I don't have a bone to pick about any of them, I probably own 20 carbines, from a model 94 30-30, SKS, Mini 14, 30, An AR 300 BLK pistol, a half dozen that are bolt action types, a half dozen that are semi auto, a dozen of which are pistol caliber carbines. I have carried SBRs in harms way for a living. Nothing is a favorite, I am retired military. Whatever is needed for the mission to day is what I carry. My choice has nothing to do with cost, cost is a totally different animal than value and function.
That said, if I want a short fast tool to kills people in a close in battle quickly I am grabbing an AK 47 copy or one of the SKS paratrooper models. or one of my Minis, both have folding stocks. If I need longer range for that battle I am grabbing my AR47, 7.32 x39. If however I want a dramatic drop in power to a pistol round, I have those too and I have preferences.
The Camp carbines mentioned here are great. The little 9mm is fast and accurate and with the folding stock and easy to transport. The Ruger PCCs I do not like, I love my many Rugers, but those are far too heavy and awkward, far bulkier to me, than an AR carbine with 16 inch tube. They fire OK, just too darn big, you will not likely see them in police cars, if the local officer has a choice. As to the KelTec Sub2000. They are like the Leatherman tool except they fold and shoot bullets. They are simple and sturdy and you cannot wear one out. They fold to a tiny 16/5 inches that fits in my back pack with my G19 and half dozen mags including one of those 33 round jobs. And added value is anyone can shoot one. The design is such that I doubt they would every stop firing from being dirty. I carry a small light and clip on red dot, both comes on and off in one second each. They weigh 4 pounds which is critical to moving quickly or long hikes. The only downside to the KelTec is for anyone with a full beard, the design is such that you can catch yourself in the action rod which is just opposite your face. Mine is in 9mm so there is absolutely zero recoil. I carry the suppressor in the back pack as well, which also serves as one of my bug out bags.
About the MP 5 copy. Absolutely a great tool. Pricey and not really as accurate as the KelTec or the Ruger, but feels great in the hand for very close firing.
About the UZZI. The Uzzi sucks as a tool for what most of us would use one for. The gun really only has value in full auto. I was issued one, but hated it. In full auto you could tag everyone in the room, including your team mates, they are probably the hardest full auto to control. Anyway some guns, like the KelTec Sub2000, I can hold in one hand and hit 50 yard targets, good luck hitting anything at 50 yards with the Uzzi in one hand.
About the one hand firing. The M1 carbine is a wonderful tactical weapon, short and fast and plenty of power with modern bullets, far superior to anything like the 9mm. And the M1 carbine is light enough to be held and fired with one hand, a critical need in any shooting situation. It would handily take the place of the current offering of PCCs and fire a superior round.
As to the others. I have no knowledge of the Smith and Wesson except the short advertising blurbs in the gun rags. I have watched the videos but do not trust anything as to accuracy yet. It matters, our old Camp Carbine will shoot dimes size groups at 50 yards, and then die after that. The KelTec with the snap on red dot, shoots a couple inches at 50 yards, not great but good enough. I am a precision shooter with rifles, so shooting anything at 50 yards is disheartening, but then again, these are intended for extremely close range. The Rugers have now been around for years, and are about 2 inch groupers at 50 as well. The Smith and Wesson is an attempt to compete with KelTec and I hope they do. They are 1 full pound heavier and bulkier for packing, nearly 3 inches across the butt pad area and thicker simply because they fold sideways, so they are less concealable than the KelTec. Time will tell.
and forgive me, the U Tubers are not authorities and only test in controlled settings. They are like Gun Tests, they test one gun and tell you they are good and bad. Not really much value to me. I have not seen any of the videos, did they show one hand firing? Did they show quick detach optics and lights that you need on any portable multi use carbine? Did they fire the gun as fast as you can pull the trigger with a variety of ammo? Did they fire from a rest at distance, like you might need to return fire and only see a head at 50 yards?
Bottom line for me is the pistol caliber carbines all have a great role, in self defense more than anything else. But they must be lightweight, they must be durable (nothing breaks if you drop it 10 times), they must be capable of making a head shot at 50 yards, they must be easily shootable by anyone on the team, in this case your wife or kid, or your buddy from next door who has no gun skill. If you cannot hold and shoot it with one hand, take off points, might as well be an AR carbine or short AK or SKS or Mini 14 or 30.
My current is the KelTec, I only own 2 of theirs, the tiny PF9 millimeter the smallest made and the Sub 2000, probably the lightest made. The long one is virtually indestructible. Unless you run over it an reliable as can be. If you have a weak grip you can replace the trigger and cut the pull in half, other than that any quick detach red dot can have you shooting 2-3 inch groups at 50 yards more than adequate for a break down long gun. Most reviews have fired 500-1,000 rounds and report zero failures, so reliability is like a Glock, which is what it is, the Glock of pistol caliber carbines. Mine is the 9mm, but in the 40 you can far exceed 357 mag handgun power. On run of the Sub2000 had a barrel recall in 2017, but since then there have been no concerns. Checking reviews today and Palmetto and others the current crop of second generation KelTecSub 2000, Gen 2 are getting 100% reviews. So, that makes it simple, we now have the Ruger and Smith and Wesson to compare to.
