Comparing three PCC 9mms – Sig MPX 9mm, Aero Prec EPC9 and PSA’s ak-v 9mm

UPDATE: January 2024, I got a CMMG 9mm upper, so I’m adding details about my review of that system too.

I wanted to test accuracy and reliability of the three PCCs (MPX, EPC and AK-v)

I’ve had my MPX for a long time and never felt the need to branch out to other PCC (pistol caliber carbine). I also felt for many many years that a PCC was a “range toy”. Which it is and so much more! Including a truck gun, get home gun and general self-defense that matches your other handguns.

If you are going to have a carbine, let it be a rifle caliber! But, I like shooting steel and doing steel drills closer up than 100 yards. The PCC is also handy for a truck gun, having the same caliber as a handgun makes sense to me.

If you’ve never shot a PCC, they are FAST, FUN and a great time! I’d say with a red dot and stock/brace, they are 2-3x faster than a traditional handgun!

So, I built out a EPC 9 and put a red dot on it (holosun 510c). This was in my truck with 5 27 rd mags for about 6 months. The EPC 9 takes “glock style mags”.

Having glock mags on the EPC 9 seems like a big benefit, but they do not load as easily as the ak-v mags nor the sig mpx mags. 

If your truck system/get home systems uses glock mags for the handgun and PCC, then maybe this is a good option for you.

For me, after these tests, I plan to off load the Aero Precision EPC 9 and keep the MPX and ak-v.

In the past, holosun 515 or 510 have been my go to red dot. I think I’m changing to Sig Romeo 5 going forward. Higher volume/lower price and works with the juliet 3x magnifier. 

Similar to a 357 lever gun and revolver, having a handgun and “carbine” of the same caliber makes sense to me.  Also, 9mm benefits from a longer barrel ballistically (for power, accuracy and distance)

One of the most common calibers in the world is the 9mm and 22lr.

I strongly suggest you look into getting a PCC in 9mm.

I would recommend the PSA AK-V 9mm. Mine came with 10 35 rd mags for about $1,000! and a really great pistol brace that looks and works great!

CMMG 9mm upper review

I tried the mat9 and it did not work with my mag-dump trigger, so I returned it to opticsplanet and got the CMMG 9mm.

I did some research and I saw some other “mag dump triggers” working with the CMMG 9mm upper, so I ordered one of those.

It works fantastic! So much so, I sold my PSA AKV 9mm. I doubt anything non-ak would be even close to as reliable as an akv.

Pros of the cmmg ar9

• With a rotating-like bolt, no need to have a super heavy bolt!
• Lower recoil than any other PCC I’ve shot. Seems even less than the mpx, but they are likely very close.
• Also another advantage of the radial bolt is much much less toxic fumes in the face while shooting suppressed.
• works with magdump trigger from BDU
• No need to have a unique ar15 lower, as you can use 9mm adapter mags and use a standard ar15 lower
  • https://cmmg.com/adapter-magazine-9-ar-conversion-10-30rd-2-pack
  • Takes seconds to convert a normal pmag into a 9mm pmag!
  • If you live in a commie-state like Cali, you can snip it for 10 rds, but in freestates, you can get the full 30rd (you never had enough time or ammo in a gunfight, so the govscam makes you have less ammo, they don’t care about you!)
    

CONS of the cmmg 9 upper

• If you use the converted 9mm adapters, the mags can get pricy. About $45 per mag if you include the pmag and adapter insert.

This is the version I got (the 5″ 9mm banshee)
https://cmmg.com/upper-group-banshee-9mm-5

Protip! They have a NRA Instructor discount program! Its called their “Pro Purchase form“. 40% off! You can buy 1 firearm per year and 2 uppers! The accessories have a discount, but its variable on the percentage.

Trigger Comparison

Gun	Trigger weight	Impressions
ak-v with franklin	3lbs	excellent trigger for an ak
ak-v with ALG trigger1	almost 5 lbs	excellent trigger for an ak
MPX	I upgraded to an	overpriced geissele
EPC	good trigger and	easy to be super accurate
CMMG	standard ar15 trigger	given standard, it can be as nice as you’d want

SUMMARY:

As you can see, the EPC9 has the best consistent groups and shoots just about any of the ammo I tested equally well.  Then the ak-v9 followed by the MPX 9.

Distance about 50 yards and prone position. After a 10 shot group, I would make adjustments to the red dot. I also turned the red dot down as much as I could and still see it for precision. I would also aim carefully at the top right corner of the post-it note.

As far as most reliable. I would say, given my limited testing. The ak-v wins reliability on diff ammo. Followed by EPC9 and then last is mpx. In the past the MPX has done well with steel cased ammo and just about any ammo I fed it, but for some reason it does NOT like Super Vel ammo (I will re-test with adjusting the gas).

Get yourself one of these PCCs, you won’t regret it. I kind of want to take an ar-15 class with a AR9 (well, its going to be a MPX, but close enough…or maybe even the AK-v!