I’m interested in getting a PCC for home defense. I’ve checked out the S&W Response, Ruger’s PCC, and the Turkish MP5 clones.
I’ve noticed that a lot of reviewers say the AR-V is a hidden gem that a lot of people are sleeping on.
How is the maintenance? Relatively easy to field-strip and clean? Also, can I drop a Sabre Claw trigger in one? (I like them) Does the platform lend itself well to being an SBR?
Any impressions or thoughts are welcome.
I’‘m kinda partial to an AK-V. Eats whatever you put on it’s plate and didn’t have to send it to Rudy in Macon to get it to run right…
The AR-V is an upgrade on standard 9mm Ars. You can use aftermarket triggers, its a billet receiver set also. The ergos IMO are much better and it uses scorpion mags ve glock.
Sabre claw triggers will work. The only issue i have seen is that the upper is slightly too wide for some rails that have anti rotation tabs. File the tabs to fit though and you are gtg.
I have experience with the Response and all the Ruger PCCs.
The Response is a nice gun IMO, so many people complain about the polymer receiver, but having handled and shot it, it doesn’t feel cheap like a lot of polymer receivers do. It’s pretty solid. I get the hangups, and if that’s a dealbreaker for you, I also get it, but from a function or feel standpoint it’s really not giving anything up. It comes with nice furniture, a good grip, a decent trigger, and all of the same controls as an AR so if you’re already muscle-memoried up on that platform you won’t have anything new to memorize and it’ll feel intuitive to you.
The Rugers are SOLID, which makes them bulletproof, but also heavy. I personally run a PC Charger as a home defense PCC, and it feels like a brick, but I don’t have any issues with handling or maneuverability with a SB Tactical brace. It’s compact and the folding capability and the reversible charging handle are nice touches. Glock mag compatibility is huge. It’s been extremely reliable, never jammed or failed to feed any kind of 9mm I’ve fed it, including hollowpoints. I think the trigger is more than acceptable, it falls kind of in between what you’d expect from a milspec AR and a premium aftermarket setup. The biggest complaint I see with the Ruger platform is the mag release…it’s in a very awkward spot and takes some real practice to get used to. I also see quite a bit of whining about the crossbolt safety, but I like crossbolt safeties, so that really comes down to your personal preference. Most of the downsides I see people talking about with this platform is it NOT having AR controls, so that’s up to you.
i have both. I Have a couple of the PSA AR9’s that use glock mags, and an AR-V that uses the scorpion mags. i love them both for their differences. the glock mag usability is excellent if im carrying a glock side arm in 9 mm … (which i honestly dont ever do) however for use of mags, and buying a mag for one platform that fits 4 or more guns you own is ultimately awesome and cost effective. the glock ar9 is great, it hasnt failed me ever. no fte no ftf and this is one that i built and one that PSA gifted me. Both are great guns. The ARv though is much of the same, no issues at all and the scorpion mags are just awesome. It runs great and i f i had to choose to build just one it’d be the ARv. I just like the ergonomics better of it with the scorpion mags. either way you cant go wrong.
Thanks, guys.
I have two AR’s. One is a Sabre ‘M4-gery’ that’s been converted to gas-piston with an Adams Arms kit, the other is an Aero M4E1 that has a Superlative gas piston system.
I think the Aero is getting traded off for an AR-V. I love the idea of having something with essentially the same manual of arms as an AR and much cheaper to operate.
The AR-V is one of my favorite shooters. It’s not very noisy, recoil is negligible, and it’s small and light (even with a 35 round mag). I’ve mentioned it in the past here, but I have a 4-pc Bulgarian flash hider that works as advertised. I have some night pictures (somewhere), but you can’t see much 
Got some 147g 9mm a couple years ago that i need to experiment with - it’s suppose to be subsonic (might have to wait for the war to finish). Thanks for bringing up this awesome pistol again!
Im going to try the sabre arv when my state ban is lifted. Really cant wait to try this platform.
I think @sean.psa reads the forums. 
I prefer the Ruger over just about anything I have shot. Not beating on the AR-V because I want one eventually but I want the full size not the pistol, I have ton of 9mm Pistols that to me are better at home defense but if home defense includes maybe have to defend outside the home then the PCC and LCs are great for that. The SW PCC are different than the Response. I find the Response to be well made but there are some bad reviews on its polymer parts. Mainly the hand guard connection system, some complain it wears out or is lose often. I was going to get one and turned it down when I checked it out at BassPro just wasn’t what I wanted.
I have all three of the Ruger LC Carbines in 10mm, 45acp and 5.7mm. They are all fantastic shooters super accurate. My Ruger’s have never failed that I can remember besides the rare failed to ignite dud round. 28 Rounds of 10mm is hard to argue with or the 45acp for that matter. The 5.7 is an over priced plinker but would be very capable in defense almost zero recoil just puts more rounds faster where you want them. The Rugers are coming down in price also, 599 on PSA often for the 10mm and 45 model.
To me hard to beat a real handgun for defending the home, which hopefully will never ever happen. I bought the LCs for fun range guns and they are that. AR-V 16inch is on my list though, the 16inch is perfect for my collection and would get shot a bunch I am sure. 9mm ammo is about as cheap as they get but would not cross my mind to stop home invader unless that is all I had.
If I went with an AR 9 this would be the platform I would go with. A firearm is essentially designed around the magazine I reckon and the Scorpion pattern AK-V I love. I actually have better luck with the Soviet Arms ones I have, my notes say two fails on SA and three on the one Scorpion I have.
Pretty sure he does.. and its not Sean.. 
im pretty envious over you having the .45acp and the 5.7mm LC carbines. those are the two that i want, mostly cause 1, i dont have a pcc in .45 and the other is cause i have a thing for 5.7 and always have since i bought my very first FN FiveseveN back in 2008ish.. Im glad to hear that they are fantastic shooters. that puts me at ease some so that when i save up and decide to pull the trigger i’ll know im buying quality shooters.
Yeah they are all great. The 5.7 was in 2200fps range with 16 inch barrel crazy accurate spinning that fast. 45 is a fun shooter also, but yeah I wish I had FN handgun also some of those are really expensive!
yeah thats moving!
i love FN. .i have part of my collection dedicated to them so i have a few of their offerings. the fnx45 is an amazing handgun, i highly recommend that one as well. It doesnt hurt that FN has their plant within a 30 min drive from my home either… although i must admit.. i sure miss the FN pro Store.
its not a bad build, but im not a big fan of the carry handle and fixed front sight post style rifles.
