25 Best 9mm AR Pistols: Pistol Caliber Carbines

We all know that the best AR pistols, long pistols, best AR-15 pistols, whatever you want to call them, are awesome tools for home defense. Yet still the military, law enforcement agencies and more retained the humble 9mm.

That’s because it’s the best tactical tool for sweeping buildings. So it’s arguably the best weapon for the home, 9mm isn’t wild. It’s precise, super precise. You can suppress it well, it fits in a compact package and 9mm is available just about anywhere.

300 Blackout has certainly made a play for the 9mm market in recent times and that caliber is starting to take over for the military units and SWAT teams out there thanks to its flexibility. But it’s expensive, it’s new tech and 9mm is pretty much as good in the right circumstances.

So the trusty 9mm carbine, the 9mm SMG, the 9mm AR pistol, whatever you want to call it, is still revered, loved and bought in massive numbers around the world. Which one of the 9mm AR pistols for sale is the best pistol though?

1. Sig Sauer MPX Copperhead

• Price: $1,908.99
• Barrel Length: 3.5 inch
• Total: 14.5 inch
• Weight: 4.5lb
• Capacity: 20+1

The Sig MPX Copperhead is the best 9mm AR pistol for self-defense. There, we said it. It’s the best modern day semi auto SMG. This 9mm is about as devastating a weapon as I would want indoors.

That 3.5 inch barrel with the integrated muzzle brake is borderline ridiculous. Yet Sig has managed to create an accurate weapon that consistently pounds the bullseye out of targets at 100 yards in mere competent hands.

In skilled hands, this rear charging compact AR is an absolute titan of a close quarters firefight specialist.

The PDW brace is different. It’s the new Pivoting Contour Brace (PCB). Essentially it pivots with a patented swivel operating system.

Is it as good as the best pistol stabilizing brace? Well the PDW is more stable, but this is a really strong concept.

Short Barrel MPX is Brutal

The Copperhead with the Coyote Tan cerakote finish is basically a conceal carry 9mm. Now that could once again give 9mm ammunition the advantage in the sub-machine gun world.

Back in a civilian setting, this Coyote Tan cerakote finish miniature weapon of war could be the best gun for defense, plinking at the range and just about everything else.

You get a Monolithic Elite Series upper receiver and an integrated stock knuckle lower receiver sets.

A short stroke gas-piston system means the MPX Copperhead can cycle through pretty much all grades of 9mm ammunition, from crappy steel right through to high end rippers that could turn this into a truly evil 9mm AR pistol.

It could also be the best concealed carry pistol in the world. Load this up with the best 9mm ammo and you’ve got a real weapon here.

2. CZ Scorpion Evo 3

• Price: $849.99
• Caliber: 9mm Luger
• Barrel: 5 inch
• Total Length: 16 inch
• Weight: 5.7lb

The CZ Scorpion Evo 3 is a legend, and rightly so. It’s our budget pick by a mile, even though that price has steadily crept up, and the gun reviews online go crazy for it. This is a truck gun, a range plinker and it’s under a lot of beds in this fair nation.

Honestly if you just want a general purpose 9mm long pistol, then you’ll struggle to beat the trusty CZ Scorpion Evo for anything like the same money.

The Scorpion Evo has crept up in price. We remember them at $750 quite regularly and can’t seem to find one now. But then we remember when cities were fields and life was fun, so there’s that…

You can get a CZ Scorpion Evo in Black, olive green, Coyote Tan and several shades of grey.

Don’t Forget the CZ USA Scorpion 3 Plus Micro

We could easily have chosen to put the Micro 9 as the chosen one,. It’s technically the replacement, but we think these guns are going to co-exist for a good long time. The original will not just go gently into the night, because we don’t want it to.

It costs a little more for a little less, but the Micro can mix it with the Copperhead and other shorter barrel 9mm pistols. But the original gun is the true legend and for now, the Micro is the support act.

But if you want one, get yours here.

3. HK SP5

• Price:  $3,111.99
• Barrel Length: 8.86 inch
• Total Length: 17.8 inch
• Weight: 5.1lb

Is this the ultimate SMG for civilians? If not, the best-selling HK SP5 is certainly close. This is the civilian version of the legendary HK MP5 that has gone into battle with Special forces teams all round the world.

Adopted by 40 nations for law enforcement and military duty, this has been a Hall of Famer for decades. Does that make it the best gun? It certainly counts.

Price and availability are the only things keeping the roller delayed blowback HK off the top spot. Because even if you have decided to spend the $2,699 full retail price for the Heckler & Koch 9mm, or more, finding one for sale in 2023 can be a separate issue.

Where to Buy a HK SP5?

Everyone lists them, very few actually have them in stock and you may have to back order. Or pay over the odds here.

It might be the HK’s military history that has made it such an icon, but it is also blessed with technology. This sub-machine gun for the average man in the street features the return of the delayed roller blowback system and it’s a side charging 9mm. I mean, you know you want to slap it right now right?

Is the H&K SP5 Worth the Money?

Is the HK worth this kind of money when you can buy alternative 9mm AR pistols for less? Well the people that own them say it is. The user reviews online and the gun review websites all drool over the HK SP5 and if you can find one, then get arguably the ultimate personal defense weapon.

Where to buy a Heckler & Koch HK SP5

It’s not always easy to find one in the wild. So that’s why we did a whole post with live links that could help you find a gun today. Check that post out here.

4. Freedom Ordnance FX-9

• Price: $848.99
• Barrel: 4.5 inch
• Weight: 4.5lb

The Freedom Ordnance FX-9 might not have the history of the HK, but it has still become a modern day icon and one of the most popular pistols in America.

Inevitably the rear charging FX-9 takes double stack Glock magazines. And it looks like there’s a suppressor up front, but it isn’t really. The barrel is clearly on the small size and that makes this a real contender for concealment.

The KAK tactical brace fits perfectly with a lightweight like this. There’s a consistency, a purity of purpose, that puts the FX-9 right at the top of this list. Well, close…

5. Angstadt Arms UDP-9

• Price: $1,329.99
• Barrel: 6 inch
• Total Length: 22 inch
• Weight: 5.9lb

Angstadt has built an outsized reputation in short order in this niche, and a lot of people prefer this to the better known options thanks to the super light recoil, lightweight construction and reliability.

As more and more of us have Glocks in the house, the ability to use the Glock style magazines is a big deal. I mean a lot of guns on this list do the same, to be fair, it’s not the actual USP.

Receiver sets machined from billet aluminum, the low recoil blowback operation, near fetishistic attention to detail and the compact tactical nature of the carbine length gas system UDP-9 are the real selling points.

Things like the flared magwell that help reload that fraction faster help as well. And the one piece Bolt Carrier Group that feels sturdy, simple and unlikely to fail.

6. Battle Arms Development XIPHOS 9P

• Price: $1,560.99
• Barrel: 8 inch
• Total: 26 inch
• Weight: 5.5lb

This supplier makes some of the sexiest 9mm, AR-15 pistol and AR15 rifles on the market these days. So it’s no surprise that it has a blowback AR-style pistol that might just take your breath away.

Depending on which end you’re looking down at the time, normally…

The 7075-T6 aircraft-grade aluminum lower receiver is machined from billet, in-house. It’s all coated in black Cerakote as well.

BAD has a free float rail system, with the signature notch cut in the Picatinny rail, joins forces with a proprietary lightweight buffer tube and other goodies. There’s a full size 9mm rifle, too, which we love almost as much as this best-selling compact tactical CQB.

9mm AR-15 Pistol Build Tech

An extended magazine release, Teflon coated trigger and tool-less breakdown thanks to enhanced takedown pins all mark the BAD pistol out as good. The SBA3 brace is fairly standard, but we know it works.

Even with an 8 inch barrel, it’s still lighter than many here, too. So it’s a lightweight long pistol in the true sense, one of the best 9mm AR pistols on sale and a damned fine addition to gun safes across the land.

7. Foxtrot Mike Products FM-9

• Price: $519.99
• Caliber: 9mm Luger
• Barrel: 5 inch
• Pistol Length: 27 inch
• Weight: 6.4lb

Foxtrot Mike Products are a relative newcomer, but it has made a big impression with high value and feature rich ARs. The stubby AR-9 is no exception.

This is the middle of the litter and you can opt for a 3 inch barrel or 7 inch barrel, depending on your needs.

With better optics then you should get to the outer reaches of your driveway at least. Close up you can shoulder it comfortably and move it round your home. Or really cold looking fields…

Easily Controlled Chaos

It’s a low recoil round designed for snubnosed pistols in one hand. With a pistol brace, classic pistol grip and two-handed operation, muzzle lift really isn’t a thing.

So what separates the FM-9 from the herd? Attention to detail, for a start, with receiver sets machined from billet aluminum. In this price range, that’s impressive.

All that work and it’s tailored to the humble double stack Glock magazines. That makes it a versatile gun, a great 9mm in its own right and a Preppers favorite.

8. Sig Sauer MPX-K

• Price: $2,187.99
• Caliber: 9mm
• Barrel length: 4.5 inch
• Pistol Length: 13.5 inch
• Weight: 4.6lb

The best-selling MPX has become the face of the semi-auto 9mm AR pistol movement and it’s a gun so deeply ingrained in the American psyche that it will keep its place amongst the best civilian SMGs on the planet for a while.

It has lost out to its own successor, the Sig Copperhead, in the end. That’s how it is meant to be and people are still prepared to pay top dollar for these classics.

This is a platform, not just a gun, and you can turn the little Sig into just about anything if you need to with the right brace, suppressor and even bipod ensemble.

Most people keep it simple. This is a small, compact gun that sites perfectly in two hands and really only needs a sling to turn it into an absolute champion of urban warfare. The company has some other great AR-15 pistol offerings, but there’s something naughty about this one.

Short Stroke, Big Fun 9mm Pistol Caliber Carbines

The MPX is a short stroke gas piston operated system with a rotating bolt. There’s a full-length Picatinny rail, a Keymod system up front and you can trim the Sig MPX to pretty much any configuration. That’s the point.

The Sig is a great all-round 9mm AR pistol. Muzzle devices, pistol braces, stocks, red dot sights and suppressors and a new trigger guard slot on the MPX effortlessly. Because they were designed and then refined for harsher conditions than we should ever see.

You can also get a matching AR15 pistol, too, which might cut down on your parts & accessories bill.

9. Black Rain Ordnance ION 9

• Price: $1,255.99
• Caliber: 9mm Luger
• Mags: Glock style
• Barrel: 8.75
• Weight: 5.94lb
• Capacity: 30+1

This is another parts manufacturer with a fearsome reputation that has now turned its hand to a Glock style mag fed AR pistol.

The end result is a lightweight gun with a mild cough for recoil, total control and a good chance that stray bullets won’t kill your dog.

It’s also a great plinking gun, aside from the defensive skills, because 9mm is designed for much smaller, one handed packages.

Spread the load across two hands and a shoulder brace and you’ll fall in love with 9mm Luger all over again. Maybe get one matte black and one Coyote Tan or Midnight Bronze gun, too, with red dots, just because.

10. B&T APC9 Pro

• Price: $2,462.99
• Barrel: 4.5 inch
• Weight: 4.5lb

The Brugger & Thomet Advanced Police Carbine is the gun that has displaced the almighty HK SP5 in the hands of elite military units around the world. That includes the US military.

We’ve been fans of the Swiss firearms manufacturer for years and these compact pcc firearms are some of its best work. This isn’t the only Brugger & Thomet gun on this list…

The grips are totally interchangeable with stock AR-15 gear and this is a straight blowback pistol with a hydraulic buffer onboard. The lower receiver is polymer, there are lightweight materials throughout and the fit and finish is just exquisite on this flat top CQB.

Honestly it’s a Porsche, and most of you just need a common-or-garden Toyota. But if you want the best of the best, maybe start here and load up with specialist 9mm rounds…

11. CMMG Banshee 300 MKGS 9mm

• Price: $1582.99
• Barrel: 5 inch
• Total: 18.9 inch
• Weight: 4.6lb

The best-selling CMMG Banshee MKGS 9mm is an absolute smash hit and is some people’s pick for the PCC of the year. It’s certainly among the best 9mm AR pistols.

Radial Delayed Blowback or Not to Radial Delayed Blowback?

Mostly it depends how you feel about the radial delayed blowback operating system on the CMMG Banshee MKGS 9mm that was hailed as a step forward. If you like it, then this is for you. If not, if you think radial delayed blowback is some newfandangled thing for the kids, then that’s OK too.

Frankly it hasn’t turned out to be the gamechanger we hoped for. It’s just a good gun. But we all need those, right?

This CMMG Banshee Mk4 is finished in Burnt Bronze Cerakote, but you can choose from almost any color, including matte black Cerakote that goes with the polymer pistol grips.

A Range of Popular Calibers for CMMG Banshee

You can also choose from a mind-blowing number of calibers for your semi-automatic Sub Machine Gun, including armor piercing 5.7x28mm rounds. Because why not? And AAC Blackout, which features on our favorite AAC Blackout pistols list.

The CMMG Banshee Mk4 MKGS 9mm is the shortest barrel in an extensive CMMG line-up that encompasses pretty much all the best AR-15 pistols calibers. It works pretty well concealed, if you need that much firepower under your jacket. And inevitably it takes Glock style magazines.

It’s also a great gun at the range and for personal defense. Others seriously think the CMMG Banshee MKGS is the best here. They could be right. The CMMG Banshee Mk4 could be the best gun here.

12. Christensen Arms CA9

• Price: $1,699.99
• Barrel: 7.5 inch
• Weight: 5.5lb
• Capacity: 30+1

Christensen Arms is slowly emerging as one of our favorite custom gunsmiths.

Everything is just that little bit lighter, that tiny bit better than the average firearm. And lightweight material science is at the core of everything it does. We like that.

This is substance and style with your ARP guns. Here that takes the form of a carbon-fiber barrel. Or a thin stainless steel barrel wrapped in a CF sleeve, to be precise. It allows for a thinner barrel and saves pretty much grams here.

But it’s this near symbolic commitment to engineering excellence that gives us confidence in everything Christensen Arms does. Even names like Midnight Bronze for the finish.

Better Braces For Sale?

Honestly we’d switch the SBA Brace out for a Shockwave Blade, Tailhook or something even more minimalist. But you can do that, too.

I mean once you’ve bought it then it’s yours. That’s how owning stuff works. You modify your pistol how you see fit, and turn this Christensen Arms CA9 into a potent addition to any gun safe. Obviously, with Glock-style magazines.

This is a great custom gunsmith and you can occasionally find hot deals on Euro Optic here.

13. Diamondback Firearms DB9R

• Price: $929.99
• Caliber: 9mm
• Barrel: 4.5 inch
• Total Length: 13.5 inch
• Weight: 4.6lb

Diamondback Firearms has made waves with a series of great budget AR-15 rifles. It has simply followed the same plan to create a hugely competent 9mm long pistol at a price that will ruffle some feathers.

These best-selling 9mm pistols are made in the USA, almost entirely at Diamondback Firearms’ own CNC machining facility. Investing heavily in manufacturing has helped the company slash the unit costs. That means you get a great pistol, and awesome gas system, for the right price.

We like the commitment to low weight with the tailhook pistol stabilizing brace, too and you should look at lightweight red dots.

Nobody has reinvented PCCs here, but this is a cheap and effective gun and you can get them in a range of colors, from Midnight bronze cerakote finish to solid Armor Black cerakote. That’s all some people need.

14. KRISS Vector Gen 2 SDP Enhanced

• Price: $1,625.00
• Barrel: 6.5 inch
• Total Length: 18.5 inch
• Weight: 7.28lb

The KRISS Vector Gen 2 is a damned sight better than the first gen and it really is living up to the ambitions of a design team that set out to break new ground.

It is fast turning into a dream gun and this 9mm Carbine has already achieved celebrity status in Hollywood.

This was the centerpiece of Cable’s futuristic firearm in Deadpool 2, while the aggressive styling means it’s a regular in blockbuster movies.

That blocky receiver contains the KRISS Super V, a new kind of anti-recoil system that ejects shell casings from the Glock style magazines downward.

The idea was to reduce felt recoil, but it made the full auto Sub Machine Gun a little wayward, to say the least.

KRISS has tuned this proprietary system, though, and the tide is changing. People love this gun for more than its looks these days.

It’s turning into a serious defensive pistol for the home, a great range toy and engineering excellence all in one package. It feels different with every single shot, and for some that is all they need to mash the buy button.

15. Palmetto State Armory Gen 4 PDW

• Price: $899.99
• Barrel: 4 inch
• Weight: 6.4lb

Palmetto State Armory is a specialist. It produces cheap guns that have developed a ferociously loyal customer base and the hardest thing in the world to achieve: repeat business.

Seriously, Palmetto State Armory customers tend to have an arsenal of PSA firearms. Probably 2 or 3 separate build kits of parts.

That has allowed the company to produce new guns like the PSA Dagger, a striker fired 9mm handgun. It has also ventured into larger calibers, like 308 Win, and pistol caliber carbines like this.

With an SB Tactical PDW brace, this gun also looks different to most of the opposition here. We like that, although the company will sell you a Gen 4 in about five different configurations.

Palmetto State Armory will also sell you complete rifles and kits for DIY projects. Some are cheaper, too, and this one has defnitely crept up in price.

Check the others out here.

16. Rock River Arms RUK-9BT Pistol

• Price: $1,147.99
• Barrel: 4.5 inch
• Length: 24.75 inch
• Weight: 5.6lb

This company keeps finding its way into the hands of professional users artound the world. LEOs, military and more love the brand, and it’s easy to see why.

This is a high end pistol with billet receivers, threaded barrel and just about every other finishing touch you might need. It’s also a supremely reliable AR-style pistol.

17. Faxon Firearms Bantam

• Price: $1,051.99.99
• Barrel: 10.5 inch
• Weight: 5.72lb

Faxon Firearms has become a mainstay on our best AR-15s for sale in pretty much every sector lately. Now it has stormed the charts with this awesome 9mm AR-15 pistol that could well become your favorite range gun.

The longer barrel gives long-range performance and the price means this is an ideal first PCC, or maybe second.

The SBA3 brace works with this configuration, although you might want to see how a Maxim Defense brace goes on there instead. An SBA3 pistol brace works, but it’s not the sexiest option these days.

Faxon Firearms made its name with high-end parts & accessories for the AR-15 market. Now it is spreading its wings with custom rifles, custom pistols and cheaper options for the mass market.

We like what we see so far. Especially the AR style gas system, rear charging handles and barrel lengths.

18. Kalashnikov KP-9

• Price: $996.99
• Barrel: 9.25 inch
• Total: 18.25 inch
• Weight: 5.62lb
• Capacity: 30+1

A Kalashnikov 9mm in the classic AK-47 pistol layout has proved to be a massively popular addition to American gun culture.

Full size AK-47 rifles, too. There’s just a perverse amount of appreciation for semi-auto rifles and pistols produced from pig iron and wood that made America’s life so difficult back in the day.

The AK-47 has become an icon in its own right. It might just be the most famous gun of all time and it is still in active service around the world.

7.62x39mm bullets can make a hell of a bang and a mess, though. Hearing protection and maybe sunglasses are absolutely essential.

So 9mm offers much-needed control to a stunning basic design. This is a good marriage. It works.

This Kalashnikov is based on the Vityaz-SN Sub Machine Gun that the Russian military uses today. That is really an evolution of the classic AK, right down to the oversized safety lever action and sturdy pistol grip.

19. B&T TP9

• Price: $2,122.99
• Barrel: 5 inch
• Total Length: 11.9 inch
• Weight: 5lb
• Capacity: 30+1

I admit it, we have a Brugger & Thomet fetish on this site. But then just look at the B&T TP9 civilian SMG and tell me you don’t want this high price, high spec firearm that is no bigger than a traditional full size 9mm pistol…

This short barrel semi-automatic pistol with a blow back action is effectively the modern day Tec-9. It’s also a Swiss Uzi that is just better, everywhere. We will get to the Uzi 9mm for sale, because you can still get that classic and they are much cheaper.

Military Grade SMGs With Swiss Engineering

But this feels like proper military hardware, because that’s more or less what it is. Swiss law enforcement and military units love these Sub Machine Guns, sniper rifles, assault rifles and more. So do the other ones that can afford them.

In semi-automatic pistol form, this little weapon doesn’t quite inspire the fear of the fully automatic SMGs of days gone by. But then it’s now a different kind of weapon and it’s basically the ultimate tactical pistol.

You can get a retention holster and walk round like Robocop, open carrying what looks like a weapon of war on your leg. That is only going to work in certain circumstances, but at the outdoor range then it’s basically impossible to look more operator than this. Well you can, but you really shouldn’t…

With a pistol stabilizing brace and red dot sights, you can bounce bullets off targets at 100 yards all day long, especially with the range of muzzle devices for the threaded barrel that will help tune your long range shooting. That is impressive and you can feel the Swiss engineering when you’re pushing the outer limits of the range.

A Carry AR Pistol? Yes…

This was designed first and foremost as a home security and personal defence pistol though. It’s compact enough to basically conceal without the 30-round mag in place. Or you can hang it on a sling and go for the full tactical gear and weapon lights on the Picatinny rail.

The B&T TP9 is surprisingly modular, too, and you can build it out to an SBR as well.

20. Ruger PC Charger

• Price: $729.99
• Caliber: 9mm
• Barrel: 6.5 inch
• Weight: 5.2lb

The Ruger PC Charger is a novelty toy next to some of the precision tools higher up the list. But that makes it great for range shooting or all-purpose gun, and it is priced accordingly.

PCCs have moved on, and that’s OK. The Ruger Charger is a throwback. But it’s still accurate and effective at close range.

A new world of pistol braces and longer stainless barrels are well catered for elsewhere. The Ruger is a cost-effective alternative with real charm and identity. That still counts for something round here.

21. Noveske Space Invader

• Price: $4.080.99
• Caliber: 9mm Luger
• Barrel: 8.5 inch
• Weight: 5.4lb

The Noveske Space Invader isn’t just a ludicrously expensive designer alternative to the big box brands that you knew you’d find here. It’s also a different approach to the best PCCs, even though it does take Glock style mags, yeah you know….

You get a longer barrel and a pretty special brace from Q, which was born from the Advanced Armament Corporation (AAC). They created some of the best silencers in the business, as well as AAC 300 Blackout ammo, 9mm ammo etc.

High Quality Billet Parts

As well as the fancy slide out stock, you also get receivers machined from billet, a full M-LOK rail system and handguard and other treats.

A Geissele Airborne rear charging handle comes with a Noveske badge and you also get a Geissele Super MCX trigger set. This is a rear charging 9mm carbine with a lot of AR-15 style touches.

This 9mm Short Barrel Rifle is specialist gear and the end result is a semi-auto sniper that is either a long range pistol, or a very neat substitute for an SBR, depending on how you look at it.

22. Wilson Combat AR9

• Price: $1, 969
• Barrel: 8.3
• Weight: 5lb

Wilson Combat has been on a tear of late with relatively affordable AR rifles and pistols that still hold true to the company principles.

Affordable is a fluid term, we know, and around $2,000 for a Wilson Combat is a lot of money. But it’s less than the HK and this might just be a better personal defense weapon. Or at least it’s close enough…

Billet receivers, match grade barrels that are either 8.3 or 11.3 inches, depending on your preference, a Shockwave pistol brace and the legendary starburst pistol grips are all spectacular. But this Wilson Combat Protector Carbine exceeds the sum of its parts and the finished pistol is art and engineering in one package. Maybe it is the Art of Engineering.

Wilson Combat wanted to set new standard for reliability, as well as accuracy, and believes it has done that. We just know the Wilson Combat AR9 is one of the finest 9mm pistols on sale. And we also know we can’t find one to sell you, which is why it’s down here…

23. IWI Uzi Pro

• Price: $1,282.99
• Barrel: 4.5 inch
• Total: 26 inch
• Weight: 5.5lb

Yes, really, you can still buy an Uzi in 2023. Now it isn’t quite the same as the military spec version these days, but it’s a fun gun that is surprisingly accurate with the SBA3 pistol brace.

There are modern touches, including a 1911-style grip safety and the polymer casing that contains more rails than you should really ever need.

It’s more of a tribute to one of the forefathers of the PCC world than a Mil-spec weapon of urban warfare these days. But it’s still a cool addition to your gun safe. Just look at that clunky side-charging 9mm Carbine. It’s fun, and always will be.

Without the pistol brace, this is also a potentially great gun for a hidden gun safe in your bedroom too, for a very serious personal defense weapon. If you see any hot deals, grab it. You won’t regret this one.

24. Anderson Manufacturing AM-9

• Price: $936.99
• Barrel: 8 inch
• Total: 30 inch
• Weight: 5.5lb

The Anderson Manufacturing AM-9 is a solid option and we’d love to feature it more heavily.

When we can find one, we will.

And the Wildcard…

25. Kel Tec Sub-2000 Folding Rifle

• Price: $477.99
• Caliber: 9mm
• Barrel: 6.5 inch
• Weight: 5.2lb

Now the sharpest among you will have already spotted that the Kel Tec Sub2000 folding rifle isn’t a pistol at all.

But then the Kel-Tec is a 9mm rifle that folds in half. So it offers the portability of an AR pistol. It can also outperform them in terms of range and power, which is useful. And it sort of accommodates proper rifle scopes.

Put good sights up top and you’ve got a serious weapon in your hands in stock black or flat dark earth. It’s even a lightweight hunting rifle and self defense all combined when SHTF. Right now it’s just a convenient, versatile little plinker that turns handgun ammo into rifle ammo.

At this price, you might find that the rifle’s quirks are easy to live with as a truck gun. It isn’t quite as elegant as the most stylish guns on this list. We know that. But it does offer something truly different with that folding stock and buffer tube arrangement.

That might be enough for you. And you can get a Flat Dark Earth one, too. So there’s that. And there are red dot sights that cost more than this whole gun. It stars in our 9mm rifles post too.

Want a Large Caliber AR pistol?

A 9mm AR pistol has emerged as the favorite home defense tool if you’ve got other people at home, and an extreme concealed carry pistol. But you might want an AR pistol with a bit of added kick, and we can help you there too.

That’s when you get into the Daniel Defense and Patriot Ordnance Factory firearms that we love so much.

You’ll be surprised by what’s out there. Radical Firearms, Palmetto State Armory, DPMS, Springfield Armory, Smith & Wesson, a Midnight Bronze Cerakote finish Rock River Arms and Ruger are all waiting to give you a cheap AR-15 pistol that works. They’ll also sell you gas blocks or accessories, upper parts, lower parts and more as well, to be fair.

Radical Firearms hasn’t quite done the same good work in the 9mm sector yet, but they’re getting there. Until then the CA Scorpion Evo remains the low budget champion, but expect to see Radical feature soon.

Polymer pistols and rifles like the ATI Omni Maxx have also started to make a major impression. That’s because they’re not just cheap. Plastic is also much lighter than machined aluminum.

What About Parts?

If you’re looking for a bolt hold open device, upper parts kits, gas blocks, gas tubes, PDW pistol braces, triggers, barrels, muzzle devices, parts kits, upper parts, lower parts, AR15 mags, Glock magazines, drum magazines, we can help.

Accessories, Upper parts kits for Armor Black cerakote finished upper receivers, pistol braces, charging handle and all that jazz. Yeah that too.

Primary Arms tend to be the best for the specialist parts, although Brownells has a great stock list. Palmetto State Armory has a solid list of spares and repair items too. If you’re looking for drum magazines, Gunmag Warehouse is a good place to start for Glock magazines, drum magazines etc.

Now the 9mm is largely based on AR tech, but the gas tubes, charging handles, bolt carrier group and more are subtly different. And of course the Glock style mags.

That means you get some niche players in this field that might not feature so heavily elsewhere. Glock style magazines even, have turned into a spin off industry and big Glock mags are a serious thing now. If you want to remove the last round bolt hold open, you can do that too.

45 ACP Ammo is Another Favorite Caliber

A lot of military units round the world go for the additional stopping power of a short barrel 45 ACP AR Pistol build. The CMMG Banshee MKG 45 ACP is turning into a scene star, and the B&T APC45 Pro and GHM45 are both awesome high price, high spec options.

The CMMG Banshee MKG 45 ACP is the most affordable of those choices, if you’re interested. But organise the price low to high with a good search on Guns.com and you might be surprised what you find.

45 ACP ammo is still hugely popular and you can do a lot with a full magazine of 230gr hollow points, or with a single shot. Short of rifle ammo, handgun ammo, Shotgun ammo that has its own particular charm for home firearms, this is about as much punch as you want.

Of course we do have 50 Caliber handguns, too, and some of the world’s most powerful pistols here. Check out our favorite semi automatic shotguns for defensive duties too if you like shotgun ammo.

What’s Happening with Braces?

Normally we recommend pistols that include a Maxim Defense PDW or SBA3. But most pistols are shipping without a brace right now, because of the impending ban.

We have seen some draft regulations, nobody really knows anything and it is set to be vague. One big clue is that braces attached to the buffer tube directly are a bad thing.

That’s why Maxim Defense has launched the 505 SPS with a collar round the buffer tube that looks ready to receive a brace shortly. That two part process gives more room to move within the regs when they finally come out. it’s smart.

Maxim Defense has gone one way, other manufacturers have stripped braces and left the mounting points for adapted devices later. Whatever fits the rules is what we will get.

AR15 Pistol, AR15 Rifle and 9mm Carry Pistol Posts

The Smith & Wesson is right there, but then the Springfield Saint Victor is just a few cents more, well you know, and then you’re getting into Bravo Company Manufacturing territory. Or Palmetto State Armory PSA Custom AR15 pistols, if that’s your bag.

It’s a real easy game to get carried away with. Soon the Springfield Saint gives way to a Midnight Bronze Daniel Defense. Next thing you know a custom AR15 pistol build is in your hand and you’re working on complete builds, upgrades, pistol build goodies.

Start switching out rear charging handles and upper parts, Glock mags etc, and the price can spiral pretty fast. Or if you go for a Coyote Tan Cerakote finish or simple Armor Black cerakote. But you already knew that. And check out Palmetto State Armory for those too.

Some Other Posts You Might Like

The traditional AR-15 pistol is the next logical step up, but we have a big soft spot for the 300 Blackout pistol. Check out these posts and see which one fits your mood…

• 41 best AR15 Pistols on the market
• The best 300 Blackout pistols for sale.
• $1000 Best AR-15 pistol build. Springfield Saint Victor, Patriot Ordnance Factory and more.
• 12 of the best $500 AR-15s.
• Subcompact 9mm pistols for CCW.

Gun Cleaning Stuff and More

Sometimes you just need gun cleaning stuff, and screws, magazines, muzzle devices, gun cases, Bolt Carrier Groups and other stuff for your short barreled rifle SBR. Or AR pistols, bolt action rifles, shotguns, pump guns, buffer tubes, any of them really. Optics, scopes, spotting scopes too. Rifle parts, shotgun parts, handgun parts, buffer tubes. It’s all here.

What About a Black Powder Rifles, Pistols?

Black powder pistols really don’t belong in this conversation, but apparently, Google thinks they do. That’s literally the only reason this black powder pistol is here.

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