Pistol caliber carbines are becoming more and more popular in the firearms market. Back in the 90’s I had a Marlin Camp 9 and that 16″ barrel certainly added some zip to that 115-grain 9mm round. Sending cans up in the air at 50 yards down at the sand pits was what I called fun.
Firearms have come a long way since then and AR’s in 9mm and even 45ACP are becoming more relevant. Freedom Ordnance has entered the pistol caliber carbine market with their FX-9 9mm Carbine.
While the FX-9 may look like an AR pistol caliber carbine it is not. Freedom Ordnance designed the FX as a stand alone designed firearm that has many of the handling and operational characteristics of the AR-15 as well as a few parts that actually interchange. AR stocks and buffer tube assemblies are compatible with the FX-9. Most free float AR handguards will fit as well.
Features:
The buffer tube sports a UTG Pro 6 position stock. The stock features a nice pad on it which although not needed on a 9mm does help secure the stock and keep it in place on the shoulder. Nice added touch.
The charging handle is fairly standard and no nonsense. It cannot be replaced with a standard AR charging handle but it does operate the same. I like the “Freedom Reigns” on it. No issues. It works.
Looking at the FX-9 it is obvious it was modeled after the AR. The magazine release, bolt release, safety, grip, and even separating the upper and lower half are all AR. Someone used to working with AR-variants will be able to pick up the FX-9 and use it with no issues.
Trigger is decent and typical mil-spec pull weight – around 6 pounds or so.
Finish is smooth and consistent. This is no Daniel Defense but all anodizing and coatings look great.
When I ordered the Freedom Ordnance FX-9 I thought the handguard was going to be made from a polymer. I was pleasantly surprised and very impressed with the 13″ free floating aluminum handguard. It is SWEET! It also features the M-Lock attachment system. One of the best I have felt.
Function and Reliability
The Freedom Ordnance FX-9 comes with 1 SGM 33-rd Glock compatible magazine. Throughout my testing, I had zero failure with the SGM magazine. It seems like a very high-quality magazine and very rugged. Truly a close copy of the standard Glock factory magazine.
I shot 30 rounds through a Magpul Glock 17 magazine with no issues. The Magpul brand seems well built and fairly rugged. There is no inner metal insert for the feed lips but again – no issues in a limited test.
The ETS Glock 17 magazines were horrible. Based on my initial introduction to ETS I could never recommend their pistol magazines. The problem revolves around a fairly inconsistent spring wind as well as the sides that bulged out. I could not use the ETS magazine. It fit extremely tight in the magazine well and would not function.
The standard Glock 17 OEM magazine performed flawlessly – as expected.
In total over 300 rounds have been fired through the FX-9 with zero malfunctions and zero issues. The FX-9 should prove to be extremely reliable as it has the benefit of a dedicated feed ramp.
Accuracy:
I placed an old Walther red dot optic I had lying around on the Picatinny rail along the top of the receiver. Amazingly it was almost right on the money at 50 yards with no adjustments. After some fine tuning, it was a blast to shoot. Firing anywhere from 15 to 50 yards shots on a 9″ pie plate was routine. This is not from a bench I am talking off hand.
Shots on steel provided instant feedback and the constant “ping”, “ping”, “ping” was very satisfying. This thing is a BLAST to shoot.
SUMMARY:
The Freedom Ordnance FX-9 is a fast-handling 9mm carbine that fits a variety of roles. For someone carrying a Glock 17 or 19 as a sidearm, the compatibility with both ammunition and magazines are a plus. Within reasonable ranges, the FX-9 could certainly fill the role as a self-defense gun both at home and out on the property.
For those looking for a pistol-caliber carbine, the Freedom Ordnance FX-9 is an excellent choice.
RECOMMENDED
Available for $599.99 from ClassicFirearms.com.
Rourke