9x19 AR Trainer?

[Chris Rhines]

Since it looks like .22LR ammo prices are going to remain high for the foreseeable future, I'm thinking about building a clone of my 3gun rifle in 9x19. The purpose would be mainly indoor and close-range training on steel targets.

Of course, I know exactly nothing about pistol-caliber ARs. Anyone have any experience building them, getting them to run, knowing good parts from crap parts, etc.? Is building a 9x19 upper and dropping it on my existing 3gun lower a possibility?

Since this is going to be a training-only gun, I'm trying to control costs. I'd like to pour no more than maybe $800 into this project, and cheaper is definitely better.

[Gray222]

JPE (http://www.jprifles.com/1.2.17_AR%20PISTOLS.php) sells a complete pistol 9mm AR for around $1500 I think and JSE supply seems to have a bunch of different 9mm ar options

http://www.jsesurplus.com/9mm-4.aspx

http://www.jsesurplus.com/custom9mm.aspx

[TGS]

How much do you shoot?

Will the costs of purchase, extra mags, accessories, ect actually be cheaper than buying the requisite amount of 223/5.56 for practice?

I would think you'd have to be shooting a lot.

[olstyn]

How much do you shoot?

Will the costs of purchase, extra mags, accessories, ect actually be cheaper than buying the requisite amount of 223/5.56 for practice?

I would think you'd have to be shooting a lot.

^ This. If you don't already have one, a reloading setup for .223/5.56 might be a better investment, and of course, you could then reload 9mm as well.

[GJM]

I think Chris was thinking of being able to shoot steel at pistol distances.

Not a 3 Gun clone, but I have a Colt for this use. Works great. Kind of ambivalent about it vs a .22, for my use maintaining carbine proficiency on my pistol range targets.

[Chris Rhines]

I think Chris was thinking of being able to shoot steel at pistol distances.

Not a 3 Gun clone, but I have a Colt for this use. Works great. Kind of ambivalent about it vs a .22, for my use maintaining carbine proficiency on my pistol range targets.

Pretty much this. I hate shooting the 5.56 guns indoors, and my outdoor range doesn't allow shooting rifles on steel inside 100 yards. I do reload, 9x19 and 5.56 both.

I have a S&W MP15-22 that runs great, so modifying that to feel more like my 3gun rifle might be an option - the biggest problem there would be the stock.

[Wayne Dobbs]

Get a Colt 6450. Uses an M4/AR lower with mag well adaptor gear. I put it out there in the Colt Armorer courses I teach for a training role, especially in teaching folks to manage the carbine indoors in shoot houses with pistol rated traps.

[UNK]

I think I would look around at prices. Saw a few on Gunbroker, some with short barrels quite a bit less than the price you mentioned. Here's a brand new CMMG 9mm 16" barrel upper for a little over 400.00. http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=505958892

Do they sell just mag well adapters or do you have to buy the complete lower?

It looks like 11-12 inches is the best bang if u don't mind a short barrel stamp. That would make a nice package if coupled with a silencer.
http://ballisticsbytheinch.com/9luger.html

[HCM]

They make mag well adapters, but the better ones are a pain to install and remove. You are better off with a dedicated lower.

I have a 2007 vintage Colt 9 mm AR. It's the older version with the fixed carry handle but it runs 100%. You can find Colt 9 mm flattop ARs for about $1k. I've stuck to the Colt magazines and had no issues. Aftermarket mags are a crap shoot. The original colt mags were based on / converted from Uzimags. I've heard of people having good luck with converted Uzi magazines but your mileage may vary.

[ranger]

Palmetto State Armory ran a great deal recently on their AR9. It was a complete kit with MAGPUL MOE handguard and grip MINUS the stripped lower. I had a stripped upper handy and I built the rifle myself. I like it because I can shoot it on our pistol bays and the pistol rated steel. Lots of fun and I think it will be a great training tool to introduce new or novice shooters to the AR platform.

[Chris Rhines]

They make mag well adapters, but the better ones are a pain to install and remove. You are better off with a dedicated lower.

How big a pain are we talking here? A dedicated lower (with stock, trigger pack, etc) is going to go over my budget.

[dbateman]

What is 9mm cost versus 223 ?

I'm not against the idea of a 9mm AR but I wouldn't go building one to try and save money on ammo.

[Toonces]

How big a pain are we talking here? A dedicated lower (with stock, trigger pack, etc) is going to go over my budget.

It's easy. They install from the bottom with a set screw. A Rock River adapter would do the same.

http://shop.hahn-precision.com/Bottom-9mm-Adapter-A9CPRB0402.htm

I've had, and sold, a Rock River and Colt 6450. The Rock River ran JHP ammo much better than the Colt. The magazines are different enough that the carrying and handling doesn't equate to 5.56 mags. The recoil is different, due to being straight blowback. Most people only have good luck with Metalform or converted Uzi mags. (I was lucky, my C-Products mags ran. I was in the 5% category) Just for the similarity to 5.56 magazines, you would probably be better off with a .22 upper on your current lower. If you are opposed to tweaking and working on guns you will probably be better off with more ammo for your current gun. Knowing what I know now, I wouldn't have bought either. I might try a dedicated .22 upper. YMMV and good luck.

[TGS]

There's a federal agency planning to replace their Colt 9mm SMGs with Mk18s in the next couple years. Too bad they would never be converted to semi and sold off to the public. :(


What is 9mm cost versus 223 ?

I'm not against the idea of a 9mm AR but I wouldn't go building one to try and save money on ammo.

He's already clarified that this is for shooting close range steel and in pistol bays where 5.56 is not allowed.

[dbateman]

He's already clarified that this is for shooting close range steel and in pistol bays where 5.56 is not allowed.

I have somehow missed that bit.

[John Hearne]

I've had mine since 2005 or so. Use it mostly to shoot steel up close and it's great for that. I've also shot it as a second gun in local IDPA matches.

Mine is a RRA upper with Hahn magazine block. I've since bought two more for work - both are RRA uppers with their magazine blocks and Brownells 9mm magazines. They've run great.

[StraitR]

At under $1000, why not just buy a Colt 6951? http://www.gandrtactical.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=6951