… not in an AR platform? (Somewhat OT, I know…)
Still pondering a Carbine for my SMALL wife (4"-11" and less than 120 pounds)…
Since she is not going to shoot as often as I am, I think the .223 cartridge is too powerful for her REALISTIC skill sets, so I am looking into the 9mm possibilities… but I’m ignorant of these carbines, so please advise.
#1 goal: RELIABLE
#2 goal: 9mm (or .40 S&W)
What about the Beretta STORM?
Help…
Rmpl
For a carbine 9mm (not a Colt AR) I’d go with a HK MP5.
If we look at the whole package, meaning reliablity, ergonomics, and shootability, I’d have to say that for under $3K, and not an AR based system, the Beretta Storm would get my vote.
Very decent ergo’s, reliable with factory and Mec-Gar mags, and very simple to use.
The Uzi is an extremely robust system, and the original pre-89 import IMI Model A’s and B’s can be had for around $1K if you shop around, but the ergo’s aren’t great and they’re heavy.
If you’re willing to spend the money, then a real HK 94 would be an excellent choice. Many of the clones are problematic though.
I find the recoil of my 9mm AR to be harsher than that of a 5.56 AR. Just an FYI if you haven’t fired one before.
With that said, for a non-AR 9mm I’d go with a Storm. We have two Storm shooters at our matches and they run them quite well and without any issues that I’ve witnessed to date.
I guess this would be a good excuse to get a HK94! Best shooting 9mm out there that I’ve shot. And they should be for what they cost!
Spooky
What type of shooting is she going to be doing??? self defense, hunting, tin can, target, three gun???
The reason I ask is that for your requirements in a semi auto the Beretta Storm is a nice carbine, but I am thinking of going a different direction…
You may want to look at an older design, way older, like 1873 older…
I am a big fan of the Uberti 1873 Winchester saddle ring carbines in .357 magnum caliber… They have been imported by Cimmiron, Navy Arms, Cabellas, EMF, Taylors, and several others, but they are all made in Italy by Uberti, which is owned by Beretta / Benelli and they have very high quality control…
Thanks to the cowboy shooters, parts are everywhere, and very inexpensive…
The toggle link 1873 lever action carbines are very light, fast, and accurate with almost no felt recoil. They will eat any 38 special / .357 magnum ammo that you can feed them, from mild to wild, with ZERO malfunctions… A full house .357 semi jacketed hollow point coming out of a 20 inch carbine barrel is in a whole different class than most pistols , or a mild 38 special, round nose lead round, can ping steel out to say 100 yards with no problems…
It may seem a little different, but I think you will be very happy with a 73 if you go that route…
Just my .02
Buck
As stated, it all depends on what she wil be doing with it. I’ve had my own carbines, Storm, Colt, RRA, Real Uzi, Vector Uzi, Bobcat, real HK 94. Shot plenty of MP5’s. If you can do a HK, get it! if not, get the Storm. Recoil is a tad more than an AR, but muzzle blast isn’t there. I would have a good brake installed. The spacers allow for fit as well. Oh, forgot the Sten–fun fun fun
I guess there’s the Marlin Camp 9 and the Ruger, can’t speak for the Ruger, but the Camp doesn’t hold up well.
Mark
What is available in the way of muzzle devices for the 9mm in terms of brakes?
Is there enough meat on the Storm for threading?
I bought a YHM Wraith QD can which uses the mount below. It would be cool as hell to SBR a Storm and put a mount on it, although probably not worth the trouble.
There’s a few, I would check out the Beretta Forums, some people have done them. One I would go with is the Holland quick discharge brake, very effective, I have one on my .308 and it feels like a .223, the rifle is 6 lbs. Alot of brakes have to be reamed out for the caliber. The one issue with the Storm is the serial number is on the barrel portion that you would cut, unless they’ve changed the location on them. I think you can get an inch, maybe two off it, so it’s not worth it. I’m not sure if the serial number can be relocated.
I noticed theirs has the top vents now. As you see, you choose the correct thread pitch and diameter.
http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/productdetail.aspx?p=6905&s=
Mark
I know you asked for a 9mm or 40cal, but have you considered the FN PS90? They are very easy to use, have a large magazine capacity (50 rounds), are very mild in recoil, and are totally ambidextrous. The PS90 is very pleasant to shoot; so much so that I think a petite female who may not be into guns would do well with it. The 5.7 is somewhat anemic, but I think for the purpose you’re describing it may fit the bill. If you do go this route, get the model with the picatinney rail and add an Aimpoint. The factory sight SUCKS.
Edited to add: MERRY Christmas everyone!!
I sold my PS90 after my wife decided she didn’t like it… I think she doesn’t like to shoot is the real reason! That being said I think the ammo is too expensive for what you get…
Spooky
Interesting alternative… Cheap too… 
The ammo is not as cheap as 9mm, but easily handloaded… I am going to look into this route further as the lack of “complexity” may put her at ease with it whereas the AR intimidates her with all the buttons, levers and moving parts. Her concern is under stress, with her limited training time, she may not do the right thing with an AR and not keep it running, thus putting the family at risk when danger lurks…
Thanks everyone for the input so far!
Some of my thoughts after reading the replies…
I’m surprised to hear that 9mm carbines have more felt recoil than the .223… Reduced recoil was one of my main goals if I was to take her away from the AR platform.
If so, maybe I need to rethink the AR platform for her but with a good BRAKE rather than a FS… GotM4, how is that new brake working on your wife’s AR?
I would love to get her an HK, but way too much $$$…
The PS90 is cool looking, light and short, but that ammo is expensive. I haven’t checking into the reload possibilities of that round yet…
I’m partial to the UZI, however for most people the ergonomics of the Beretta Storm is probably the best route. When thinking felt recoil, consider the bullet weight as the single most determining factor. Good luck.
what mags does the Storm take regular Beretta pistol mags?
Some people think a lever carbine is s too slow, put it is very easy to use and with some practice it can be very fast…
Here are a few shooters showing what a lever carbine can do… They are starting on a empty chamber with the hammer down, then shooting ten rounds on steel for time, with no misses… The lack of recoil is truly amazing, I do not think very many AR shooters could shoot their AR carbines as fast…
http://www.spencerhoglund.com/files/RifleDeuceStevens196.wmv
http://www.jspublications.net/records/SantaFeRiverStanRifle204.wmv
http://www.jspublications.net/records/DeuceStevensRifle211.wmv
yes…
Buck do you happen to know the Cal on the rifles?
I believe thay are all .357s…
i like the lever gun option. ive got a winchester trapper in .357, and it shoots well in anyones hands. my 11 year old daughter Haley is intimidated by any AR style rifle as well as the mini 14, but shes been shooting the winchester for almost 2 years now with any ammo out to 100 yards.
Well, I think the verdict is finally in…
Tonight we happened to be in Richmond so we stopped into Greentop, a large, low-AR inventory, hunting type of gun store to check out some of the lever action rifles… NO GO!
The length of pull was too long and she did not find any of them comfortable, except for the youth 22LR’s… :eek: So the lever actions are out…
They had a Colt 6920 (I think) in stock, a collapsible stock 16" lightweight with A2 receiver, which she LOVED!!! So it seems I am back to square one… (for those who remember the wife quandary thread awhile ago).
Either build her a lightweight carbine from scratch (cheapest route) or just jump in and buy a complete Colt lightweight (pricey) and have a full warranty and Colt quality.
So there it is… DONE!
Thanks all for the advice…
Rmpl