A 9mm carbine/optics combo for pistol caliber competition

by Scott Smith | Contributing Editor

Chiappa’s M1 Carbine 9mm ready for the range.

One of the fastest growing divisions in the world of action shooting is Pistol Caliber Carbine (PCC) in both 3-Gun and USPSA. This division is dominated by various AR platforms chambered primarily in 9mm. Like their rifle caliber siblings these carbines can set you back a couple grand, easily. While this is well and good, for many folks that have various other competition firearms and gear it’s just too much.

There are a few players with offerings that are a lot less costly, but some will dismiss them because they are much less expensive. I have fired and own a couple of these: Kel-Tec’s Sub 2000 and Mech Tech Systems, CCU—Carbine Conversion Unit. With the CCU you mount your pistol frame—Glock, 1911, Beretta, Sig, red dot—and you have a carbine. Kel-Tec’s Sub 2000 is a handy folding carbine that is a complete firearm, using magazines from Glock, Sig and Beretta. Both of these are good options for home defense and PCC competition, but I was looking for old school cool.

Close-up of TruSpec mounted on Chiappa’s long rail.

Before SHOT Show 2017, I received an email about a 9mm M1 Carbine being imported by Chiappa (Phone: 937-835-5000; Online: chiappafirearms.com). I had to check it out, because this is the definition of old school cool, especially since I learned to shoot semi-automatic and full auto with its older cousin—the select fire M2 Carbine that was widely used in the Korean Conflict.

When I first looked at the M1 9mm it was hard to tell it apart from an original M1 Carbine. The only way to tell at a glance was the magazine and the diameter of the hole in the barrel. The M1C 9mm uses Beretta 92 series magazines which is great because of the availability and low cost of these magazines.

Chiappa uses a military style winged front sight to ensure this carbine keeps its classic look.

When you look closer you will notice the magazine release is a larger round style and there is not a bolt hold open catch on the bolt. This is one thing I’d like to see Chiappa install because it makes the carbine easier to show clear and it’s a visual and audible click when the bolt locks open. This will not keep me from running this handy carbine in a couple of local USPSA matches.

The other thing you will notice are the dovetails machined into the receiver. Chiappa offers long and short rails that attach to these so you can mount an optic. I opted for the longer rail to mount to the front dovetail to attach a red dot from Truglo (Phone: 972-114-0300; Online: truglo.com), the TruSpec 20mm. I have run this sight on one of my 3-Gun ARs and it’s a beast that cannot be beat with an MSRP of $221. This red dot features auto on/off, variable intensity settings 2MOA dot and mount. This sight is a great value. Unless you require infra-red capability, you will be hard pressed to a better value and quality today. If you plan to run a variable power optic, get the short mounts.

The military style rear peep sight works well; I needed to set it on the “300” setting to be accurate at 50 yards.

After a cursory look at the carbine, you will notice the bolt and function of the Chiappa are not the short stroke piston and rotary bolt of the original. Chiappa uses a standard blowback design. With that in mind, you cannot use your barely making minor power factor loads; the carbine will not run. I found standard pressure 115-grain and 124-grain loads as well as “+P” rounds ensured this rifle ran flawlessly. Soft shooting 147-grain loads led to problems extracting/ejecting. There just was not enough gas pressure to drive the bolt.

My initial trips to the range I used the factory GI type sights. They were adequate, but I had to set them to the 300-yard setting to get consistent hits at 50 yards. At 25 yards these sights would shoot the A-zone head out of a USPSA/IDPA target. When I received the long rail with the Truglo installed, I was consistently shooting the body A zone out of an IDPA/USPSA target at 50 yards. Upper A/B zone (head) shots were easy. I am sure with a 1-4 or 6-power optic this carbine will put bullet on top of bullet at 50 yards; that is how accurate this firearm is.

These two groups were shot off hand. They were loaded with a variety of our test ammunition. This carbine/optic was boringly consistent.

The 1 in 16 twist, 18” barrel ensured that standard loads picked up 50 to 100 feet per second over a 5” pistol. Recoil and muzzle rise are minimal even with the hottest loads, yet the rifle transitions quickly from target to target thanks to its 6 pound weight and compact size.

I used ammunition from Sig’s Elite Performance line; 115-grain full metal jacket and 115-grain V Crown Hollow Points, Black Hills’ 115-grain full metal jacket and 124-grain jacketed hollow points and Hornady’s 135-grain Critical Duty Flextip. All of these loads easily shot 1” five-shot groups at 25 yards and sub 3” at 50 yards. To say one load out shown another would require a micrometer. I was glad to see this because it means the rifle is not fussy and it will shoot consistently with a variety of loads. That speaks highly of the rifle, sight and quality of modern ammunition.

Chiappa’s M1 Carbine 9mm is a helluva rifle. Adding Truglo’s TruSpec red dot with quality ammunition turns a classic styled carbine into a fine competition, plinking or self-defense rifle. Its affordable, handles well thanks to the weight and it is a quality firearm. I am looking forward to running it in a PCC Division this summer. If you are in the market for a pistol caliber carbine, Chiappa’s M1 Carbine 9mm would be a good choice. When you get yours, take it to the range and shoot straight, shoot safe and have fun.