What Is a Pistol Caliber Carbine? Everything You Need to Know

Jump to:

• Pistol-Caliber Carbine (PCC) Definition
• Are PCCs Legal?
• Pros of Using a Pistol-caliber Carbine
• Cons of Using a PCC
• Finding the Perfect Storage Partner for Your PCC

It's nice to have flexibility when you’re preparing for a home-defense situation. You want to be ready to defend yourself and your family in any scenario. However, if you’ve scoured the internet for long enough, you’ve probably found a variety of weapons for home defense. One platform you might have come across is the pistol-caliber carbine, a light rifle that fires handgun cartridges. If you’re curious about this hybrid weapon, stick with us to learn more. 

Pistol-Caliber Carbine Defined 

Pistol-caliber carbines (PCCs) are guns that look like rifles, except they fire handgun ammunition like 9mm, 40 S&W, and 38 Special. PCCs are actually a subcategory of carbine rifles,  which are generally shorter firearms and easier to handle compared to regular rifles. 

Pistol-caliber carbines were popular in the 1800s American Wild West time period, according to Bob Meinecke of codyenterprise.com. A reason why these firearms are still so popular is that they offer added stability and accuracy for shooters using smaller bullets while also being semi-automatic.

Looking at the History of PCCs

The pistol-caliber carbine is nothing new. It’s been around for over 100 years, starting in 1873 when a carbine that could fire Colt Peacemaker ammunition was introduced. The demand for such a firearm came from farmers, ranchers and travelers in the western part of the United States who wanted to use ammunition from their sidearms in a platform with more extended range and stability. 

This sentiment is still popular today as firearm manufacturers continue to design and ship rifles that fire pistol cartridges. The stable form factor of a long-barreled gun mixed with a smaller1 bullet can provide an excellent shooting experience. Before we dive into some reasons you should and shouldn’t use this platform, let’s discuss a crucial difference between a full-sized pistol-caliber carbine and a short-barreled rifle carbine. 

Are Pistol-Caliber Carbines Legal?: The Difference Between PCCs and Short-Barreled Rifles

*Disclaimer - This is not legal purchasing advice. For more information about your state’s laws, check out this list from the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.*

Before diving into the world of pistol-caliber carbines, you need to learn your state’s laws about semi-automatic rifles. Generally speaking, it all comes down to the barrel and the overall firearm lengths. A pistol-caliber carbine with a barrel length of 16 inches and a total length of 26 inches is considered a standard rifle. When a rifle is shorter than those measurements, it is considered a short-barreled rifle (SBR). 

Many short-barreled rifles also use pistol cartridges, which blurs the line between a standard pistol-caliber carbine and an SBR. Short-barrel rifle laws are different in each state. Many state governments have banned the use of a pistol brace and the SBR, while others require an extra tax and registration for ownership. You can learn more about SBRs and pistol braces in this article.

Once you’ve determined if you can legally purchase a pistol-caliber carbine in your state, you must decide if it’s truly worth your investment. 

Pros & Cons for Using a Pistol-caliber Carbine 

A pistol-caliber carbine can present some strong advantages over your daily carry handgun. If you’ve been looking for a new firearm for home defense, you may have seriously considered the pistol-caliber carbine. Here are a few reasons why a pistol-caliber carbine would be a great addition to your arsenal:

4 Pros of Using a PCC 

1. A pistol-caliber carbine may offer a more stable shooting experience. A pistol-caliber carbine provides more points of contact than a handgun. The stock and longer handgrip reduce the recoil you experience, allowing you to have more control of the firearm when firing. 
2. You can be more accurate at longer ranges. A carbine's longer sight radius helps you see the slight deviations between the front and back sights. These deviations can make you less accurate when firing. The shorter sight radius of a handgun makes the difference less apparent. 
3. The longer barrel generates less flash and sound than a handgun. The elongated barrel of a pistol-caliber carbine gives the cartridge a longer runway to burn propellant. Reduced flash and sound can help you put more shots on target in a self-defense situation.
4. You can use the same ammunition as your handgun. If you purchase a pistol-caliber carbine that uses the same cartridge size as your concealed carry weapon, you don’t have to worry about keeping stock of two types of ammunition. In some cases, your handgun’s magazine may also be compatible with the pistol-caliber carbine. 

3 Cons of Using a PCC 

1. It can be a redundant expense. While a pistol-caliber carbine can give you additional stability and range, it still fires the cartridges as your daily carry weapon. If you’ve taken time to train with your concealed carry firearm, you should be comfortable using it in self-defense, especially at close range.
2. It can take up valuable space. While pistol-caliber carbines aren’t the largest gun you can store, they can take up space that you could otherwise use for more ammunition, accessories or other firearms. Even if you have a smart storage solution, like a concealment flag, you still have to be diligent about how much space you have. 
3. Its high velocity may cause over-penetration in home defense. A pistol-caliber carbine’s long barrel adds velocity to handgun cartridges, which helps it become more effective at long range. However, at close range, this type of firearm may create a clean shot through your target, reducing your firearm’s stopping power and potentially hitting other people beyond your target. 

Where Can I Store My Pistol-Caliber Carbine?

If you’ve decided that a pistol-caliber carbine is best for your home defense setup, store it safely and discreetly with a concealment flag or piece of furniture from Liberty Home Concealment. All of our products are handcrafted in the United States, so you can rest assured that you’ll be able to access your firearm when needed and no one else will. Check out our full lineup of products today.