Features
We’re huge fans of PCCs here at Guns.com, but the Extar EP9 has managed to stay under the radar, even for us. At first glance, it’s easy enough to dismiss this little PDW-sized gun as just another AR-pattern firearm running a buffer tube, pistol brace, and AR controls.
One of the things that really makes the EP9 stand out – or rather, blend in – is the extensive use of polymer that Extar put into the design. Essentially, only the barrel, trigger, safety lever, fire control group, bolt, recoil spring, and buffer are made from metal.
That’s how Extar cut this direct-blowback gun down to 4.2 pounds. Most blowback designs rely heavily on weight to control recoil, and that’s still true for the EP9. Extar just ensured all that heavy metal was focused on the parts that actually move and take the most abuse.
The bolt, barrel, and ejector are treated with BlackNitride+, which decreases wear, increases hardness, and adds a level of lubricity to help the metal parts slide freely inside the polymer receiver.
For recoil control, Extar uses what it calls the Advanced Recoil Impulse Damping System. Polymer parts limit bolt bounce inside the lightweight EP9, and the heavy metal bolt assembly and buffer combine with the long recoil spring to soak up most of the recoil impulse.
Aside from the internal tweaks inside the action, I found the EP9 ran with the same speed and familiarity that most AR platforms enjoy. The low weight makes it very wieldy, and the collapsing pistol brace keeps the platform adaptable and small.
There’s a generous amount of Picatinny rail up top for optics, and the handguard features three slots of M-LOK at the 3, 6, and 9 o’clock positions.
Extar lists the EP9’s trigger as a single-stage design. It isn’t refined, per se, but it is short and fast. There’s only a 0.16-inch pull to reach what serves as the wall, and a further 0.1-inch tug brings it to the break. It’s a little too springy to call the trigger crisp, but it’s easy to run fast and accurately on the range. The reset has a 0.1-inch travel distance, which is positive and audible.
Finally, Extar offers a host of extras for the EP9, including a single-point sling, carry case, and 10- or 18-round Extar mags.
Specs
Here’s my breakdown of the basic specs for the Extar EP9 pistol:
Weight: 4.2 pounds
Length: 23.75-26.4 inches
Barrel Length: 6.5 inches
Barrel Threads: 1/2x28 TPI
Width: 1.82 inches (widest point/handguard)
Height: 7.9 inches
Magazine Type: Glock-pattern 9mm
Chambering: 9mm Luger
Capacity: Up to 33 (Extar offers its own 10- and 18-round mags)
Trigger Pull: 6.64 pounds
Reliability & Accuracy
Some polymer-heavy guns have a floppy, bendy feel to them when they shoot, but I found that the EP9 remained solid-feeling in the hand, even with a polymer buffer tube. Keep in mind that this gun uses a long buffer spring and heavy buffer, so you will get some of the "twang" feeling that goes along with that design.
I notice it in many standard AR-15 rifle platforms as well. However, the felt recoil is very easy to manage and comfortably tamed by the gun’s recoil-damping design.
So far, I put 600 rounds of a mix of ammo through this Extar over three months of testing. I had no failures during that time. The only issue I noticed was that steel-cased 115-grain Winchester USA Forged cycled sluggishly.
That ammo has been rough on many test guns due to the dirty, abrasive casings. Still, the EP9 cycled my 50-round box without a stoppage. That kind of reliability is one of the perks of simple direct-blowback designs. However, Extar warns against using aluminum-cased ammo, since it expands and contracts differently, and +P ammo is to be avoided since it is meant for barrels at or under 4 inches.
Accuracy is where I was most surprised by this gun during my testing. Shooting at 25 yards, here’s what I got on my first range trip.
I busted out a shooting bag to see just how accurate I could shoot from a rest with this polymer design. That led to the two groups below.
All in all, the range testing showed that this budget-friendly featherweight is a reliable and accurate shooter that can, frankly, outshoot me.
Pros & Cons
Here’s my short list of the pros and cons for the Extar EP9:
Pros:
- Very reliable and accurate
- Affordable price
- Low felt recoil
- Extremely lightweight
- Uses Glock-pattern magazines
- Easy to disassemble and clean
- Barrel hosts common 1/2x28 TPI threads
- AR-style controls
Cons:
- Hard to find from online retailers
- Using the threaded barrel requires extra steps
- Polymer frame is strong, but not indestructible
- Not much for aftermarket parts
-
Not meant for +P or aluminum-cased ammo
Final Thoughts
The EP9 proved to be a reliable and wonderfully accurate shooter for my testing. If I had a complaint, it would be that the guns are somewhat hard to find from online retailers. Other than that, it is a great value firearm that stands out from the crowd for me.
It is reliable and accurate enough for home defense, and it would even make a great backpacking gun thanks to its small size and flyweight design.
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