Keith Wheeler
Member
Uzi.
Tough, simple, reliable. A bit heavier than all the new civie pistol cal carbines, but there's so much you can do with it. Easy to change caliber -- 9mm, .22, .45, .40, .41AE, easy to change barrels. Lots of parts, web gear, bayonets, history. Tons of excellent quality military magazines on the market. More accessories than you'd care to think of. Folding stocks, fixed wood, suppressors, scope mounts, side cocking top covers...probably second in the accessory dept only to the AR family.
If you ever want to spend the big bucks, there are still some registered bolts out there. And if you don't want to spend the big bucks but still want the SMG look, it takes much longer to deal with the paper work for an SBR than changing the barrel.
An original IMI will run $1200 or so, Vectors and Norincos $600 or $700. Not cheap, but then I don't see the civilian designs being the investment that an Uzi can be. Of course that depends on how you view your firearms.
We've got three, my wife has a Mini Uzi carbine (which really looks stupid with the extra long barrel, can't wait 'til the form 1 comes back on that one). I've got a Vector full size carbine and a Norinco (chinese made copy that can use standard parts). They're great guns.
That said if I was starting from scratch, I'd look really hard at a 9mm AR.
I've also got an M1 Carbine, a Saginaw (the first center fire rifle I ever shot). It's a great gun, nothing exemplifies the colloquial "sweet shooting" better than a .30 Carbine. Light, handy, classic lines, reliable, wonderful....but for whatever reason, I just don't shoot it as often. I shoot the Uzis much more, but then maybe that's just because it's easier to carry one flavor of ammo for rifle and pistol.
Tough, simple, reliable. A bit heavier than all the new civie pistol cal carbines, but there's so much you can do with it. Easy to change caliber -- 9mm, .22, .45, .40, .41AE, easy to change barrels. Lots of parts, web gear, bayonets, history. Tons of excellent quality military magazines on the market. More accessories than you'd care to think of. Folding stocks, fixed wood, suppressors, scope mounts, side cocking top covers...probably second in the accessory dept only to the AR family.
If you ever want to spend the big bucks, there are still some registered bolts out there. And if you don't want to spend the big bucks but still want the SMG look, it takes much longer to deal with the paper work for an SBR than changing the barrel.
An original IMI will run $1200 or so, Vectors and Norincos $600 or $700. Not cheap, but then I don't see the civilian designs being the investment that an Uzi can be. Of course that depends on how you view your firearms.
We've got three, my wife has a Mini Uzi carbine (which really looks stupid with the extra long barrel, can't wait 'til the form 1 comes back on that one). I've got a Vector full size carbine and a Norinco (chinese made copy that can use standard parts). They're great guns.
That said if I was starting from scratch, I'd look really hard at a 9mm AR.
I've also got an M1 Carbine, a Saginaw (the first center fire rifle I ever shot). It's a great gun, nothing exemplifies the colloquial "sweet shooting" better than a .30 Carbine. Light, handy, classic lines, reliable, wonderful....but for whatever reason, I just don't shoot it as often. I shoot the Uzis much more, but then maybe that's just because it's easier to carry one flavor of ammo for rifle and pistol.
Attachments
Last edited:
