Wilson Combat AR9 Carbine
- Category
- Carbine
- Barrel
- 406 mm
- Weight, empty
- 2.95 kg
- Introduced
- 2017
About
What it is, and why it matters
The Wilson Combat AR9 Carbine is a 9mm pistol-caliber carbine engineered from the ground up rather than adapted from a 5.56 platform, addressing the reliability and feeding compromises that plague many converted PCCs. Built on one of three purpose-designed lower receivers - compatible with Glock 17, Beretta 92, or Wilson Combat EDC X9 magazines, each with last-round bolt hold-open - the AR9 uses a soft-shooting closed-bolt blowback action and Wilson Combat's carbon-steel match-grade, button-rifled 1-in-10 twist barrel. The result is an exceptionally accurate, reliable carbine that feeds hollowpoint and +P loads flawlessly while retaining familiar AR-15 ergonomics, making it ideal for patrol, home defense, competition, and cost-effective training.
When Wilson Combat entered the pistol-caliber carbine market, they refused to simply rebarrel an existing AR. Instead they designed dedicated magazine-specific lowers, earning the AR9 a reputation as one of the most reliable factory PCCs available - a rare feat in a category notorious for finicky feeding.
Offered in 16-inch carbine and 11.3-inch / 8-inch SBR barrel lengths. Magazine capacity varies with the chosen receiver and magazine (Glock 17 = 17 rounds standard). Sale prices roughly $1,834-$2,141. Reviewed favorably by American Rifleman as 'the new standard in pistol-caliber carbine reliability.'
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Wilson Combat
- Category
- Carbine
- Country
- United States
- Status
- In production
- Produced
- 2017
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 406 mm
- Overall length
- 864 mm
- Weight, empty
- 2.95 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Blowback
- Firing mechanism
- Closed bolt
- Trigger
- Single stage
- Trigger pull
- 18.0 N
- Capacity
- 17
- Magazine
- Detachable box
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Aluminum alloy
- Barrel
- Steel
- Stock
- Polymer
- Finish
- Armor tuff
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 400 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 600 J
- Effective range
- 100 m
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
Match grade barrel
Button rifled barrel
Free float handguard
M lok rail
Closed bolt blowback
Last round bolt hold open
Glock magazine compatible
Collapsible stock
Q comp flash hider
Flat top receiver
Picatinny rail
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 62 9x19mm Parabellum carbines | 2.95 kg | 2.78 kg | Heavier than about 80% |
| Overall lengthAmong 56 9x19mm Parabellum carbines | 864 mm | 820 mm | Longer than about 70% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 64 9x19mm Parabellum carbines | 406 mm | 406 mm | Near the median |
| Magazine capacityAmong 64 9x19mm Parabellum carbines | 17 | 24 | Holds fewer rounds than about 70% |
Answers
Questions about the Wilson Combat AR9 Carbine
How much does the Wilson Combat AR9 Carbine weigh?
The Wilson Combat AR9 Carbine weighs 2.95 kg (6.50 lb) empty.
What caliber is the Wilson Combat AR9 Carbine?
The Wilson Combat AR9 Carbine is chambered in 9x19mm Parabellum.
How many rounds does the Wilson Combat AR9 Carbine hold?
The Wilson Combat AR9 Carbine holds 17 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the Wilson Combat AR9 Carbine?
The Wilson Combat AR9 Carbine is 864 mm (34.0 in) long overall, with a 406 mm (16.0 in) barrel.
Who makes the Wilson Combat AR9 Carbine?
The Wilson Combat AR9 Carbine is made by Wilson Combat (United States). It was designed by Wilson Combat.
When was the Wilson Combat AR9 Carbine introduced?
The Wilson Combat AR9 Carbine was introduced in 2017.
How does the Wilson Combat AR9 Carbine operate?
The Wilson Combat AR9 Carbine uses a blowback action, and its firing mechanism is closed bolt.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
Provenance
Confidence in this record
83%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/wilson-combat-ar9-carbine' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "wilson-combat-ar9-carbine", "name": "Wilson Combat AR9 Carbine", "manufacturer": { "id": "wilson-combat", "name": "Wilson Combat", "countryCode": "US", "foundedYear": 1977, "website": "https://www.wilsoncombat.com", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-02-11 23:44:40", "updatedAt": "2026-02-18 03:40:48", "version": "7f5e3023178d48f7553fcde5c65b4cb6000ffd1255840d0eb63837a52de8b11f" }, "category": { "id": "carbine", "name": "Carbine", "description": "Shortened rifles for close-quarters use" }, "country_of_origin": "US", "year_introduced": 2017, "barrel_length_mm": 406, "weight_empty_g": 2948, "action_type": "blowback"}