Hey S&W How about an AR Carbine in 9mm ?

Engine49guy

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Been tempted lately to pick up the new M&P Sport II but my last .223 carbine usually sat in the safe on range day simply because I prefer the longer site radius and feel of the standard 21" barrel USGI version for outdoor plinking .....
FF to what has kept me up at night lately... that is if S&W would offer their AR carbine chambered in 9mm at the current market price of under $600 not only would I buy one in an instant..... my guess is Im not alone in that thought.


A 9mm AR Carbine makes alot of sense to me for several reasons :
Slightly cheaper ammo that is common with handguns, more sensible for home defense with more bullet mass that has lower wall penetration especially since the new hollow point designs have improved as man stoppers causing many to return to the 9mm handgun.
(BTW 9mm is also much more forgiving on steel plate hanging targets ).

From a profit standpoint it seems the market is flooded with sub $700 AR carbines in .223 right now but Im not seeing many 9mm carbines in that price range (if any) especially with the S&W lifetime warranty.

The 9mm AR Carbine would also be much cheaper to build (shorter build time and less parts = Higher Co. profit ) since the operating system is simple blowback
(Right side 9mm bolt pictured below)


(Left side of 9mm bolt)


Simple blowback means the 9mm AR carbine does not require a gas tube, rotating bolt or locking lugs and as such makes the barrel much easier to machine at the breech, BTW it also does not require the forward assist assembly since the bolt does not lock into the barrel.

Colt simply pins a magazine adapter into their standard .223 lower mag well (pictured below) then adds a larger brass deflector,


If S&W wanted to "One up them" they could offer quick change adapters that would adapt various mags to their carbine,
In other words one adapter would accept M&P mags while another would adapt the carbine to accept Model 459/59 mags, another for CZ, another for Glock etc so the 9mm carbine could swap mags with the users choice of 9mm handgun should need arise.

A little 9mm Carbine plinking porn:
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLCkupJ3rUM[/ame]
 
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I agree with you. I looked at some of the pistol caliber carbines for a good while before I decided to bite the bullet and buy my M&P15.

If S&W would come out with one at a reasonable price point I think they'd have a hard time keeping up with demand.
 
I've been hoping for the same thing I would buy one in a heart beat I'am looking at a Just Right Carbine right now that takes my M&P mags.
Come on S&W M&P 15 in 9mm!
 
I'm sitting on a mountain of 9mm ammo but shoot .38 Special and .45 ACP/AR almost exclusively.

I'd buy a S&W 9mm carbine in a heartbeat.
 
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I would love to have one, I've been looking at other brands but just can't pull the trigger (groan). If S&W made one I'd get on that line.
 
The lower/components, buffers, bolts, and magazines are more expensive than the 5.56 varieties.

The same price point would not happen.

A USGI rifle uses a 20" barrel.

5.56/223 often penetrates LESS in building materials than pistol calibers.

Most people buy 9mm AR carbines due to ammo cost, familiarity, ability to shoot at indoor pistol ranges, reduces noise/blast, and quite simply, because they are fun.
 
The lower/components, buffers, bolts, and magazines are more expensive than the 5.56 varieties.

The same price point would not happen.

A USGI rifle uses a 20" barrel.

5.56/223 often penetrates LESS in building materials than pistol calibers.

Most people buy 9mm AR carbines due to ammo cost, familiarity, ability to shoot at indoor pistol ranges, reduces noise/blast, and quite simply, because they are fun.

Another advantage to the 9mm carbine is considerably less muzzle blast compared to the .223, Recently had a shooter on the lane next to me at my local indoor range shooting a 16" AR15...NOT PLEASENT !

All valid points except I would argue a lower is a lower and the 9mm AR parts actually cost the company less to produce... of course the factory final unit cost will not really reduce market price after the S&W marketing guys realize they can charge more for a 9mm carbine (like Colt did) despite that the product is simpler and cost less to produce...thats pretty much expected at least in the beginning until demand drops or the market is saturated but its a goldmine in the beginning IMO as they are already setup to build the AR .

I primarily shoot 55 grain M193 FMJ ball in my SP1 and 62 grain M855 SS 109 Green tip in my HBARs , IIRC the low penetration advantage of .223 was primarily with soft point or hollow point ammo but am going to have to study up on that issue, Of course Im not planning to ever use a 9mm Carbine as a home defense gun either, so the point for me at least is moot.
On a side note I recall shooting a dumpster once with 55 grain M193 and it pierced side 1, keyholed side 2 and left a lump in the lid the size of a golfball, guessing the heavier M855 geen tip with tungsten carbide inserts will penetrate even better.

Forgot to mention that while standard SP1 and HBAR barrels are 20" long they are 21" to then end of the flash suppressor ... ;) :)
 
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Using self defense ammo ,handgun calibers often penetrate more than 223/556 inside a house. Even when both over penetrate the handgun caliber often still goes further. This will of course vary based on the size of your house, it's construction and anything that's standing up against the walls

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They could build it with a 30 rd mag that interchanges with the M&P series. Might convince some shooters to come over to their pistol line for compatibility.
 
They could build it with a 30 rd mag that interchanges with the M&P series. Might convince some shooters to come over to their pistol line for compatibility.
Not a bad idea. I have zero interest I'm a handgun caliber carbine but I think it would be better to use mags that are already plentiful. Maybe UZI mags if that's possible or Colt mags or dare I say Glock mags.

I know when I'm buying a firearm one of the first things I look at is mag price and availability along with interchangeability.

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Not a bad idea. I have zero interest I'm a handgun caliber carbine but I think it would be better to use mags that are already plentiful. Maybe UZI mags if that's possible or Colt mags or dare I say Glock mags.

That would pretty much be the only reason I might be interested since I already have some of their 30+ round mags. More of a fun or last ditch firearm since 9mm is plentiful and generally not too terribly expensive by comparison.

I doubt, however, they'd make it usable with the Glock magazine if the idea ever gets any traction.
 
I purchased a PSA 9mm AR kit last summer/fall when they were on sale for $399.00 with free shipping. Assembled it on a $35.00 Anderson lower and away I went. It functions fine and is a blast to shoot. With less than $450.00 invested in the whole deal how can you go wrong. I keep watching the PSA web site waiting for the kit to go on sale again. I'll buy another one if I can get it cheap.
 
All valid points except I would argue a lower is a lower and the 9mm AR parts actually cost the company less to produce... of course the factory final unit cost will not really reduce market price after the S&W marketing guys realize they can charge more for a 9mm carbine (like Colt did) despite that the product is simpler and cost less to produce...thats pretty much expected at least in the beginning until demand drops or the market is saturated but its a goldmine in the beginning IMO as they are already setup to build the AR.
The 9mm lowers are more complex. A standard lower requires the appropriate mag block, and the bolt and buffers are weighted with tungsten which is more expensive than steel.
 
While the world has moved away from it ...... the 9mm H&K MP-5 was king of the hill for years....

As a HD or PDW or urban SHTF gun I like my Beretta CX-4 with 17-20 (and 30s now) round 92 magazines set up w/ a 92 Centurion.

I've got a 300 lumen Streamlight on mine.......... it's good to go out to 75-80 yds. or so.

At 29 inches they are actually 3" shorter than a AR with the stock collapsed and weight in at only 5.6 lbs.......about a pound less than a AR.

A 9mm S&W AR that would take 569xx mags would be cooool given Meg-gar still makes 20 rd mags!!!!!!!!
 
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Unfortunately, I am thinking about swapping to a glock because I only care about home defense, and the bottom falling out on everything. If it does, I only want to have one type of ammunition to be concerned about. Carrying multiple cal doesn't work well for that...

Hell, give me a a damn SD adapter kit for a basic 5.56 lower. I'm sure that we can find an upper AR9 to fit. Or my noob *** could be completely wrong on that part. Wouldn't be a first.
 
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I guess not everybody......

I guess not everybody is as nutty about carbines as I am. I got a Kel Tec Sub2000 Gen 2 in 9mm with a blowback action. and I got a 33 round Glock mag for it. The son of a gun even folds in half. It doesn't feel 'cheap' at all.

Next, I've got my sights on a Henry .22 lever carbine.

It's too bad but S&W isn't in the running at all for these types of guns.
 
I guess not everybody is as nutty about carbines as I am. I got a Kel Tec Sub2000 Gen 2 in 9mm with a blowback action. and I got a 33 round Glock mag for it. The son of a gun even folds in half. It doesn't feel 'cheap' at all.

Next, I've got my sights on a Henry .22 lever carbine.

It's too bad but S&W isn't in the running at all for these types of guns.

Almost 2 weeks ago I was in my LGS - they had two Kel-tecs on the wall - I was purchasing some ammo and a couple magazines - as I checked out I asked if both were in .40 (expecting the answer to be yes) - They said "no" - one was a 9mm that takes Glock magazines. I put $150 down and paid the rest/picked it up the next day. Haven't shot it yet - but I am very impressed with it so far....

(Edit for clarification - LGS - one of the Kel-tec on the wall was in .40 and one was in 9mm. I picked up the one in 9mm as they seem to be very rare and hard to find in my area. I've only seen them in .40 at local gun shows and LGS. First time I had run across a Kel-tec 9mm for sale locally.)
 
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About everything....

Almost 2 weeks ago I was in my LGS - they had two Kel-tecs on the wall - I was purchasing some ammo and a couple magazines - as I checked out I asked if both were in .40 (expecting the answer to be yes) - They said "no" - one was a 9mm that takes Glock magazines. I put $150 down and paid the rest/picked it up the next day. Haven't shot it yet - but I am very impressed with it so far....

First I"m 90% sure that it does come in .40.:confused:

Anyway, whatever needed fixing on the first gen version has been fixed very well on the new one. The only complaint is that the piece that holds the buffer sticks up and knocks you earmuffs up Other than that it's slicker than cat poop on a linoleaum floor..
 
I've got two 9mm carbines and really like them. LGS had a CZ Scorpion with suppressor that was pretty cool. Lot of aftermarket for the Scorpion.... I think the 9mm carbines are really catching on.
 
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Even though we are near the first anniversary of this thread...:)

If S & W had enough demand to make parts for a 9 mm M & P carbine in quantities sufficient to make a profit, they would at least think about it. As mentioned above, the .223/5.56 version has pretty much dominated the LE market, so even if the parts are similar to a 9 mm they are different enough to mandate a dedicated production process, and in smaller quantities. Which is probably why you can get 9 mm uppers (and complete guns?) from small volume makers, at higher cost.
 
9mm Carbines have their place and are a lot of fun, they do not need to be S&W for me

My CMMG MK9LE 9mm AR with a Slidefire stock



My Beretta CX4 9mm, uses M92 mags



And my new favorite, my Zenith MKE Z 5rs with a SB tactical brace (MP5 clone)

 
A S&W M&P 9mm carbine, not necessarily an AR would be added to the top of my immediate list. Currently the CZ Scorpion Evo carbine is number 1 and the Beretta CX4 is a close second. I am a born again shooter. I kept six pieces unused for 25 years and started again about five months ago, my honey has jumped in with both feet and become an avid, safe and competent shooter in those few months. She wants to keep improving. We have purchased three firearms in the past 5 months, all for her (sure), an M&P .22 compact, an M&P 15-22 and a Sig P320 compact. There is a pattern, they are light and a little soft and tons of fun.

So no M&P 9mm carbine. Anyone want to share thoughts or opinions about the CZ? The momentum is picking up speed, I have Tuesday off and I will probably visit my very good LGS to see what they can do.:)
 
Most people buy 9mm AR carbines due to ammo cost, familiarity, ability to shoot at indoor pistol ranges, reduces noise/blast, and quite simply, because they are fun.

Id buy one.

Already have several....getcha some.

Hi-Point...lifetime warranty...send ya free parts if you wanna do it yourself...300 bucks any caliber you want.
9mm
.380
.40
.45

I have a couple of 9mm's and a .45. Never glitch, eats anything and a butt load of fun.

...but Id love to have an M&P ;)
 
An AR-pattern 9mm carbine? If you really want one, you can buy one. It doesn't have to be S&W branded. The big decision in either buying one or building one is deciding on which pistol magazine you want to use. Most of the ones I've eyeballed utilize Glock mags which are cheap and plentiful.

I've eyeballed 9mm AR-15's but what's the point in one? We are lucky to live in a pistol caliber carbine design rich environment. The Turks and the Zenith clone MP5. CZ and the Scorpion. Sig and the MPX. Kel-Tec Sub2K Gen2. Kriss Vector. The hard to pass up Hi-Point carbine. IMO, buy a pistol caliber carbine and might as well buy a form factor other than an AR-15.
 
Almost a year since starting this thread and still no S&W 9mm carbine,
In that time seems the Colt 9mm flat top carbines have dropped a bit and can be found just under $1000 ,

Checked PSA's website today and while their 9mm upper lower Glock mag carbine kits can be had for around $550 ish seems all the Colt mag compatible lower units are sold out.

Still on my hit list but if S&W is listening still interested in a Sport II in 9mm ;)
 
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This is just my opinion but if one wants to own a rifle, it should be in a rifle caliber. Pistol caliber rifles outside of a few exceptions are essentially a toy and can't reproduce the capabilities of a rifle caliber chambered rifle will. Many of those exceptions came in lever action and used the more powerful pistol calibers so that a cowboy only had to carry one round and still have the realistic expectation of being able to take down larger game.
 
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