Wilson Combat AR9 Carbine: First Look

Pistol caliber carbines aren’t dead, in fact they have been making a strong pushback for the last few years. In the past if someone wanted a pistol caliber AR-15 they were mostly limited to Colt models that used old stick magazines or converted STEN magazines. These guns have frustrated users for years and had a reputation for being jam-o-matics. Many of my friends and I use to complain and wonder when someone was going to make a pistol caliber AR-15 that used normal pistol magazines like from a Glock or Beretta. It seemed like a simple task that we feared would never be completed in our lifetimes. Well the answer to those complaints and our waiting has finally been manufactured and by a great company in the form of the Wilson Combat AR9 carbine.

The name Wilson Combat has long been associated with some of the very best guns and gunsmiths in the industry, even if people don’t like their prices no one can argue that the guns aren’t well built. Wilson Combat has stepped their game up this time and have begun shipping their newest creation to eagerly awaiting customers. The images we have seen of the AR9 have been impressive to say the least and are sure to generate quite the buzz in the gun industry. While I’m no weapons designer, I will say that I’m baffled at why it has taken this long for someone to invest the time and money into finally making a good AR15 patterned pistol caliber carbine. Lets dive into the Wilson Combat AR9 and see what the engineers at Wilson have come up with.

Specifications: 

Manufacturer: Wilson Combat

Place of Origin: Berryville, Arkansas

Model: AR9

Caliber: 9mm

Magazine Styles:

• Glock Pistol Magazines
• Beretta Model 92 Magazines
• Smith & Wesson M&P Magazines

Barrel Length:

• 10.5″
• 16.0″ Fluted or Non Fluted
• 14.7″ Fluted

Weight: 6 lbs 1 oz – 6 lbs 6 oz

Material:

• Upper: AR-7075 Billet Aluminum
• Lower: AR-7075 Billet Aluminum

Trigger: Wilson Combat Tactical Trigger Unit (TTU)

Grip: Wilson Combat/BCM Starburst Pattern

Bolt: Wilson Combat Proprietary Bolt & Carrier

Last Round Hold Open: YES

Stock: Wilson/Rogers Super Stock

Availability: Special Order

Price: Varies Depending on Set Up

At first glance this new AR-15 based pistol caliber carbine makes my mouth water, but without knowing the price and considering Wilson Combat manufactures it, I have to take a second to breath a bit. The shooting community has been begging for a 9mm carbine that has familiar controls and ergonomics and uses cheap and easy to find magazines. The anticipation for this rifle is very high, but so are the standards of the firearms community. This combination might be why these rifles are having to be ordered from the company rather than picked up at the local big box sporting goods store. I’ve sent an email to the folks at Wilson Combat to ask them about pricing and distribution but have failed to hear anything back yet.

I will admit that I failed our readers by not knowing about this sooner, If I had known I would have made my way to the Wilson Combat booth at SHOT Show 2017, I’m not sure if the AR9 was on display there. As of the writing of this article there is very little known about this carbine as a whole. I know Larry Vickers said that Wilson Combat plans to release these to accept 9mm Smith & Wesson M&P magazines, but that information is not on the Wilson Combat website. I will trust that since Larry Vickers is holding and shooting on of these in his video below, that he has more knowledge that I do about the specifics surrounding this rifle.

In the law enforcement community many pistol caliber carbines like the MP5 have been replaced by centerfire short barrel rifles chambered in 5.56mm. The issue that comes into play with SBR rifles in full powered cartridges is over penetration at close ranges that SWAT teams often operate under. The Wilson Combat AR9 if it is commercially successful and built as well as many of us think it will be could give law enforcement officers the ability to have a pair of reliable weapons that take the same magazine and shoot the same round. It’s a very interesting proposition in the very least, but only the future will hold the answers to if this rifle becomes popular with the law enforcement community.

What do you think of the Wilson Combat AR9 carbine ? Will it gain traction in the firearms community and spawn a whole new class of copy cat rifles? Can the AR9 be produced at a price point and volume that will make it attractive to the budget minded shooter? We are wanting to hear from owners of pistol caliber carbines regardless of the brand or model. Why do you love or hate pistol caliber carbines ? All we know for sure at this point is that Larry Vickers really seems to like this pistol caliber carbine and has high expectations for it’s future. Check out his video below, and if you like what you have been seeing here on the site, “Like” and “Share” us on Facebook, we are trying hard to push to the 10,000 “Like” barrier so we can roll out a great prize pack for one lucky fan of the site, Thanks for tuning in

Rick