Looking for opinions / observations re pistol caliber carbines !

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Varminterror said:
I’m a huge fan of 9mm carbines, but admittedly, I’m not terribly fond of AR9’s compared to dedicated carbine designs. The reintroduced Ruger PC9 has my full attention, especially with the PPSH-ish aesthetic of the Midwest Industries version. The other two common models have traditionally been the Hi-Point and the Kel-tec; the high point with poor aesthetic and barbaric quality, and the Kel-tec with only slightly more refined quality, but a relatively off-putting folding gimmick. The Beretta CX4 and HK USC are great entries in the class, if you like that space-age aesthetic, and I was personally excited by the Taurus entry a few years ago, as briefly as it lasted. The Sig Scorpion and MPX are probably my second favorite options in the current class, behind the Ruger - only because they’re in the AR9-ish realm a bit more than the others.

Personally, my money is being saved toward my SOT and an MP5 - I’ve been lusting over them for far too long. But until then, the Ruger does what I ask.
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Well , holy cow , a comprehensive far ranging reply ! you have fleshed out my ever growing list of options , adding a couple more . Thank you , when I get it done I'll let you know if you win the sweepstakes , Ha!
 
Mosin Bubba said:
My experience with the Hi-Point is that they're heavy and feel cheap, but you don't notice that as much when you start shooting them. They're fun. Even the guys who hate the Hi-Point pistols (I don't mind them) usually admit "the carbines are OK."

The one Keltec Sub 2K I have shot was in 40 S&W, and the "buffer tube" kept slapping me in the cheek. I put one magazine through it and called it good. 40s are known to be snappy so maybe the 9mm is calmer. I am a huge sucker for light weight rifles and wanted to like the Keltec, but it just plain hurt to shoot. That's left me less than eager to drop $400 on a 9mm version just to see if it's any different

I have a Marlin Camp 9, looks classic and it's fun, but they are built pretty flimsy and they're getting expensive. As much as I like mine, I would say hard-pass on them unless you just have to have a wood-stocked 9mm PCC.

Zero experience with the Ruger, but it is sitting only about $100 away from Hi-Point land and offers far, far more features.
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More options ! Wonderful , my ever growing list ! I 'll seriously look into the Marlin Camp 9 , although wood is not a priority . Neither is flimsy but of course I'll take a look , many thanks .
 
I have the original Ruger PC carbine (1997 model) and from what I have seen and heard, the new Ruger PCC is fanatastic. I also have the Marlin Camp9 and they are super pricey and out of production since 1999, no factory support if it breaks would be bad. One more vote for the Ruger ! Screenshot 2019-08-25 at 7.20.51 PM.png
 
Meeks36 said:
I've owned a high point .40 Cal and a Ruger PC9. I liked the hi point better. Only two gripes would be crappy low cap mags and it's hard to completely stripe down. Other then that the hi point was awesome. Haven't held the newer ones.
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Multiple mentions of Hi-Point and Ruger . " Newer ones ? " is there a new edition ? I've located a Hi-Point dealer near me , but closed now due to the plague . I'll be there when they reopen . Thank you !
 
The hi point I had was 15 years ago. They changed the stock. Some like it, some don't. The Ruger I have is a takedown. Not sure if they all do that.
 
The Ruger Police Carbine was built from 1996-2005.......discontinued, then resurrected as a take down model with newer parts today.
Hi Point also changed it's looks a couple times w/different stocks
 
mrmike7189 said:
I have the original Ruger PC carbine (1997 model) and from what I have seen and heard, the new Ruger PCC is fanatastic. I also have the Marlin Camp9 and they are super pricey and out of production since 1999, no factory support if it breaks would be bad. One more vote for the Ruger !View attachment 899589
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Another point for the Ruger , and with the Marlin gone from the production landscape that settles that . Thanks for that and the update date wise .
 
mrmike7189 said:
The Ruger Police Carbine was built from 1996-2005.......discontinued, then resurrected as a take down model with newer parts today.
Hi Point also cahnged it's looks a couple times w/different stocks
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Was not aware of that info , thank you I'll be looking for the " newer " Ruger .
 
mrmike7189 said:
I have the original Ruger PC carbine (1997 model) and from what I have seen and heard, the new Ruger PCC is fanatastic. I also have the Marlin Camp9 and they are super pricey and out of production since 1999, no factory support if it breaks would be bad. One more vote for the Ruger !View attachment 899589
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More for the new Ruger ..... definitely going to check that out .
 
I've got two blowback 9mm carbines, a Kel-tec sub-2000 and a New Frontier glock lower based ar-9.

I find the KT borderline unshootable. I have to put my cheek so low to get a good sight picture, that even with a rubber cover when you fire it, it's like getting punched in the face. I haven't used it enough to comment on reliability.

The ar-9 is better as far as ergonomics. Reliability is excellent with round nose projectiles, but it only feeds smaller opening HP's.

Having never fired a blowback 9mm ar I was surprised by the weight, amount of recoil, and sight movement vs. a 5.56 ar. I tinkered with different buffer weights and springs to calm it down a bit, but nothing brought it down to 5.56 levels. Heavier buffers helped but added even more weight.

I've since moved on to a CMMG Guard radial delayed blowback that I built using their bolt/barrel combo and glock lower receiver. It's a marked improvement in weigtht and recoil impulse. It's my favorite gun to shoot, and has eaten any ammo I've fed it. They're not cheap, but neither was the RRA you mentioned in the first post. You can buy them as complete guns or if you like to build you can save a bit/build exactly as you want with their bolt and barrel.
 
There are way more options than I have had a chance to shoot but....I have shot an M1 carbine in 9mm (jammed a lot) a Marlin Camp 9 (out of production) A Keltec sub 2000-Very cool but not comfortable to shoot extensively. Ruger PC carbine-love it, easy to shoot, a Glock 19 in a Micro Roni-Interesting and fun(Technically it is still a pistol) and .....the Beretta CX4 Storm. Out of the box the Berreta trigger was horrible but I fixed that and it is currently my favorite.......but more time with the Ruger and its ability to use Glock mags may swing my preference.
 
Friend mentioned above got his lower middle class AR 9 straightened out and it now shoots his regular ammo. He did manage to wear out an ETS (aftermarket Glock) magazine, though. They replaced it with no fuss.

Another guy here gave up on his AR parts gun and paid $1700 for a JP.
 
My 1st pistol caliber carbine was a Vector Uzi.
Fun gun but I had a guy offer me more than I paid for it and I sold it to him.

2nd was Rossi 92 - 357mag lever action. Another fun gun. Works great with 38 special.
I bought it used about 9 years ago and love shooting it.

3rd is a Ruger PCC 9mm that I recently picked up. Loads of fun to shoot. Problem there is I could easily see shooting up my stockpile of 9mm with trying very hard.
 
Carne Vore said:
I have become intrigued with the Rock River Arms 9mm carbine ( BRT-9 R9 ) . I have made an effort to find info on other mfgs of similar carbines with little success . Hoping the group can suggest a similar caliber carbine style with some pros and cons . All my experience is with hand guns and bolt action rifles , so I'm a newbie with the semi auto long guns . I will be using whatever I end up getting as a range gun , home defense and plinking / camp gun .
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To go against the grain: I wouldn’t recommend a PCC as a 1st semi auto rifle.

An AR15 in in 556 is going to be a much better all around gun than a PCC, will likely be cheaper to buy, almost as cheap to feed ammo and be tremendously more effective.

My take is that PCCs are specialized weapons for shooting if you can’t shoot rifle rounds because of range rules. PCCs are fun guns, but if I’m going to lug around a rifle size and weight I generally want a rifle because if it’s flexibility.

For home defense light jacketed .223 rounds are devastatingly effective and have less over penetration than pretty much any pistol caliber.

If I was recommending a PCC my top spot would be the Tavor in 9mmP. Very short OAL, 16” barrel, uses Colt SMG pattern mags, and mine was a total ammo toilet for feeding and firing any 9mmP I tried shooting in it.

BSW
 
I have a Hi-Point Carbine chambered in 40 S&W along with an AR pistol in 9mm (Colt SMG clone). The AR has a 10.5" barrel. I enjoy shooting both and have not had any problems with either.

Hi-Point - Yes they are ugly but very reliable and pretty accurate. I have fun hitting a 12" gong at 100 yards. I bought mine back when they were $179.

AR Pistol (Colt style magazines)- FUN FUN FUN. It has functioned flawlessly using Metal Form magazine. Accuracy is good at 25 and 50 yards. I haven't really shot it at farther distances except to shoot at clay pigeons.
 
briansmithwins said:
To go against the grain: I wouldn’t recommend a PCC as a 1st semi auto rifle.

An AR15 in in 556 is going to be a much better all around gun than a PCC, will likely be cheaper to buy, almost as cheap to feed ammo and be tremendously more effective.

My take is that PCCs are specialized weapons for shooting if you can’t shoot rifle rounds because of range rules. PCCs are fun guns, but if I’m going to lug around a rifle size and weight I generally want a rifle because if it’s flexibility.

For home defense light jacketed .223 rounds are devastatingly effective and have less over penetration than pretty much any pistol caliber.

If I was recommending a PCC my top spot would be the Tavor in 9mmP. Very short OAL, 16” barrel, uses Colt SMG pattern mags, and mine was a total ammo toilet for feeding and firing any 9mmP I tried shooting in it.

BSW
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I more or less concur. If something goes bump in the night, I'm grabbing my AR15 pistol in 5.56.

The Ruger PCC is good for new shooters though and is lots of fun.
 
Texas10mm said:
As I stated in the other thread. My buddy has a PSA 9mm AR pistol. It takes Glock mags. It hasn't had a bobble in over 3k rounds. Maybe other companies should talk to PSA?
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I have a lot of PSA pieces. Half of them have issues with the rear take-down pin.
 
George P said:
Have you fired that AR pistol in a room the size of a bedroom at night with no hearing protection? I'll take the Ruger PCC for that distance AND keep my hearing
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I haven't fired my AR pistols in my bedroom, but have shot them at a small indoor range. The 9mm with 10.5" barrel isn't as bad as the 5.56 with 10.5" barrel is. They both have A2 flash hiders. Neither one is that bad o_O. HAHAHA ..... Huh what did you say????????? Yes I'm half deaf in one ear and can't hear out of the other. Years of being around explosives and military vehicles/helicopters will do that.

In all seriousness, any caliber out of a 16" barrel won't be quite as bad as the same caliber out of a pistol. Actually any firearm shot inside a house will ruin your hearing.
 
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