Top 7 9mm Pistol-Caliber Carbines

9mm Carbines GWLE June 2015 Kel-Tec Sub-2000 Gen2 — Kel-Tec Sub-2000 Gen2: An upgrade to the exceptionally popular Sub-2000 carbine, the new Gen2 model offers officers a host of new features while retaining the ability to fold in half for compact storage. The new gun has an adjustable stock, new sling attachment points and an improved pistol grip for better ergonomics. Additionally, the gun has both Picatinny and Magpul M-LOK options for adding accessories like a light. Kel-Tec will make guns that are compatible with different magazine types, including those for Glock, Smith & Wesson M&P and Springfield Armory XD pistols. The MSRP is $500. (keltecweapons.com; 800-515-9983)

9mm Carbines GWLE June 2015 Angstadt Arms UDP-9 SBR — Angstadt Arms UDP-9 SBR: The AR platform is familiar to many officers, so the Angstadt Arms UDP-9 should be an easy system to learn. These 9mm carbines are available as short-barrel rifle (SBRs) for ease of maneuverability in and out of a patrol car and during building searches. They are designed to work with standard Glock magazines, including the extended 33-round mags. These rifles come standard with an Odin Works KeyMod handguard, a Magpul adjustable stock and a Magpul pistol grip. The MSRP is $1,349. (angstadtarms.com; 980-222-4342)

9mm Carbines GWLE June 2015 Beretta Cx4 Storm — Beretta Cx4 Storm: For departments issuing the Beretta Px4 Storm or a 92/96 series pistol, the Cx4 Storm is an excellent match. Its controls, including the magazine release, operating handle and safety, are all reversible to match the needs of individual officers in the agency. Additionally, ejection can be switched to either side of the gun. The Cx4 has accessory rails on the forend and a Picatinny rail on top for the addition of a red-dot sight. The MSRP is $915. (beretta.com)

9mm Carbines GWLE June 2015 JP Enterprises GMR-13 — JP Enterprises GMR-13: Designed specifically for law enforcement applications, the GMR-13 carbine from JP Enterprises is a high-end rifle offering 3-MOA accuracy and compatibility with 9mm Glock magazines. JP Enterprises also offers departments GMR-13 rifles with select-fire capabilities. These rifles come with the company’s Enhanced Reliability Fire Control Package to give officers precise trigger control. Additionally, the company offers a model with a dual charging handle to better accommodate left-handed officers. (jprifles.com; 651-426-9196)

9mm Carbines GWLE June 2015 Just Right Carbines — Just Right Carbines: Combining both Glock and Smith & Wesson M&P magazines with AR-15 components, Just Right Carbines offers a series of 9mm rifles that will appeal to many officers and agencies. These guns can be had in a standard configuration with a quad-rail handguard, in a marine model with electroless nickel plating and in a takedown model. Additionally, rifles can be had in a variety of finishes and is fully ambidextrous. The pricing starts at $774. (justrightcarbines.com; 585-396-1551)

9mm Carbines GWLE June 2015 Thureon Defense GA Carbine — Thureon Defense GA Carbine: Using an AR-style design, the GA Carbine from Thureon Defense gives law enforcement officers Glock, Springfield Armory XDM, Sig Sauer P226 and S&W M&P magazine compatibility with the increased punch and accuracy of a longer barrel. Like most 9mm carbines, this one is blowback operated, and the charging handle is on the left side. Thureon offers a number of rifle packages from the base model to versions with rails and sight upgrades to an SBR. It is likely the company has a rifle to meet your needs out of the box. The MSRPs start at $959. (mycarbine.com; 920-898-5859)

9mm Carbines GWLE June 2015 TNW Firearms Aero Survival Rifle — TNW Firearms Aero Survival Rifle: Not every cop rides around in a full-sized police car that has plenty of storage space. For example, some officers access rugged areas in small planes. TNW Firearms makes a 9mm carbine called the Aero Survival Rifle that breaks down into a very small package and reassembles in seconds. The rifles uses standard Glock magazines, has an adjustable stock and, for left-handed shooters, the ejection can be swapped from right to left. The MSRP is $799. (tnwfirearms.com; 503-429-5001)

Want your 9mm to hit like a magnum and be accurate out to 100 yards or more without having to carry any specialty ammunition? The AR-15, chambered in 5.56mm NATO, might be the current standard for patrol rifles, but it is not the only option.

For years, many agencies have adopted or allowed pistol-caliber carbines that were fed by the department-issued duty pistol magazine. This meant an officer exiting the car with a rifle on a high-risk call would always have a few spare magazines on his or her duty belt if needed.

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The concept is not unique to modern times. Lawmen in the Old West sometimes carried revolvers that chambered the same rounds as their trusty lever-action rifles. Maintaining only one kind of cartridge made sense to a lot of men on the trail back then, just as it still does for many officers on the street today.

The 9mm cartridge has been in police service for many decades, and it remains quite effective today. From carbine-length barrels, the 9mm becomes an even more potent round due to increased velocity.

In my own testing, moving from a 4-inch barrel to a 10.5-inch barrel increased the bullet speed by 100 to 300 fps depending on the load. A 16-inch barrel can wring even more velocity from the cartridge.

Considering that the 9mm round is a fairly mild cartridge to shoot, putting it into a rifle-sized platform makes it nearly recoil-free. For officers who have problems with the 5.56mm NATO or 12 gauge, these light-recoiling carbines can drastically improve their effectiveness in a violent encounter. Add to the mix a longer sight radius, or even a red-dot sight, and getting hits on target is even more likely.

Take a look at the gallery of carbines above for options available for law enforcement officers today. Each of these guns is chambered for the 9mm and will accept at least one kind of popular duty handgun magazine.