Your Browser is Outdated
A pistol caliber carbine, also known as a PCC, is a rifle that fires a pistol cartridge. This is a common style for a home defense weapon, as there is less worry about overpenetration when you shoot since the round it fires is much smaller than a traditional rifle. There are many models of PCCs available for you to purchase, such as the CZ Scorpion, Kel-Tec Sub-2000, Kriss Vector, Heckler & Koch MP5, and more. In this guide, we will focus on building a PCC based off the AR platform instead.
PCC Magazines
Magazines should be one of the first components of your PCC build to consider. One of the most popular AR PCC conversions allows the weapon to accept Glock magazines because Glock accessories and magazines are widely available, both from Glock and other manufacturers like ProMag. Colt magazines are another popular option as they retain the functionality of your AR style magazine release and allow for last-round bolt hold open (LRBHO). However, Colt magazines are usually much harder to find. You can also use other pistol caliber magazines for your PCC, such as Beretta magazines, CZ Scorpion magazines, H&K MP5 magazines, and more. Keeping the type of magazine you want to use while building your PCC is important, as you don’t want to have to wait on magazines after finishing the weapon.
Magazine Conversion Adapter for PCC
If you have already own an AR-15, you can purchase magazine conversion kits to transform it into a PCC. While this is beneficial because you don’t have to buy a new lower receiver, you do lose the ability to shoot .223 or 5.56 ammo from your AR-15. These conversion kits are typically referred to as magazine adapters. They fit a standard AR-15 magwell and allow you to use Glock, Colt, or Beretta magazines in the lower receiver. This is the easiest and most cost-effective method to building a lower receiver for a PCC. Some magazine conversion adapters will also allow your PCC to retain its last round bolt hold open (LRBHO) functionality. If you don’t want to convert an existing AR-15, you can also find dedicated lower receivers that are made for PCCs and accept specific magazines, such as Glock, Colt, and others.
Lower Receiver Components for a PCC
The AR PCC platform still requires you to use a buffer tube assembly because it has a straight blowback design. While you can still use carbine, rifle, and pistol-length buffer tubes, you need heavier buffers to ensure proper functionality. For example, pistol buffers vary in weight between 5.0–8.5 ounces, so you may need one on the heavier end of the range. The build may require tuning of the buffer system to ensure proper functionality.
Triggers are another component that may require specialty parts. If you are using an AR15 lower receiver with a magazine adapter, the OEM trigger should function fine. On the other hand, dedicated PCC lowers may not function properly with standard AR15 trigger groups. Aftermarket trigger options may specify that they don’t work with pistol caliber builds, while others are optimized for pistol caliber rifles. If you are unsure if a specific trigger is compatible with your specific build, you can email us at Techsales@opticsplanet.com for confirmation or recommendations.
Lower receiver parts, such as gun grips, fire selectors, slide catches, and magazine releases, are usually interchangeable between the AR-15 and AR PCC platforms. For people using a magazine adapter, this shouldn’t be much of an issue anyway because the lower receiver is an AR15 lower. If you purchased an aftermarket AR PCC lower, be cautious when purchasing lower receiver components, as they can be proprietary. This means they may only work with matching brands, so certain parts may not fit properly. If you’re unsure, always contact the manufacturer of the lower receiver to ensure part compatibility.Â
PCC Upper Receiver & Components
Now that your lower receiver is sorted, you can focus on the upper receiver. Once again, you can either purchase a pre-built pistol caliber upper receiver or build one on your own.
With buying a pre-built PCC upper, there are certain factors you must consider. For example, if the lower receiver is designed for Glock magazines, you must make sure the upper receiver you purchase is also compatible with Glock magazines. This is because bolt carrier groups vary between manufacturers, as they are designed for different types of ammo and magazines. For example, you cannot use a Glock lower with an upper that was designed for MP5-style magazines.
Despite potential compatibility issues, buying a dedicated PCC upper has many advantages over building one. For example, a pre-built upper receiver typically features design elements and parts that are optimized for pistol calibers. A smaller ejection port, no forward assist, and properly sized bolts and charging handles that are designed specifically to work with the upper are all important benefits. This takes out a lot of guess work, giving you reassurance that the upper functions as intended.
If you want to build your own PCC upper receiver, start by purchasing a bolt carrier group (BCG) that is compatible with the magazine and cartridge you intend to use. Next, move on to shopping for a charging handle to operate the BCG. While standard AR15 charging handles should work in most cases, some setups require their own specific charging handles. After securing these parts, start looking at a barrel to complete your upper. If you plan to use an AR15 stock on the PCC, make sure the barrel is at least 16 inches long. Shortening this could make it qualify as a short-barreled rifle (SBR) which is an NFA item that requires a tax stamp and approval. Finally, you’ll need some handguards to protect you while aiming and using the weapon. One cool thing about PCCs is if they are chambered in 9mm, .40 S&W, 10mm, or .45 ACP, you do not need a gas block or gas tube. This is because these forms of AR9s have a straight blowback system.
Summary
The AR PCC is gaining in popularity and offers many pros compared to traditional AR-15s. Specifically, 9mm ammo (and most other PCC ammo) is cheaper than 5.56 and .223 ammo, so it’s cheaper to take a 9mm PCC to the range. Plus, a PCC usually weighs less and takes up less space than an AR-15, so you can shoot and train it with for longer. While the recoil isn’t as smooth as the AR15 due to its direct blowback system, it has less perceived recoil, allowing for faster and easier follow-up shots. If you want to add a suppressor, an AR9 PCC with subsonic ammunition suppresses extremely well.
Whether you just want to shoot cheaper, practice more efficiently, or compete with a new platform, our team at OpticsPlanet is here to help you build the best PCC gun. We have tons of pistol parts and rifle parts in-stock and ready to ship right to you, as well as plenty of ammo for any weapon you want to shoot. Once you complete the build, we also have range bags, ammo boxes, and gun cases to help you transport everything to the range.
