I', kinda tossing the idea of getting a PCC. what would you guys recommend? I'm wanting to do it on the cheap for $500-$600max.

A used CX4 Storm (I bought mine used from a local shop for $650, very accurate, 30 round factory mags are available for $40)

New Hi Point 995 (Mine's not as accurate as my Storm, heavy & chunky but reliable. Factory stock feels flimsy and has some cheek sting so I put mine in an ATI stock, cost of the gun new + ATI stock was $350)

AR 9mm upper (If you have a lower already, otherwise you'll have a grand in a complete rifle. A new upper w/ramped bolt can be had new for under $600 but you'll still have to get mags & mag block. But any AR accessories you may have lying around will work.)

I haven't owned or shot a Kel Tec sub2K but that's one I'd pick up if I come across the right version at the right price, mostly see them at gun shows but often at inflated prices. They seem to be reliable & accurate and there's some nice aftermarket goodies, like a quad rail that rotates your optics out of the way so you cam run a scope or red dot and still fold it. If it's as good as my PLR-16 and you can find one for under $400 it's a good deal.

The Storm, Hi Point & Sub2K are the shortest PCCs I can think of since their mags are in the grip like a semiauto pistol. Other PCCs that I'd conside but haven't shot would be the Just Right carbine or Theuron defense carbine, Ruger PCC, or the Sterling.

OK, I am a long time PCC fan and user. I have six different ones and some more on my "want" list. I am objective about them and will not try to tell you one or the other is Great and the rest are crap. I see each one of mine for its strengths. Also, each of us have a different idea as to what makes a great firearm. I can't even decide that myself!

My little 9mm collection has the following:
Beretta Storm CX-4
Hi-Point TS -995
Kel-Tec Sub2k
Marlin Camp Carbine
AR-9mm (two varieties, one on a dedicated lower the other a Cav-Arms lightweight lower with a RRA MagWell adapter)

Which is my favorite or which would I recommend a new user get? Well, if you are on a budget the HI-Point is the king of in-expensive. And, nice thing is...it shoots straight and is stone reliable. It is not without flaws...mostly it bites hard when you shoot it. The Marlin Camp rifle is a classic style rifle, well made and works great with some very minor improvement from the proper weight Wolff action spring and a different buffer. There is one "tactical" style stock out for it now also.

The Kel-Tec Sub2k is a special rifle. Its feather light and folds up. It has its place as a "truck gun" or just a compact piece that you can easily travel with. Mine works great and doesn't give me a moment of trouble. A couple of simple mods like a buffer really improved it.

The Beretta is not cheap, but for me its worth every penny it cost. Well made, chrome lined barrel, compact, shoots well. It benefited from a simple five mine tuning of the trigger parts (no cost). Probably my favorite of the lot overall. Mine has been perfect since the day I took it out of the box.

AR 9mm. I have two set up differently. They have the best triggers of the group. They are both reliable and fun. They are NOT cheap and don't fall into your price range. Some are problematic but with minor tuning mine run great.

If you go for price, starting with the cheapest and moving up the list looks like this:

Hi-Point
Kel-Tec
Used Marlin Camp Carbine
Beretta Storm (if you can find one)
AR 9mm.

This list starts at about $250 and goes up to around $800- $1,000 for the AR's.

My experience and recommendations are very similar to forever4's above (eerily similar, almost, like many of his excellent posts/opinions in this forum ), but I will add the Ruger PC carbines (9 and 40) in alongside the Marlin Camp Carbines (also long out of production and relatively hard to find on the used market). While I love my Marlins (two 9mms and a .45), the Rugers are better in several ways IMO and I would buy another 9mm iof I came across another fair deal on one.

The 9mm AR is my single favorite PCC if I had to pick just one (I have two Glock-magged Olys, and a Form 1 pending on one of them), but I have also owned and enjoyed many PCCs over the years. I have owned an IMI UZI carbine, HK94A3, Cobray MAC carbine, HiPoints, etc., in addition to the CX4 and the others above that I still have.

On a budget, the SUB2K is pretty hard to beat IMO... even more so if you happen to use one of the pistols that they can share mags with (Glock, Beretta, S&W, or SIG). But they can be hard to find.