Best Gun For New Shooters And First Time Buyers: The PCC

I am sure like a lot of you over the past few months I’ve receive a few inquiries from friends and “family” about what gun to get. A few of them own firearms, but not what you or I would consider a defensive firearm.  So not wanting to lead someone astray I pondered the question, dissected it layer by layer, and tried to place myself in their shoes. These are the considerations I believe to be most relevant:

First: The weapon must be easy to use. The odds the new shooter will spend hours and hours becoming proficient in some odd ergonomics is slim to none. This rules out quite a few rifles and handguns of the exotic nature.

Second: It needs to be something where maintenance is low and the operating system is easy to understand and diagnosing malfunctions if they arise….they shouldn’t occur very often in a well-made firearm to be considered suitable for home defense.

Third: Cost should be obtainable for most people. Someone’s first guns doesn’t need to be a Knights or Hodge.

All of these considerations, plus a few not listed in detail for length sake; ammo availability, lower recoil, easily mounted optics, ability to accept a light, and aftermarket support. The only logical conclusion I came to was…

a PCC.

Yes, that’s right. A wannabe rifle in 9mm. If a Glock 17 is adequate for self-defense then something more stable and shooting at higher velocities is acceptable too. 

New shooter are often recoil shy (regardless of age or gender). When teaching my wife to shoot she “didn’t like the kick or booms” of my 556 carbine.  She naturally took to the 300blk suppressed. The recoil was less and it didn’t have the concussion. She could focus on sight alignment and trigger control without flinching in anticipation of the shot. We like to think as seasoned shooters this isn’t a thing, but it is. When learning to shoot, focusing on the fundamentals without the worry of recoil and concussion will make you a better shooter. 

I have heard discussed on podcasts and on online hell (aka forums) that PCC’s are not suitable for home defense. Yet many will boast about their 10.5” braced ARs being their HD guns. A 10 inch 9mm carbine its just as handy as a 10 inch AR.

Over the past few decades their has been huge advancements in bullet construction and offerings in the 9mm flavor. Many will expand out of micro carry pistol, so doubling the barrel length and significantly increasing velocities are not going to hinder their effectiveness. The cost of practice ammo and availability of ammo is also a positive of a PCC. Not to mention the fact that pretty much all indoor ranges will allow PCC usage where it is very hit or miss with centerfire rifle cartridges.

Most PCC’s are able to accept a wide variety of accessories compatible with other firearms such as optics, handguards, grips, and triggers with some exceptions. So installing a red dot sight (or even a suppressor) would be able mount from the factory. 

So now might be thinking, “Ok, what should I test out or go buy?”  Well, there are a few that come to mind. In no particular order: the Sig MPX, CZ Scorpion, CMMG Resolute, Ruger PC Carbine, and the KP-9 are all acceptable options at various price ranges. Look for more in-depth testing in the future…….

In conclusion a PCC can be a useful defensive firearm if its limitations are understood. You probably wouldn’t be shooting for groups at 250 yards, but inside a home? A PCC does everything you will need it to and maybe more.

-Ozone