What Is The Best PCC Caliber? | 9mm vs 45ACP vs 10mm

PCC Caliber Comparison Setup

The hosts film at Take Aim Training Range to compare popular pistol-caliber carbine options: 9mm, .45 ACP, and 10mm. They use Grand Power Stribog A3 roller-delayed PCCs in each caliber to keep the test as close to an apples-to-apples comparison as possible. One Stribog A3 is set up in 10mm with a telescoping brace, alongside .45 ACP and 9mm variants. The goal is to see how much recoil and shootability really differ between these calibers in a PCC platform, especially as PCCs gain renewed attention at events like SHOT Show, IWA in Germany, and NRA. They also plan to test both unsuppressed and suppressed performance using Dead Air Mojave suppressors matched to caliber.

Unsuppressed Recoil and Handling

The shooters begin with the 9mm Stribog A3, describing it as the industry-standard PCC caliber. They run mixed 115- and 124-grain ball ammunition, noting that the roller-delayed action keeps recoil very soft and consistent in the shoulder. They then move to the .45 ACP version, followed by the 10mm, shooting them back-to-back so differences in recoil and muzzle movement are easier to see. One shooter remarks that the 10mm sounds noticeably more powerful and feels front-heavy, but the platform remains controllable thanks to the three points of contact and the roller-delayed system. The segment sets up a direct comparison of how each caliber behaves in an identical PCC configuration before adding suppressors.

Caliber Impressions in PCCs

After the initial strings, the hosts share unsuppressed impressions. One shooter finds 9mm in the Stribog A3 very easy to run regardless of bullet weight, with a consistent recoil impulse. He surprisingly calls .45 ACP the “sweet spot,” describing it as extremely soft, even softer than 9mm for him, with a slow, repeatable “chug” that aids follow-up shots. He credits the roller-delayed system with taming .45 ACP recoil. In contrast, he ranks 10mm as his least favorite, calling it staunch and slower to return the optic to the sight line. The other shooter disagrees slightly, feeling 9mm is the softest overall, with .45 ACP delivering a more noticeable thump but still very manageable. Both agree 10mm recoils more than 9mm and .45 ACP, yet the difference is far less dramatic than when comparing 10mm and 9mm handguns.

Suppressor Setup and Feeding Issues

The hosts transition to suppressed shooting using a Dead Air Mojave 9 on the 9mm Stribog A3 and a Dead Air Mojave 45 on both the .45 ACP and 10mm guns. They highlight that .45 ACP is naturally subsonic, which may contribute to its softer feel. While running .45 ACP with flat-nose ammunition, they encounter feeding issues from the factory magazine. A round hangs on the feed ramp, and they demonstrate how the flat nose can catch, causing a stoppage that must be cleared by pushing the round forward. To address this, they switch to UMP45 magazines, which feed more reliably with the same flat-nose .45 ACP loads. This section underscores how ammunition profile and magazine choice can affect reliability, especially once suppressor back pressure is added.

Suppressed Performance by Caliber

With suppressors mounted, the shooters evaluate how each caliber feels. The 9mm Stribog A3 with the Mojave 9 remains very soft and repeatable, and one shooter notes it feels similar to an MP5 in terms of smooth, roller-delayed recoil when suppressed. The .45 ACP Stribog A3 with the Mojave 45 becomes a clear favorite, described as extremely forgiving, staying on target and delivering a very pleasant recoil impulse. The 10mm Stribog A3 with the Mojave 45 still recoils more than the other two, and one shooter observes the sight picture rising higher, especially the bottom of the reticle “donut” climbing toward the target’s head plate. Another shooter feels the 10mm recoil is slightly softened and pushed more into the shoulder pocket with the can installed, but overall both agree it remains the most energetic of the three.

Final Thoughts on Best PCC Caliber

In closing, the hosts agree that all three Grand Power Stribog A3 PCCs benefit from the roller-delayed system, which keeps recoil manageable across 9mm, .45 ACP, and 10mm. For unsuppressed shooting, one ranks 9mm as the softest, followed closely by .45 ACP, with 10mm clearly more forceful but still far more controllable than a 10mm handgun. Suppressed, both shooters find 9mm and .45 ACP especially enjoyable, with .45 ACP emerging as the crowd favorite due to its naturally subsonic behavior and very forgiving recoil. The 10mm PCC is acknowledged for its strong terminal potential and improved shootability compared to 10mm pistols, though it remains the least comfortable of the three for extended shooting. The choice of “best” PCC caliber is framed as application-dependent, balancing recoil preference against desired ballistic performance.