CX4 or 9mm AR upper?

chris in va · January 7, 2014, 05:23 PM

I'm a little fuzzy on how this works.

I miss having a 9mm carbine. Looking around the past couple years I've settled on these two choices, but I can't figure out if I can simply buy a complete upper for my S&W Sport or would it be more complicated than just pulling a couple pins and swapping out the upper.

The CX4 is rather expensive at $800. But it's a stand alone unit and it works, unlike the HiPoint I had. Plus it takes hi cap mags, a major plus.

Help?

BTW I reload and cast my own 9mm, if that makes any difference.

9x19 · January 7, 2014, 05:48 PM

A 9mm upper won't run on a standard lower (being straight blow-back rather than gas operated, it uses a different buffer and spring), so it's not a simple two-pin swap.

Most folks I know who have an AR-based 9mm have a complete dedicated rifle setup for it.

There is also the Just Right Carbine in 9mm, not as slick as the CX4, but another option. The CX4 I owned ran fine and was a breeze to take down and clean.

chris in va · January 7, 2014, 06:20 PM

Have the problems with the JRC been fixed?

Jim243 · January 7, 2014, 07:40 PM

Quote:

unlike the HiPoint I had.

What were the problems with the Hi-Point besides using high cap mags that screw up the bolt?? I have a 4095TS with no issues at all.

Jim

You could look at the Kel-Tec it also folds and uses Glock Mags.

tahunua001 · January 7, 2014, 07:40 PM

as 9x19 has pointed out it is not a simple upper swap. you need a beefier buffer and in most cases a heavier hammer as well. also, you need a magwell adapter to take you choice of either straight stick colt mags(or modified uzi mags) or glock mags. the glock blocks had hit or miss reputations last I checked. the colt mag version is the one that works the best and I personally have the best luck with metal form mags in my 9mm.

I would personally take the 9mm AR over any other pistol cal carbine but it is definitely something that you want a dedicated rifle for rather than just swapping all the time.

9x19 · January 7, 2014, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Have the problems with the JRC been fixed?

The reports I've read from recent purchasers of Glock-mag 9mms and .40s have all been positive in terms of function... some of the .45 Glock-mag rifle buyers still report some issues (mag related).

skizzums · January 7, 2014, 08:21 PM

i have to go with the hi-point, not sure what problems you were having, but hi-point would gladly fix it, my wife puts about a hundred rounds through hers every weekend for the last two years, very little ever an issue, every problem we ever had was probably my handloads
but that thng eats everything from puff loads to hot loads, 115gr to 147gr no probs, cant beat it for 289$, i really like the the new taurus carbine but dont really see how they are 3x better than the hi-point

January 7, 2014, 05:23 PM	#1
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	CX4 or 9mm AR upper? I'm a little fuzzy on how this works. I miss having a 9mm carbine. Looking around the past couple years I've settled on these two choices, but I can't figure out if I can simply buy a complete upper for my S&W Sport or would it be more complicated than just pulling a couple pins and swapping out the upper. The CX4 is rather expensive at $800. But it's a stand alone unit and it works, unlike the HiPoint I had. Plus it takes hi cap mags, a major plus. Help? BTW I reload and cast my own 9mm, if that makes any difference.

January 7, 2014, 05:48 PM	#2
9x19 Senior Member Join Date: October 15, 1998 Location: Sherman, TX USA Posts: 3,750	A 9mm upper won't run on a standard lower (being straight blow-back rather than gas operated, it uses a different buffer and spring), so it's not a simple two-pin swap. Most folks I know who have an AR-based 9mm have a complete dedicated rifle setup for it. There is also the Just Right Carbine in 9mm, not as slick as the CX4, but another option. The CX4 I owned ran fine and was a breeze to take down and clean. __________________ Make mine lean, mean, and 9x19!

January 7, 2014, 07:40 PM	#5
tahunua001 Senior Member Join Date: July 21, 2011 Location: Idaho Posts: 7,839	as 9x19 has pointed out it is not a simple upper swap. you need a beefier buffer and in most cases a heavier hammer as well. also, you need a magwell adapter to take you choice of either straight stick colt mags(or modified uzi mags) or glock mags. the glock blocks had hit or miss reputations last I checked. the colt mag version is the one that works the best and I personally have the best luck with metal form mags in my 9mm. I would personally take the 9mm AR over any other pistol cal carbine but it is definitely something that you want a dedicated rifle for rather than just swapping all the time. __________________ ignore my complete lack of capitalization. I still have no problem correcting your grammar. I never said half the stuff people said I did-Albert Einstein You can't believe everything you read on the internet-Benjamin Franklin

January 7, 2014, 08:21 PM	#7
skizzums Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2013 Location: Douglasville, Ga Posts: 4,615	i have to go with the hi-point, not sure what problems you were having, but hi-point would gladly fix it, my wife puts about a hundred rounds through hers every weekend for the last two years, very little ever an issue, every problem we ever had was probably my handloads but that thng eats everything from puff loads to hot loads, 115gr to 147gr no probs, cant beat it for 289$, i really like the the new taurus carbine but dont really see how they are 3x better than the hi-point __________________ My head is bloody, but unbowed

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January 7, 2014, 06:20 PM	#3
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	Have the problems with the JRC been fixed?