The video opens with a “fatal four-way” comparison of roller-delayed pistol caliber carbines, setting up a head-to-head between the Taurus RPC, AP5 (Century Arms MP5 clone), Stribog SP9A3, and Springfield Armory HS Produkt Kuna. The Taurus RPC is introduced as a new entrant with a short barrel, no factory brace option, and an MSRP in the low-thousand-dollar range. All guns are outfitted with optics and run both suppressed and unsuppressed to highlight differences in recoil and dot movement. The AP5 represents the classic MP5 pattern, while the Stribog SP9A3 is the third-generation roller-delayed model from Grand Power. The Kuna, around $1,000 MSRP, shares AR-style controls with most of the lineup. On the range, the hosts cycle through each platform, including suppressed shooting with a Kataba 9mm can, noting how suppression softens recoil and stabilizes the sight picture, especially on the Stribog, before transitioning to the Kuna for further testing.
After initial range work, the focus shifts to the AP5/MP5 platform with a brief “whisper pickle” suppressed firing sequence. The hosts then move indoors to debrief the original roller-delayed design. The MP5-style gun is described as extremely soft shooting, with a notably pleasant recoil impulse that becomes even smoother with a suppressor attached. However, they point out that it can be quite gassy for static shooters, especially during extended strings of fire. To mitigate this, they recommend either using a flow-through suppressor design or simply moving more while shooting to avoid standing in the gas plume. This segment reinforces why the MP5 remains the benchmark for roller-delayed PCCs, combining controllable recoil and classic handling, while also highlighting that modern suppressor technology and shooting technique are important for managing gas blowback on this legacy platform.
Attention turns to the Springfield-based HS Produkt Kuna, which receives a more critical evaluation. Unsuppressed, the Kuna is characterized as somewhat violent and unpleasant, with a sharper recoil impulse than the other roller-delayed options. Adding a suppressor only marginally improves the shooting experience, failing to transform it into the soft, smooth feel seen on the MP5 and Stribog. The hosts note that the Kuna heats up very quickly during strings of fire, making extended range sessions less comfortable. A major downside is its reliance on proprietary magazines that do not cross-compat with other popular PCC platforms, limiting flexibility and increasing long-term cost. This reinforces why the Kuna underperformed in a previous PCC showdown. While it shares AR-like controls with much of the lineup, the combination of harsher recoil, rapid heat buildup, and proprietary mags positions it as the least appealing option in this comparison.
The Stribog SP9A3 stands out as a strong contender in the roller-delayed field. The hosts praise its smooth recoil impulse, which becomes especially soft and controllable when suppressed with the Kataba 9mm can. Ambidextrous controls are highlighted as a major ergonomic advantage, making the Stribog more user-friendly for both left- and right-handed shooters compared to the Kuna and even the MP5 pattern. Its overall ergonomics are preferred over the Kuna and the classic platform, with a modern layout that feels intuitive and efficient. The only notable criticism is the plasticky feel of the safety selector, which the reviewers wish were metal to better match the rest of the gun’s quality. Despite that minor complaint, the Stribog’s combination of roller-delayed smoothness, ambi controls, and comfortable handling positions it as one of the top choices in the lineup, especially for shooters prioritizing modern ergonomics.
The discussion broadens to compare several PCC and SMG-style platforms, focusing on recoil, controls, and configuration options. Most of the guns show a soft recoil impulse both suppressed and unsuppressed, and many feature ambidextrous controls and built-in sights, with pricing clustered closely except for one higher-end option. A short variant nicknamed the “mini Toro” draws criticism for its ergonomics, forcing a scrunched head position and prompting a wish for a longer barrel to improve comfort and sight alignment. The Taurus RPC and Kuna are praised for allowing factory grip swaps, while another platform’s integrated grip requires aftermarket lowers to change, reducing out-of-the-box flexibility. The short gun is described as very gassy, leaving lingering soot in humid conditions and showing erratic ejection patterns when suppressed. Despite these issues, it earns praise for having the best, flat-faced trigger of the group, offering a crisp, modern feel that stands out in direct comparison.
In the closing segment, the hosts commit to their preferred PCCs from the lineup. One ultimately chooses the Stribog as the top pick, while the other favors the SP5, still acknowledging the MP5 as the original standard-bearer for roller-delayed guns. They joke that the Stribog would have been a dominant contender in an earlier PCC showdown and would have easily beaten the Kuna, underscoring how far it outperforms that platform. The conversation touches on dramatic muzzle plume from certain setups, jokingly labeled “mini Chernobyl,” and revisits user loyalties to the Kuna, attitudes toward proprietary magazines, and general affinity for HS Produkt and Springfield offerings. Ergonomic quirks, such as hands barely fitting around certain areas, are mentioned as real-world considerations. The hosts note that future upgrades, potential longer-barrel versions, and shifting price parity could change rankings, and they close by encouraging viewers to keep training and share their own PCC choices for comparison.
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