I want a pistol caliber carbine

[rjrivero]

There is a Marlin Camp carbine for sale on the Migunowners.org board. It's terribly underpriced from what I've seen. $420

I prefer my pistol caliber carbines to use the same magazines as my pistols, personally.

 

[bannockburn]

I had a Sterling MK. 6 semi-auto carbine that was a blast (forgive the pun), to shoot. I used original Sterling mags, some milsurp ones (probably Indian), as well as Sten mags (be sure to get yourself a good mag loader), with outstanding results. Down side: original Sterling carbines are long past from being imported (ended around 1990 I believe), but Wise-Lite Arms of Boyd, Texas (through CAI), offer a decent copy of one for around $500. I have seen them at the local gunshows and they seem to be very comparable to my original Sterling. Might be worth a look for having 34 rounds of 9mm. firepower at an affordable price.

 

[JBrady555]

After seeing all the pro pistol caliber ar posts I've been doing some research. I've been looking for a 9mm upper with a 10.5 or 11.5 inch barrel but I can't seem to find one. I can find the barrel alone but if I put the upper together piece by piece it seems to get pricey. I'll probably either go with a hi point or the beretta cx4 storm. I just have to figure out if I want to spend 350.00 on a low capacity carbine, or 800.00 on a carbine that can use beretta 92 hi capacity mags.

 

[allaroundhunter]

I would go for a camp 9 but I can't seem to find them anywhere but on gunsamerica.com. Are they out of production? I'd like to find one new to compare prices with some of the other carbines.

Yes, the Camp Carbines are out of production. Used is most likely all that you will find.

I've been looking for a 9mm upper with a 10.5 or 11.5 inch barrel but I can't seem to find one. I can find the barrel alone but if I put the upper together piece by piece it seems to get pricey.

Just a head's up, if you do go with an upper with that short of a barrel you either need to use a pistol lower, or get ready to jump through NFA hoops. Any rifle with a barrel that is less than 16" is considered an SBR (short barreled rifle) and is subject to NFA laws, including an additional $200 tax stamp.

 

[Inebriated]

Don't forget Kel-Tec. Accepts Glock, S&W, and Beretta magazines. No .45 ACP, you can get 9mm or .40.

 

[JBrady555]

Just a head's up, if you do go with an upper with that short of a barrel you either need to use a pistol lower, or get ready to jump through NFA hoops. Any rifle with a barrel that is less than 16" is considered an SBR (short barreled rifle) and is subject to NFA laws, including an additional $200 tax stamp.

I thought as long as your overall length was 26" it was ok.

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

no.

 

[gotzero]

I have a Sub-2000 and a Lone Wolf AR pistol lower with a 7.5" DI upper, both set up for .40 S&W. They share ammo and magazines with my pistol of choice.

The Sub-2000 was unbelievably cheap used, runs everything I throw at it, has okay sights and accuracy, actually rather stout recoil (for what it is), and folds to fit in a backpack. Dollar for dollar I think it was one of my best gun buys. It is light, small, and reliable, which is a difficult combination for most more powerful rifle calibers.

The Lone Wolf DI AR is super compact, has an EOTech on it, has all the nice ergonomic controls of an AR, and thanks to the DI mechanism, recoils like a dream. At least on paper, it has more energy than a 7.5" barrel shooting a 55 grain .223, it is much quieter, much easier to keep on target, etc. Due to it being a custom build, there are some toothing issues. Other than a M&P 15-22, there is not another platform I own that I can shoot as fast and accurately. Compared to similar-sized short barreled rifles, you much less noise and recoil impulse to deal with. Because the gas port is so big, I take down the BCG about every 100 rounds (at least now during break in) to get some jacket pieces out (still accurate out to 100 yards, the farthest I have tried), but since I know this, it is reliable too in that window. It is so controllable right now, that I am deciding if I even want to get a stamp and a stock for it.

Both of these offer features that rifle caliber platforms cannot match exactly, so I think there is plenty of reason to have them. It is icing on the cake that they share ammo and magazines with my pistols. If you want one, go out and get one. I have to say that the 16" barrel, non-folding versions would not make as much sense to me, but I am sure there is a place for them also...

 

[allaroundhunter]

I thought as long as your overall length was 26" it was ok.

Nope. Barrel length has to be greater than 16" for it to not be considered an SBR. Also, it has to have an OAL of at least 26" or it is considered an SBR.

 

[W.E.G.]

Marlin 1894 and S&W Highway Patrolman.

 

[JBrady555]

Nope. Barrel length has to be greater than 16" for it to not be considered an SBR. Also, it has to have an OAL of at least 26" or it is considered an SBR.

thanks for the clear up, so if I want to use the short barrels it has to be a pistol lower with no stock correct?

 

[allaroundhunter]

thanks for the clear up, so if I want to use the short barrels it has to be a pistol lower with no stock correct?

Yep, that's how I understand it to be.

 

[Furncliff]

I like pistol caliber carbines for several reasons. I have several and like to shoot them, .45's 9mm and a Marlin 1894c (.38/357). With the exception of the Marlin I have not found them to be particularly accurate. But I could be too fussy.

 

[wrs840]

Marlin 1894...

I have one in .44mag and will never sell it.

Rossi M92

I have one in .38/357 stainless 16" bbl. I like it. I don't love it.

Marlin Camp 9

These things have their good points, but boy do they run dirty with the blowback bolt. I'd sell mine... I think.

 

[R.W.Dale]

I own two. A rolling block in 357 magnum and I just recently completed an encore around a MGM 9mm barrel and collapsable stock for the kiddies to start hunting with this deer season.

Pistol Cal carbines still excel at low blast, recoil, noise and cost centerfire shooting.

 

[USAF_Vet]

I have occasional sellers remorse for selling my Hi Point carbine. It was cheap and fun to shoot, accurate enough, and inexpensive.

I saw that Taurus is now offering PCCs in 9mm and .40 S&W. They look sharp, but even the Taurus rep I talked to had yet to see/ shoot one. They are just too new. However, depending on the price, I might take a look. Comes standard with a 10 round mag, but should be interchangeable with higher capacity pistol mags. But even that couldn't be confirmed by the Taurus rep.

 

[OldTex]

I've got a Colt AR in 9mm. Tons of fun, cheap to shoot, and accurate enough to walk a tin can right out of sight. Most of the big AR outfits sell a 9mm model.

Marlin lever guns have gotten problematic since Remington/Freedom Group bought them out and moved the factory. Workmanship is pretty shoddy. I'd look for a used one - pre-2007. I've got two in .41 Mag and one in .357.

I just got an Uberti-made 1866 Yellow Boy carbine from Cimarron Arms in .38 Special. Excellent quality but very pricey.