Estimated reading time: 9 minutes
The AR-15 is, without a doubt, the most popular rifle series in the United States. Everyone makes them, and everyone wants them. What’s one of the other most popular rifle types these days? The pistol caliber carbine, or PCC, is an undeniable dominator. So it’s not a surprise that we’ve mixed the two platforms to provide a variety of 9mm AR-15s. As far as I can tell, Colt does it first in the form of the Colt SMG.
Since then, there has always been some form of 9mm AR. However, in the last few years, this platform has absolutely exploded. Throw a stick at SHOT Show, and you’ll hit an AR in 9mm. (You also be asked to leave for throwing sticks.) With so many out there, how do you know which is for you? That’s why you’re here to find out what are the best AR-type PCCs.
Table of contents
Why A 9mm AR?
Great question. Some numerous reasons and features make the pistol caliber AR quite attractive. These platforms have excellent ergonomics and customization since they come from the AR family. Pistol caliber ARs are easy to suppress and cheap to shoot on average. They can be used at nearly every gun range, whereas rifle rounds may be prohibited at some ranges.
9mm ARs can be great for home defense with those who are recoil-shy. They aren’t as violent with short barrels, and they can be extremely small, with barrels shorter than 10 inches being very common. Plus, if you want to compete in action shooting sports, the PCC realm is dominated by the AR platform.
With that in mind, let’s dig into the best 9mm ARs out there.
Aero Precision EPC
If you are a builder, then the Aero Precision EPC is the route to take. Aero is the builder’s brand, and the EPC is no different. The Enhanced Pistol Caliber is an AR platform that can be built as a rifle or a handy little large-format pistol. It’s available in 9mm and 40 S&W currently, with 10mm and 45 ACP being planned for the future.
The rifles take Glock mags, and Aero found a way to install a last-round bolt-hold-open device that is reliable and simple. It’s unique to the EPC and is attached to the upper receiver. With that in mind, the bolt release is still in the same place as a standard AR lower. The controls are perfect with a huge magazine release that’s easy to reach with your firing finger.
The upper is predictably compatible with nearly every other major AR brand accessory. You can build it out any way you want. Aero’s models typically come with Magpul furniture and M-LOK rails that make them simple but modern and easy to handle. On top of all this, the Aero EPC also checks the budget category and won’t break the bank.
What’s the downside? Like most PCCs and 9mm ARs, it’s a direct blowback weapon. That requires a heavy buffer, and you will face more recoil than you expect. It’s no shoulder beater, but it lets you know what’s up.
PSA AR-V
When we are looking at AR-15s in pistol calibers, we quickly realize there are two choices for magazines. You can pick from Glock Mags or Colt SMG Mags. Neither is perfect. I have gripes about both, and PSA must have been listening when they released the AR-V. The AR-V gives us a simple AR PCC, but they utilize Socprion pattern magazines.
Glock mags are great because they are common and affordable. Scorpion mags are also common and affordable. These are proper SMG or PCC magazines and offer a double stack, double feed design that tends to be more reliable, longer lasting, and even more efficient in size and design. They are made to be used with rifles and function with a last-round bolt hold open without any crazy additions.
Outside of using Scorpion magazines, we get the normal PSA treatment. There are tons and tons of options with various rails, barrel lengths, and stock options. You can pick and choose without much difficulty. Best of all, these are fairly affordable guns. Like most 9mm AR rifles, they are reliable, with excellent ergonomics. The big control change comes from the magazine release finding its way to the trigger guard.
They do use the same direct blowback operation we mentioned before. This creates more recoil, but it’s tolerable. It’s not fancy, but it’s clever, and that can make a difference.
JP Rifles JP5 – High End 9mm AR’s
If you want the creme de le creme of 9mm ARs, then the JP Rifles JP5 is the route to take. This is arguably one of the most innovative AR platforms on the market. Before we dig into the rifle, let’s talk about its operating system. Instead of a rough direct blowback operation, JP Rifles used a roller-delayed system similar to the MP5. This creates one of the lightest recoiling pistol caliber ARs ever. It’s incredibly easy to control and a ton of fun to shoot.
The JP Rifles JP5 isn’t for the average plinker. It’s designed for high-level PCC competitors who want the very best. It’s complete with a thick, dang heavy profile stainless steel barrel with a massive compensator. The gun barely moves between shots. When aiming with a red dot, you track how little the gun recoils by how little the dot moves.
The controls are stellar, with a massive charging handle starting us out. JP Rifles then decks the lower out with completely ambidextrous controls to make it a dream to handle. From the stock to the tip of the barrel, the JP5 is an absolutely wonderful piece of machinery. The JP5 is perfect for competitors but would feel a little out of place elsewhere.
READ MORE: The JP5 From JP Enterprises – A PCC Unlike Any Other
Why is it out of place? Well, a price tag of about 3,300 dollars makes it a little out there for plinking or even home defense. If you use a gun to make a living, it makes sense.
CMMG Resolute MkGs
We don’t make an editor’s choice here, but if we did, it would be the CMMG Resolute MkGs. This is the full-length rifle variant of the MkGs. MkGs does mean it uses Glock magazines. This rifle uses an innovative radial delayed blowback system that takes all the sting out of direct blowback. This results in a very light recoiling weapon that is a joy to shoot. It rivals the JP5 but at a more acceptable price point.
That price point is about $1,400, depending on options. The radial delayed design is nice, and so is the rest of the rifle! The CMMG Resolute MkGs is a very modern rifle option that is outfitted with a lightweight M-LOK handguard. On the controls front, we have a massive magazine release and a giant ambidextrous charging handle. An ambi safety is standard. Not to mention the patented CMMG Ripstock that allows for easy and rapid adjustment of your stock.
This is an excellent rifle for competition shooting. I know because it’s my rifle of choice for competition. It’s lightweight, light recoiling, ultra-reliable, and very easy to let it rip with. The MkGs series makes finding magazines easy and ensures they are affordable. CMMG knocked it out of the park with the Resolute.
It is still relatively expensive, but it’s worth the squeeze to me. It’s one of my genuinely favorite guns. With that said, if you’re not a big PCC nut, the juice might not be worth the squeeze for you.
B&T SPC9
You could argue the SPC9 isn’t quite an AR. It’s a blend of AR with B&T’s own innovations. In all fairness, an AR would be direct impingement, so no 9mmAR is really Stoner’s design. By that logic, the SPC9 gets its spot on my list. The SPC9 takes Swedish precision to new levels. The gun uses a direct blowback system, which seems crazy for a B&T. However, it also uses a hydraulic buffer to counter that high level of recoil. It mixes the reliability of the direct blowback system with the recoil of a delayed blowback design.
The B&T SPC9 mixes in a standard AR 15 charging handle with a more SMG-friendly design that’s right above the barrel. It’s very MP5-like and delivers a variety of ergonomic options. The lower is AR-ish, but it’s not serialized. It has a bit more in common with the APC9 series, which, to be fair, was imitating the AR controls. With the SPC, the controls are all ergonomic and very easy to reach and put into play.
The stock and handguard take the AR cake, and we get all the typical optics and accessory-ready goodness. A tri-lug muzzle device even makes suppressor attachment an easy dream to accomplish. The SPC keeps up that B&T reputation for darn good firearms. It’s accurate, reliable, precise, and very easy to handle. Like most B&T guns, this one will eat at your wallet, but innovation is never cheap.
The 9mm AR Is For Everyone
Mixing the commonality and ergonomics of the AR design with the light recoiling, easy handling 9mm is a great way to make a solid, fun gun to shoot. They admittedly don’t have all the power and poise of their rifle-caliber cousins, but they are quite functional. The 9mm AR market has expanded for a reason, and there are great options at nearly every price point. Check it out, and let us know below what your favorite 9mm AR is.
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