AR9 Options

[Good Ol' Boy]

As far as NOT building one what are some inexpensive options out there and what are your experiences?

Only two I've come up with are KG AR9 and the JR AR9. The KG is the cheaper of the two and can be had for $529. I actually like the looks of that one better than the JR.

So, any input is welcome....

 

[someguy2800]

Are you looking for Glock mags or colt mags? I went with with a colt mag lower on mine and really glad I did.

I bought a complete palmetto dedicated lower and built the upper so I don’t have any advice on complete guns. I will say consider getting a pistol length gun and put a Kak brace on it. Really like mine. Makes for a very nice compact package. This is a 10.5” barrel with a krink brake.

 

[danez71]

There is also the Aero Rifle (TNW firearms). I was looking at them and JR..... until Ruger came out with their PCC.

The KG is news to me.

 

[someguy2800]

I just looked up the KG AR9. I noticed it did not say if it has last round bolt hold open. Many Glock mag lowers do not. The colt mag lowers do.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

New Frontier Armory makes a lot of the parts that other companies sell.
Their upper has the last round bolt hold open, if that is something you want.
Their complete 16” upper is $399
https://www.newfrontierarmory.com/shop/16-pistol-caliber-slick-side-complete-upper-9mm/

Their complete Glock mag lower is only $289.
https://www.newfrontierarmory.com/shop/complete-c-9-lower-b5-milspec-stock/

 

[Bartojc]

New Frontier Armory makes a lot of the parts that other companies sell.
Their upper has the last round bolt hold open, if that is something you want.
Their complete 16” upper is $399
https://www.newfrontierarmory.com/shop/16-pistol-caliber-slick-side-complete-upper-9mm/

Their complete Glock mag lower is only $289.
https://www.newfrontierarmory.com/shop/complete-c-9-lower-b5-milspec-stock/

I must have missed this thread. Gunny, I just ran across an AR9 locally use that is using a New Frontier upper and a New Frontier lower. I am not familiar with them and am by no means an AR expert. Is New Frontier decent as far as quality ?

For the prices you have above I think I'd be better off buying an upper and a lower and forget about worrying if someone put it together correctly and it functions properly. I think I'm going to have to check it out.


-jeff

 

[GunnyUSMC]

I must have missed this thread. Gunny, I just ran across an AR9 locally use that is using a New Frontier upper and a New Frontier lower. I am not familiar with them and am by no means an AR expert. Is New Frontier decent as far as quality ?

For the prices you have above I think I'd be better off buying an upper and a lower and forget about worrying if someone put it together correctly and it functions properly. I think I'm going to have to check it out.


-jeff

I have 5 guns built on New Frontier Armory manufactured lowers. They are The Spartan lowers sold by Joe Bob Outfitters. They just have a different logo on them.
One 9 mm pistol, one 9 mm carbine and three in rifles calibers.

 

[<*(((><]

If you have a Glock pistol, MechTech is another option that utilizes the Glock frame.

 

[Bartojc]

I have 5 guns built on New Frontier Armory manufactured lowers. They are The Spartan lowers sold by Joe Bob Outfitters. They just have a different logo on them.
One 9 mm pistol, one 9 mm carbine and three in rifles calibers.

Thanks, I think.....

-Jeff

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Here’s a pic of the Joe Bob Outfitters Spartan AR9 lower, made by New Frontier Armory. They are well made.

Here it is built as a pistol.

 

[Everready73]

Fm products would be worth a look as well. Primary arms sells their stuff

 

[TTv2]

Palmetto has a complete one on sale for 550 right now. I bought the upper for 320, but idk what the quality of the handguard is and the upper has the asinine forward assist, even though the bolt is not serrated for functioning with it.

Unless you have to have everything just right, buying the PSA complete AR9 is the better value. You can't beat the price.

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

I appreciate the replies.

The FM looked like a lot was out of stock.

The PSA I only saw pistols for complete set ups.


I hadn't thought about last round open option and had figured on Glock mags. I've been emailing back and forth with the Karri's Gun's company as that is what I'm leaning towards, but nothing's set in stone yet.

 

[tahunua001]

an I just point out that the JR carbine and AERO are not AR pattern rifles? they look somewhat similar but are completely different beasts.
if you don't mind the pricetag, I second the recommendation for mechtech. I recently got to shoot one that was designed to fit 1911 frames. very enjoyable, although 7 rounds doesn't last long in a semi auto rifle, the glock 9mm would get rid of the one grip I had of low ammo cap. the price tag is as much as a complete PCC from other manufacturers so it's really what you are comfortable with and what you are looking for. I decided that I would rather purchase a complete JRC and invest the extra $40 on magazines and not have to keep track of peices of my 1911 when I have the mechtech installed and get better ammo capacity out of the deal.

 

[Mot45acp]

Check out foxtrot mike. Ambi, non reciprocating forward side charger. Reasonably priced. My 8.5" should be here tomorrow.

 

[someguy2800]

Check out foxtrot mike. Ambi, non reciprocating forward side charger. Reasonably priced. My 8.5" should be here tomorrow.

That looks neat. If I had to build mine again I might go with that

 

[Mot45acp]

That looks neat. If I had to build mine again I might go with that

I bought lower, which comes mostly assembled, and complete upper should be delivered today. Not much to build. Upper w/BCG was $375, lower was in the realm of $200ish. $575 for side charger w/ LRBHO was hard to pass up.
IIRC only "building" was trigger and buffer system.

 

[someguy2800]

I bought lower, which comes mostly assembled, and complete upper should be delivered today. Not much to build. Upper w/BCG was $375, lower was in the realm of $200ish. $575 for side charger w/ LRBHO was hard to pass up.
IIRC only "building" was trigger and buffer system.

That's about what it cost me to build mine. I think I have about $600 total in mine with brace and buffer and everything. Mine is a bear creek side charging upper. I bought it all in parts and drilled and tapped the bolt for a charging handle. Mine is a colt mag lower so its LRBHO as well. The LRBHO on their glock lower looks well engineered. If a persons wants to go with glock mags that looks like a great setup.

 

[mgmorden]

Check out foxtrot mike. Ambi, non reciprocating forward side charger. Reasonably priced. My 8.5" should be here tomorrow.

I used their barrel, buffer and BCG on my AR9 build and it has worked quite well.

My setup was pretty much just a regular Anderson Arms upper with the FM 9mm barrel and FM BCG.

For the lower I used a standard PSA lower and one of their build kits. Only non-standard things I did on the lower was the FM buffer, 4 quarters stacked behind the recoil spring to limit bolt travel, and an AR-Stoner mag block to adapt it to Colt 9mm magazines (it's a neat design in that you don't have to remove the bolt catch to install but it still has last round hold open).

A lot of the stuff was on sale when I was building so I got my total down to $518.31 shipped before magazines.

$212.91 For the Barrel, BCG, Flash hider, and FM Buffer (Brownells)
$75.59 for the Lower Build Kit (Palmetto State Armory)
$52.42 for the stripped Lower (Pametto State Armory)
$89.99 for the Magazine Block (MidwayUSA)
$87.40 for the Stripped upper, upper parts kit, charging handle, and free-float handguard (Classic Firearms).

 

[Mot45acp]

Came in today. So far so good, about like a staple gun with subs. Needs a sling and some cheap magpul BUIS.View attachment 799549

 

[BilliamB.]

How things have changed!

I bought a Colt pattern 9 mm carbine upper and lower from Rock River about fifteen years ago that cost me far more than the nines discussed herein. Moreover, RRA did not include a mag block; I had to buy that extra for another hundred dollars or so.

The setup used Colt stick mags, which due to the Clinton fun gun ban (1994-2004), were scarce and expensive. Interestingly, the best (and cheapest) mag option was to modify Uzi sticks to engage the mag block; this was pretty easily done with a drill and a file.

The only real difficulty with the setup was adjusting the dwell of the mag block, lest the rifle constantly stovepipe, no matter what the ammo.

Kitted out with now-mandated ten-round mags, it's now my home defense gun. It is also fun--and cheap--to shoot. One of these days, I'll update the upper with a modern (and lighter) fore-end . . . but not until I replace that sledge-hammer-heavy trigger.

In all, a 9 mm AR makes a nice addition to any home.