I have seen many types of long guns deployed as home defense firearms including .22 rifles, shotguns, AR rifles, and pistol caliber lever guns. All have merit. The overwhelming advantage of any firearm is best seen when the shooter has complete familiarity with the firearm. A defensive firearm is a good notion. Unfortunately there are people who have crossed the psychotic Rubicon and are very dangerous. Gangs and takeover burglaries are a real danger. Having found myself in dangerous situations during many years as a peace officer I like to be the person of the category that doesn’t walk into the propeller blade twice.
The author found the FPC pleasant to fire.
The home defense firearm should be a long gun. I have the greatest respect for a shotgun. The 12 gauge shotgun with buckshot is the ballistic equivalent of a seven car crash when it strikes the target. I have slowed my shotgun training practically to a standstill, however. A sharp pain in my shoulder led to a diagnosis of arthritis. Not terrible yet, but since I am one of those folks who listens to their doctor a steady clash of double ought buck and the shoulder is not something I will continue. I can still fire a shotgun if I must. The shoulder only hurts when I fire a shotgun! As an alternate the 9mm carbine is a great problem solver. The power is reasonable and the 9mm may be effective with accurate shot placement. Defensive preparation is serious but recreational shooting is a big part of my life. The 9mm carbine is a wonderful choice. Recoil is modest especially in a carbine with its heavier weight. It isn’t anything to fire a hundred rounds in rapid fire practice without fatigue.
The FPC is a neat handful in a 9mm carbine.
Note the stock features two magazine carriers.
9mm Luger ammunition is affordable allowing a lot of practice. There are a few indoor ranges that don’t allow rifle calibers such as the .223 but the 9mm carbine is fine. Muzzle blast is more subdued with the 9mm. Compared to the shotgun the 9mm is a joy to fire. And then you have a generous magazine capacity. I have spent a great deal of time and effort in testing modern 9mm carbines. 9mm AR types are great for many reasons for many shooters. I love the AR .223 and own several. The 9mm Smith & Wesson FPC is my choice in a 9mm carbine because it is lighter than an AR in 9mm and folds up neatly for storage. I like that a lot. I like the FPC for travel and camp use. The folding mechanism is robust and should not be subject to excess wear. The FPC is designed to fold in a manner that doesn’t prohibit folding the carbine with a red dot sight mounted. The FPC isn’t supplied with iron sights but a set of AR 15 type fixed sights may be mounted or better still a modern red dot sight.
The Smith & Wesson Folding Pistol caliber Carbine is delivered in a neat case with numerous pockets.
The FPC folds up neatly.
The firing grip is the same as the Smith & Wesson Military & Police compact pistol. Since the compact frame is used a 15 round compact magazine may be used. The FPC is supplied with one flush fit 15 round magazine and two extended 23 round magazines. These are well made and nicely finished metal magazines. Function and reliability of these magazines are well proven. They interchange with S&W’s Military & Police 9mm pistol. The 15 round magazine is a compact size as so is the FPC grip. This works out well for most hand sizes. A 16.25 inch barrel is threaded for a muzzle brake or suppressor. The FPC weighs 5.5 pounds unloaded with three magazines on board.
The FPC features a threaded barrel.
This is a robust folding mechanism. Apply pressure to the locking catch and fold the carbine. Rather than end over end the barrel folds to the side of the receiver. The forend offers excellent adhesion and abrasion for a good firing grip. The stock is comfortable. You don’t have to have a thick butt plate to handle the 9mm but the FPC butt plate is nicely designed and offers a non slip surface. The stock features a carrier with two 23 round magazine. Press the paddle type lock to release a magazine, right hand tab down to release the left hand magazine and so on. This allows a maximum gun load of 69 cartridges, or 61 with the supplied single 15 and two 23 round magazine. The bolt is racked by activating an ambidextrous cocking handle. This is a positive action. When firing don’t scrunch up on the FPC as the cocking handle may smack up in the lip. Use a solid cheek weld and be certain you have a good hold. The grip is supplied with grip inserts to make certain handfit is ideal. The safety is a positive cross bolt type. The trigger features the same trigger design as the M&P pistol with a blade type trigger lever safety. This is a single action trigger. The action breaks at about 6.0 pounds even, a good trigger weight for defensive use. (I use the RCBS trigger weight gauge to test trigger pull weight.)
Winchester’s USA Ready load is a standout with an excellent balance of expansion and penetration. Function is excellent.
For those understanding the need for personal defense and choosing a truck gun or home defense gun the FPC offers many advantages over a pistol. Combat shooting is simply far more efficient than with any handgun. In a modest amount of time you may achieve good results with the carbine. While ideal for concealed carry a handgun is a difficult instrument to master. A pistol caliber carbine makes a lot of sense whether or not you own a 9mm handgun. The 9mm carbine is a formidable home defense firearm, and a good outdoors and area defense choice.
This is the author’s FPC in its current configuration with SIG red dot sight.
My FPC wears a SIG Romeo red dot sight. This is an affordable but useful reflex sight with a good reputation. Battery life is good and the red dot offers excellent speed and accuracy. With an automatic shut off the sight isn’t likely to go dead in the gun safe. Just the same be certain to turn the SIG Romeo off and place a cover on the lens when in storage. At home ready choose a good safe option like the Hornady wall mount. On to firing- I have owned the S&W FPC 9mm a few years and fire it often. Mine is among the first shipped and isn’t quite three years old. I estimate 2,500 trouble free cartridges have been expended, no less than 2,200. Some of these have been cheap and dirty steel cased loads. Not the most accurate- and the powder doesn’t burn clean- but the FPC ate it up. With 9mm ammunition currently more affordable I have fired better quality loads, cleaned the piece less, and enjoyed good accuracy. In firing tests the FPC has proven fast into action. Don’t neglect firing the carbine at close range, 5 to 10 yards, as this is a likely engagement distance for home defense.
The FPC is a great natural pointer. At times I aimed over the top of the SIG Romeo sight with good results, but quickly fired both eyes open at 10 yards. At 25 yards the FPC will eat the X ring out of a man sized target. I have not neglected firing at long range just in case- this would make a fine light rifle for ranch or farm use. At 25 yards a one inch group with practically any loading was realized. The clean burning Winchester 115 grain FMJ loading provided good results. At 50 yards this load will cut a 2 inch group, better than most loads. For long range accuracy the 147 grain JHP, originally intended to provide excellent accuracy at a long 100 yards it an accurate and useful loading. Winchester’s 147 grain loads turned in credible groups at 50 yards with some five shot groups smaller than 2.0 inch. I am very pleased with this type of performance. For home defense the Winchester 124 grain JHP +P is one of my favorite loads. This one is bumped up to over 1300 fps in the FPC’s 16.25 inch barrel. Most 9mm loads pick up 100 to 150 fps in velocity from the 9mm carbine compared to a pistol.
Accuracy has proven excellent. The author has used a number of optics and load combinations.
The S&W FPC is a good defensive gun and practically ideal for home defense use. Light kicking, superbly accurate, and reliable, you cannot go wrong with the FPC. For those who are very good shots with a handgun the FPC provides a better edge, and for those without time to train and master a handgun the FPC gets you up to speed quickly. But be certain to train and keep in practice!
Action Type: Blowback-operated, semiautomatic
Caliber: 9x19mm
Capacity: 15, 17- and 23-rd. S&W M&P pistol magazines
Barrel: 16.3 in.
Overall Length: 16.3 in. (folded), 30.3 in. (fixed)
Weight: 5 lbs.
Stock: Tubular steel with 13.2 in. LOP
Finish: Blue
Trigger: 5.5 lbs.
Sights: none, MIL STD 1913 Picatinny rail
MSRP: $659
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