Background: APC9 Contract Competition
You can’t talk about the APC9 without first mentioning the reason for its existence. B&T began work on the APC9 (Advanced Police Carbine caliber 9) as a modernized replacement for the H&K MP5. While the MP5 had served valiantly over the years with police, security, and special forces units across the globe, it was clear some upgrades could be made to the platform.
When the Army offered the contract in 2018, B&T returned with the APC9K, which is a natural evolution of the APC9 platform. The main difference between the APC9K and the APC9 was a shorter 4.3-inch barrel, dual folding stock, and – of course – the full-auto giggle switch that brings the cyclic rate of fire to 1,080 rounds per minute. Unfortunately, that also puts the Army’s APC9K clearly out of reach for civilian ownership.
The explicit goal of the contract was to get “Sub-Compact Weapons” into the hands of some of the most important personal security details around the world. High-value officers and foreign dignitaries would benefit from the gun’s ability to “engage threat personnel with a high volume of lethal and accurate fires at close range with minimal collateral damage.”
The Army selected guns from powerhouses like Beretta and H&K as well as smaller companies like Quarter Circle and Zenith Firearms. While the contract was for only $2.5 million for 350 guns – with the option to go to 1,000 guns - the prestige of winning offered the chance to catapult other sales. After rigorous testing, the B&T APC9K was selected for a myriad of reasons that we’ll get into in a minute.
First, let’s look at who else is using this premiere firearm across the globe.
B&T APC9 Users
When the Army decided to entrust the APC9K with protecting its highest-value assets, others were sure to follow. True to form, the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Air Force also adopted the APC9K for security details. This was, of course, on top of all the European law enforcement agencies and special forces units that took up the APC9K for security detail work. In addition to 9mm, B&T has begun offering chamberings in .40 S&W, .45 ACP, and 10mm, along with an integrally suppressed model.
Users can even use a lower that accepts Glock 9mm magazines and SIG P320 mags, offering a bevy of options that match common service handguns. In short, agencies around the world turned to the APC9K because it’s an incredibly concealable platform optimized for low visibility carry and discreet deployment.
Feel and Function
Upon picking up the APC9 Pro that I got for testing from B&T, I could immediately feel the quality. Find me something poorly made by the Swiss, and I’ll find you a liar. The APC9 Pro is no exception, and it didn’t take more than a couple of minutes to find myself falling head over heels for the feel and function of the gun. Let’s start up front.
The gun features a tri-lug muzzle adapter up front for easy attachment of suppressors – we’re hoping to put that to the test in the future. Moving back, you’ll find 3.75 inches of Picatinny rail on the sides and bottom of the gun to complement the 12 inches of Pic rail up top. Pair all that rail with four M-LOK attachment slots on either side, and configurations for all your accessories are limited only by your own imagination.
The polymer lower is an interesting choice to offset the alloy upper, but it works to keep the gun light and wieldy. The APC9 features ambi everything, including mag release, bolt release, and selector switch. All these controls closely mimic AR functionality, so there is no worries on making the jump for those already familiar with America’s most popular sporting rifle. It also features ambi non-reciprocating charging handles on the front of the gun, making it both easy and rather enjoyable to chamber a round.
It should be noted that the bolt release and selector switch were a little stiff out of the box. Those broke in with some shooting, and after around 1,000 rounds, both are definitely easier to manipulate. At the grip, you’ll find maybe my one main gripe with the gun. For how nice the gun is everywhere else, the grip seems like a bit of an afterthought. Maybe that was intentional, given that you can swap the grip with any M4-compatible grip.
The stock B&T grip doesn’t provide a ton of texture, though it does have a storage container, which is always a nice touch. Still, if this gun were staying in my closet for home defense, it would most certainly be getting a Magpul or Hogue upgrade in the grip department.
My test gun came with a folding pistol brace from SB Tactical. I found the brace enjoyable, easy to deploy, and the APC9 will also function with the braced folded over. I put two mags through it like that just to verify there were no issues. The only other gun I’ve spent any significant time with that used the same SB Tactical stock was a CZ Scorpion. Let’s see how the two compare.
Specs and Comparisons
The easiest comparison for the APC9 Pro would be the lineup of other guns that competed for the Army contract. The MPX Copperhead, Angstadt Arms SCW-9, and CZ EVO 3 A1 are the guns that jumped out at me. Since I’ve only had the opportunity to handle the CZ Scorpion, that’s the one I’ll use for this comparison.
First, I can already hear the comments about the price of the APC9, For that amount of money, you could buy a Scorpion and add whatever mods you want to it. Don’t get me wrong – the Scorpion is a fine gun and very fun to shoot, but thinking these two guns are the same is foolish. For starters, the B&T has far less recoil impulse, allowing the gun to shoot flatter and faster.
The APC9 Pro also has size to its advantage, making it an even more compact package. It cuts down nearly 3 inches on the folded package and nearly the same with the brace deployed. Overall, the APC9 Pro is a little heavier, but that also helps with recoil control. Check out how these guns compare more in the specs. Specs are based on what manufacturers listed for the pistol only.
Range Time
Let’s be honest, these guns don’t shine on the spec sheets alone. Taking them to the range and putting them through their paces is the most fun way to figure out what these guns are all about. Shooting this gun was extremely enjoyable. The APC9 has eaten every round of the nearly 1,000 rounds we’ve put through it so far.
I ran everything from standard Federal American Eagle and budget-friendly Wolf to remanufactured reloads and high-end defensive rounds. The APC9 never skipped a beat. It should also be noted that I haven’t cleaned the gun yet, and all the controls and functions still seem perfectly smooth and clean.
I shot a couple of mags with the brace folded over, just to ensure I wouldn’t have an issue, and the APC9 chugged through everything. But with the brace deployed, the APC9 instantly became one of my favorite PCC-type guns that I’ve ever had the pleasure of shooting. This is in large part due to the hydraulic buffer system that eats up recoil like a fat kid eating fried food at an all-you-can-eat buffet. It's by far the easiest shooting PCC-type gun I’ve ever laid my hands on. Even during strings of rapid fire, it stayed incredibly flat and on target while shooting.
The trigger is also a thing of beauty. Again, B&T makes sure that only the highest-quality components are used in its products, and the company spared no expense in the trigger department. The trigger should also get some credit for the gun's ability to stay flat and shoot fast. There is hardly any take-up on the initial press before hitting the wall. Once at the wall, the break is about as clean and crisp as you’ll find in any production pistol. This is all followed by a super short reset, which is quite loud and has a nice, tactile feel to it. This all adds up to an incredible shooting experience.
The model that I received also came with an Aimpoint Acro PL-1. Partnering with Aimpoint was an easy decision for B&T as the two brands complement each other nicely. Just as B&T is known for its ruggedness and ability to function, so is Aimpoint. The PL-1 sits atop the B&T lifter, which was also included with the kit. This allows you to co-witness the backup iron sights with the red dot to make target acquisition speedy with relatively little effort.
With its aluminum housing, the Acro also seems like it was made for the APC9. It’s sturdy and ready for whatever the job throws at it. In fact, B&T is so smitten with the Acro that every APC9 ordered outside the U.S. comes with this Aimpoint, along with every LE order within the U.S. The dot is certainly bright enough even in the high-noon sun to easily be picked up and put on target.
Pros and Cons
At this point, you might think that this is all peachy keen, and that I couldn’t find anything wrong with this gun. Just like everything, the APC9 isn’t perfect, but the stones I’m going to throw are pebbles. I wouldn’t really let any of them distract you from a purchase or rental of this gun.
The two stones I would throw at it immediately out of the box are the grip texture and stiffness of the controls. Though the controls have broken in a bit since I first picked it up, the safety selector is still quite stiff when compared to your average AR-15. The only other stone I might throw here is that the mags threw me for a loop at first.
This may be strictly an appearance thing, but they remind me of clear ETS mags – not that there is anything wrong with ETS magazines. The clear polymer just seemed like a stark contrast to the rest of the gun. My guess is that the people who depend on these guns every day actually appreciate the clear magazines, as it’s the quickest and easiest way to confirm round count.
So far, I haven’t had any issues with them, and they’ve run everything, so this may just be a superficial stone I’m tossing. Plus, if you don’t like the clear mags, you can always order a non-serialized lower that accepts Glock or SIG P320 mags instead, which is of course a huge plus.
Certainly, you can’t make a pros and cons list on B&T without mentioning the price. B&T, while known for its excellent craftsmanship, is also known for being quite expensive. Such is life with a Swiss product. The APC9 is no exception. Current APC9 models retail for around $2,500, and that is for the version without the brace, lifter, or optic, so you can expect those upgrades to drive the price up.
Here is a full list of my pros and cons of this gun:
Pros
- Flat and fast-shooting gun aided by hydraulic buffer system and great trigger
- Swap out non-serialized lowers to accept Glock or SIG P320 mags
- Available in 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP, and 10mm
- Compact package trusted by some of the world’s top security details
- Suppressor-ready
- Models available with SB Tactical brace and Aimpoint Acro, meaning they are ready to run out of the box
- Swappable grip that’s M4-compatible
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Very little recoil
Cons
- Stiff controls out of the box that requires some break-in time
- Grip offers very little texture
- A little heavier than some of its competition
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Pricey
Pushing Past 2,000 Rounds
Since my original range testing, I have run up the round count on the APC9 significantly, pushing past 2,000 rounds at this point. During that time, I have run several different ammo brands through the gun – everything from cheap Wolf steel case to Federal Syntech and S&B Subsonic loads. I’m happy to report that other than bad ammo, magazine issues, or user errors likes babying the bolt home, the gun hasn’t had a single malfunction.
We had some light primer strikes on our cheaper remanufactured ammo, but that can’t be blamed on the gun, as that same ammo has caused issues across numerous guns. We also tested numerous different types of magazines across two different lowers on the gun (more on that on a minute). It kept rocking through everything without as much as a hiccup.
In a mission to make this my eventual home defense gun, I didn’t want to baby it or keep it sparkling clean. I have only field-stripped the gun once for a full cleaning around the 600-700 round mark when I swapped the lowers. Still, it beats on with an unwavering pulse.
Video Review
Modularity
One of the great things about the APC9 is the serialized upper and the ability to swap lowers. About 500 rounds into my journey with this gun, I decided I’d rather have the lower that can accept Glock mags than the one that takes original B&T mags. There wasn’t anything necessarily wrong with the B&T mags, but at that point, I had shot enough PCCs to know that I wanted one for my go-to home defense gun, though I wasn’t settled on the APC9 quite yet.
My reasoning for choosing PCCs for home defense is another article for another day. What I did understand, though, was that no other PCCs accept B&T magazines, while nearly all can accept Glock mags. Swapping the lower on the APC9 would allow me to test more PCCs quicker while all using the same mags.
Magazines
Speaking of mags, I ran a variety, from stock Glock 17 mags to extended Glock mags, to aftermarket mags from the likes of Magpul, ETS, KCI, ProMag, and Amend2. So far, the Glock, Magpul, and KCI mags have all run perfectly. Meanwhile the ProMag, KTS, and Amend2 mags have had issues.
It should be noted that I haven’t had a single PCC cycle the Amend2 mag when it is fully loaded. Best advice for that magazine is to download a couple rounds to run it with any reliability. In fact, the Amend2 mag is the only magazine that has caused stovepipe issues across different PCC platforms.
This could be one of the only cons of the gun I have found as well. For whatever reason, the APC9 will not accept the Magpul D-50 GL9 drum mag. It appears the magwell extends too far down for the magazine to catch. While 30-round stick mags are great and give a nice capacity, I just love a good drummy, even if just for fun at the range. One day, I will run an article on the best 9mm extended magazines, but I need to do a lot more testing.
Going Quiet
At a certain point, as suppressor wait times started to decrease and the focus of my PCC-as-home-defense-gun vision become clearer, I knew I would have to add a suppressor. To that end, why pair a B&T gun with anything other than a B&T suppressor? While B&T is certainly a respected firearms manufacturer, the company has an equally impressive foothold on the suppressor market.
I have been continually impressed with B&T suppressors at SHOT Show’s Industry Day. They are extremely lightweight with superb noise suppression. B&T makes some of the quietest guns on the planet, evidenced by guns like the Station Six or their integrally suppressed .300 BLK bolt gun.
When I finally got an RBS SQD suppressor (I must have been one of the last people still going through the old process and had to wait months for my can), I was excited to get it on the range. My excitement was well founded, as the can easily exceeded expectations.
The QD aspect with the tri-lug muzzle device makes for an extremely quick changeover from loud to quiet. B&T told me at an Industry Day that this was the fastest suppressor to attach and detach on the market. It’s tough to argue that. To illustrate that point, a short video below.
The titanium construction is light. It is barely noticeable at the end of the barrel from a weight perspective. The lightweight construction and the flowthrough end cap keep the can cool. I put 90 rounds through the gun quickly and made the foolish mistake of grabbing the can. While I wouldn’t recommend you do that, I was surprised I didn’t come away with a burn or red mark.
Speaking of flowthrough, this can might have the best gas flowthrough of any suppressor I’ve ever shot. Now, I’m not any sort of Tier 1 operator and I’ve only been shooting suppressed for the past handful of years, but I can tell you that I have been gassed pretty badly by certain firearm/suppressor combos. That really takes a lot of the fun out of shooting suppressed. I have tested this suppressor extensively at both indoor and outdoor ranges and have never had an issue tearing up.
Finally, sound mitigation is superb, making a gun with a decent bark tame by anyone’s standards. I’m now pushing over 500 rounds suppressed, all with the S&B Tactical subsonic bullets, and the suppressor hasn’t affected reliability in the slightest. To top it all off, the RBS SQD suppressor is affordably priced, especially considering the performance and construction quality.
Accessories
Once I established that the gun would be part of my defensive lineup, I knew it needed some help with accessories. The optic was already taken care of with the Aimpoint Acro C2 – a great optic for sure. The only downside is I wish it had an auto shutoff/shake-awake feature so I wouldn’t lose batteries by forgetting to turn it off. Eventually, I could upgrade to the latest Acro, but for now this does everything I need while keeping money in my pocket for ammo.
I added a Mountain Partisan tactical sling, which is proving to be both functional and comfortable. Next, I needed a light. While I could have opted for a light with a price point to match the gun, something from Cloud Defense or Modlight, I instead chose a Streamlight. The reason for going budget on the light is simple: I’m running out of money, and my home defense scenario doesn’t really require a large candela count.
I live in an old house in an urban center, so my concern is simply shedding light on a subject within 25-30 feet inside and around the domicile. Finally, I added a Magpul hand stop to the bottom. I didn’t feel it was overly necessary since the Pic rail gives a good hand weld, but I typically like a hand stop and it does give the gun a little bit of extra control.
Home Defense King?
At this point in the article, it should be clear where I sit on the APC9’s effectiveness as a defensive firearm. It will be my go-to home defense firearm from now until I shoot the barrel out, and even then, I’ll probably get another. The gun gives me everything I could want in a home defense package without sacrificing anything. Here are just a few reasons why I have established this as my go-to for home defense.
- Large capacity
- Wieldy and accurate
- Very quiet and effective with the RBS SQD suppressor
- Soft and quick shooting
- Reliable
The last point is probably the most important when it comes to choosing a home defense gun. I trust my life to this gun and that it will function in times of stress. The ability to put a lot of rounds on target also shouldn’t go unnoticed, and this B&T gun does just that. While it won’t take the 50-round drummy from Magpul, the stock Glock stick mags give more than enough firepower and put it on the same standard capacity level as most AR rifles.
Ultimately, the choice for a home defense gun is a personal one with many factors to consider. If price isn’t an object, my considerations are reliability, capacity, accuracy, and maneuverability – in that order. The APC9 fills those needs and is the best gun for me at combining all these important elements. Thus, it wears the crown for me as a home defense gun. Throw in the fact that the U.S. Army chose this gun for elite security, and there is little argument it is a fantastic home defense option.
Conclusion
It's been a sweet ride with the APC9, and I don't intend to leave anytime soon. Like I said, I love training with this gun and wish I could take it with me to the range every time. I will say the controls were a bit stiff out of the box, but they have broken in nicely over time (or I have just become accustomed to them through training). I highly recommend picking up an APC9. You won't be disappointed.
