Firstly, the projectiles fired from PCCs are typically larger then rifle rounds which mean they have increased atmospheric drag. This causes pistol rounds to lose velocity and thus momentum very quickly compared to their rifle counterparts.
Using a standard 9mm projectile, I calculated the momentum at 100m and it comes out to roughly 2.324 Newton-Seconds (air density and humidity would change this number). Compare that to our 10” barrel AR15 which would have a momentum of 2.381 Newton-Seconds. So somewhere around the 90 meter mark we see that the 10” AR15 takes over as being the more effective firearm. With a Dominion Arms AR15 (14” barrel, sold by Specter Arms) the momentum is better at any range.
Shooting at steel has taught me that 9mm carbines are 100 meter guns… that’s all. The numbers tell me that I should downgrade that figure to 90 meters.
At 100 meters the 45ACP PCC drops to 2.915 Newton-Seconds of momentum. That is a huge drop but it still beats the 14” AR15 at the same distance. Now because the 45 round is subsonic at its standard loadings, the bullet drops quite a bit faster than 9mm. If you zero for 100 meters, at 50 meters the bullet is going to be a terrifying 5.3” above your intended point of aim. If you zero at 75 meters, the rise is acceptable before the 75 meter mark (max 2.5”) but falls rapidly after. Practically speaking, the 45 PCC is a 75 meter gun.
For the sake of argument and because we have not considered 40 S&W or 10mm, we will conclude that the PCC (as a general rule) is for close ranges of 100m or less.
This in itself is not a big deal. The National Tactical Officers Association reports that the average distance that a police “Sniper” has to engage at it 76 meters. Strangely enough that is also the distance that most battles in WW2 were fought at. Most terrain in WW2 was wooded or urban so we can extrapolate that the PCC would also be effective in these areas.
Carrying Capacity
On a standard Molle vest, a pistol magazine takes up one loop of space wide by 2 tall whereas a AR15 magazine takes up two loops of space by 3 tall. As 9mm glock magazine using PCC are most common, we will consider the question of carrying capacity with those in mind.
If we consider legality, we can get 6 pistol magazines into the space we would get 4 LAR magazines (60 versus 40 rounds or 3:2). Using a legal technicality we can use 50 Beowulf magazines giving us our best ratio of 20 rounds for the PCC versus 17 rounds in the Beowulf. If we use regular capacity magazines, the ratio does not change from the first example going to 90:60 or 3:2.
Any way you look at it… Legal or illegal, the PCC gives us the ability to carry more ammo loaded in magazines and ready to use.
We lose ground when we go to 45ACP in terms of carrying capacity. PCCs that use 1911 mags typically only hold 8 rounds. There are 10 round magazines but they are 3 molle loops high versus the normal 2. In the end, carry capacity becomes about even with AR15s versus 45ACP PCCs.
For those who want to just stick magazines in a pocket or a bag, the ratio does not change. In terms of space if we consider the height, length and depth of the various magazines, the ratios stay the same... about 3:2.
In urban conflict a great deal of effort is put into logistics. It has been found in all of the great 20th century urban battles from Ortona to Grozny, that ammo consumption is a lot higher. The ability to carry more ammo becomes especially useful in urban terrain.
In the old cowboy days, long guns and revolvers were often carried that matched in caliber. Being able to use your ammo in two firearms was a lot more handy then a mish-mash of rounds.
PCCs are neither lighter nor more heavy then a comparable rifle. Granted some PCCs (like the Sub-2000) are very light but for the most part, light rifles and PCCs weigh about the same.
Cost
At the low end, a new PCC will cost about $700 CAD. At the high end, about $1500. This is completely on par with the costs of an AR15 which (on the low end) costs about $700. The VZ58 is in the middle at about $1100. M305 (Chinese M14) is about $700. So speaking strictly in terms of cost of gun, there is no advantage of one over the other. They are so close in terms of prices range that we can actually discount this as a factor.
Ammo costs however are a bit different. The Vz58, offers the cheapest ammo. The 223 and 9mm are only a few pennies per round in cost from each other so they are essentially the same. 45ACP is the most expensive of the rounds mentioned. So if we are comparing a 223 rifle (like the AR15) versus a 45 PCC, the cost for the 45 PCC is greater.
Putting it all together.
The PCC is effective at close ranges. That means that the only terrain it has any value in is dense forest or urban areas where engagement ranges are close and having a firearm that is fast to bring on target is valuable. The larger bullets and atmospheric drag cause PCCs to lose velocity faster then their rifle counterparts. The PCC is a terrible choice in open or semi-open areas such as fields, mountains, roads or varying terrain.
We know from history that urban operations require a larger volume of ammo. The PCC offers that. There is a philosophy that holds that the person who runs out of ammo in a gunfight will be the loser.
The sound signature from a PCC is a lot less than a rifle. You will still suffer hearing damage from prolonged use but it will not be the stunning, deafening blast in closed spaces as a rifle would be.
With the data we have available, we can reasonably say that the PCC is more effective than a light rifle such as the AR15 in urban areas only. They are on par with each other in forest terrain but in mixed terrain or open terrain, the short range of the PCC makes it a terrible choice.
If you want a carbine that is good in a lot of places and has versatility, then the PCC should not be your choice. If you can say with certainty that in a disaster, your area of operations is going to be urban, then go with the PCC.
In the next part I will go over the various PCCs that are available in Canada.
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