Manufacturers follow trends. It’s a copycat world, and each one is vying for an edge over the other, or at least competing with them. For a while, that trend was Pistol Caliber Carbines (PCC). For several years they were the rage—there was nothing more fun than a shorty sub-gun type. But with ATF’s ruling on pistol braces (which will hopefully be thrown out in court soon, then all of this is moot) that killed the demand. However, there is still a niche for PCCs. This is mainly in the defensive or competition world where classes are centered around a rifle-length PCC. It is also fair to say that people are more comfortable with a rifle than with a pistol in a defensive scenario. Having a rifle chambered in the same caliber and using the same magazine ecosystem as your pistol makes for a compelling setup.

The Smith & Wesson Response

Finally, in October 2023, Smith & Wesson entered the PCC market. This is a bit late in the game, especially with the number of options already on the market, including examples from Springfield, CMMG, Ruger, and CZ. But with that criticism, Smith did some things that make it relevant…. somewhat.

First, the basics. The Response uses a 16.5” barrel with a 1:10” twist and muzzle that’s threaded 1/2x28, normal stuff for a 9mm and for keeping in line with ATF compliance (for now). The gun sports a near full-length free-float handguard that’s adorned with m-lok slots and a full-length top rail. For furniture, Smith went with a Magpul stock and a pistol grip that’s based on their M&P handgun line and ships with 4 interchangeable “palmswell” adapters. The trigger is better than a standard mil-spec one and is the same trigger as found on the Volunteer series of rifles. Additionally, the Response uses direct blowback operation, which is the most common operation for 9mm carbines. The biggest gripe I have for the construction of the gun is its use of polymer for the upper and lower receivers. Some will say that today’s polymer is strong and can hold up to its share of abuse. That may be true, but then again, everyone that I’ve been around who uses AR-style rifles for work use ones with metal receivers. However, I’m sure Smith did it to cut down on cost.

Gamechanger?

Now for the most interesting feature of the gun: FLEXMAG magazine well adapters. Yes, you read that correctly. Smith has introduced a system to change the type of magazines your gun uses. As of this writing, I’m not quite sure how easy this operation will be, but it is unique and a leg up on the competition. The gun will ship with two adapters—one for M&P mags and the other for Glock-style ones. Based on Smith's pre-release press, I’d imagine more options are on the way. Now the end-user can configure their rifle to the specific handgun setup, simplifying the ecosystem.

Final Thoughts

Will the Response do well? In the short term, it’s hard to say. Not many are looking for a 16” barrel PCC. I do think the FLEXMAG system is innovative, but I think it hit the market at the wrong time. Hopefully, soon, U.S. courts will throw out ATF’s pistol-brace ruling, and Big Blue will roll out a short-barreled version of the Response. For now, the market is limited to competitors or those wanting to limit caliber and magazine options when selecting a rifle. MSRP is $799.99 but the street price should be a penny less than $700.