Competition - PC9 vs FX9

Horilka

Horilka

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What is your choice of PCC for competition (IDPA, IPSC etc)? I am considering both options, read many threads here and watched videos and can't decide.

- PC9. Pros: reliable, not picky with ammo, accurate, more affordable, take down is nice addition for transportation. Cons: missing index finger mag release and quick bolt release (AR style). I mean it's a huge draw back for competition gun, two things that will slow you down.
- FX9. Pros: AR style mag and bolt release. Cons: design related out of battery issue, doesn't like variety in ammo, picky about magazines, reliability is hit and miss, need to make parts replacement to make it work. Higher price.

Did I miss or misunderstand something? Is there a newer gen of FX than this reviewed in spring https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFOafuMXs-c&t=622s ?
 
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FX9 definitely has more "go-fast" features however that may be wasted when you take into consideration it's hit and miss reliability history.

I went with a Ruger PCC myself. I trust Ruger.
 
I have seen a few FX9 in the PCC division, they are fast when they work, and this when is a huge qualifier.
PC9, mag release and bolt can be operated with support hand, a different manual of arms but workable. Trigger is so so, far fewer upgrade options.

Both can be had in short barrel configuration, huge manoeuvrability advantage in tight quarters and around barricades vs non-restricted oars
 
Horilka said:
What is your choice of PCC for competition (IDPA, IPSC etc)? I am considering both options, read many threads here and watched videos and can't decide.

- PC9. Pros: reliable, not picky with ammo, accurate, more affordable, take down is nice addition for transportation. Cons: missing index finger mag release and quick bolt release (AR style). I mean it's a huge draw back for competition gun, two things that will slow you down.
- FX9. Pros: AR style mag and bolt release. Cons: design related out of battery issue, doesn't like variety in ammo, picky about magazines, reliability is hit and miss, need to make parts replacement to make it work. Higher price.

Did I miss or misunderstand something? Is there a newer gen of FX than this reviewed in spring https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFOafuMXs-c&t=622s ?
Click to expand...

Mag release is not a "huge" factor for competition. I found my reloads were 1/4-1/2 a second slower on the Ruger. Often that can be completely mitigated by your stage plan.
 
I have both but I don't use them for competition, only leisure and recreation. I will say that I agree with the mag release advantage of the FX9.

I think some of the earlier complaints of the FX9 have since been rectified and improved in current batches. What I hear about magazine pickiness I have not seen in almost 300 rounds through four different magazines. Not a single jam so far, but I have stuck to 115gr as recommended at first. The big test is upcoming when I try the 147gr on it.

Depending on your Ruger - if you have the aluminum handguard, you will definitely feel the barrel weight. Ergonomics wins for the FX9 in my view.

I shot both of these last weekend, and the FX9 was surprisingly accurate out of the box. Only thing was I was using different weights of ammo in the PCC / PC9 as opposed to the FX9.

The Ruger is no slouch for accuracy and shoots better out of the box than most of my PCCs. The Ruger has also been very reliable. No feeding or jam issues except for two dud rounds but that was the rounds, not the gun.

Despite some reports to the contrary from other owners over the years, my FX9 had no problems with the last round bold hold open on the various magazines. Whereas on my Ruger, that is a consistent problem.

The takedown and cleaning of the FX9 is far superior to the PCC/PC9.
 
Thanks to everyone who chimed in.
Question about short barrel option. It was mentioned that both have it. It appears that PC9 short barrel from PC Charger while is compatible with pC9, though is never available from retailers , only as complete restricted firearm.
And for FX9 it's available as quite pricey upper kit as despite claiming compatibility there is no such thing and one needs to have upper set along with different bolt. Am I right?
 
I had a hard time choosing between the 2. When you look at it like that, the Ruger is a much safer bet. I got the ruger chassis model and have had no issues with it whatsoever. If you’re worried about the internals (which are known to be weak, order high quality internals from MCARBO.) I paid $100 for the upgrades from MCARBO and this beauty has been nothing but flawless.
 
Well, I took mine out yesterday to the range. It shot through 147gr ammo fantastic and accuracy was superb.

But two things happened, both of which I think would probably make my gun in its current state less than desirable for competition.

1. The bolt catch/lock would just disengage itself inadvertently with no reason - sometimes it disengaged when I pressed the mag release button, sometimes it went off when I GENTLY placed the gun down on its right side on the bench. Sometimes it went off when I was just holding the gun up. I haven't been able to pin point the cause as it is inconsistent. But this impacts the ability to load a mag on a closed bolt, which I found for any of my mags, was not possible. It did not do this during the first outing with the gun.

2. The last round bolt hold open was acting up only with GLOCK 17 G5 OEM mags ONLY (10 rounds, not pinned). With the Magpul mags (17 rounds pinned to 10, and 10 rounds unpinned), the last round bolt hold open was working 100% consistently.

My Ruger PC Carbine/PC9 has never had the bolt close once locked open, unless I initiate. But it too has issues with last round bolt hold open and it is more prevalent to the Glock 17 mags, though not limited to them. A fellow shooter at my ranged noticed this too and suggested I clean my mags (which I never do, but will try it).
 
I ran short stroke set up in mine when I had one and couldn't get the bolt hold open to engage at all, but in IPSC, you won't need that feature so long as you can show clear.
 
alpining said:
Could be on the mag side, could be on the receiver side. Best to clean the snot out of both sides and see if that changes anything.
Click to expand...

Yup, did this yesterday night - cleaned both...another con for the Glock 17 G5 OEM mags - the floorplate is so, so difficult to remove (all the Youtube tutorials on how to do this don't apply to the Canadian 10 round version for 17 G5, which are center stack not staggered, so that plate doesn't punch all the way down - I managed to get it off through some unconventional improvised means with a clamp and an allen key and marred the bottom of the mag) - the PMAGs were a breeze to clean (except for the pinned PMAG, in which case I just cleaned the follower and then pushed it down with a tool and cleaned around it). Nice to see the orange colour in the follower again...haha...

Glad I cleaned the FX9 - it was very, very dirty - surprisingly so after 350 or so rounds since brand spanking new - it may have been I overlubed it originally but the bolt and upper had not just coal black carbon deposits, but it was slightly gritty like coffee grounds - glad I cleaned it. The bolt catch was also slightly gritty in operating it, but I wasn't sure how to take the lower apart any further to get at that.
 
thegazelle said:
Glad I cleaned the FX9 - it was very, very dirty - surprisingly so after 350 or so rounds since brand spanking new - it may have been I overlubed it originally but the bolt and upper had not just coal black carbon deposits, but it was slightly gritty like coffee grounds - glad I cleaned it. The bolt catch was also slightly gritty in operating it, but I wasn't sure how to take the lower apart any further to get at that.
Click to expand...

Blowback guns are extremely dirty and need to be cleaned more often. Mags will get fouled up as well and will require regular cleaning.
 
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