Sorry if this has been asked before as I have searched high and low for something similar. I am ready to add a pistol caliber carbine to the mix. I am torn between the keltec sub2k and the jr carbine. Either going with 9mm or 40 s&w. I know neither of these choices are perfect but I would love a nudge from someone with experience in either direction. I am currently leaning towards the jr because of the acceptance of AR furniture and the overall feel. The price of the keltec is nice but I would want a quadrail asap for a red dot which would bump the price up right from the jump. Thanks for any and all help. Please be gentle since I am new
Which pistol carbine should I buy?
- Thread starter laker415
- Start date
Non restricted is one of my requirements. Not a fan of the cx4. I am leaning towards the jr but I would hate to waste $1000 on a gun that is nothing but trouble. I wish my funds were endless so i could own them all
I have no experience with the Keltec so I'm in no position to offer assistance on that firearm.
I have owned a JR Carbine in 9mm (reluctantly sold it to fund another build recently after 18 months use) and found it to be a decent firearm of reasonable quality and a good deal for the price (bought new). The 9mm I owned was very reliable right from the first round to the last with the exception of a feeding issue with one particular type of Win. 147gr. ammo. I shot a 1,000+ rds. while trying several good quality brands (mostly 115gr. FMJ) without any noticeable wear/issues (all brands in 115gr. were extremely reliable with no failures to fire, stovepipes or stoppages etc. ever) but, don't forget to lube her daily.
Accuracy was what most would expect of this rifle/caliber and perhaps even better then some may believe a 9mm is capable of. Shooting many rounds (10 rd. mag.'s back to back in quick succession for a total of #50 rounds) did not appear to affect accuracy or reliability at all and head shots at speed from a bi-pod rest were easily accomplished with open or red dot optics (not that 6" grouping at 100yds. is saying much
). Better accuracy was possible when firing patiently and when scoped, but don't expect 1" MOA from #5+ multiple rd. groups even with quality optics). Any attachments I used (light, optics, bi-pod or forward vertical grip etc.) all worked well on the factory picatinny rails, extra Glock magazines were easy to find and reasonably affordable, I never added a longer front quad rail but did add a thread on flash hider for the night opt.'s.
Also my 'opinion' (and it's only mine/one opinion) of resale for a well cared for JR Carbine particularly in 9mm is very good and perhaps a little better then the Keltec or a 40 cal. JR, although I do not think you would have a problem re-selling any of these rifles in todays market (particularly so, as they are all Non-Restricted). 9mm ammo. is significantly cheaper and easier to find then 40 cal. which was a big factor in my choice for that caliber.
I hope that helps in your decision making process laker415 and please let us know what you decide on.
Cheers getting Zeroed-In.
I have owned a JR Carbine in 9mm (reluctantly sold it to fund another build recently after 18 months use) and found it to be a decent firearm of reasonable quality and a good deal for the price (bought new). The 9mm I owned was very reliable right from the first round to the last with the exception of a feeding issue with one particular type of Win. 147gr. ammo. I shot a 1,000+ rds. while trying several good quality brands (mostly 115gr. FMJ) without any noticeable wear/issues (all brands in 115gr. were extremely reliable with no failures to fire, stovepipes or stoppages etc. ever) but, don't forget to lube her daily.
Accuracy was what most would expect of this rifle/caliber and perhaps even better then some may believe a 9mm is capable of. Shooting many rounds (10 rd. mag.'s back to back in quick succession for a total of #50 rounds) did not appear to affect accuracy or reliability at all and head shots at speed from a bi-pod rest were easily accomplished with open or red dot optics (not that 6" grouping at 100yds. is saying much
). Better accuracy was possible when firing patiently and when scoped, but don't expect 1" MOA from #5+ multiple rd. groups even with quality optics). Any attachments I used (light, optics, bi-pod or forward vertical grip etc.) all worked well on the factory picatinny rails, extra Glock magazines were easy to find and reasonably affordable, I never added a longer front quad rail but did add a thread on flash hider for the night opt.'s. Also my 'opinion' (and it's only mine/one opinion) of resale for a well cared for JR Carbine particularly in 9mm is very good and perhaps a little better then the Keltec or a 40 cal. JR, although I do not think you would have a problem re-selling any of these rifles in todays market (particularly so, as they are all Non-Restricted). 9mm ammo. is significantly cheaper and easier to find then 40 cal. which was a big factor in my choice for that caliber.
I hope that helps in your decision making process laker415 and please let us know what you decide on.
Cheers getting Zeroed-In.
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Owning a JR in 40S&W, a S-2000 in 9mm, and 2 Thureon Defence in 10mm, if i was to redo it all i would only get the Thureon's in 10mm... I dont say they are bad, just saying, Thureon Defence rifles are so much more especially in the great 10mm caliber... JP.
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Another vote for the CX4 storm. It's a fairly well done carbine. The only two negatives are the thumbhole stock which isn't that bad and the hooded iron sights make optic mounting a bit more challenging. Good ergos, very ambi friendly, reliable, breaks down into two equal pieces and takes 40 S&W mags for the 9mm version. Berreta did a good job with this firearm.
My JR has been excellent. I rarely clean it, and put just a light coat of oil when I do. Based on my experience, I'd go JR again. I've handled the Kel-tec. It's decent for what it is, but the price isn't. If it came in at $400 or so, it would make a great trunk/SHTF gun. At it's current price, it needs better fit and finish. At least the three I've handled showed sub-par finishing.
Same here with my jr. I clean mine maybe every 1000 rnds. I have done cleans with oiling it and cleans without, and it has ran flawlessly every time. Out of 5000 or so rnds, I have had only 2 stove pipes, and both those happened with steel cased ammo. It has eaten everything I have fed it as well. I also use the KCI 10/33rnd magazines, they feed very well, even when very dirty. I clean them maybe once every 2000 rnds. The best part is, it takes AR furniture. Except some barrel nuts. Some of them need modification to fit properly. Triggers, safeties, grips, stocks etc, all fit on the JR. The gun is fairly accurate, and it is very nice to shoot, and can take rapid fire like a champ.
I have swapped out the stock, grip, safety, barrel nut, Forend, buffer tube and castle nut.
I have swapped out the stock, grip, safety, barrel nut, Forend, buffer tube and castle nut.
I currently own a JR 9mm and used to have a sub 2000 in 9mm glock.
The JR tends to fall apart and giggle after 6-800 rounds, or you can have an allen key with you forever tightening the bolt handle and lower three screws. I've used removable thread locker and that seems to work well for the lower. I also don't like the idea of using a steel screw into an aluminum frame. I'm quite frightened of over tightening and stripping the upper receiver. Cleaning is a PITA, as you have to pull the stock off, and dance with the hammer to get the bolt in/out. Otherwise it's a pretty good rifle, just a few quirks.
The sub 2000 is flimsy and cheap for what you pay for it new. Putting an optic on it, really takes out the cool part of being able to fold it up. The only benefit is it has better accuracy than a pistol and can shoot past 100 yards, although not extremely accurate at that distance.
The third option, which was mentioned is the Theuron Defense. I've shot two at the range, and comparable to the JR in terms of accuracy - however from what I've been told and read, none of the downfalls. I'd go for a TD if I had an option to purchase again.
The JR tends to fall apart and giggle after 6-800 rounds, or you can have an allen key with you forever tightening the bolt handle and lower three screws. I've used removable thread locker and that seems to work well for the lower. I also don't like the idea of using a steel screw into an aluminum frame. I'm quite frightened of over tightening and stripping the upper receiver. Cleaning is a PITA, as you have to pull the stock off, and dance with the hammer to get the bolt in/out. Otherwise it's a pretty good rifle, just a few quirks.
The sub 2000 is flimsy and cheap for what you pay for it new. Putting an optic on it, really takes out the cool part of being able to fold it up. The only benefit is it has better accuracy than a pistol and can shoot past 100 yards, although not extremely accurate at that distance.
The third option, which was mentioned is the Theuron Defense. I've shot two at the range, and comparable to the JR in terms of accuracy - however from what I've been told and read, none of the downfalls. I'd go for a TD if I had an option to purchase again.
Canadian_Zuk
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I agree. You spend a bit more, but you get much more. I've had JR, Sub2K and Thureon, the Thureon is better in every regard. (except price, lol)
Mine is a 45acp. It's the cheapest caliber I shoot thank god, it's such a fun gun to shoot and super quiet at 900fps.
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Another vote for the Thureon Defence. I own a 9mm and ownED a 45 and they were both PERFECT. They take glock mags (like your other options) but IMO, are higher quality than the JR. The ergos are even MORE similar to an AR and they do take ALL AR trigger parts. So if you want to upgrade the trigger or components later on you have a nearly unlimited supply.
The thing I like most about the Thureon is how simple it is inside (only 3 moving parts in the action) and how easy it is to strip and clean. The JR requires wrenches to split the upper and lower and you HAVE to split them to clean it. The Thureon uses pins like an AR, they are even captured so you dont loose them. Just push them through, pull off the lower, pull the bolt out and clean. done.
The thing I like most about the Thureon is how simple it is inside (only 3 moving parts in the action) and how easy it is to strip and clean. The JR requires wrenches to split the upper and lower and you HAVE to split them to clean it. The Thureon uses pins like an AR, they are even captured so you dont loose them. Just push them through, pull off the lower, pull the bolt out and clean. done.
