There are considerable advantages to building a pistol-caliber carbine, or PCC, that would be sufficient to fill an entire, dedicated article.
With 9mm, also, you don’t need to rely on a gas system. Some AR pistol builds are bufferless and rely on direct blowback to cycle the action.
This roller delayed PCC design has many advantages which will be explored in this article, with a qualifier.
Our roller delayed PCC alternatives do not rely on direct blowback, but rather roller delayed blowback, which itself offers some unique advantages.
Let’s take a closer look at some of these.
More Compact Profile
Naturally, eliminating the buffer tube, which effectively eliminates the buffer system altogether, results in a much more compact profile for the affected platform.
This results in a platform that is not only easier to conceal and transport discreetly, but one that is better suited to quick handling and instinctive shooting, especially in cramped quarters.
Consequently, a roller delayed PCC, or some similar alternative, like our ZF-5, can make an excellent defensive platform akin to an ARP.
Simpler Overall Design
The removal of the buffer system from an AR, and therefore the elimination of the gas system, also results in a much simpler overall design.
In spite of the fact that direct gas impingement is a time-tested and trustworthy method of firearm action operation, it is not without its flaws. The gas system must be kept clean, and the weights must be balanced with how the gas system is tuned.
With a blowback, or in our case, roller delayed blowback operation, the overall design is a lot more straightforward and simple. There are fewer parts to maintain and by comparison, almost nothing to tune.
Smoother Shooting and Potentially Reduced Recoil
One of the great things about a gas impingement system is that it’s renowned for relatively smooth shooting and low recoil.
Taking it out of the equation and introducing a direct blowback mechanism will result in a lot more port pop and a jerkier-shooting gun that produces more recoil.
However, our platforms are built around roller-delayed blowback, not direct blowback; they allow chamber pressures to drop significantly before the action opens and ejects the cartridge.
In a word, they produce much less recoil, are smoother-shooting than direct blowback, preserving the relative advantages of gas impingement.
If you are thinking about buying or building a roller delayed PCC, the choice between direct and roller-delayed blowback is clear. Choose the latter.
Easier Handling, Better in Close Quarters
Because of the smaller dimensions and more compact footprint, a roller delayed PCC, or an ARP, will handle better in tight quarters.
This can make this type of build much more practical as a defensive gun, or as a truck gun, or in any other situation in which easy, quick, and responsive handling is necessary to be effective.
Less Risk of Overpentration with 9mm
Another concern with the AR’s standard caliber, 5.56, is that it produces either too much stopping power for use at close ranges, or else a risk of overpenetration as a result of its high muzzle velocity.
There is some truth to this, which offsets one of the primary selling points of AR pistols, being that you can reap the benefits of a rifle cartridge in a pistol footprint.
With a roller delayed PCC (or a similar platform like the ZF-5) you get the best of both worlds. Easy handling, a compact footprint, and a lower risk of overpenetration.
Superior Suppression
Gas systems produce a lot of port pop when you run them suppressed, which means a lot of gas in your face. The same goes for direct blowback, which has that issue anyway.
Because the inherent nature of a roller-delayed blowback system is to allow chamber pressures to drop substantially before unlocking and opening the action, they are smoother-shooting and overall better when suppressed than either direct blowback or gas impingement systems.
If you’re thinking about suppressing your build, especially with a shorter barrel, a roller-delayed blowback, bufferless 9mm platform is a solid option.
Interested in a Roller Delayed PCC? Consider the ZF-5
If you’re sure you want to build around (or buy) a roller delayed PCC platform, get more familiar with the Zenith Firearms ZF-5. Built around the roller-delayed blowback action of the HK MP5, the ZF-5 is a smooth-shooting, expandable platform sporting a number of improvements over conventional subguns and ARs.
Better handling, more ergonomic fire controls, a smoother feed ramp, and a smoother action define the ZF-5, which is a great 9mm ARP alternative with the footprint of a classic SMG.
For more information about the ZF-5, see the previous link or get in touch with us and we’ll be happy to help.