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S&W has jumped on the folding pistol caliber carbine bandwagon in a big way. Introduced in February of 2023, the 9mm gun was a success out of the gate. It was built well, reliable, accurate, and could fold in half. It came with one 17- and two 23-round magazines.
Fast-forward to March 18 of 2025. S&W announced that they would be manufacturing their folding FPC in 10mm. Now, heads started turning. A 16 1/4” barreled, 16 1/2 inches-when-folded carbine in what many consider a more serious caliber than 9mm? Many folks said “sign me up!”. Hikers, hunters, campers, and shooters looking for portable power in a semi-automatic package were suddenly interested.
I can’t say that S&W has sold tons of these — its introduction occurred less than a month ago (at the time of writing) – but I’ll bet they are moving them out the door as we speak, and with good reason. A 10mm 180-grain JHP or 200-grain hard-cast FP out of a 16” barrel would be interesting, to say the least. A comparison
I am looking forward to making is the one with velocities recorded from my 4.5” Springfield Armory XDM Elite 10mm and those gathered from this carbine. I will report on velocities below.
Why A Folding PCC?
I touched on some possible uses for such a carbine as this one above. Let’s face it… If we had to carry around a carbine over 30 inches long all day on a hike, that probably would not be pretty.
But… if that 30-inch length could magically turn into 16 ½” and fit in a backpack or carry bag, now we’re talking! Why pack a carbine when a pistol would suffice? Because you can. Folded, this gun can go places a full-length one couldn’t. Plus, it packs more punch than a pistol. With the proper backpack (or even the carry bag that comes with it), it would be no trouble to give this 10mm a ride into the woods or on a trail.
Those who enjoy the outdoors could take this camping, especially in areas that house toothy, grouchy critters like bears. Talk about utilizing that super-de-duper 10mm performance out of a longer barrel! At 5.7 pounds, it won’t wear you out. Plus, it comes with three 15-round magazines so you can carry most of a 50-round box of ammo if desired.
Fishermen, take note… primarily if you fish in remote areas such as parts of Alaska. This is an option you might want to consider, one that makes sense. This carbine could be part of your fishing gear – you could sling it unfolded over your shoulder. Many slings will work with the FPC – S&W even includes one in the bag. That way, you’re ready if trouble presents itself.
But what if you never set foot in the wild? You know, what if your “jungle adventure” is that very game played on a Switch? What if you are looking for a gun for home defense? Truck gun? As the Monty Python character so aptly put it, wink-wink-nod-nod-say-no-more. This gun is excellent for those roles. At home, you could leave it unfolded and ready (with all safety rules observed), and then put it in the truck folded against the passenger seat. The thing is so quick to bring into action – unfolding it takes less time than talking about it – that it could go with you wherever legal without worrying about getting it into action quickly.
Features Of The 10mm Folding PCC
Before I discuss the specs, let’s examine some of the design features S&W engineered into this gun.
Optics ready. You have a nice, long Pic rail on top to mount whatever your heart desires.
Integrated recoil buffer system. This system handles recoil so you won’t beat yourself up.
Reversible magazine catch. Lefties, here we go. Also note the latch behind the logo – releasing that allows the gun to fold.
An M-Lok handguard and a Picatinny rail are included. If desired, lights or lasers can be added up front on the handguard or barrel.
Magazine storage is in the stock with tab release. Carry all three magazines with you. Loaded, these two magazines add some weight to the rear of the stock. It helps tame the recoil a bit.
Compatible with M&P 10mm magazines. (ProMag makes a 20-round version; S&W’s are 15).
A carry case with several pockets is included.
Accessories include two extra magazines, three extra backstraps, a sling, and a chamber flag.
Specifications, 10mm FPC
- Width 2.5 in
- Length 30.6 in (unfolded; 16 ½” folded)
- Height 8 in
- Weight 5 lbs, 7 Oz
- Caliber 10mm
- Size Rifle
- Capacity 15 (3 magazines included)
- Action Blowback
- Barrel Length 16.25 in
- Grip Polymer
- Sights None
- Optic Ready Yes
- Safety Cross-Bolt
- Color/Finish Black
- State Compliance CO, VT
- Threaded Barrel Yes
- Barrel Material 4140 CM
- Frame Aluminum
- Laser No
- 10lb Trigger No
- Stock Fpc
- Model M&P FPC
- MSRP: $699
Where To Buy
Handling This PCC
Why would I create a separate section about how this gun handles? Because it’s so skinny and light. I do understand that it isn’t all that different than many ARs in terms of dimensions and weight but this carbine is lighter than most, so it is swift into action. At under 6 pounds, you have something here that carries easily and doesn’t take up a lot of room when folded. It feels more like a .22 in hand.
Range Time
As I said above, I was curious about the velocity gain from this 16.25-inch barrel over the 4.5-inch one in my SA pistol. I knew it would be accurate… 10mm tends to be very accurate. My XDM Elite has proven that to me. I will be getting into casting my own bullets and “rolling my own” where 10mm is concerned, but I’m not there yet, so I stuck to some factory loads for this review. Plus, you wouldn’t care about my reloads, because you can’t shoot them… I set up my Garmin Xero C1 Pro chronograph on the bench.
I put a red dot on the rail and got it sort-of-sighted-in. I figured if it were on the paper, that would suffice for this review.
Here are some representative 25-yard targets. I put a red dot on the rail and got it sort of sighted in. Of course, the 10mm is suitable for more than 25 yards, but I wanted to make sure all the shots hit paper. I was right in figuring that the POI would be off… The impact was low/left, but at least you can see the accuracy potential. These were all fired off-hand; there was no bench.
Federal 180-grain FP 1170 fps
Magtech 180-grain FP 1370 fps
Winchester “White Box” 180-grain FP 1178 fps
I was surprised that the Federal and Winchester loads weren’t any faster. The Magtech showed more velocity in this carbine than it does out of my 4.5” barreled XDM Elite. Once you find a load that this little carbine likes, you could conceivably take it hunting. I would find a good JHP or JSP, 180- or 200-grain load. Or, even better, an Underwood or Buffalo 200-grain hard-cast load. Talk about good close-in deer medicine!
What Else Is Out There?
There aren’t many competing, folding PCCs in the marketplace… I saw two from Ruger and the Kel-Tec SUB2000.
The Kel-Tec is available in 9mm or .40 S&W, for $578 or $621, depending on the exact model.
The Ruger LC Carbine is available in 10mm and .45 ACP for an MSRP of $1049.
Ruger’s PC Carbine is the only carbine I saw that comes apart – it doesn’t fold – for easy transport. It’s only available in 9mm and costs $779. So, the S&W is a viable selection in 10mm and is priced very well. (I’ve seen it online for as low as $575).
Final Thoughts
Pistol-caliber carbines, especially those in 9mm, are hot right now. I own two of them, and they are handy.
But, 10mm would be a more helpful caliber… it is deer-legal in Indiana while the 9mm is not. Add in the velocity bump you get from the longer barrel and the better sighting options, and you will have a lightweight folding close-range deer rifle. Or a camp protector. Or a truck gun. Or a … You get it.
This PCC is very handy – I bet S&W won’t be able to make them fast enough. What do you think? Let us know below.
Every time I see this just drives me nuts that you can see an engineer designed the buttstock mag storage, not a shooter. They are upside down in orientation and require you to rotate them 180 degrees in order to insert in the grip.
Good idea but too bad it doesnt have sights! I have a problem buying any firearm that needs multi-hundreds of dollars invested in sight right off the bat…
I won’t be buying one, as it is useless without sights. Get a life, S&W!
I’ve handled several and they seem/feel super cheap/flimsy,. Plastic everything, latches, clamshell handguard, ect.
If 10mm and compact is the requirement I’d get highpoint carbing and hitower bulpup kit, Glock longslide. Any AR-15 comes apart in 2 pieces. Still packable.
Personally I have Ruger PCC 9 backpacker, marlin camp carbine 45.
How abchrongraph data on muzzle velocity of various loads from the longer than pistol barrel?
It approaches AR ballistic’s and isn’t an AR. Ballistics By The Inch has charts showing how good 10mm is. 357 also gains a lot with a 16″ or longer barrel.
A couple odd things, a cross bolt safety AND a safety trigger? A buffer tube that’s open at the bottom (open to the elements?) Anyway it looks like a fun folder.
Regarding the trigger, it’s probably the same as the pistol to save money.
10mm is a strange choice by SW vs .45ACP
Proud owner of a Ruger LC Carbine in .45ACP. 🙂 Built to handle +P loads, and launch bigger slugs out at much higher velocity than a 10mm. Watch this:
youtube dot com/watch?v=nxdM2seCDII
Unless it is launching 45 super I would need to see the chrono but the 185g loads do show promise for longer barrels in the 45+p loadings compared to anything else. Problem is outside of buffalo bore underwood and a few others 45 and 10 both tend to be underloaded in general.
Agreed, which is why I reserve my Underwood for the LC. You don’t get much boost in a 4 or 5″ barrel from +P, and given the prices I’d rather not waste it in a pistol.
If there’s a 10mm, there’ll be a .45 ACP.
I’ll take a .45 ACP, please…
Yep. For M&P mags. SW wouldn’t answer when I asked. Perhaps at NRA Annual!
I’d rather shoot the money print hi-point. It would be cool if you could fire it folded in half so dumb people could shoot themselves.
Now dad burn it. When I say short barrels SBR’s using a rifle cartridge decreases the velocity so why get one I get a bunch of not that much and blah blah blah.
Now increasing the pistol cartridge with a longer barrel is a big deal.
SBR’s losing velocity down to just a little above handgun velocities isn’t bad but increasing handgun cartridges with a long barrel is way better.
The Truth About Guns is, velocity rules and if you can’t get velocity use big fat bullets.
This would be better with a 10 inch barrel and a 6 inch suppressor.
Applies to most pistol caliber carbines except for 357 magnum…… especially with a stronger action.
would comment
I have been seriously considering a semi-auto pistol chambered in 10mm Auto for self-defense while camping, hiking, fishing, and hunting. And yet I have been reluctant to proceed since I have wonderful revolvers for that role chambered in .357 Magnum and .44 Magnum. Also holding me back: there was no 10mm Auto carbine available which used double-stack magazines and had a reasonable price tag. If I was going to go with a handgun in 10mm Auto, it would be nice to have a carbine as well for ammunition commonality.
Given my background interest that I described above, I am super seriously interested in this carbine. I have wanted a carbine with more wallop than 9mm Luger and 10mm Auto certainly satisfies that requirement. Also significant: it comes with a threaded barrel so it is factory ready for a suppressor. And while Hi-Point makes a carbine chambered in 10mm Auto, their carbine only uses single-stack magazines and does not fold in half. (I won’t even mention how chunky and heavy Hi-Point carbines are.)
I suppose that I want to touch/hold one of these at a local gun store before considering whether to buy one. It may come down to how solid they feel in-hand. (I don’t care if they have a lot of polymer/nylon as long as they feel solid.)
By the way, before anyone poo-poos the idea of a carbine chambered in 10mm Auto for home defense, some very thoughtful people (website Ballistics By The Inch) measured muzzle velocity with a 16-inch long barrel. Of particular interest for home defense, they measured Cor Bon 135 grain jacketed hollowpoint loads at 1700 feet-per-second.
That is some pretty serious stopping potential. And yet there is very little recoil. I have no idea how awful muzzle blast would be though, even with a suppressor.
If you were unaware, the S&W 10mm M&P in a chest holster is perfect…
Buyer beware with this gun!!… a friend of mine named KEN had a 40 Cal in this particular gun… a squib load caused barrel to completely explode on both side sides all the way to the the thread protector.. if it can’t handle the pressures of a 40 Cal barrel obstruction imagine what happens with a 10 mm with 40+ P…YOU ARE BETA TESTING THIS PRODUCT FOR S&W..
24and7,
I do not understand your comment.
First of all, your comment sounds like nothing more than a squib load burst the barrel. I have never heard of a squib load (just the squib, not the next shot) bursting a barrel. That is, for intents and purposed, impossible.
Second, pistol calibers develop modest pressures under normal operation and therefore a relatively thin-walled carbine-length barrel is the norm–and perfectly fine. If a squib load lodged a bullet near the muzzle and then the human operator fired again into the obstructed barrel, the barrel is very likely to burst. That can (and I would go so far to say is likely to) happen on almost any firearm without a super-heavy profile bull barrel. Thus, a barrel bursting when the human operator fires a second shot into a squib-obstructed barrel does not indicate a design weakness or flaw.
Summary:
1) I don’t believe that a squib load all by itself (without a second shot into the obstructed barrel) will burst a barrel.
2) I believe that an obstructed barrel bursting upon a subsequent shot does not indicate poor quality, a design weakness, nor a design flaw.
c’mon man, it completely exploded on both side sides from a *40* (yooj) caliber squib. totally could have. all the way to the thing.
Made in Turkey
That means the street price will be increasing at least 50% very soon.
No, it’s made in Marysville, Tennessee.
No, it’s made in Maryville, Tennessee.
I just got mine on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Yes, it’s true that it doesn’t come with sights, but I just ordered front and rear iron sights for it which will be more than adequate for what I intend.
I’m not expecting it to be like my M1A, PSL-54, or even my Mosin-Nagant in terms of long-range accuracy. That clearly is not what it was designed for. If can tweak it to put rounds accurately at 100 yards, I’ll be happy.
I really appreciate its compactness which was a major factor why I bought it (a little north of $650 btw). Oh, I also have a Keltec Sub 2000 (Gen 2) in 9mm which folds on top as opposed to the side. Another compact firearm that’ll come in handy.
In closing, I looked at the firearm, read some reviews and made my decision to buy it. I think I made the correct decision.