Best 9mm Carbine: Affordable PCCs (2024)

You don't need to spend a lot to get the best 9mm carbine. We pick a passel with plenty of bang for the buck.

Gun trends come and go, but among the most enduring has been one of the most controversial – pistol-caliber long guns. The concept of a carbine or rifle that grazes on handgun ammunition is nearly the same vintage as America’s love affair with firearms.

As those familiar with this style of gun know, long guns that pitch handgun ammo were a staple in the American West. In those days, the system made a world of sense. Minor catastrophes, be it blizzards or bushwackers, could leave a pioneer high and dry in the ammunition department. You never knew when the next wagonload would mosey down the trail, after all. In turn, the piece of mind of, say, a Colt Frontier and Winchester 1873 feeding from the same trough likely saved lives.

Today, the practicality of pistol-caliber carbines is hotly debated. Truly, few subjects outside of politics and religion ignite passions as quickly. To some, such carbines are analogous to outfitting a Formula One racer with a moped engine. To others, they’re the ideal economical plinker, wieldy home-defense option and perfect survival tool. Each has valid points, and maybe you’ve thought you’d like to investigate the matter first-hand to make up your mind.

Problem is, with a recent upswing in popularity, the market is filled with options that make experimentation somewhat cost-prohibitive. In most cases. There are still deals if you know where to look. And we’ve dug up 11 of them, all less than $1,000 and solid in performance (plus two that just go over the line).

While many of these are available in other calibers, we’ve opted to concentrate on 9mm carbines. In general, the cartridge performs well out of long guns and gives shooters a good taste of this style of firearm’s potential. Out of a carbine, the 9mm gains modest velocity, is highly suppressible, generates little recoil and is offered in more models. Moreover, it’s the cheapest of all handgun ammunition, so you won’t break the bank giving the style of gun a run.

Who knows, given a chance, you might find the 9mm carbine is what you’ve been after all these years.

Why You Should Trust Our Picks

Accurate information is key to informed choices. The Gun Digest team brings more than a half-century of combined firearms expertise to the table. And I personally, have more than a decade of experience reviewing firearms and working in the industry. As well as, a lifetime of training and shooting everything from mouse guns to dangerous-game rifles. PCC falls somewhere in the middle but, yeah, I’ve shot plenty of them too—including the ones on this list.

Best 9mm Carbines

• Oveall 9mm Carbine Pick: Ruger PC Carbine
• Best AR-Style Carbine: Faxon Firearms Bantam
• Best AK-Style Carbine: PSA AK-V MOE Rifle
• Best Backpack Carbine: Smith & Wesson M&P FPC
• Best Survival Carbine: TNW Aero Survival Rifle
• Best Budget Carbine: Kel-Tec Sub 2000

Best 9mm Carbine Compaison

Ruger PC Carbine Folding

PC Carbine Folding Specs
Barrel Length: 16.12″
Overall Length: 33.75″
Sights: Flattop
Thread Pattern: 1/2″-28
Weight: 7.3 lbs.
Magazine: Glock, Ruger SR-Series/Security-9
MSPR: $999

Dusting off an old concept, Ruger cooked up a real one of its most popular new(ish) firearms with this 9mm carbine. Evolving the old Police Carbine concept, the PC Carbine arms shooters with a familiar configuration that has some handy tricks up its sleeve.

First and foremost, it’s a takedown rifle. No matter the model, I find this aspect appealing as it makes it easier to tote the rifle around, given it breaks down to backpack size.

That said, my money goes down on the folding stock model. It roughly collapses to the size as when it's taken down, but it's much quicker to deploy. On top of this, it's outfitted with a M-Lok handguard with plenty of real estate for accessories.

The next aspect of the Ruger PCC that wins top marks is its overall accuracy and reliability. Working with it, I feel extremely confident at hitting accurately out to 50 yards. Not tack-driving accuracy at that range, but enough to put down a threat.

It's lights out at close quarters thanks to its tungsten Dead Blow Action. The system makes the carbine's recoil an afterthought and really picks up the pace on follow-ups and target transitions.

An added bonus to the Dead Blow, it makes the PC Carbine tick like a clock. In my time with it, the gun digested everything from hollow points to ball and produced zero malfunctions.

The one issue–partly the tungsten fault–I have with the gun is it's heavy for its size–more than 7 pounds. But this is far from a dealbreaker.

PC Carbine Folder Deals

Guns.com	$796
Gritr Sports	$755

Faxon Firearms Bantam

Bantam Specs
Barrel Length: 16″
Overall Length: 36″
Sights: Flattop
Thread Pattern: 1/2″-28
Weight: 6.2 lbs.
Magazine: Glock Compatible
MSPR: $1,049

Faxon Firearms is no stranger to PCCs. Luckily for shooters, the Ohio based gunmaker has leaped from PCC components to complete builds a few years back with the affordable and feature-rich (for its price) Bantam.

Honestly, the 9mm carbine has plenty of room to grow, but if you’re looking for a solid gun off the shelf it more than ticks off the boxes.

The bell of the ball on this mighty mite is its barrel–not surprising given it's Faxon. Really, it's over-engineered for the purpose and should dang near last a lifetime.

More than anything, this adds reliability to an overall reliable system. Again, this is a PCC that didn't gag on anything we fed it–from high-class defensive ammo to steel case. No complaints there.

Given the price tag is at the tonier end of affordable 9mm carbines, I would have liked to have seen tighter groups. It shot a little loose at 25 yards but in line with the vast majority of this class of gun.

The Bantam boasts foraged receivers with a tensioning screw to ensure the tightest possible mate-up between upper and lower. The latter is a bit of an OCD tamer, but if you can’t live with a bit of rattle it’s a godsend.

It’s Glock magazine compatible, a must nowadays given Glock calls the tune for 9mm mags. And the paddle-style mag release is a nice addition, picking up the pace on reloads.

Bantam Deals

Faxon Firearms

$1,049

PSA AK-V MOEKOV

AK-V MOE Specs
Barrel Length: 16″
Overall Length: 27″
Sights: Flattop; Fixed Rear, Front Post.
Thread Pattern: 1/2″-28
Weight: 7.25 lbs.
Magazine: PSA AK-V, CZ Scorpion
MSPR: $950

Based on the legendary Vityaz-SN Russian submachine gun, Palmetto State Armory gives AK shooters a 9mm carbine option that should prove very familiar to Russain gun fans.

From lever safety to paddle mag release and side charging handle, the PSA AK-V MOE Rifle is easy to slip into if you run an AK variant. While it holds a unique place in the pantheon of 9mm carbines, the rifle isn’t Kalashnikov through in through.

Similar to most pistol-caliber carbines, it’s simple blow-back operated meaning some of its features common to the Vityaz are just there for looks. Namely, the front sight block is non-functioning, given it doesn’t use gas and piston to cycle.

On the range, the PCC accuracy won't blow you away–it's what you'd expect out of 9mm long gun, 1.5-inch groups at 25 yards. However, the American-made, Russian-inspired gun ticks like a Swiss timepiece.

Again, this is a system that loses some points on weight. At 7 pounds it's more than I'd want in a 9mm carbine. Yet it's more than passable as a competition fun gun or range toy.

Note, PSA made the gun compatible with CZ Scorpion magazines, of which I have mixed feelings. Yeah, they're plentiful, but not to the degree of Glock mags.

AK-V MOEKOV Deals

Palmetto State Armory

$950

Smith & Wesson M&P FPC

FPC Specs
Barrel Length: 16″
Overall Length: 30.38″
Sights: Flattop
Thread Pattern: 1/2″-28
Weight: 5 lbs.
Magazine: M&P
MSPR: $699

Is it me or does this carbine look familiar? Yeah, Smith & Wesson took a lot of cues from Kel-Tec in its PCC, but danged if they didn't make it a bit more appealing in a number of ways.

A small matter, but one I've liked, is the FPC–and S&W's ARs–moving away from rote AR grips. In its stead is a proprietary grip modeled after the company's M&P pistols and featuring such extravagances as replaceable backstraps.

The other aspect I dug, is how the backpack gun folds up–horizontally. Landsake, a system that doesn't run right into your optic–who'da thunk it? Yet, it makes the gun eminently more practical and concealable.

The gun is plasticky, which for me was a turnoff. Everything, the frame, the rail the buttstock–all of it is polymer. However, while I didn't torture test the gun, quite a few other trusted sources have and the FPC passed with flying colors.

Interestingly, the polymer nature of the gun makes it among the lightest of this list at a tick over 5 pounds. Given this, the PCC almost feels like an oversized pistol.

Accuracy-wise, it's about what you'd expect from a PCC. (Tired of hearing that yet?) I got groups of slightly less than 2 inches at 25 yards.

M&P FPC Deals

Palmetto State Armory	$600
Sportsman's Warehouse	$570

TNW Firearms Aero Survival Rifle

Aero Survival Rifle Specs
Barrel Length: 16.25″
Overall Length: 33″
Sights: Flattop
Thread Pattern: None
Weight: 5.5 lbs.
Magazine: Glock
MSPR: $650

Prepping is one of the areas where the pistol-caliber carbine concept thrives.

Given its potential to eliminate ammunition concerns between a long gun and pistol, it’s a robust strategy. And TNW has contrived among the best tools for the job.

Flexible beyond belief, the Aero Survival Rifle isn’t bound purely as a 9mm carbine. Quick-change barrels open the blowback semi-auto to a host of chamberings, including .22LR, .45 ACP, .40 S&W, 10mm and .357 SIG.

Since its task is to tackle the unexpected, this sort of flexibility has the potential to pay dividends. I've got to admit, the system inspires peace of mind.

Adding to the Survival Rifle’s usefulness, it’s a takedown. At 16 inches taken down, it’s a perfect insurance policy in a truck, boat or, what it was originally designed for, airplane.

This is particularly true if it’s paired with a case TNW cooked up for the rifle that stows it and a couple of spare barrels, so you can match the rifle to the ammunition on hand.

About the only negative I have about the PCC is its bolt is as stiff as a starched collar.

Aero Survival Rifle Deals

TNW Firearms

$650

Kel-Tec Sub 2000

Sub 2000 Specs
Barrel Length: 16.15″
Overall Length: 30.45″
Sights: Flattop
Thread Pattern: 1/2″-28
Weight: 4.2 lbs.
Magazine: Glock
MSPR: $511

Compact as they come, Kel-Tec may have cooked up the ultimate backpack gun in the SUB-2000. It certainly created among the most unique 9mm carbines (also available in .40 S&W) at the end of the market already known for being idiosyncratic.

Honestly, despite any faults, I can't help but love this design.

What makes the SUB-2000 so intriguing is its unique folding design. Hinged at the fore of the receiver, the carbine folds into a neat 16-inch package, ideal for keeping it handy in a rucksack, sports bag or vehicle. And it's even gotten better as the gun enters its third generation.

The Gen3 carbine's barrel twists as it folds, meaning you can reduce it to its maximum size while keeping an optic on the top rail. Like many shooters, this was one of my main complaints with the first two generations of the SUB-2000.

Deployment is still quick on the carbine even with the modification and it's as light as ever — a mere 4 pounds. This is thanks to the extensive use of fiberglass-filled nylon that makes up a majority of the gun. Polymer top to bottom isn't necessarily my favorite aspect of the gun, but it serves a purpose.

Additionally, I like Kel-Tec designed flexibility into the system, given your choice of magazine compatibility: Smith & Wesson, SIG Sauer, Beretta and Glock. Likely this has you covered, no matter what pistol you carry.

Adding to its appeal are easy and intuitive controls, such as the under-the-buttstock charging handle. Not to mention plenty of extras – ample rail space, fiber optic front sight, sling mounts and a wealth of aftermarket upgrades.

Sub 2000 Deals

Palmetto State Armory	$350
Guns.com	$400

Other 9mm Carbines To Consider

PSA Gen 4 AR-9

Gen 4 AR-9 Specs
Barrel Length: 16″
Overall Length: 30.45″
Sights: Flattop
Thread Pattern: 1/2″-28
Weight: 5.76 lbs.
Magazine: Glock
MSPR: $679

Swimming decidedly against the tide, Palmetto State Armory’s AR-9 doesn’t aim to send your heart, and wallet, into palpitations. Crafting everything in-house, the company controls costs, at the same tick turns out an honest-to-God value in its 9mm carbine. In fact, for its price, the 16-inch rifle is among the best deals going in a category of pistol-caliber long gun that seems to get more expensive every year.

Accuracy is where the blow-back earns high marks, getting everything out of the Parabellum and a bit more. Adept enough to drill steel at 100 yards, longer if you want to push it. An elusive trait in pistol-caliber carbines. Furthermore, like a good date, it isn’t picky about what it eats.

Gen 4 AR-9 Deals

Palmetto State Armory

$679

JRC Takedown Marine

Takedown Marine Specs
Barrel Length: 17″
Overall Length: 34.25″
Sights: Flattop
Thread Pattern: 1/2″-28
Weight: 6.5 lbs.
Magazine: Glock, M&P
MSPR: $689

Honestly, you don’t need to own a boat to be intrigued with Just Right Carbine’s Takedown Marine. Nickel-plated stainless steel barrel, the 9mm carbine (also available in .40 S&W and .45 ACP) is about as flashy as they come. Glitz, however, is beside the point.

At its heart, the Takedown Marine is a survival/utility carbine, meant to weather abuse. Corrosion-resistant, the gun is impervious to the severe damage that salt water and moisture in general wreaks on unprotected steel. You needn’t have a high-seas adventure planned to reap the Marine’s benefits either. The nickel plate also does a heck of a job ensuring you have a fully functional gun at the ready if you happen to live in the wetter corners of the country or if you needed an option stowed away that didn’t require constant maintenance.

As expected, the Marine is a blowback-operated carbine, which endows it with an admirable trait as a utility gun — it chews through nearly any ammo. Given it accepts Glock magazines, keeping it fed shouldn’t prove a problem either. In addition to this, JRC has included some other intriguing features to make it handy no matter the circumstances: reversible ejection, a very manageable 6.5-pound weight, top rail for the addition of an optic and, as its name implies, a takedown feature. Retained by a screw-on forestock, the gun is a snap takedown into a tidy package about 16 inches in length.

Takedown Marine Deals

Sportsman's Guide

$600

Hi-Point 995

995 Specs
Barrel Length: 16.5″
Overall Length: 31″
Sights: Front: Post Rear: Adjustable Ghost Ring Peep
Thread Pattern: 1/2″-28
Weight: 7 lbs.
Magazine: Hi Point
MSPR: $364

Who hasn’t sauntered into a gun show and caught one of these beauties winking at you? Safe bet, you at least jingled your pocket change to see if you had enough to take one home.

Despite its blue-light special price tag, the 995 performs respectably for a utility long gun that appears designed especially for this role. Rudimentary as they come, the carbine’s simple blowback operation gives it the chops to chew through any ammo. Additionally, 9mm coming out of a 6.25-pound gun is a kitten in the recoil department.

No one would describe the 995 as a tack driver. With that said, it’s capable of hitting center mass at 100 yards when you’re familiar with it. The downside to the carbine, you get what you pay for in looks. Furthermore, designed to skirt the 1990s “assault weapons ban,” it comes with a 10-round magazine (20-round magazines are available).

995 Deals

Guns.com	$295

Freedom Ordnance FX-9

FX-9 Specs
Barrel Length: 16.5″
Overall Length: 32.24″
Sights: Flattop
Thread Pattern: 1/2″-28
Weight: 6.45 lbs.
Magazine: Glock
MSPR: $829

Freedom Ordnance generally doesn’t come to the fore when talking 9mm carbines. A shame, given its AR-style FX-9 is a regular jackhammer. The simple blowback outfit proves reliable with most ammunition and is configured such that if you know how to run Eugene Stoner’s brainchild, you know how to run the carbine.

That said, where the 16-inch barreled 9mm earns high marks is its accuracy. The FX-9 is most certainly a 100-yard gun and makes hits on closer targets seem like cheating. It’s a nimble bugger to boot. Weighing in at right around 6 pounds, it isn’t the lightest option on the market. Yet it’s wispy enough to engage multiple targets as fast as you can pull the trigger.

Quality made for an entry-level carbine, the FX-9 receivers are milled billet aluminum, while the steel components are nitride and nickel-boron nitride coated. The gun has last-round hold open – always nice – and the system is completely modular, making it a snap to go shorter, which there is ample opportunity to do. The one sticky point, if you happen to be left-handed, is the magazine release is configured for right-handed shooters and is not ambidextrous.

FX-9 Deals

Palmetto State Armory

$650

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