Sigh.... New itch...

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FlSwampRat

FlSwampRat

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So we got in on FFL transfer a Ruger 9mm carbine. We've had a few pistol caliber carbines come in over the years and every time I start feeling that itch.
So here's the dilemma, in semi auto pistols, I own my cc Bersa Thunder .380 and a few .22's. If I get a pistol caliber carbine my two caliber choices would be 9mm or .380. I don't own a 9mm and I don't think in a tactical situation I'd grab a carbine to deal with it. I have two ready-to-grab .357's and my .44. The carbine would be totally for fun shooting. 9mm is cheaper than .380, but that would have me buying another whole bunch of ammo for only one weapon, much as my .380 stocking now. If I get a .380, that would solve that issue, however the choices of carbines in 9mm is much greater than the choices in .380.
But, as I said, it'd just be for plinking, basically, so the power of 9mm over .380 is moot. Tactically, there are some, if not fearsome, at least quite serviceable rounds in .380. My Bersa and the extra mags for it are all loaded with some pretty Hornady HP rounds.
We have had the Hi Point ( I know, hiss boo ) carbine in stock before and it looks like just a fun gun. I have tried to talk the purchasers thereof into letting me know when they're going to hit the range so I could shoot half a box or so of ammo and leave them the rest, but the phone didn't ring, I guess it was them not calling.
Right now there's sales on said gun for just over $200 from some online sellers which is cheaper than our dealer cost ordering up just one.
Thoughts?
 
Buy what makes you happy. For me it was the Ruger (and a Beretta Cx4) and I haven't regretted it for a second. Easy to shoot, optics-ready, great trigger, accurate and it uses cheap Glock mags. What's not to like?
 
At $200? Grab it bro! If you dont like it you can flip it easily and probably MAKE money!

Now that I think about it, grab 3......

As far as not owning a 9mm- whaaaaaaaaaaaaaattttttt????:D JK, my dad was 60 when he shocked me by buying his first 9.

9mm is hands down the most useful all around cartridge ever. Cheap, plentiful anywhere in the world, powerful enough without battering the gun or shooter- even girls and kids love them!

Did I mention its cheap?

Think of all the great pistols you can now, ummm, accumulate once you open the 9mm door- CZ75, HiPower, Luger, P38, P226, SW M39, Beretta, etc, etc.

Did I mention its cheap?

Do it, I say. Do it now!:)
 
I have two opinions about "black" PCCs (as in, the more tactical ones and not the lever action ones) Also these are opinions coming from someone who is not a huge fan of this new breed of PCCs:

1. If you are going to get a PCC, it really should be an SBR. Extra barrel length for pistol rounds helps but only to a point. They are handier and more suited to the parameters of the cartridge being used. If one does not want to go the SBR route, a braced AR style PCC would also do the same thing.

2. My next opinion is that this type of PCC might as well be an AR platform. The Rugers just don't do it for me. The old Marlin Camp Carbines were slightly nicer looking but in the end just a sporter rifle with a long magazine hanging down which just doesn't look right. The Berettas have a bit going for them with the magazine in the grip which makes for a sleek setup, I must say. The AR PCCs still retain the normal AR look and can still be fully customized the way an AR can be.

The price is right if you want that sort of thing. If I ran into it at the store I would probably still not buy it.
 
NIGHTLORD40K said:
As far as not owning a 9mm- whaaaaaaaaaaaaaattttttt????:D JK, my dad was 60 when he shocked me by buying his first 9.
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I'm 67 in less than two months.Mostly been a wheelgun guy. I have the double deuces because they're just so cheap to shoot and fun.

9mm is hands down the most useful all around cartridge ever. Cheap, plentiful anywhere in the world, powerful enough without battering the gun or shooter- even girls and kids love them! Did I mention its cheap?
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All good points, but like I said, I own two .22 pistols and one .22 revolver that are cheap and fun and easy on other shooters. Giving my wife (who doesn't read this forum) a Ruger SR 22 for her birthday in June because it's cheaper than the ammo for her 57.

Did I mention its cheap?
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I think so.... LOL
 
The worst comments I've heard about Hi Point firearms is that they are heavy, ugly, crude looking and hard to break down. However everything I've read indicates they go bang when they are supposed to, are quite reliable and the customer service is great. I've never fired one but have held them and do agree that they are a bit ugly. At $200 for a new one, what do you have to lose? As previously stated you can always turn around and sell it if you don't like it and probably get close to what you paid for it, maybe more. I've owned two 9mm carbines, a Kel-Tec Sub 2000 and a Ruger PCC but both have been sold. The Sub 2000 is a great idea but the ergonomics just didn't work for me. The Ruger is a pretty nice piece of engineering and it shot well, but I just didn't have a need for a 9mm carbine and sold it. As you have said 9mm is cheaper than .380 by quite a bit and that would be the tie breaker for me between the two calibers. I had a .380 pistol and reloaded for it which kept the cost down for ammo but if you don't reload that extra cost may cause you to shoot less.
 
George Dickel said:
The worst comments I've heard about Hi Point firearms is that they are heavy, ugly, crude looking and hard to break down. However everything I've read indicates they go bang when they are supposed to, are quite reliable and the customer service is great.
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Have zero experience with their customer service but have sold several we ordered in new. On one sale the customer came back a couple hours later with his target raving about how well it ran and how reasonably accurate it was considering the sights and price. I tell folks they're great "nightstand guns". If you're not getting a gun for serious target shooting (not THAT accurate) or concealed carry (bulk) just something for home protection, they're great. Matt from Demo Ranch actually shot one. Not fired it, literally shot it with another gun right in the closed ejection port. Stupid Hi Point still ran. Didn't do much for the looks of the gun but it's a Hi Point. They do have their place and for the right customer I recommend them.

I've never fired one but have held them and do agree that they are a bit ugly.
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Ditto, but I've never had a complaint about one I've sold.
At $200 for a new one, what do you have to lose? As previously stated you can always turn around and sell it if you don't like it and probably get close to what you paid for it, maybe more. I've owned two 9mm carbines, a Kel-Tec Sub 2000 and a Ruger PCC but both have been sold. The Sub 2000 is a great idea but the ergonomics just didn't work for me. The Ruger is a pretty nice piece of engineering and it shot well, but I just didn't have a need for a 9mm carbine and sold it. As you have said 9mm is cheaper than .380 by quite a bit and that would be the tie breaker for me between the two calibers. I had a .380 pistol and reloaded for it which kept the cost down for ammo but if you don't reload that extra cost may cause you to shoot less.
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The Ruger is the one that just arrived for the ffl transfer. It's what got me thinking about it all. Since I see no practical need for a carbine for myself, merely a desire, staying with a caliber I already buy makes sense. The Hi Point carbine is stamped sheet metal, not castings like the handguns, it's a little less ugly looking but from handling the ones we've sold, they point real well and seem like they'd be real fun to shoot at one of the local ranges that has moving metal targets.
 
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I love my Ruger PCC. It's very accurate and just plain fun to shoot. When I bought mine I had no 9mm handguns and no Glock mags. I've got Glock mags now for the PCC and I've got three 9mm handguns.
S&W 5906, Canik TP9SFx, Sig P365.

Since I cast and reload I can shoot 9mm for less than the cost of .22 LR.
 
I bought a Ruger PC9. I let a friend shoot it and now he has one. He let a friend shoot his, now he has one. This goes on about two or three more times!

I own Glocks, so I set mine up for Glock mags. This swap took me about five minutes at the kitchen table.

Fun guns! They’re easy to shoot, easy to feed, easy to mount optics if you choose and easy to break down. Plus, in Ca they’re not “ assault” guns so you can buy them and shoot them without the hoopla involved (Some public ranges won’t let AR shooters fire with mags that hold over ten rounds for some reason!).

Hi points are ugly as sin, but they do fire reliably. Very reliably!

The choice is up to you... but I’ll recommend a Ruger only because the mag choices you get and ease of takedown.

Stay safe!
 
Thunderchicken said:
I just wanted to point out there are Bersa-sized 9mm carry guns too. You could trade your carry for a 9mm and get a matching carbine and not add another ammo type. Because the only thing better than an excuse for a new gun is an excuse for two new guns...
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I was showing a friend my newest .22 purchase. He's a blues guitarist and he asked why I bought another double deuce when I already had a few. "I mean, you can only shoot one at a time, right?"
I just pointed to his t-shirt that said "He who dies with the most guitars wins".
I mean, you can only play one at a time, right?
 
I, too have been eyeing the Ruger. I have a lever action carbine in 357 mag and that thing is probably my most fun gun to shoot. I think that's what got me hooked on PCCs: they're cheap to shoot, pretty accurate and they change pistol cartridges into completely different animals. Even more so if you reload.

If you wind up going with the hi-point come back and let us know how she does. I've also been thinking about one of those as a first semi-auto PCC but haven't "bit the bullet", so to speak. There are other things my collection needs more desperately at the time being.

Good luck in your search!
 
I owned and liked the original Ruger PC carbine, though mine was a .40 (PC4) rather than a 9 (PC9). I didn't like that it took Ruger's priorietary magazines. Had it accepted Glock mags, I would still have it.

When Ruger announced that the new PC Carbine would take Glock mags, I knew I'd get one. It is fun, surprisingly accurate, and cheap to shoot. I also like the takedown feature that lets me stash it in the tiny trunk of my sports car. What's not to like?
 
Can’t help you, ‘cause what I really want is the Kel Tec CMR30 (which is .22WMR). Unless you’d consider ditching the Bersa for a PMR30 and owning the pistol and rifle combo...I guess I stand with @earlthegoat2 in feeling an AR would be the choice that stands out. If not that then the Ruger followed by the Sub2000 is my ranking of interest, albeit without having experienced any of them at the range.
 
I will whole heartedly recommend the Hi Point carbine. Ugly? Yes. Heavy? Yes but that's not always a negative. A pain to take down? Yes. Dang well reliable? You bet. It won't win a beauty contest but very reliable and fun to shoot. Made in USA. Buy one.
 
FISwampRat

Mind you I don't have a horse in this race but I would be inclined to go with the Ruger PCC because it's well made, can take Glock mags, and everyone should have at least one 9mm. in their gun collection.
 
Picked up a Ruger PCC last July and after reading this thread I feel like I paid way too much ! But I really like it..... Never owned anything like that so I had to try it. The factory iron sights are nice even for late 60's eyes, but I too began thinking "red dot" until I remembered that Bushnell Holographic sight I have that hasn't been on a gun in about 10 years. Put in on, sighted it in, and I'm still undecided. Might even go back to the irons. Haven't switched it over for Glock mags yet, either, despite owning a Glock 19. Had two Ruger mags so that's what been used so far. Whatever I do this one's gonna be a "keeper". I've heard them described as a "10/22 on steroids" and I agree. I'm sure anyone who owns both, like I do, will agree. IMG_4246.JPG * And yes..... You should have at LEAST one 9mm.
 
22250Rem said:
Picked up a Ruger PCC last July and after reading this thread I feel like I paid way too much ! But I really like it..... Never owned anything like that so I had to try it. The factory iron sights are nice even for late 60's eyes, but I too began thinking "red dot" until I remembered that Bushnell Holographic sight I have that hasn't been on a gun in about 10 years. Put in on, sighted it in, and I'm still undecided. Might even go back to the irons. Haven't switched it over for Glock mags yet, either, despite owning a Glock 19. Had two Ruger mags so that's what been used so far. Whatever I do this one's gonna be a "keeper". I've heard them described as a "10/22 on steroids" and I agree. I'm sure anyone who owns both, like I do, will agree. View attachment 838858 * And yes..... You should have at LEAST one 9mm.
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I also had to improve the sights myself. I painted the front sight white, then blaze orange, using Testors model paint. It really makes the front sight stand out compared to the standard look.

Stay safe.
 
jackinil said:
I shot my PC Carbine for the 1st time on my birthday.4/18. My 66 year old eyes did okay,shooting off hand at 25 yards. i don't own a Glock but set it up for Glock mags. I used Magpul 21rd and Glock 33 rd,worked flawlessly. A red dot would be even easier I believe.I also added a 9mm A2 flash suppressor,mainly for looks.
View attachment 838851
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My eyeballs is about to turn 67 (along with the rest of me, I guess) so I know the sighting joys of "Do I focus on the sights with plain shooting glasses or put on prescription glasses to see the target?". I'm nearsighted, need glasses for distance, obviously.

That group looks fine to me. And so does your carbine.
 
bannockburn said:
FISwampRat

Mind you I don't have a horse in this race but I would be inclined to go with the Ruger PCC because it's well made, can take Glock mags, and everyone should have at least one 9mm. in their gun collection.
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Since I don't have a Glock the magazine compatibility is pretty moot. Wouldn't be grabbing it as a primary defense weapon anyway, probably go for one or two of the .357's. Besides, the .380 is 9mm short. ;)
 
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