alucard0822
For great Justice
I love AR9s, got deep into them a few years ago, have built and competed with a few, from Suppressed SBRs to 16" competition setups.
I prefer dedicated receivers VS adapters, being a dedicated receiver probably costs the same or less than an adapter, and some have goofy control layouts. I like GLOCK over Colt pattern, the single point feeding of a GLOCK setup have many advantages with feed geometry vs a double stack with guide ramp.
Forward assist is pointless, a pistol cal ejection port that is shorter/wider does help with gas to a minor degree, and can be more reliable than a long/skinny 5.56 port. A nice big gas deflector behind the port helps with gas even more.
Blowback, especially short stroke is brutal to triggers, of course a loose primer can still cause a failure, as can a loose cartridge trigger, but I see the design as more of a tradeoff than a dealbreaker. I run Hiperfire PDI cartridges in some, Geissele GRF single stage in others. They have both proven 100% reliably in long stroke, the PDI is 100% reliable in short stroke, but the Geissele will fail to reset. Lots of people compete in PCC with the PDIs, and they hold up in that role as good or better than any other trigger, including mil-spec.
Reliability and recoil often come down to the buffer and feed ramp/cone. I have run a LOT of buffer setups, and the 10oz KVP IMO is the simplest and best for the money, keeps recoil soft, simple and reliable. Solid buffers without floating weights suck, a buffer under 8oz sucks, heavy 308 springs can cause more issues than they help. I use a blitzkreig short stroke hydraulic in my competition setup, just slightly smoother than the 10oz KVP, but costs 3 times the price, and a lot more to go wrong. The new Maxim delayed blowback is awesome, but some have issues with charging it, it's new and unproven. I have probably 500 rounds through 3 of mine and it runs well, but haven't spent enough time with enough rounds and competitions / tac classes to trust it. The feed cone can make it jam and "turtle" rounds slamming into the flat face of the breech, or it can reliably feed HP defensive ammo, all depends on the dimentions. Macon Armory and Taccom feed ramps run very well.
They can absolutely be an ideal Home defense weapon, and are superior to many. It's still a modern 9mm pistol round, which might lack the penetration and effectiveness of a 5.56 or 300BO rifle round, but it's not ineffective. Larger mags, easier to shoot fast, less flash/noise, it can be comparable to an AR in 5.56, and superior to a handgun IMO even if barrel lengths are the same. Of course PCCs are fun in competition and suppressed, but many advantages are due to the simple operation, and ability to shoot on a pistol rage, or practice with close range steel plates. I prefer my 300BO, and supers are more potent, but my wife, oldest kid, and a LOT of people I instruct at the range shoot my 9mm PCCs better, especially suppressed. I probably have double the round count on my PCCs vs my rifle cal ARs, and most of it is a close range on a handgun course, much more useful for home defense training than 100yd paper with a rifle.
obligatory pic of a few of mine
I prefer dedicated receivers VS adapters, being a dedicated receiver probably costs the same or less than an adapter, and some have goofy control layouts. I like GLOCK over Colt pattern, the single point feeding of a GLOCK setup have many advantages with feed geometry vs a double stack with guide ramp.
Forward assist is pointless, a pistol cal ejection port that is shorter/wider does help with gas to a minor degree, and can be more reliable than a long/skinny 5.56 port. A nice big gas deflector behind the port helps with gas even more.
Blowback, especially short stroke is brutal to triggers, of course a loose primer can still cause a failure, as can a loose cartridge trigger, but I see the design as more of a tradeoff than a dealbreaker. I run Hiperfire PDI cartridges in some, Geissele GRF single stage in others. They have both proven 100% reliably in long stroke, the PDI is 100% reliable in short stroke, but the Geissele will fail to reset. Lots of people compete in PCC with the PDIs, and they hold up in that role as good or better than any other trigger, including mil-spec.
Reliability and recoil often come down to the buffer and feed ramp/cone. I have run a LOT of buffer setups, and the 10oz KVP IMO is the simplest and best for the money, keeps recoil soft, simple and reliable. Solid buffers without floating weights suck, a buffer under 8oz sucks, heavy 308 springs can cause more issues than they help. I use a blitzkreig short stroke hydraulic in my competition setup, just slightly smoother than the 10oz KVP, but costs 3 times the price, and a lot more to go wrong. The new Maxim delayed blowback is awesome, but some have issues with charging it, it's new and unproven. I have probably 500 rounds through 3 of mine and it runs well, but haven't spent enough time with enough rounds and competitions / tac classes to trust it. The feed cone can make it jam and "turtle" rounds slamming into the flat face of the breech, or it can reliably feed HP defensive ammo, all depends on the dimentions. Macon Armory and Taccom feed ramps run very well.
They can absolutely be an ideal Home defense weapon, and are superior to many. It's still a modern 9mm pistol round, which might lack the penetration and effectiveness of a 5.56 or 300BO rifle round, but it's not ineffective. Larger mags, easier to shoot fast, less flash/noise, it can be comparable to an AR in 5.56, and superior to a handgun IMO even if barrel lengths are the same. Of course PCCs are fun in competition and suppressed, but many advantages are due to the simple operation, and ability to shoot on a pistol rage, or practice with close range steel plates. I prefer my 300BO, and supers are more potent, but my wife, oldest kid, and a LOT of people I instruct at the range shoot my 9mm PCCs better, especially suppressed. I probably have double the round count on my PCCs vs my rifle cal ARs, and most of it is a close range on a handgun course, much more useful for home defense training than 100yd paper with a rifle.
obligatory pic of a few of mine
But, these are the numbers out of a carbine, for each. Not too shabby, but, not quite rifle worthy. My train of thinking is that my (incoming) suppressor is rated for 9mm no restrictions, and 300blk subsonic. I haven’t found many rounds in subsonic 300blk, that can outperform that underwood round. My thoughts didn’t translate very well, into my argument.
