Competition - PC9 vs FX9

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

+1

Straight blowback (every common autoloading PCC except the Kriss, I think) are much dirtier than other autoloaders. They need to be designed to accommodate the grime, or you get reliability issues pretty quickly.

Ammunition selection can make a significant difference.
 
Last edited:
which ammunition do you recommend for clean burning and reliable function

+1

Straight blowback (every common autoloading PCC except the Kriss, I think) are much dirtier than delayed blowback (most autoloading pistols). They need to be designed to accommodate the grime, or you get reliability issues pretty quickly.

Ammunition selection can make a significant difference.
 
which ammunition do you recommend for clean burning and reliable function

Would suggest Federal Syntech. I have used this in other guns and it reduces fouling noticeably as it is advertised to do. But in this case I think I will use it exclusively with this gun due to how fast it gets gummed up on regular ammo. Syntech will very likely make a significant difference here. All my initial rounds in the FX9 were regular straight off-the-shelf FMJ ball ammo. I typically use Syntech but I don't have any in 115gr and FO had suggested using 115gr to start, so I had Blazer Brass, AE, etc. I typically run Syntech in 124 and most notably 147gr which is my preferred bullet weight on all my PCCs and thankfully the FX9 had no problems with the 147gr.
 
who is FO? and why is that a recommendation
break in the buffer?

Freedom Ordnance is FO and they recommend 115gr to break in the gun as it is more snappy than 147gr. If you’re familiar with PCC’s there are many other ways to “break in the gun” and make it run reliably (buffer springs / buffers etc.)
 
You can actually get a really good upgrade for the PC-9 through Tandemkross that includes an extended index finger mag release, flared mag well etc... that really makes a difference. Mag drops out of mine with just a gentle push on the release. All comes with the upriser chassis kit.

https://www.tandemkross.com/pccarbinechassis

I ran with the straight adapter, but know one or two guys at our club that have the angled and they like it also.
 
You can actually get a really good upgrade for the PC-9 through Tandemkross that includes an extended index finger mag release, flared mag well etc... that really makes a difference. Mag drops out of mine with just a gentle push on the release. All comes with the upriser chassis kit.

https://www.tandemkross.com/pccarbinechassis

I ran with the straight adapter, but know one or two guys at our club that have the angled and they like it also.

Interesting. The reachable index finger mag release is compelling enough reason for me to consider this.
 
Interesting. The reachable index finger mag release is compelling enough reason for me to consider this.

See post 7 in this thread, they are available in Canada if you’re interested. A bunch of us run the Tandemkross chassis on our PC9’s and we’re all happy with it (including myself). I do favour my FX9 though as I feel it’s better balance and doesn’t weigh as much as the PC9.
 
See post 7 in this thread, they are available in Canada if you’re interested. A bunch of us run the Tandemkross chassis on our PC9’s and we’re all happy with it (including myself). I do favour my FX9 though as I feel it’s better balance and doesn’t weigh as much as the PC9.

Thanks for the personal recommendation. Real world experience goes a long ways. I see it has good reviews as well. I have never changed a chassis before and I am not really a technical/handy type of guy, so assume a standard monkey like me can change it?

Agree with your comments about the weight of the PC Carbine with the aluminum handguard.
 
Thanks for the personal recommendation. Real world experience goes a long ways. I see it has good reviews as well. I have never changed a chassis before and I am not really a technical/handy type of guy, so assume a standard monkey like me can change it?

Agree with your comments about the weight of the PC Carbine with the aluminum handguard.

Very easy to change, you only need a screwdriver, castle nut wrench, buffer tube and a castle nut. Everything else is included.

Here is the install video from TK https://www.tandemkross.com/pccarbinechassis
 
I have owned a Ruger PCC (the basic model).
My Ruger developed the ejection issue that can be fixed by swapping out the ejector from the extra mag-well see https://youtu.be/_RhzODLtcm0 for details.
Mine was otherwise reliable, but you don't have to google too hard, to find people with cycling issues.
I think the ergonomics are OK and can be learned pretty quickly.
I only shot 124gr FMJ through this so I can’t speak to how picky it is with hollow points or other bullet weights.
I personally found the firearm a bit heavy and thus sold it.

Regarding Magazine Pickiness

Both Rugers and FX-9s need magazines with strong springs to have their bolt hold open feature work reliably.
FYI this also applies to Kriss Vectors and any other carbine with a bolt hold open that uses Glock mags.
PMAG 10/17 have worked great for me.


I own a more recent FX-9 and have owned an earlier model which had some quality and ejection issues which I mentioned back in 2019
see https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...-Is-your-FX9-Reliable?p=15558945#post15558945

As the upper and lower can separated it has the same benefits as the Ruger for storage and/or travel.



Regarding Ammunition Pickiness for the FX-9

My current FX-9 is pretty reliable with most types of ammunition out of the box.

I have played around with different buffer weights.
The H3 buffer lowers felt recoil.
I had one failure to eject out of 50 rounds of 115gr FMJ with this buffer weight.
The H3 may be a little too heavy for 115gr ammo or it may have just been an underpowered cartridge.
I'll never know for sure as I swapped in the H2 buffer at this point.
Honestly, if you're only going to shoot is 115gr or 124gr FMJ ammunition the H2 is the buffer I'd recommend.
The only issues I had with the H2 buffer were getting into battery with 147gr Speers Gold-Dot G2 hollow points when using the bolt release. (This may affect similar weight FMJ ammunition.)
Sling-shotting the bolt worked without issue.
147gr Speers Gold-Dot G2 hollow points also cycled without issue.
The H2 buffer is heavier which helps slow down the bolt after a discharge, but it also slows down the bolt when the bolt release is hit.
This I think it did just enough to impact 147gr Speers Gold-Dot G2 hollow points.

So, I popped in the H buffer. Pretty much everything ran reliably with this.
As well as with the standard buffer.
The H buffer isn’t reducing felt recoil by much.
The following all worked well with the H buffer 115gr FMJ, 124gr FMJ, 147gr Gold-Dot G2, 135gr Hornady Critical Duty.

115gr Hornady Critical Defense is the exception.
I think the FX-9 simply doesn't like its geometry.
It didn't run well with the standard buffer or the H buffer.
It would fail to feed sporadically during bolt releases and when cycling.
I didn't have enough of it to test with the heavier buffers but doubt that they'd work better.


Side Note Buffer weights
Standard Carbine Buffer — 3 oz.
H Buffer — 3.8 oz.
H2 Buffer — 4.6–4.7 oz.
H3 Buffer — 5.0–5.4 oz.
 
I'd say pick whatever you can get your hands hands on and learn to shoot it well. I've seen people reload a pc9 so fast its just as fast or faster in trained hands than a fx9, your pretty much splitting a$$ hairs taking 2 trained speedy people and putting them side by side. Yes totally different manual of arms but if you train to do anything you can become quick at it. What really matters most in completion is being able to hit things and hit them fast and that can be done with any semi auto gun
 
I'm actually biased towards the pc9 myself, owning the top end chassis/ar stock version with glock mags I've had almost no issues in 2000rounds. I'd recommend getting a reloading press and loading your own 9mm, both for cost and reliability. I've had alot of success with 124 rn campro bullets with 3.8-4gr of titegroup in every gun I've put them through .
 
Back
Top Bottom