Extar EP9 – Perfect Home Defense?

On this planet of dwelling protection firearms, there may be nice range of opinion. It appears that evidently each gun reviewer and his brother have weighed in on what makes an ideal dwelling protection gun. Effectively, add yet one more to the combination. I believe I’ve discovered it! It’s the Extar EP9 pistol.

I do know that opinions about dwelling protection (HD) weapons are like stomach buttons … each shooter has one. I’ve been advised that the 12 gauge is “the” good dwelling protection gun or an AR-pattern rifle in no matter caliber is being touted on the time is the one or the venerable Glock 17 with a mounted mild can’t be beat. All of those work, after all, however I believe the Extar EP9 pistol goes all these one higher.

What Makes a Nice House-Protection Gun?

Earlier than we take a look at this gun, let’s take a look at a query. What constitutes HD gun? Why are some weapons good on this position and others aren’t? There are a couple of standards {that a} first rate HD gun should meet. Let’s take a look at a couple of of them. I believe it’s essential to put out what includes , efficient home-defense firearm since I name the EP9 among the finest.

First, it have to be simply manipulated. Having to swing a full-size shotgun within the tight area between your mattress and the wall is probably not really easy. That’s one motive handguns are employed for HD by many shooters. Plus, a shorter barrel is more durable for a nasty man to seize.

One other issue to contemplate is caliber or gauge. I personal a few .44 Magnums however, until I have been to load .44 Specials into them, I wouldn’t use them for issues that go bump within the evening. They’re simply too highly effective. They put out an excessive amount of recoil, flash and noise. The identical reasoning may apply to many alternative calibers and perhaps even the 12 gauge. The 20 gauge would possibly make a greater various, however not by a lot. Any deep-penetrating caliber needs to be thought-about lengthy and onerous earlier than being employed in an HD position. As we speak’s fashionable partitions aren’t very thick. In case you miss your goal, and even if you happen to hit it, you may be confronted with an over-penetrating spherical that might go into the subsequent room. That goes for the shotgun, too. Keep in mind that the shot column gained’t open a lot, if in any respect, throughout your lounge. Due to that, it may over-penetrate if you happen to miss. (How may you miss with a shotgun, you ask? Simple! At 4 or 5 yards, the shot column continues to be just about contained within the wad and acts as one actually huge bullet. Except you purpose, you can miss.)

Lastly, modularity rears its head. I’ve an previous Mossberg 12 gauge that may make an awesome HD gun if I wished it to, however there’s nowhere to hold a lightweight or laser on it. It’s good if some form of rail is current like some extra fashionable weapons have. I want a high Picatinny rail for an optic and an MLOK handguard that makes it straightforward to mount a lightweight or laser of some kind. 

A Case for the Extar EP9

OK, let’s check out the gun that I believe may be an honest reply to the HD query, the Extar EP9, Gen 2. Listed below are a couple of the reason why I prefer it:

Quick Barrel

Our EP9 is, technically, a pistol with a 6.5-inch barrel and a rudimentary shoulder brace. It makes use of a “flash can” instead of a flash hider that brings the efficient muzzle out previous the handguard, so it appears longer however actually is barely the aforementioned 6.5 inches. With such a brief setup, it might be tough for a nasty man to seize the muzzle. Heck, the entire thing is barely 24 inches lengthy. Additionally, you have got a shoulder brace that means that you can mount the gun correctly and likewise provides you extra to hold on to if the necessity arises. This gun could be straightforward to maneuver in shut quarters.

The Capability Benefit

The gun accepts Glock mags. I personal a few 33-rounders, so I needs to be good to go. In order for you a shorter-overall-height bundle, you should use any Glock magazine from 15 rounds up. I don’t really feel undergunned with 33-round mags. You get one 18-round magazine with the gun.

Different Causes To Personal One

Let’s say you’ve already received an ideal HD gun that you just don’t wish to change. What different motive(s) would possibly it’s a must to purchase an EP9?

Varmint Discount

I’ll begin with the principle motive (other than private safety or hid carry) I give in my critiques for proudly owning any 9mm or related gun; it’s to guard our rooster coop from predators. We’ve misplaced many birds over time to possums, coons, a weasel, juvenile bald eagles, an owl, and a hawk or two. I don’t shoot the birds—they’re federally protected—however the others are truthful recreation. The EP9 can be my go-to boomstick after I uncover a possum within the coop (I’ve shot 4 of the disgusting creatures there). With a purple dot and a lightweight, I’ll be set. I gained’t want a 33-round journal, but it surely matches my age-old dictum: I’d moderately have it and never want it than want it and never have it. Now, you metropolis of us in all probability gained’t want rooster coop safety—or will you? Some localities are fairly lax about chickens! However, if not, there’s nonetheless the house protection angle or the truck-gun idea.

Vary Toy

Some shooters dwell to see what off-the-beaten-path weapons they’ll discover to take to the vary. I believe that the EP9 matches that class. I may see it drawing a crowd—hopefully, its proprietor introduced sufficient ammo for everybody. Right here’s a thought: I’ll wager the Gen 2 EP9 would possibly appeal to extra consideration than its predecessor. Why? The shoulder brace. Although it isn’t legally a inventory, it provides the EP9 that “submachine gun” look. That is one gun that may appeal to shooters like yellow jackets to a dumpster on the vary. It simply appears cool. And, if you happen to can pull the set off quick sufficient, they could suppose you have got one thing like an MP5! Who the heck wouldn’t wish to shoot it? 

Private Protection

It moderately goes with out saying, however the EP9 makes a reasonably good private protection weapon. I don’t imply concealed-carry-style, that may be fairly tough to tug off. As an alternative of that, another makes use of would possibly embody its use as a truck gun or simply one thing you retain out of sight however fast to seize wherever authorized. It’s no Uzi, after all, but it surely wasn’t meant to be. It’s simply that, with the quick barrel and lengthy journal, you’re fairly effectively arrange and well-armed.

Specs

EP9 specs aren’t listed in anyone place on their website. I needed to monitor them down, in order that they make look slightly disorganized.

Caliber: 9mm (.45 ACP accessible at larger value)

Weight: 4.09 lbs.

Size: 24 in.

Barrel: 6.5 in., black nitride

Brace: Extar fastened brace (SB Tactical adjustable brace accessible at $100 larger value)

Journal: Glock-compatible, one 18-round included

Final-Spherical Maintain Bolt Open: Sure

Grip: B5 methods

Modularity Choices: Picatinny Rail, MLOK handguard

Set off Pull (my measurement):  6 lbs., 7.5 oz.

For $539, you may get an Necessities Bundle that features a carry bag, 4 18-round (or three 10-round for restricted states) magazines and a single-point sling. For $100 extra, you may get the SB Tactical adjustable brace EP9 with these listed equipment.

Another choice, for $50 extra, features a 16” barrel model.

One factor the web site emphasised is that Extar makes all of the weapons’ parts on-site. They don’t have to purchase, say, the polymer receiver from anybody. Additionally they promote on to the general public, not by way of a distributor, to allow them to promote their weapons a bit cheaper. And, I have to say, for proper at $450, this gun appears effectively put collectively.

How’d It Shoot?

So, how DID the EP9 shoot? I don’t bear in mind, as I used to be having method an excessive amount of enjoyable! I’ve all the time wished to shoot a gun that jogged my memory of a submachine gun, and now I’m capable of. The EP9 is like I all the time imagined a sub-gun to be: the brace in opposition to my shoulder, palms on the grip and handguard and let the bullets fly. Even at a one-bullet-per-trigger-press, it’s numerous enjoyable to shoot. 

Fortunately I stored some 25-yard targets. Let’s take a look at a few of them…

Two targets I shot with the Fiocchi load proven. Not unhealthy!

Armscor 115-grain load. Once more, not unhealthy. Both of those masses would work for follow. They have been delicate taking pictures for positive.

A Few Factors

The proprietor’s handbook has some attention-grabbing info, as do most of them. There may be the standard stuff about security, loading, unloading, take down, and so on. I did discover a couple of attention-grabbing factors that I must name your consideration to.

First, it says to not seat a full journal with the bolt closed. It stated it may end in injury to the magazine or gun. As an alternative, lock the bolt again, insert the magazine and launch the bolt or obtain the magazine by one. 

It additionally tells you to not shoot aluminum-cased, reloaded or Winchester Cast ammo. I suppose it is best to avoid metal or aluminum-cased ammo.

You’re instructed to not use a drum-fed journal.

Disassemble the gun as you’ll an AR, to a degree. There isn’t a entrance retaining pin. Push the rear pin out after which slide the higher off and up and unhook it from the decrease on the entrance. Pull the bolt rearward, take away it and clear it as wanted. That is defined intimately beginning on the middle of the proprietor’s handbook.

Don’t use oil. The handbook says the gun was designed to run when clear and dry, however if you happen to insist on utilizing one thing, use a “dry” lubricant similar to “…a lightweight fog of silicone spray or any of the PTFE primarily based dry lubricant sprays.”

If you’re changing the muzzle system that got here on the gun, hand stress is all that’s wanted to take away it resulting from the usage of a spring washer. Don’t “gorilla-grip” it with a device. Any system you placed on the gun that doesn’t require rotational orientation (timing) ought to re-use the spring washer and be placed on hand-tight. There are directions on learn how to set up these gadgets that require rotation.

Closing Ideas

Have you ever all the time wished a shoulder-braced 9mm that might mount no matter optic you wished? One thing you may get fast into motion that may take high-capacity magazines? How about one thing that simply appears cool? There are lots of abbreviated 9mms on the market that appear to be quick carbines (or as I stated above, submachine weapons) however there are only a few you could personal for lower than $500. Normally, I draw back from very cheap weapons. You by no means know what you’re going to get. However, the EP9 has earned kudos from many different reviewers and plenty of good feedback from house owners. You may add me to each of these lists. This was some of the enjoyable weapons I’ve shot shortly. Heck, I had a tough time getting it away from our 4 sons to even shoot it. Discuss a preferred gun! Verify one out. I believe you’ll be impressed. 

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