The gun club where I can shoot my centerfire long guns is a 65 min. drive one way. The club where I  shoot pistol ammo only is only 15 mins away. This has made me a pistol guy. I load for 9mm, .45 auto. and a few other cals.
I would like to get a 9mm luger carbine of some sort.
Looking at the Colt 9mm ARs they are about $1000. There is plenty of negative things said about this example.
Buds has CMMG M4LE9  a 9mm AR for $859. All of my .223/5.56 ARs are in the $1000 range
Then theres the High Point 9mm carbine with lifetime warranty for about $300. I have heard only good things about the High Point and spare mags are as available as any.
Being an older fella I intend on using a red dot sight.
I have read highly positive comments and product reviews from those who have put a few hundred rounds thru a new firearm. I'm looking for a carbine that can run thousands of rounds as my pistols do.
I shoot my guns, my favorite guns a lot. This past summer Im sure I put 4000 rounds thru my Springfield Range Officer in .45 and closer to 6000 rounds thru my Springfield XDM 5.25. I figure to do the same with my future 9mm carbine.
What are the pros & cons of the different 9mm carbines.
The High Point, in my opinion is oogly, I can hardly look at it but far more importantly I hear they run good and run for a long time.
What do yous think?

Many Thanks For Your Time
  VonBark  

If you shoot an AR already then strongly consider a 9mm AR.

The Colt 9mm Carbine you are looking for is the Colt 6951.  It has a flat top upper receiver and is optics ready.

If you get a 9mm AR that uses Colt pattern magazines get Metalform brand magazines.  They function properly.

I have a Colt 6450, which is an iron sight (fixed carry handle) 9mm carbine.  I bought it years ago and I would really prefer a flat top version.  The Colt does function properly without drama- which is a good reason for buying a Colt in the first place.  Make sure you get the Metalform mags, though.  They were the original Colt OEM supplier for 9mm carbine mags.

A very different carbine you may consider is a Beretta Storm.  I have one that is great fun to shoot, but frankly once you are done upgrading the trigger pull (a company called Sierra Papa does this) you are running into the cost territory of a 9mm AR.

Check out thureon defense

Rock River Arms.

I have a pair of CMMG and they work great. Plus they use the cheap ASC mags just as reliably as the metalform or colt mags.

No experience with them, but Stag is also offering AR rifles in 9mm.

As an alternative, have you considered perhaps a 9mm AR pistol?

Love my Colt 9MM AR. Never given me a problem.

I too love my Colt 6450 9mm, was a gift from by buddy along with a spare Colt flat top upper and an ammo can full of mags and ammo.  Many of the mags are Uzi's  with the hole modified.....they feed just fine but do not have hold open on last shot.

Since you said you reload 45,
Qc10 just released their Glock Large Frames on their website www.Qcircle10.com. They also have their clt9mm and small frame glocks.

I currently use a RRA 10.5" upper with Spike's Tactical mag block and ASC mags. No issues at all. Just ordered a QC10 colt style lower though.

Lone Wolf also makes dedicated Glock magazine complete lowers. In stock now.

From the Original Poster.
Thanks guys. Thanks for the quick replies.


VonBark

High Point 9mm carbine is heavy & crude but mine was 100% reliable, had zero issues. Not super accurate, I'd call it 'AK accurate', but I sold mine after picking up a used Storm 9mm carbine. The Storm is surprisingly accurate, I didn't think I could group 9mm this tightly @ 50 yards but the Storm does it. Also have a Rock River Arms 9mm AR (Colt pattern, Hahn magwell block, Metalform mags) doesn't shoot as tight as the Storm but better than the High Point. And then there's the Just Right carbines, I have one of those in .45acp and it's a great rifle as well. But the nice thing about a true 9mm AR is the ability to  upgrade & change stuff. My RRA started as an upper with a ramped bold and a Hahn top loader sharing a lower with my BCM upper. Later I picked up another lower and made a complete rifle, after than I wanted LRHO so I added a long finger bolt catch, then I upgraded the buffer to a Spikes ST-9X and added an xtra power buffer spring. All the rifles I've mentioned are great but I could only do these mods to a true AR platform rifle.

This, only I have only one instead of a pair.

Another +1 for CMMG.  It is extremely accurate and reliable.  It is a hoot to shoot as well.

Having owned eight 9mm carbines over the past 15 years including most that have been mentioned here I have some experience in these things, but I am NOT an expert. I currently am down to only five 9mm carbines having sold off the ones I cared less for

Which did I keep and why?

Beretta Storm CX-4   (Ten years)   Stone reliable. Very accurate. Small, compact, well made other than the trigger...but that I fixed  in 15 minutes. Never misses a beat, chrome lined barrel and loads of fun.

Marlin 9 Camp Carbine   Also stone reliable. Old school carbine roughly the size of an M-1 carbine.  Nothing breakes, old school steel receiver and more.

Hi-Pioint 995 TS   Reliable. Accurate. Life time warranty and cheap.  I gave $238 for this one. I actually got my first one back in the 1990's when they first came out. I lived in Ohio close to the distributor.  Shot well and never gave me a problem. It is heavy and crude with a zinc bolt and very basic engineering. Small 10 round magazines. But it shot and shot. Ugly is only skin deep. Sold it years later but missed it so bought a new and improved 995 TS just to have one.

Just Right Carbine  Looks like an AR, uses AR trigger and furniture but takes Glock pistol magazines. Very accurate and reliable

Oh, and I can't forget my Kel-Tec Sub9 (not the new cheaper S2000k) Folds up, very light, and shoots petty straight.

These are all good choices in my eyes, but, YMMV

TNW ASR (Aero Survival Rifle).  5 pounds of fun.  Smallish carbine with a barrel that screws off my hand without tools and packs away. Uses Glock magazines.  Price is not as cheap as a Hi Point but its a real gun with a steel bolt. Mine is a smooth shooter and hits where you aim it shot oafer sop.

PSA has a new 9mm AR, but I am going to wait for the one w glock mags

Which AR do they have?

this one:


http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/catalog/product/view/id/18793/s/psa-16-9mm-1-10-melonite-rifle-kit-no-magazine/

was $50 cheaper Black Friday

and today it's back down to $499

 Impact has them for about $1100

Love my CMMG dedicated lower and you can use anny upper with it.
Supper reliable and shoots holes on top of holes...

http://s1294.photobucket.com/user/lundin3/media/Gun%20builds%20and%20shooting/9mm%20AR15%20build/MK9_zps86968fd6.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0