9mm carbine recommendation?

tyr_shadowblade

tyr_shadowblade

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I'm looking at semi-auto 9mm carbines under $700 (no Colts or Uzis) and would like some recommendations.

I was favoring the Marlin Camp 9, but heard they have a tendency to self destruct within 500 rds.

Kel Tec 2000 has a lousy trigger and reliability issues.

Hi Point is supposedly reliable, even though it is striker fired and has a zinc alloy receiver, but it also has a lousy trigger.

MPA is ugly and heavy but supposedly accurate and indestructible.

Suomi is extra heavy and an antique, but a lot of people like them.

Feather RAV 9 is supposedly good, but it feels flimsy.

Ruger PC9 and the Beretta Storm I know very little about and haven't seen either for sale locally, even at the shows.

I'm looking for something that is accurate, reliable, and will accept optics. Mag capacity is not of high importance. Thanks.
 
What about a Beretta CX4 Storm? Might be a tad over your 700$ price range,but sure looks cool. Unfortunately I can't tell you much about it, as I don't own one. I only talked to a guy at the range who was shooting one and he seemed to like it. I guess you will have to do your own research...
Good luck,
ilten
 
The camp 9 is direct blowback. This means you cant take more advantage of the longer barrel due to action opening up too soon (ie using slower burning powder). I have heard that the plastic recoil buffer (this may not be the correct term) has a tendency to break but this can be easily replaced.

The new Hi point doesnt look like crap and has the lifetime warrently. So that would most likley be my choice (along with the kel tec sub 2k). I dont need a target trigger on a 9mm carbine.

Another option would be to get a 9mm Ar15 upper. Would give you the option to switch from 5.56 to 9mm, and there are plenty of aftermarket upgrades (triggers, stocks, sights, etc)
 
My vote is for the Keltec, I never had a problem with mine and they have great customer service. They are light and fold into a small package.
 
Not sure on price, but we have a lot of Lindas at the local gun shows here in the Northwest... Silly name, maybe, but the guys at teh show think they're well made...
 
Another +1 for the CX4 Storm.

Of course I also have a PX4 and I like that it can share mags.
 
I've held the CX4 storm a lot and really like the way it feels. Can be switched from left to right hand, uses Beretta's pistol mags and is very erganomic. You can also get plenty of accesories for it. :thumbup: Last I checked they were between $700 and $800.

Heber
 
ericb445 said:
My vote is for the Keltec, I never had a problem with mine and they have great customer service. They are light and fold into a small package.
Click to expand...

I agree 100%. Mine and the 2 others I have shot had really good triggers. All three were purchased in the last 3 months.
 
The only one I have that you are interested in is the Storm. It is comfortable, light, seemingly rugged, and accurate. I don't like the stock sight as it is hard to see in low light, but you plan to add an optic and it comes with the rail.
 
if i wanted a 9MM carbine (i dont) i would get a AR15 9MM, because all the gee gaws made for the std AR will fit the 9MM, so ya have a large selection of lites and optics/etc to choose from, its also a proven reliable design which will stand up to hard use, which is something a few on your list cant say (for sure anyway). the last few i have seen also were selling for IIRC 15-20% less than a comparable 556, they were certainly a bit cheaper.

if i didnt want to spend that much i might look for one of the old MAC 11 9MM carbines with the fixed stocks, just because i like the looks lol, i know some of them had reliablity issues though.

i have heard a lotta good about the storm but havent ever actually used one myself.
 
Having owned the Marlin Camp Gun, the Colt AR, and the Ruger PC9, and fired two different versions of the Beretta, in today's market where the Marlin & Ruger are both out of production and the Colt is hard to find & needlessly expensive, and not being a fan of Kel-Tec, I'd go with the Beretta Storm.
Other semi-auto adaptations of military or full-auto designs like the Uzi & the MAC versions can be heavy, don't offer particularly good ergonomics or particularly good accuracy. Parts can be a problem, magazines can be hard to find.

The Storm seems to be holding up reasonably well since its introduction, decent ergonomics, very light, compact, acceptably accurate, good company support if needed, and you can order one that accepts a readily available hi-cap Beretta 9mm magazine. It can also easily be fitted with lights & lasers if you want to go that route.

Denis
 
im not gonna read all this, but i can give advice cuz ive played with nearly all pistol caliber carbines and id either pick up a Ruger police trade in with the ghost ring sights or the new Beretta. Get the Beretta that takes the 92 mags, theyre everywhere, well made and dirt cheap. they both are rock solid and wont let you down. i've seen 5 or 6 Hi Points and theyre junk.
 
BTW, Olympic arms is making AR lowers that accept Glock 9mm mags. i dont know alot about Olympic, but Glock mags are as good as it gets, plus you can snag up the G18 33 rounders for 30 bucks. ive never had one fail in my Glock 9mms
 
In my experiance, 9mm ARs are Pretty finicky. Mine took a while to get running but now it is 100%. It took ARF.com to make it that way, if it were not for the internet and the help of other I would be 1 pissed off MOFO at how the 9mm performed out of box. I also own CX4 storm which is one of my favorite firearms to shoot. Thing is blast. Owned mine a bit over 4 years now. Also own a PX4 and converted the CX4 from a 96 series to a PX4 series due to the higher cap mags (17rd of 40). In fact this last weekend I took a few guns and a little ammo out and let some friends do some shooting. The CX4 was the hit of the crowd, not only with my friends but a few others at the range who shot it as well.. including the woman who shot it. They are great little guns. I paid 450 for mine, with top bottom and side rails, vert grip, factory hard case, and sling (later repalced with a Urban ERT adapter and Gearsector single point)... 2-3 years ago Buds had them at 540 or so.

Here is a photo I took of what was going with me this last weekend. (the ARs are a 9mm and 22lr)
aprshoot1.JPG
 
Does it have to be 9mm? Check out the Kriss Super V (45ACP). At the moment it's about $300 more than you were looking to spend, but price should go down soon. You may even be able to find a good used one.

0ae2f5eaf8_57551459_o2.jpg
 
The KRISS is an interesting critter, but awkward to carry in hand.
It's more practical as a sub-gun.
Denis
 
Sure is, own 2 conversion and 2 dedicated Spikes 22lrs. Fun little plinkers. Runs great with most ammo. However there is that ammo that it will not cycle... Remington bulk pack... has golden in the name. I still want a PS90, but just cant pony the coin for it, however if I see a used one go for a decent price, Ill jump.

Thanks for the words. I was a great day at the range, too bad the guys who said they were gonna come did not, but still I was able to put a smile on several other peoples faces, including a group from California who if it were up to that state, stuff that most of us own, couldn't.
 
Cool. I have one myself.
tyr_shadowblade, that's one thing you might want to consider when getting your carbine, the ar-15 has the advantage of ease of modification and a .22 upper is one more way to shoot cheap. Patrick

PistolTargets08057.jpg
 
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