Thoughts on building a braced 9mm pistol

My thoughts: 

8″ barrel braced pistols are the sweet spot for 9mm. It’s compact yet long enough to grip (and have a front iron sight you can focus on if you have one). 9mm ballistics peak at about 8″ also. Us citizens don’t have to worry with shorter barrels to keep things subsonic because we don’t have to rely on a govt supply chain that only keeps one type of 9mm. We can buy 147gr if we want. 5″ barrels will fit in a backpack better if using a folding stock adapter.

Rear charge is better: it keeps the same manual of arms as all your other ARs and leaves room up front for a light.

My prior recommendation for features, price, etc. was the Foxtrot Mike FM-9 (billet) pistol. [their “hybrid” model is polymer] with 7″ barrel and blast diffuser

https://store.fm-products.com/products/fm-products-5397

but they pooped the bed by shipping it in a thin box & their fumbled again w/ their pitiful response to the problem. Nobody else seems to have it in stock.

You can buy the upper complete here from somebody else for $349

https://aimsurplus.com/products/foxtrot-mike-fm-9-7-in-rear-charging-9mm-complete-upper-receiver-aim-surplus-exclusive

The parts list for the one I’m helping James build is as follows:

Lower receiver $160 – Matrix Arms w/ LRBHO. 10% coupon avail for giving your email. I have personally owned one of these and it was flawless; It’s well designed. (No competition magwell available though.)

Matrix Arms 9mm For Glock Stripped Lower Receiver – MA9GL

Upper Receiver & 8.3″ Barrel: $98.95 (Anderson no forward assist, no dust cover – almost any upper will work though) RTB barrels are typically are BA brand.

https://www.righttobear.com/ar-9-rtb-9mm-barrel-1-2-x-28-9mm-true-slick-side-upper-receiver-combo/

Option:

Lightweight 8.3 barrel $75.22 when added to cart

https://lanbosarmory.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=118&products_id=59930

9mm bolt $94.95 (5.56 style extractor, removable weight; looks like unbranded Faxon or Toolcraft)

https://www.righttobear.com/complete-9mm-ar-bolt-carrier-group-phosphate/

Buffer – $40 KAK Ind. 8.4oz with sliding weights (avoid solid buffers)

https://kakindustry.com/9mm-carbine-buffer-extended-gold-top

Spring – Wilson flat wire carbine spring (supposedly less bolt bounce, less noise – standard carbine spring will work)

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1025170237?pid=913834

Pick your own trigger, LPK, handguard, grip, brace, optic, etc. BTW the best zero for 9mm PCCs is about 21 yds. Remember height over bore for close shots.

Other stuff/options

Upper Receiver PCC:

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1020533646?pid=197087

M-lok handstop

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1022587737?pid=619475

9mm flash hider (1/2×28) – make sure it matches the barrel – some 9mm bbls are 1/2×36

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1019064856?pid=514736

and if you intend to add a Law Tactical folder at some point:

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1022506270?pid=728500

LOTS of info at Blowback9.com

Everything: note the handguard length vs barrel length topic

Everything about the “AR9”

Which bolt to choose:

Which 9mm Bolt Should I Get?

The BB9 Gentle Recoil System: (about $200 in parts)

9mm AR Gentle Recoil Buffer System: Final Configurations