Anyone run an SBR 9mm upper that tickles your fancy? Trying to decide if I should go with the EVO or get a dedicated upper.

Which 9mm upper doesn't tickle my fancy. The big issue on these is what mag are you going to run. I have uppers from Colt, CMMG, JP, WW, probably some others I'm not remembering, plus quite a few I built. I've got dedicated lowers and ones with inserts... If I was just going to have some fun I'd work to build a doe 633 look alike (an actual clone would be some effort). Or maybe something like a 6991 look alike. I love 9mm sbr like things and the EVO would be pretty far down my list based on my experience.

I have a 5.5” ‘shop build’ upper on a SBR’d PSA lower with 9mm mag insert. The upper is a mix and match with various makers’ parts, and the barrel is oddly threaded 5/8x24 instead of the typical 1/2x28. Initially I would encounter 2-3 FTF’s per 32 round mag, but after adding a longer buffer that prevents bolt over travel and keeping a TiRant can on it full time the failures are rare. The mag insert is to use Colt-style mags - I picked up a bunch back when PSA had their logo stamped on the floor plate…they have worked just as well as any Colt stamped mag I’ve had.

I also have a AR pistol with a 4” FM9 upper on a Combat Armory lower that uses Glock mags. I’m still breaking this one in…using factory Glock mags, 17rd mags seem to work well. I can’t get more than 3 shots without a FTF when using 33rd mags. Hopefully with more use I can get it working right.

Both are fun range toys and a treat to shoot. The suppressed 5.5 SBR has nearly zero recoil and muzzle flip.

I haven’t bought anything else, but I did stock up on Colt pattern metalform magazines from Greg Cote.

I should add that I have a “full size” and “k” size MKE MP5 clones. At current prices it’s hard to say no.

This technically does have an "upper".

I've never been a fan of 9mm ARs. They just seem too big for that purpose. A dedicated PCC just seems less...oversized.

I run a Colt pattern SBR 9MM. This one is an integrally suppressed LRM M169. It uses a 6” ported barrel that allows 115gr ammo to be slowed enough to be subsonic by the time it leaves the suppressor. I have had this upper for many years and it is 100% reliable and quiet with full power ammo.



As a side note. Metalform makes the mags for Colt and you can get them for much cheaper than Colt marked mags. These used to be $19.99 from CDNN when the Colt mags were $60. I have 10-20-and 32rd mags.

https://www.cdnnsports.com/ar1...-32rd-metalform.html

I’ve got a Colt 9mm upper that I run on my M16 occasionally and it’s okay but not my first choice, I’ve also got an EVO, but I’d grab the Colt before the EVO, my favorite 9mm carbine would be the MP5 in semi, auto or binary it’s hands down my favorite however if I were a younger man I’d look hard at one of the BT offerings.

After doing a few upgrades including the Franklin Armory binary trigger and I SBR’d it and that’s when I really felt how heavy the bolt/carrier is in recoil.

I have a home brew 9mm upper with a 10" barrel a buddy assembled for me. Probably a little longer than most would go, but I got a good deal on a ballistic advantage barrel, so...
Lives on a PSA colt mag lower I bought several years ago. Fun and reliable, though it doesnt have a high round count.

It is not a well known brand persae but look at offerings from FoxTrot Mike. Get through Brownells, Primary Arms, Aim Surplus and maybe a few others. Very good quality. Really good pricing. I like the side charging handle option. Trust me, you will not be disappointed.
And you will not be giving up anything in terms of quality with anything already mentioned in this thread.

If you’re stuck on the EVO or a 9mm upper, I would definitely recommend a 9mm upper, but if you could save up a bit longer and get an HK or quality clone you’ll likely be much happier … you may even take a gander at some BT products. I don’t have any but I’ve never heard anything negative about them.

I can say I have most of the volume 9mm carbines. I'm still working my way to figure out how to fund a JP roller locked one, but whatever.
In the pecking order of these the B&T is at the top. No ifs and or butts. But so is its price. HK Mp5 and clones are wonderful guns, but if you are actually doing something with the gun (like competing) they suck and mag prices are terrible. That's not a negative just the reality I live me some HK roller locks.
An AR9 upper on a glock lower is just about the optimum 'sweet spot' on these type of guns.
IMO.

I have an Aero EPC 9mm I like a lot.

I would have gone DI(CMMG?) if I had to do it again but that is nit picking, it's a fun, well-running PCC and I like Glock mags too.

https://www.aeroprecisionusa.com/epc

Just another opinion but ...
I have the CMMG 9mm AR (with "delayed radial blowback). I've shot the heck out of this and love it. 100% reliable (so far) and less recoil than the direct blowbacks. Mine runs the Colt style mags and always locks back on an empty mag. I am very satisfied.
I have shot a friend's Sig MPX (it is based on a gas piston recoil system). It has even less recoil and would be my second choice. Fun gun to shoot, beginners love it, too!

Which mags does your CMMG use? One of these is high on my list.

quote:

Originally posted by mike28w:
Just another opinion but ...
I have the CMMG 9mm AR (with "delayed radial blowback). I've shot the heck out of this and love it. 100% reliable (so far) and less recoil than the direct blowbacks. Mine runs the Colt style mags and always locks back on an empty mag. I am very satisfied.
I have shot a friend's Sig MPX (it is based on a gas piston recoil system). It has even less recoil and would be my second choice. Fun gun to shoot, beginners love it, too!

[QUOTE]Originally posted by AUTiger89:
Which mags does your CMMG use? One of these is high on my list.

My CMMG uses the old "colt style" mags.... There's nothing wrong with the Glock mag version (they are certainly more easily available). I like the way that the colt mags hold the bolt open after the last round. The Glocks use a different hold open design that doesn't seem quite as straightforward. JMO.

Other than that difference, I don't see any other advantage, either way. YMMV, of course. I'm perfectly happy with my little CMMG.

Good luck ! mike

PS: I'm going to be spending this Sat. afternoon at a carbine class. They say bring 250 rounds.... guess what carbine I'm bringing!!

I have a 5" CMMG upper (radially delayed blowback) that I use on a standard AR SBR lower using Mean Arms Endomags.


The mags are rock solid and the combination is simply excellent.

A bit more expensive than some of the direct blowback 9mm offerings, but worth every penny IMHO. Ancillary benefit of using endomags is that one SBR lower can be used for both 9mm and any of the same calibers that will fit in a standard 5.56 STANAG magazine length lower.

I like my 8” CMMG.

quote:

Originally posted by Dwill104:
I like my 8” CMMG.

Tri Lug is best lug.