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Pistol Caliber Carbines - Just for Fun

10K views 108 replies 54 participants last post by  Lilbuck2.0  
#1 ·
I've had a Ruger PC Carbine in 9mm for some time which I upgraded with several options from M*Carbo to make it more usable to my requirements. I found it enjoyable to shoot at 50 yards and look forward to extending that range if the groupings hold reasonable size. I expect some ammo testing is in order as well. I have a different scope and mount installed so need to bring the picture current. ( On the list ).

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A few weeks ago I came across the Henry Homesteader at the LGS - I'm sure the above-average wood on the stock was one of the driving factors for the acquisition along with a price match & veterans discount for what I felt was a reasonable price. This one uses the Henry magazines which is fine by me since I don't have a Glock, Sig, or S&W for mag sharing. I like the Homesteader's non-tactical styling, which hopefully will be an enjoyable target shooter at 50-75+ yards alongside one of the CZ or 1911 handguns in the same caliber at somewhat shorter distances. I don't have a decent picture of my new Homesteader as yet so you get an internet image for the time being. ( On the list )

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Then this week, I found a slightly used Ruger Police Carbine ( PC4 ) in 40 S&W which fills a caliber gap I was looking to address. I plan to shoot this alongside the other PC carbines as well as a couple of my 40 S&W handguns. These were made in the 1996-2006 range ( this one was made in 2001 ) but I had never seen one or even heard of them. Both written and video reviews seemed to be positive on the PC4 and just plain fun to shoot.


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I'm not looking for 6 oz triggers, sub-MOA groups, or 30 round mags with any of these PC Carbines . . . just some fun shooting pistol caliber ammo at a bit longer range. Better pictures along with initial observations and an update on the shooting experience will be posted once we get the initial range sessions completed. I need to add some steel plates & duleing trees to my inventory for some shooting challenge and plain old range fun.

More later . . .
 
#4 ·
I have a number of Ruger PCCs, incredibly fun to shoot, I’m shoot steel with it at 50 and 75 yds, using Ficcohi 124gr/FMJ, the Rugers have MCarbo, extractor, buffer, flat aluminum triggers and few other small pieces. Sort of a 9 mm caliber 10/22, in style and function
 
#13 ·
I've had a Ruger PC Carbine in 9mm for some time which I upgraded with several options from M*Carbo to make it more usable to my requirements. I found it enjoyable to shoot at 50 yards and look forward to extending that range if the groupings hold reasonable size. I expect some ammo testing is in order as well. I have a different scope and mount installed so need to bring the picture current. ( On the list ).

View attachment 397523

A few weeks ago I came across the Henry Homesteader at the LGS - I'm sure the above-average wood on the stock was one of the driving factors for the acquisition along with a price match & veterans discount for what I felt was a reasonable price. This one uses the Henry magazines which is fine by me since I don't have a Glock, Sig, or S&W for mag sharing. I like the Homesteader's non-tactical styling, which hopefully will be an enjoyable target shooter at 50-75+ yards alongside one of the CZ or 1911 handguns in the same caliber at somewhat shorter distances. I don't have a decent picture of my new Homesteader as yet so you get an internet image for the time being. ( On the list )

View attachment 397555


Then this week, I found a slightly used Ruger Police Carbine ( PC4 ) in 40 S&W which fills a caliber gap I was looking to address. I plan to shoot this alongside the other PC carbines as well as a couple of my 40 S&W handguns. These were made in the 1996-2006 range ( this one was made in 2001 ) but I had never seen one or even heard of them. Both written and video reviews seemed to be positive on the PC4 and just plain fun to shoot.


View attachment 397557

I'm not looking for 6 oz triggers, sub-MOA groups, or 30 round mags with any of these PC Carbines . . . just some fun shooting pistol caliber ammo at a bit longer range. Better pictures along with initial observations and an update on the shooting experience will be posted once we get the initial range sessions completed. I need to add some steel plates & duleing trees to my inventory for some shooting challenge and plain old range fun.

More later . . .
I have a Aero Precision 9mm PCC or as they say EPC. Very fun to shoot large steel plates with.
 
#14 ·
I'm in the PCC club also. Two Ruger PC carbines and a S&W M&P FPC. I had a Marlin Camp 9 and an AR9. I use mine for steel challenge.

Rugers

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These have been very dependable. I run SR9 mags.

FPC

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Runs great and very light, about 5 1/2 pounds unloaded with most of the weight between your strong hand and shoulder.

Looking forward to the report on the Henry.
 
#17 ·
I have a cmmg 9mm blowback action and the recoil was surprising at first. The massive weight of the bolt carrier throws the gun all over the place compared to a 5.56 ar15. It’s still a fun gun though. I assembled the gun ( don’t want to say built) before Glock magazine lowers and bolt carrier groups were mainstream so it takes expensive colt smg magazines or converted UZI mags. I also have a Henry big boy 44 mag all weather. All I can say is the 44 mag really comes alive out of a 20” barrel. I got this before the side loading gate came out which is a blessing in disguise as it helps me conserve the expensive 44 mag ammunition.
 
#19 ·
You and I are on the same page. I also have the AR9 with Colt mags and the felt recoil is surprising. I also prefer the term "assembled" rather than "built" as most of the "builds" you read about are nothing more than assembling a bunch of parts.
 
#20 ·
I have a Foxtrot Mike FM-9 in 9mm which is a fun little plinker. Takes Glock mags, even though I don't have a Glock. But they are reliable, relatively inexpensive and can be found nearly anywhere. The FM-9 also has a reliable last round bolt hold-open, which is really nice. Recoil is a bit heavier than a regular 5.56 AR, but that's just comes with the territory for a blowback operating system.

Because of the brace ban, I've set it up to do the SAS Sling method (pushing out against a tight sling; nothing touches your shoulder besides the sling). It's not as stable as shouldering the brace, but works surprisingly well.

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It has a front charging handle, which is not as great as I thought it would be when I bought it. It is located just under the Picatinny rail, so about the front 1/2 of the forearm rail is basically unusable. These are older photos when I tried a pressure switch for a light. I've since changed it because the charging handle would bump into the front mount, making cocking it tricky. Another small gotcha is that when disassembling it, you have to be careful because there's no charging handle to retain the bolt, so it has a tendency to yeet itself out the back if you hold it with the muzzle up!
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#25 ·
Not a carbine, but I put together a 10.5" AR pistol in 9mm using a Stern Defense magwell adapter for Glock mags.
I also have a 10.5" AR-15 pistol in 5.56 NATO that has much less felt recoil when fired than the 9mm build.
Still, the 9mm is manageable and tons of fun at the range. It's accuracy and reliability have surprised me and it is kept ready for home defense.
Thanks to the FPC injunction, their braces remain in tact making them very, very dangerous weapons according to the BATFE. :unsure:
 
#30 ·
I have a Ruger PCC. I bought a Glock 17 after the PCC so that I could use the same magazines. I don't plan to go to war with it, but the combination is a part of my home defense set up. There is a marked difference in how hard the rounds hit steel from the PCC compared to the Glock 17.
 
#32 · (Edited)
A marlin 1894 in .357 and (though not a carbine) a rossi r92, also in 357, also for metallic silhouette.
As to the Spencer carbine quote, I'm not aware of any pistols in 56-56. The first pcc would have to be the 1858 Remington revolver carbine. Essentially a 58 rem cap and ball revolver with a 20" (or so) barrel and a buttstock added.