6 Best 9mm Carbines in 2023

Our Top Picks

Best Overall

Sig Sauer MPX

Runs smoothly and is comfortable to shoot.

  • Value: 10/10
  • Performance: 9/10
  • Cost: 9/10

Runner-Up

Grand Power Stribog SP9A3

Solid performance for a reasonable price.

  • Value: 9/10
  • Performance: 9/10
  • Cost: 9/10

Best Budget

Ruger PC Carbine

Very accurate and minimal malfunctions.

  • Value: 9/10
  • Performance: 8/10
  • Cost: 10/10

Best AK Carbine

PSA AK-V 9MM MOE Picatinny Pistol

Packed with awesome features.

  • Value: 8/10
  • Performance: 9/10
  • Cost: 8/10

You’re thinking of getting a pistol-caliber carbine but fear you’ll waste your money on a cheap wannabe? You’re in the right place because we prioritize value and efficiency when picking our recommendations. Check out which gun brands made it to our list of the best 9mm carbines.

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6 Best 9mm Carbines

Best Overall: Sig Sauer MPX PCB 9mm 4.5” Pistol

Specs:

  • Barrel Length: 4.5”
  • Brace: PCP Brace
  • Rail Type: M-LOK
  • Capacity: 30
  • Receiver Material: Alloy
  • Finish: Black
  • Safety: Selector Safety

The Sig Sauer MPX PCB 9mm 4.5” Pistol is designed especially for competitive and professional shooters. It’s also comfortable to shoot because it has a closed-bolt piston-driven system. It also features ambidextrous and AR-style mag release, bolt catch, and selector lever so anyone who’s familiar with the AR15 can quickly adapt to it. Its gas-operated, short-stroke piston system also reduces recoil and fouling.

Pros

  • Comfortable to shoot
  • Detachable handguard
  • Ambidextrous controls
  • Smooth reloading
  • Crisp trigger

Cons

  • Pretty expensive
  • Accuracy issues are encountered when used with a suppressor

What Customers Say

This is a great addition to the Sig collection. Runs smoothly with various ammo types. Fun to shoot.

Nathan W.

Smooth no problems after 1k rounds and I still haven’t cleaned it.

Donald N.

Runner Up: Grand Power Stribog SP9A3

Specs:

  • Action: Semi-Automatic
  • Caliber: 9mm
  • Barrel Length: 8″
  • Capacity: 30+1
  • Brace: SB Tactical Folding
  • Finish: Black

The Grand Power Stribog SP9A3 was originally designed for the Slovakian army as a full-auto machine gun. This is its civilian version, so this 9mm carbine is exceptionally robust and can handle a high firing rate. The SP9A3 is a roller-delayed blowback action so it’s incredibly soft shooting. You won’t feel as much blowback as you do in typical blowback actions. 

The SP9A3 comes with updated curved mags but is also compatible with older straight ones. Its magazine features steel feed lips that prevent cracking when leaving the mag fully loaded for a long time. It also comes with a full grip coupled with an SB Folding Brace that guarantees positive control & manipulation while shooting.

Pros

  • Reasonable price
  • Flat shooting
  • Non-reciprocating charging handle
  • Ambidextrous controls
  • Solid construction

Cons

  • Average-quality magazines

What Customers Say

So far. So fun. Came with 3 curved mags. Blast to shoot. If you have been thinking about trying one out and you have the $$ then go for it. You will not be disappointed.

Michael M.

I have had this a couple of months went through a couple hundred rounds and it very accurately out of the box. The only problem is the mag with 30 rounds. The gun will not accept the mag fully loaded. It works great with 25 rounds

Jimmy K.

Best Budget: Ruger PC Carbine

Specs:

  • Stock: Black Synthetic
  • Capacity: 17
  • Barrel Length: 16.12″
  • Overall Length: 34.37″
  • Barrel Feature: Threaded, Fluted
  • Thread Pattern: 1/2″-28
  • Weight: 6.8 lbs.
  • Material: Aluminum Alloy
  • Finish: Type III Hardcoat Anodized
  • Twist: 1:10″ RH
  • Grooves: 6

With the Ruger PC carbine, you can easily detach the barrel/forend assembly from the action. This feature will be very useful if you’ll be cleaning your firearm or if you’ll be storing it. Plus an adjustable Magpul MOE that allows you to choose from different pull lengths.

Both left and right-handed will love this PCC because it also comes with ambidextrous controls. This means you can efficiently use the charging handle and the mag release with either hand.

Pros

  • Affordable
  • Well-built
  • Interchangeable mag wells
  • Ambidextrous mag release and charging handle
  • Easy takedown
  • Threaded barrel

Cons

  • Average accuracy

What Customers Say

This carbine was well worth the wait, and at a good price. I purchased an extended glock mag and a Ruger bag. It is so easy to shoot and very accurate. I am VERY happy with my purchase!

Kenneth L.

This is very cool for short range combat. We use fed hydro shock + p+ Inside of 200yrds.

Otto Lenke

Best AK Carbine: PSA AK-V 9MM MOE Picatinny Pistol

Specs:

  • Operation: Blowback from closed bolt
  • Barrel Length: 16.1 inches, cold hammer-forged
  • Rifling: 1 in 10-inch twist, six groove
  • Trigger: Single-Action
  • Feed: Detachable Ruger or Glock box magazines
  • Overall Length: 34.3 inches
  • Weight: 6.8 lbs.
  • Sights: Protected front blade and fully adjustable aperture rear
  • Length of Pull: 12.6 to 14.1 via three .5-inch spacers
  • Finish: Type III hard-coat anodized

The PSA AK-V 9MM MOE Picatinny Pistol operates like an AK but with a shorter pull on the bolt that’s housed inside a beefy receiver and a thicker mag release lever. It’s designed with a blowback-operated system that offers a smooth cycling action.

Its slide-catch is easy to use with a mag-well extension that’s fairly comfortable to hold. Plus it features a magazine adapter that’s easily detachable and converts the PC carbine so that it can feed from different style magazines.

Pros

  • Well-built
  • Low recoil
  • Very accurate
  • Easy takedown
  • Performs well when used with a suppressor

Cons

  • No threaded barrel options

What Customers Say

Has ran every type of ammo I’ve put into it, aluminum, steel, hollow points, etc. Very accurate as well, confident shooting to 100yds, no problem.

Damon S.

Great pistol! Build quality is fantastic. I added the SB Tac FS1913 brace and a Sig Romeo5 to complete the look and it just adds to the awesomeness of the pistol.

Gunphreek

Best AR Carbine: Angstadt Arms UDP-9 9mm AR9 Pistol

Specs:

  • Barrel Length: 6″
  • Barrel Finish: Black Melonite
  • Muzzle: A2 Style Flash Suppressor
  • Thread: 1/2×36
  • LRBHO: Yes
  • Magazine Compatibility: Glock 9mm Mags
  • Magazine: (1) 15 Round Glock Magazine
  • Length: 22″
  • Weight: Under 5 lbs.

The Angstadt Arms UDP-9 9mm AR9 Pistol is a high-end AR9 option. It has excellent ergonomics and construction. It also features a last-round bolt hold open on an empty magazine and a flared magwell for smooth reloading. Most of its features and controls are similar to a standard AR-15 so adapting to it won’t be a problem.

Pros

  • Compatible with all aftermarket and factory Glock magazines
  • Very accurate
  • Lightweight

Cons

  • Pretty expensive

What Customers Say

Got my UDP-9 a few months ago and I love this gun! The Fit and finish are great. There is no play between the upper and lower like some of my other ARs. Doesn’t like my ETS mags but everything else works fine. I haven’t had a single issue and this runs like a sewing machine.

D.B

Best AR style 9mm I’ve ever shot….and Palmetto had it at my dealer in 2days! So, win, win!!

Peter L.

Best MP5 Variant: PTR Industries Inc. 9mm Carbine

Specs:

  • Action: Semi-Auto
  • Capacity: 30
  • Barrel Length: 16.2″
  • Length: 34.5″
  • Weight: 6.32 lbs.
  • Operating Systems: Roller-delayed blowback
  • Trigger Pull: 9 lbs.
  • Twist: 1/10
  • Color: Black
  • Carrier: Nitride Treated, Tungsten Weighted, Full Auto Bolt Carrier

This PTR Industries 9mm carbine features an aluminum handguard with M-Lok slots where you can attach all the M-Lok accessories that you need. It also comes with a built-in Picatinny rail that’s welded to precision so you won’t have to worry about getting your receiver squeezed when mounting the clamp-style rail.

It’s a little expensive because it comes with plenty of accessories such as traditional iron sights and a sling mount.

Pros

  • Paddle-style magazine release
  • Fixed polymer buttstock
  • Can accommodate standard magazines

Cons

  • Expensive

What Customers Say

Well I see HK makes a long barrel now I had two of these in the 80 s it’s taken me this long to get another one it is accurate and fun to shoot like the real ones well made I saved the old shroud and put it on my PTR feels good to buy a gun made in the South I hope they make a 93 clone someday.

Tom G.

Best for Home Defense: CZ Scorpion Evo 3 S1 9mm Luger Carbine

Specs:

  • Capacity: 20+1
  • Magazine Type: Double Stack Polymer
  • Frame: Fiber-reinforced polymer
  • Grips: Polymer, adjustable for reach to trigger
  • Barrel: Cold Hammer Forged, muzzle threaded 18×1 right-hand and 1/2×28
  • Weight: 5.0 lbs
  • Safety: Ambidextrous thumb safety
  • Caliber: 9mm Luger
  • Barrel Length: 7.72″
  • Overall Length: 16″

The CZ Scorpion Evo 3 S1 features a sleek design and a lightweight polymer frame for better maneuverability. We also love its excellent ergonomics and it’s really comfortable to shoot because you can barely feel the recoil. Plus it comes with a swappable, non-reciprocating charging handle.

Pros

  • Awesome aesthetics
  • Light recoil
  • Ambidextrous controls

Cons

  • It’s heavier than most polymer frame carbines

What Customers Say

I finally had a chance to go to range. It was very accurate and had no function issues. The trigger is a pretty heavy pull but I’m sure that can be tweaked. It is a little heavy to fire without support. Perfect addition to collection.

Lee G.

Its s pretty popular gun, no need to explain that part, I owned mine for 5 years, 4 of them with a binary trigger, over 1k rounds later, still runs like new, no hiccups.

Mikeal T.

FAQs

What is the most popular carbine rifle?

The most popular carbine rifle is the Sig Sauer MPX which is widely used by competition shooters.

What is 9mm carbine good for?

A 9mm carbine is good for competition shooting and home defense. It extends the range of the 9mm and retains its moderate recoil.

What is the effective range of 9mm carbine?

9mm carbines are effective out to 100 yards.

What is the best 9mm carbine rifle?

The best 9mm carbine rifle for us is the Sig Sauer MPX PCB 9mm 4.5” Pistol because of its top-tier features and performance.

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