.

http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/programming/expand.asp?Prodid=175

 

[gopguy]

Actually the "Fox" which was also made as the "Demro wasp" is rare because they were "open bolt" and the BATF banned them from production in the early 80s. That slamming bolt design makes fairly accurate shooting beyond 50 yards tough.

I sold mine about 6 years ago for that reason.

 

[MMcfpd]

Actually the "Fox" which was also made as the "Demro wasp" is rare because they were "open bolt" and the BATF banned them from production in the early 80s. That slamming bolt design makes fairly accurate shooting beyond 50 yards tough.

As I understand it, and info is hard to come by, Tri-C made the Fox Wasp from 1974-1977, when a fire put them out of production. Demro then picked up the design and modified it a little (I don't think the Demro examples had the combination lock safety) and produced a few. I don't know if they were still at it when open bolt designs were proscribed in 1982.

It's an oddity and I guess I keep it for that reason. Beyond about 15 yards, well, it's a good thing barns aren't carnivorous.

 

[BillinNH]

<It has been coming for years now.

The original plan I heard was to use 1911 mags.>

My guess is they are keeping it off the market for fear of cutting into 995 and 4095 sales, which are pretty good.

Last I heard about mags is that it would use the 9 round mags that fit the 45 pistol. No hi-caps currently planned. But I'm sure the aftermarket would supply them.

There also seems to be some hesitation on the stock design. ATI approached them on making a more modern stock for them but HP didn't like the deal and decided to do their own. The prototype that has been shown has a stock that is reminiscent of the ATI design but a little bit cobbly looking.

Bill

 

[Hoppy590]

i hope they dont go with thier own .45 magazine. finding 9mm high point bags is tough enough.

id like to see keltec make thier sub2000 in .45 with choices such as 1911 mag, or para ordnance p14 mag

 

[SuperNaut]

I recommend a CX4 .45 but with a big caveat, there are no high-cap mags. Beretta has been promising but not delivering for quite some time now. There is a guy (gunfixr on Beretta Forums) that is extending the stock mags to 16 & 20 rnds, but they are purely special order one-offs and he needs your stock mags to extend them. Also Taylorfreelance makes baseplates that add a few rounds.

Great carbine with one serious flaw IMHO, hopefully temporary.