Carrying a handgun and a long gun that are both chambered for the same cartridge is an age-old practice born out of the fact that convenience and simplicity reign supreme. That was one of the big appeals in the Wild West of the combo of the Colt Single Action Army revolver and the Winchester Model 1873 lever-action rifle.
Over time, however, rifle rounds became more efficient and effective, and this combo fell out of favor. However, over the past few years we’ve seen a massive resurgence of pistol caliber carbines.
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Why?
The return in popularity of pistol caliber carbines, or PCCs, has a lot to do with ammo and technology.
Pistol caliber ammo has really stepped up its game in recent years. You can get some exceptionally great performance out of defensive handgun rounds. When paired with the extra barrel length afforded by a carbine, you’ve got a self-defense match made in heaven.
They also make really great “truck guns,” which is what people refer to as a compact gun that they keep in their vehicle for when SHTF.
AR and Glock Options
With the popularity of AR-style firearms and Glock-style pistols, it was only a matter of time until many companies started making PCCs that were not only patterned after the AR platform, but were fed by Glock magazines.
This provided the best of both worlds: a gun with a familiar platform configuration and a magazine that most people already owned. It is easy to familiarize yourself with a PCC if you’ve already shot an AR because you’re already used to that platform’s manual of arms.
Benefits of the Pistol Caliber Carbine
Outside of a modern and cool looking design, there are a few benefits to the pistol caliber carbine. As firearms, they fill a unique niche, and that niche has become important for both new and experienced shooters. Here’s some of the biggest benefits:
1. They use cheaper ammunition – well, sort of. In 2021, cheaper is a relative term as we’ve seen the price of all ammo go up quite a bit. Still, you can get 9mm ammo for less than .223/5.56 ammo.
2. Pistol caliber carbines are allowed in almost every indoor range in the country. The use of pistol rounds make these weapons safe for indoor pistol ranges. This makes it easier to find ranges to shoot and train at since not everyone has access to an outdoor range.
3. Pistol caliber carbines are better suited for beginners over standard rifles. A rifle caliber is much more difficult to shoot than any pistol round for someone new to the shooting world. A 9mm is a great option for a new shooter moving up from .22LR and looking for a bit more power, but not ready for a full powered rifle.
4. PCCs are much easier to suppress than a standard rifle. Pistol caliber carbines will function reliably with subsonic ammunition more often than most semi-auto rifles. 9mm, 40 S&W, and 45 ACP are all common self-defense options, and they can be found in subsonic varieties. This makes suppressing the weapons easier and more affordable.
5. One of the biggest reasons to own a PCC is the ability to share magazines, or at least ammunition, with your pistol. This simplifies range trips and creates a common source of ammunition.
6. In some cases, a PCC is the most effective weapon available. Due to states with bans on magazine capacity and/or semi-auto weapons, a .357 Magnum lever gun can often be the most powerful, fast shooting option for home defense. (Remember: a PCC doesn’t have to be semi-auto. Lever guns count, too!)
Serious PCC Use
The pistol caliber carbine concept is an excellent option for home defense. They feature light recoil and are easy handling for most shooters. They fall in between the rifle and pistol in terms of power, handling, and capacity. With solid self-defense rounds, a PCC can be the right choice. When paired with a suppressor, you can even preserve your hearing rather well.
The biggest downside is, of course, the fact that a rifle and a shotgun will be more powerful than any PCC. A rifle has more range and a shotgun has more brute power. However, a PCC is much easier to handle with lowered recoil, lower concussion, minimal muzzle rise, and flash. Sometimes, less is more, though, especially with some self-defense situations. There’s always a concern with over-penetration in a home, and you can minimize (but not eliminate) that issue by using a pistol caliber instead of a rifle or shotgun.
Competition shooters have also embraced the pistol caliber carbine platform. There are pistol caliber carbine classes in USPSA and other multi-gun competitions. These classes are a direct result of the growing PCC popularity. They are also easier to arrange for organizers due to the lower penetration and shorter effective range of pistol calibers, making available a larger number of locations where these kinds of matches can be held. For competitors, it’s a cheaper way to enter three gun competitions.
Will the PCC Trend Last?
I don’t see PCCs going away anytime soon. If anything, they’ll probably continue to rise in popularity. If you want an affordable, easy shooting platform, the pistol caliber carbine is certainly an excellent route to take. It’s a great option for fun at the range, competition, and self-defense. What more could you want?
Well, you might want to make some money by selling pistol caliber carbines. If that’s the case, let FFL123 help you start the journey toward getting your own FFL and setting up a part-time or full-time business in the lucrative market of PCCs!
