The Range Report from Pew Pew Tactical says that the UDP-9 is "nearly perfect, flat out", Tactical Life states that Angstadt Arms are "exceptionally controllable, kept every single round on target, 50 yards with groupings between 1.7" and 2.25". Every review that I could find on Angstadt Arms pretty much states the same thing. This manufacturer is 5-Stars across the board! So what does Classic Firearms say about Angstadt Arms UDP-9? We think that it is the perfect home defense gun! Check it out for yourself! Our very own Clint selected this firearm as his #1 choice for a home defense firearm. As for me, well, I actually agree with Clint! Sometimes Clint and I have differing views on the best firearms for home defense. Neither one of us is wrong, he is highly trained with rifles, and I am highly trained with pistols. Angstadt Arms has found that sweet spot! These pistol caliber carbines provide a comfortable, familiar fit on an AR-style platform! Oh, and by the way, they are extremely accurate! If I had to describe Angstadt Arms in a couple of words, I would have to say that they are perfectly balanced.

MEET RICH ANGSTADT

Y'all, I have had the pleasure of meeting Rich Angstadt. Believe me, when I tell you, he's a good person. His facility, where all of the magic happens, is spotless, downright pristine! His products are second to none and quality is first and foremost. I was immediately impressed. Rich Angstadt enjoyed and was dedicated to competition shooting. With over twenty years of "working" with precision firearms, he wanted something that he couldn't buy because it didn't exist. At the time, he felt that 9mm carbines were not purpose-built. He didn't feel that they had a mission. Without manufacturing standards, 9mm carbines at the time didn't have the tight tolerances and precision features that he desired. He felt as if they were cobbled together from various sources absent the adherence to any real standards or specifications. Confident in his abilities and dedication to the finest quality and professional craftsmanship, he wanted to change the way 9mm carbines were built and used by the shooter. He wanted to build what he believed an AR-style 9mm carbine should be. Determined to bring innovation to the firearms world, his manufacturing journey began.
Rich Angstadt

THE MASTERPIECE: UDP-9

The Angstadt UDP-9 was designed to use simple blowback operation. A lot of thought was put into selecting an operating system, and blowback offered the best performance for this particular set-up. Let me tell you why that makes sense; in simple blowback operation, the bolt isn't locked into the receiver (or barrel extension). Rather, it moves in a rearward motion to cycle the action, by the cartridge moving rearward to butt against the breech face. Just like an AR-15, the lower and upper receiver are joined by two take-down pins. The UDP-9 also uses nearly identical operation controls as the AR-15 platform. Except for the absence of an ejection port dust cover and forward assist, the UDP-9s have a very familiar setup, making it easy to grab and go for those that are familiar with an AR-15. Operating controls like the trigger, safety, charging handle, magazine release, and bolt release are exactly the same. Even though there are caliber variances, there are even some parts of the UDP-9 that are interchangeable with the AR-15. A quick rundown of some of the parts that are interchangeable include the charging handle, the trigger and hammer groups, the buttstock, and the grips. The UDP-9 receivers were designed and are dedicated for use with Glock magazines. The design will hold Glock magazines without the need for blocks or spacers that are usually needed to convert AR-15 lowers to accommodate the shorter magazines like those used for 9mm rounds. Fewer parts mean less rattle. By utilizing a common and readily available magazine without the need for additional parts, the UDP-9 with a Glock magazine gives the shooter consistent sure fit and helps keep the tolerances on this precision carbine tight. Also consistent with the AR-15 platform, the UDP-9 has a bolt catch that secures the action open after the last round has been fired. A slight deviation from the AR-15 is that the magazine release is more of a lever, rather than a button. The lever is located where the AR magazine release button is. For added safety, the release lever is partially surrounded by a protective barrier to keep it from accidentally engaging.

Angstadt Arms UDP-9

PERFORMANCE

Ballistically, a 9mm round cannot perform like a rifle round can. However, when you push a 9mm round beyond the normal velocities of a pistol, you've got one heck of a punch and very confident penetration. The 9mm round automatically becomes an extraordinary round in the UDP-9, giving you more range and proven increased accuracy. This 9mm carbine will fire the cartridge from a 6-inch barrel easily surpassing the expected 25 - 30 yards of the effective range usually associated with the round. Accessories to further improve your accuracy are endless with a full flat top, MLOK handguard, a threaded barrel, and trigger options. Make it yours! Lastly, reliability. These things just run! You can feed it anything from the cheapest steel cartridges to 9mm+P, and it will keep on humming. You will be hard-pressed to find a review that contradicts this. This is a high-quality firearm and it is built for a lifetime of use.

A SHOT ABOVE

The Angstadt Arms UDP-9 is certainly not the most inexpensive 9mm carbine on the market right now but the quality of this firearm is heads above anything else in the category. Is it worth the price, around $1400? It certainly is! You get professional craftsmanship, high quality, long-lasting parts, great customer service, and bragging rights on the range for the most desired gun on any given day. This firearm will give you reliable home protection, a high capacity of available rounds, impressive accuracy, and more range. It can be used as your bugout bag or truck gun and definitely for home protection. This masterpiece is not a range toy, although it is a blast to take to the range for a day out. This firearm is a get down and dirty, eager to work for you to protect you and yours, compact, accurate, and lightweight war machine. After all, when your boundaries are breached, the battle is on. You will be ready with your Angstadt Arms UDP-9. Check out Angstadt's other offerings in the UDP-9 and their 45 Auto caliber carbines. Shop All Angstadt Arms Hand Guns