Extar EP9

By: Dave Bahde

In this case, plastic is fantastic … especially at $449

Simple Blowback

Simple blowback operating systems for pistol-caliber carbines have been around forever, starting with the iconic UZI — less complication, fewer parts, and oftentimes more reliability under most any condition. If there ever were drawbacks, blowback operating systems can be ammo-sensitive, since they’re entirely dependent on the recoil impulse to cycle, and they also tend to be a tad more recoil-intensive. Another solid example of blowback operation was the HK UMP, a subgun I used for years on the SWAT team. Not nearly as sexy as its predecessor, the MP5, but our 45 ACP UMPs never suffered a single stoppage and were incredibly accurate. A tried-and-true blowback operating mechanism is still the most common amongst PCC offerings and many current subguns worldwide. So, when EXTAR introduced their EP9, its use of this system was no surprise, but they added a “recoil dampening system” to address one of the most common complaints, and it works.

EXTAR EP9

Extar bills their EP9 as the one gun you would pick if it’s all you could. I am more the “one gun a month” kind of guy, so while I don’t buy into that, the “Equally at home on the range and as a personal defense weapon, and it’s just plain fun to use” statement is real. So much so that I am seriously considering one of these for home defense, especially for my wife. Weighing in at only 4 pounds with a 6.5” barrel, it is easy to maneuver. Soft shooting, it’s also as accurate as anything else tested in this class, and maybe above all, the “fun factor” is very high. Yep, its mostly polymer, but that process bears no resemblance to the “combat plastic” of old and this construction material is only getting better.

Interestingly, Extar’s entire build and sales model differs from most manufacturers’ protocols. Each EP9 is manufactured in-house in Arizona using select raw materials (polymer). Sales are direct, no middleman, and they are shipped directly to your FFL, eliminating markups along the way. Even with everything manufactured, assembled, and shipped in the USA, the retail price is only $449.00.

Compatible with the most prolific 9mm pistol magazines produced today, Glock magazines, unlike many PCCs built today, it holds the bolt open on the last round. The EP9 comes with two of their own 18-round magazines, which also worked with all of my Glock-compatible handguns. Controls are basic AR-style, and the lower receiver can accept some AR trigger groups. The charging handle is a reciprocating left-side affair. The barrel, bolt, and ejector have all been treated with Black Nitride. The barrel’s muzzle is threaded 1/2 x 28 and capped with a “flash can” or forward-facing muzzle device. Topped with a full-length pic rail for an optic and/or iron sights, the handguard features M-LOK cuts at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock and provides enough room to mount a weaponlight or laser while still maintaining solid control. The standard pistol brace is a rubber blade type, but an SB Tactical adjustable SBA3 brace is available as an option. We have no complaints about the Extar-labeled AR handgrip, which features good texturing and ergonomics. The lower receiver features a pivot-hinge connection to the upper, where the front takedown pin is normally located on an AR, and only requires pushing out a rear pin to separate the two halves.

My test sample was equipped with Magpul BUIS and the Steiner T1Xi red-dot sight. This RDS uses Steiner’s crystal-clear lenses with a 60 MOA circle or a 2 MOA dot. Weighing in at a mere 5.36 ounces, it is not only solid but lightweight. With 11 illumination settings, including night vision, it’s designed to work in the harshest conditions. Battery life is up to 50K hours using a single CR2023 battery. My Gemtech GM-9 was added for suppressed testing. This has been in my inventory for a long time and remains one of the most quiet and reliable pistol cans I’ve ever used.

Range Time

The first question was, does it work? Well, yes, it works just fine. While I put only a couple of hundred rounds through it, there were no stoppages, malfunctions, or failures to fire.   Other reviewers have put as much as 10K through an EP9, making its reliability factor pretty well known. Ammunition ranged from my 115-grain HAP practice loads to some full boat 124-grain +P. As with all simple blowback systems, the felt recoil while suppressed increased; not bad by any means, but noticeable. Gas back in the shooter’s face with this can was present but not excessive. Recoil using the factory-installed flash can was surprisingly soft, so their dampener system appears to work well. The trigger is a standard Mil-Spec AR unit, so a speed-enhancing device it’s not, but highly acceptable given the pistol’s MSRP. Regardless, throwing doubles and triples down range was quick, and longer firing strings pretty much stayed in the same spot after the first couple of rounds. Accuracy was as good as most of these types of PCCs get, with my best 25-yard group coming in at around an inch or so using the back of my truck and a bag as a rest. Fully equipped with an optic, this thing weighs 5 pounds or less, making it very easy to maneuver. Working one-handed was no problem, and maneuvering in and around the truck was also pure joy, especially with the flash can. It was soft enough to shoot with an actual cheek weld (no shoulder contact) and maintain control, especially with the lighter loads. Attaching a sling and using forward pressure while resting it against my chin also worked well. My tendency with these is to just SBR them and add a stock, but the light weight and soft recoil make it great to shoot as is.

Bottom Line

Longevity remains to be seen, given its all-polymer construction, but all signs lead to the positive; I’ve never been able to break most polymer guns, and I shoot a ton. Most users will probably never need to replace anything, but if they did, Extar offers it all. For the cost of most everything you would consider “duty” ready (whatever that is), you could buy three or four EP9’s, and I would not hesitate for a second to make the EP9 a home or vehicle defense gun. Anyone in the family could shoot this, and given the buy-in cost, you could likely buy them all their own! Check out the Extar EP9 at: Tel.: (928) 583-9265; Web: www.extarusa.com.

Specifications

Action:                                    Semi-auto blowback

Caliber                                    9mm

Barrel Length                          6.5 inches

OAL:                                       24.5”

Weight:                                  4.09 pounds

Capacity:                               18+1; uses standard Glock magazines

MSRP:                                   $449.00