The State of the Subgun – 2023
The Pistol Caliber Carbine is dead? Long live the Pistol Caliber Carbine?
By whatever name you call the pistol caliber shoulder fired weapon, it took a step back from front and center in the 21st century. The MP5 and its peers did a fine job with police forces and special operation units for decades, but the current point gun of the CQB environment is the 5.56 SBR.
The reasons are numerous, but they concentrate down to a marked improvement in safety and effectiveness for that particular mission.
However nobody needs to rush to abandon or dismiss their smooth shooting 9x19mm’s or .45′ ACPs in favor of 5.56 for those improvements, nor do they need to avoid pistol caliber guns that comfortably fit that home protection niche just because 5.56 is an option.
9mm didn’t get less effective, with modern projectiles it arguably closed the gap a little. The round per round gap still exists and will not be closed, but the required efficacy standard is surpassed by either firearm. The US Military and certain LE units are still soliciting subguns in pistol calibers to fulfill roles.
Here are two reasons, especially right now, not to ditch your PCC/SMG
Ammunition
We’ll take care of the easy one first. 9mm costs have stabilized, and will likely continue to do so, fastest of all the ammunition types after the disruptions from the various panics. $260 can get you a case right now. It’s affordable and you can afford to train with it. Other calibers, like .40 S&W, saw far less disruption overall than its more popular metric brother.
More Effective Than You Think
The main reason that subguns are getting the sideline in the caliber debate is simple, the fire a heavy, thick, and slow projectiles. Pistol rounds have an efficacy limit, and some draw backs like wall penetration, that 5.56 exceeds in numerous ways because the 5.56 is light, long, and fast. But what is often getting falsely attributed to the caliber, instead of the caliber in a handgun, is the remaining efficacy of the subgun/PCC.
The great draw of the 5.56 SBR isn’t just the per shot efficacy, it is the ability to control a space up to 200 to 300 yards from your position with relative ease and a high hit probability. You can control out to 100 yards nearly effortlessly, as the system is zeroed and point of aim pretty much equates to the point of impact. That is also the practical space in which you can positively ID a person as a threat or not with your naked eye. The carbine offers you greater capacity and a greater zone of control that the capacity can influence over the handgun. The larger shoulder fired weapon also comes with some psychological influence, it is recognized within subgroups who understand violence as a tool of seriousness the way a handgun is not.
If you can see something or someone and identify a legitimate threat then you can hit it with a carbine.
If your primary need is a higher capacity and a zone of control primarily within 100 yards, that unaided visual ID range, the PCC/subgun can meet that need handily too. You can fairly easily stretch that to 200 yards too, well beyond the distance for the majority of justifiable line of site engagements. Your PCC and your 5.56 both cover your required effective zone of control and offer you the increased ease of control benefits of being carbines.
The pistol caliber often gets falsely attributed with the degradation in accuracy when the real culprit for handguns is handling. The handgun is significantly more difficult to shoot because it has significantly less support while shooting it. The PCC/subgun has the three points of control that the SBR has and that is what grants both of them the larger efficacy zones. If you were firing 5.56 in method as unstable as a traditional handgun, your effective range would be just as short.
Combine that zone with good hollow point ammunition that runs well in your gun and you have a significantly improved performance envelope without changing caliber. Magazines are all over in 20, 30, 35 round capacities for multiple guns. Recoil is low. Suppression is easy and very effective for further noise safety, especially indoors. Your only major deficiency over 5.56 is going to be the shot per shot energy and terminal ballistics on the target.
Bonus: When Size Matters
We can make some very compact 5.56 and .300BLK guns these days, but we can still make a more compact PCC/Subgun and we aren’t diminishing any of the round’s designed efficiency. Most pistol calibers are designed to burn their powder and reach speed in three to five inches of barrel, so even a subgun with a diminutive profile is loosing no energy on their rounds. The 5.56 round is really loosing a lot with a barrel under 11 inches and has such a tremendous amount of muzzle flash when you get under 9 inches that it can double as a flashbang.
Even with a gun like my X95 SBR, a gun I absolutely wholeheartedly recommend for this role too, where I’m not compromising on my barrel length and the benefits there, I am still locked into a gun that is roughly 24 inches in length. That’s small, no doubt, but an MP5k with the tri-lug muzzle and folding or collapsed stock gets under 15 inches. Makes for much easier stowage and transport.
Breaking Down Holster Retention Levels
Holsters, holsters, holsters, everyone needs a holster. A good holster goes a long way, and different people have different needs for different holsters. With that in mind, one of the main considerations you’ll have to make is retention level. How likely is it that someone will snatch your gun or your gun will have difficulty staying in the holster for any reason? Concealed carriers and police officers have different demands for their holsters. Let’s dive into holsters and retention levels to hopefully create a better understanding of retention levels.
The Two Types of Retention
Retention comes in two forms, passive and active.
Active means there is a device that must be defeated to draw the holster. This device can vary. Older leather holsters utilized a thumb thong with a button snap, and that’s active. Modern holsters might use a button, a sliding lever, or any other modern device. Those are all examples of active retention.
Passive is based on the friction fit of the holster. There is no device to be defeated, and the friction of the holster keeps the gun in place., This can vary quite a bit, and many forms of passive retention are adjustable to increase the friction.
These are the two categories of retention, but they do not represent the various level available.
Holster Retention Levels
There isn’t an official list of retention levels held by police and military forces. They typically rely on industry experience, and companies like Safariland publish in-depth explanations of retention levels. Safariland tends to rule the roost and set the standard for most of the industry.
Level 1
Level 1 retention holsters are defined by having one retention device. This can be the Safariland ALS, the Blackhawk thumb lever, and other one-step methods to draw your gun. This is the most basic active retention level. It’s not overly complicated and will actively prevent the weapon from falling out of your holster and will make grabs difficult.
There seems to be some debate if passive retention holsters count as Level 1 holsters. This means friction-fit holsters would be considered level 1. I’m not agreeing or disagreeing. Just clearing up how others may define a level 1 holster.
Level 2
Level 2 retention requires two actions by the user to free the gun from the holster. These systems make it fairly difficult to snatch a gun, and the two steps can vary. These can be a single hood and passive friction retention or a two-step hood system.
Level 3
Level 3 holster pairs together two devices to facilitate a very high level of retention. Safariland uses the SLS hood and ALS release for their level 3 systems. Blackhawk uses a hood and thumb lever, and there are numerous other options. This is the most common option for duty use.
Level 4
Level 4 is a bit unusual and seems to only be offered by Safariland. These holsters include the SLS and ALS systems, and they also add the SLS Sentry Guard device to make grabs nearly impossible. According to Safariland, these are aimed more at corrections environments than duty or patrol.
Clearing the Air
Hopefully, we’ve helped explain what these levels mean and how they affect your holster selection options. Not everyone needs a level 3 holster, but if you do need that retention, there is no other option. Now you know what those levels mean and can make the decision for yourself.
Revolutionize Your Glock 43x Experience with Faxon Firearm Accessories
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One of the standout Glock 43x accessories is the Faxon Firearms Glock 43X Barrel. This high-quality match barrel boasts an array of impressive features like a straight fluted design, 1/10 barrel twist rate, and Chameleon PVD finish, making it ideal for those looking to optimize their firearm’s accuracy. With the Faxon Firearms Glock 43X Barrel, precision becomes far more attainable.
Faxon Firearms Glock 43X Barrel Specs
- Straight Fluted
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- Stress Relieved 416-R Stainless Steel
- Chameleon PVD Finish
- 11-degree Target Crown
- Conventional Rifling
The Faxon Firearms EXOS Compensator is another innovative Glock 43x accessory space addition. This cutting-edge pistol compensator is designed to enhance the overall accuracy of the firearm by reducing its upward movement. Engineered specifically to work effectively with a broad range of factory-loaded ammunition, the EXOS Compensator ensures optimal performance regardless of the type of ammunition being used.
Faxon Firearms EXOS Compensator Specs
- Length: 1.218″
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A Personal Review of the IWI 2 Day Galil/AK-47 Operators Course
When it comes to AK courses across the firearms industry there are many that lack actual foreign weapon experience. These courses often follow their normal practical rifle curriculum, but instead with AK’s. The 2 day Galil/AK-47 Operators course from IWI was not that. Instead, it was an in depth course on the history of the AK platform, specific tricks and pieces of knowledge for the build and mechanics of the firearm, all taught by an instructor that was a true foreign weapons subject matter expert. If I were to recommend any AK course it would hands down be this one.
I am pretty new to actually running the platform however I do have some limited experience with working on the AK platform in a prior line of work. The pace of the 2 day course and the level of depth that went into every drill helped me be confident and successful at the end of the weekend. Below will be a quick overview of what we did each day, some specifics as to why this course stood out from the rest, and some gear recommendations that will help you be successful in the course.
The Class Taken
Date: April 01 – 02, 2023
Hours 8:00am – 5:00pm
Prerequisite: None
Price: $500
Round Count: 600
Location: Gerrardstown, WV (Peacemaker National Training Center)
There were about 15 students in the course and two instructors. We shot on the zero range of the Peacemaker National Training Center. On this specific range we were able to shoot paper targets, steel, and out to 300yds.
Day One
Day One started in the classroom with AK history briefs, knowledge on modifications and mechanics of the platform, field stripping and lubrication/maintenance points, zeroing procedures, and a safety brief. This is where I first found respect for the knowledge that the main instructor, Thomas Alibrando, had. He knew tricks on disassembling and reassembling weapons. He also showed the class the different ways that the Galil and AK platforms were built that could hinder or help sights staying zeroed. The curriculum in itself was genius I mean, we all go to classes where students are having malfunctions due to not lubricating their guns. Why not force them to do it in a teaching setting?
The only thing I would have liked to see is more information on ammunition, especially due to the current shortage.
We then went out to the range and covered the items below.
Day One Range Drills
- zeroing at 25 yds
- verifying at 100yds
- proper shooting stance
- safety manipulations (demo’d four different kinds)
- low ready, high ready, battle ready
- difference between trigger holds and resets after the shot
- charging the gun (demo’d four different kinds)
- brief about equipment
- steel competition
This course had specific zeroing targets for the AK and galil platforms due to their different sights and holdovers. The instructors in the class also divided us up by AK and Galil platform to make the zeroing procedures easier and even the drills. This organization kept for the whole class and really helped. It’s worth it to note that the instructors had their proper AK iron sight adjustment tools and took time over lunch to help a student that was having troubles zeroing due to a loose scope.
The way that Tom taught the manipulation drills also showed why this is a true AK platform class. AK’s often have different kinds of safety levers such as Krebs safety’s or the standard lever. Sometimes these levers are also bent very tight to the receiver and hard to press. Tom spoke on all of this and showed different ways to move the safety ie two finger, one finger, knuckle, etc. He also showed when to move the safety during presentation. All key things that are different between the AK and rifle platform. Charging the gun was no different. There are multiple ways to do this and Tom showed the fastest and most efficient way but allowed us to try the other ways as well.
Ending the day with a little steel competition allowed the students to end on a high note.
Day Two
We immediately went out to the range on day two and went over the drills below.
- magazine changes (four different kinds)
- malfunction set up drills with partners (blue falcon drills)
- par time drills/half and half drill
- positioning
- proper assessment
- turn and shoot drills/el pres
- partner long range shooting at 175 yds and 300 yds
- competition to win a prize from IWI
- brief about AK and Galil magazines
- 15 rounds of full auto shooting from a Galil Ace provided by IWI
I am honestly glad that the curriculum allowed for magazine changes to be on day two instead of one. There was a lot of information dropped on day one, especially for half of the day being inside the classroom. Tom demo’d each type of magazine change, including yes, the magazine sweep. Speaking of, I highly recommend gloves for this class. The magazine changes and safety manipulations caused for some cut up hands.
The instructors way of teaching assessment drills was also different than I have ever seen. While many kind of touch on the post engagement assessment drills, and students often kinda fake the assessment, the instructors found a way to make students try. They did this by holding up fingers or an item. If the students saw two fingers, they need to give the target two extra shots. If they saw an item in the instructors hands, they better remember that item. It worked and I found myself actually looking around after the engagement, not just turning my head.
To end the day IWI provided a full auto Galil Ace and a magazine of ammo for each student to shoot. Genius marketing…
Gear Recommendations
Students within the class ranged from brand new to the platform to this being their fourth AK class and having a good amount of experience on the platform. Those that were brand new fought with a lot of their gear making the class even more difficult to keep up with. The three largest things that were struggled with were slings, magazine pouches, and magazines.
Slings including their AK attachment points are not an option when it comes to practical rifle handling courses. The sling should have the ability to be adjusted quickly for tension and should be a two point sling, NOT single point. I found myself tightening and loosening the sling after almost every drill and the tension did help with arm fatigue and controlling the gun. Some options for this type of sling is the BFG Vickers Sling, Magpul MS1, and the VTAC sling. Students should ensure that they have an easily adjustable sling and also a way to attach it to the gun as AK’s are a very different platform. While paracord is a last minute fix, it isn’t the best option. If your AK doesn’t have a quick detach point there are other options such as the Molded Universal Wire Loop from Blue Force Gear. This simply loops through your AK rail no matter what kind of rail it is.
Next issue being magazine pouches. AK magazines have the front locking lip on the body of the magazine making finding magazine pouches a little difficult. During the course you’ll have a lot of magazines on your body at one time and may need to stow one back into a magazine pouch dependent on the drill. Having magazine pouches that allow for easy magazine removable and stowage is paramount. A couple of good options for pouches that have a wider opening and allow for room for the locking lip are the soft-shell scorpion magazine carrier from G-code and the TACO from HSGI.
Lastly, the proper magazine. There are a ton of different kinds of AK magazines out there and even some tricks to get Galil magazines working properly (learned it in the class). This makes having magazines that don’t work properly a very normal thing in the foreign weapons world and it was shown in class. A few students were having magazine issues which also slowed them down in class. The most recommended AK magazine by the instructor is the Xtech Tactical Magazine. The next being from the AK/AKM GEN 3 PMAG from Magpul. Ensure that you buy the proper generation with the steel reinforced magazine locking lip.
Future Classes
Galil /AK Operator Course – 2 Day
August 05 – 06, 2023
Location: Gerrardstown, WV
Galil/ AK-47 Operator Course
Prerequisite: None
Class Status: Open