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Perfect for truck guns or stowing in bugout bags, pistol-caliber carbines (PCCs) offer a wide range of benefits over carbines chambered for rifle rounds. Read our blog to learn whether a PCC is the right addition for your loadout, plus find out our top 5 picks for the best pistol-caliber carbines of 2023.
In general, PCCs are more compact than traditional long guns without sacrificing capacity or shootability. Choosing a PCC that accepts the same magazines as your EDC pistol also allows you to carry more ammunition for both firearms and quickly adapt to whatever defensive scenario you encounter.
The one trade-off is ballistic performance. Obviously, pistol rounds behave differently than rifle rounds, even when fired from a carbine-length barrel. This means that ammo selection and shot placement are critical for achieving the desired results when engaging targets.
Fortunately, pistol-caliber carbines are easy to shoot with low recoil despite their reduced size and weight. A quality PCC loaded with high-performance defensive rounds can function as an incredibly effective primary shooting platform when you need more firepower than your handgun alone can provide.
Pistol rounds are adequate for most self-defense applications, plus they are more controllable and generate less concussive force than standard rifle rounds. Consequently, a PCC may be a better choice for CQB engagements indoors or in tight, confined spaces (alleys, parking decks, etc.)
Moreover, sending multiple accurate shots downrange in rapid succession can serve as a significant psychological deterrent in addition to the physical trauma of being shot. There's a good reason many competitive shooters have switched to PCCs; they are fast, lightweight, and maneuverable when seconds count - which they certainly do in a defensive encounter.
The Classic Firearms team has assembled our picks for the top 5 pistol-caliber carbines available for purchase in 2023. To be considered for our list, each gun must be chambered in 9mm with a standard capacity of at least 25 rounds and must have a barrel length of 16 inches.
Boasting the excellent build quality that Diamondback is known for, this AR-platform carbine is chambered in 9mm and ships with one 32-round magazine. Not only does this rifle make a great entry-level PCC for those familiar with AR-15s, but it accepts Glock mags so you can feed from the same ammo pool as your Glock pistol.
The Saint Victor 9mm Carbine is a sleek, modernized PCC with the same incredible factory upgrades as the other guns in the Saint Victor product line. Most notably, it ships with B5 Bravo furniture and a flat-face trigger for improved handling and performance - as well as a 32-round Colt-pattern magazine.
With a folding stock and slim M-LOK handguard, the Sig Sauer MPX is a compact yet supremely controllable firearm that remains a leader in the PCC market in 2023. The 30-round MPX is designed to be competition-ready right out of the box, and Keanu Reeves even uses a modified MPX from Taran Tactical during the Continental shootout in John Wick 3: Parabellum.
This 9mm PCC variant of CMMG's Dissent rifle has been making waves in the firearms community for its exceptional reliability and ergonomics. Combining the intuitive controls of the AR platform with a lightweight folding stock, the Dissent MK4 9mm is one of the best pistol-caliber carbines money can buy.
In many ways, the innovative B&T SPC9 Sport belongs in a class of its own. A hydraulic buffer system makes the SPC9 one of the smoothest shooting, lightest recoiling PCCs on the market and it more than lives up to B&T's reputation for manufacturing high-quality, ultra reliable firearms. And if that's not enough, the SPC9 is even Glock mag compatible.
There are also many affordable options available for shooters new to pistol-caliber carbines or who are looking for an inexpensive truck gun. To learn more, check out our video on the best budget PCCs you can buy today.
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