A few years back, pistol caliber carbines seemed to come into vogue as the home defense and just-plain-fun weapon du jour, and understandably so. There are real advantages to using a carbine for home defense over a handgun and possibly also over a shotgun. It’s also a great range toy.
However most people aren’t in the market for a $1,700 SIG SAUER MPX. Especially if you’re a beginner just venturing into the carbine market, we’d steer you toward these three exquisitely budget-friendly 9mm carbines, all of which we’ve reviewed in detail.
Findings are summarized with links to full reviews below. All three are made right here in the USA by American companies, if that matters to you.
1. Kel-Tec Sub-2000 Gen 2
Price: $450 via Sportsman’s Guide, sometimes in stock at Brownells for under $400
TTAG Rating: 5 out of 5
TTAG Review Highlights (Full Review Here):
This is a great little gun that earns praise for its accuracy and reliability. The ergos aren’t bad by any stretch (four stars), but in this price range, luxury isn’t really expected.
A big point in favor of the Sub-2000 is the fact that the most popular version is compatible with 9mm GLOCK magazines – almost everyone shopping for a 9mm carbine has at least three of those lying around somewhere. You can also get one that will take Smith & Wesson, SIG or Beretta mags, too.
And then there’s that handy folding stock that lets you easily slip one into a backpack or small bag. At that price and at just 4.25 lbs unloaded, it’s hard to find fault with this one.
2. Ruger PC Carbine
Price: $480 via Brownells
TTAG Rating: 4 out of 5
TTAG Review Highlights (Full Review Here):
Ruger’s history of semiautomatic pistol caliber carbines goes back more than 60 years. The PC Carbine features an easy takedown design for portability, and compatibility with Ruger as well as GLOCK mags (with the included adapter).
Besides excellent accuracy and reliability that’s essential for inclusion here, its superb trigger is a standout feature. The PC Carbine comes suppressor-ready and is readily customizable in other ways. A great gun at a very competitive price.
3. Hi Point 995TS
Price: $280-$300 via Cabela’s
TTAG Rating: 4 out of 5
TTAG Review Highlights (Full Review Here and Here)
People love to hate on Hi Point – however, the snobbery isn’t always justified. Case in point: their carbines which are now available in a range of calibers. They’re a reliable, utilitarian option, and many find them pretty damn fun to shoot, too.
At that price you don’t have to worry about damaging, scratching, or beating up this gun. Keep one on a boat, in a truck, wherever. It’s an effective tool that goes bang every time the trigger is pulled and lives up to Hi-Point’s mission of delivering great value at a (nearly) painless price.
The Next Step Up in Price: TNW Firearms Aero Survival Rifle ($625)
In the $500 to $1,000 range, there’s a whole lot of nothing when it comes to pistol caliber carbines. But it doesn’t seem right to leave the Aero Survival Rifle off this list. It can be found at street prices just a little over $500 and at Brownells for $675.
For not quite $200 more, you get an easily-removable barrel for no-sweat caliber changes (those available calibers are 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP, 10mm and .357 SIG). It takes the basic design concept of a German MP-18 or the British Sten (i.e. a tubular receiver, blowback-operated pistol-caliber carbine) and modernizes it to include quick-change barrels, multi-caliber options, Picatinny rails, and AR-15 collapsible stocks.
The thing is intended to go a little further than the others and delivers that value in its customizability. That said, if you’re not interested in those features, the Kel-Tec or the Ruger are probably better for your use case. Our full review of the Aero Survival Rifle can be found here.