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Aero Precision EPC-9 Review: Piece Together Your Preferred PCC
I’m a huge fan of PCCs (pistol-caliber carbines) and have been considering one from Aero Precision for quite some time. Well, I recently “pulled the trigger” and have spent the last few months enjoying my Aero EPC-9 (Enhanced Pistol Caliber Carbine).
Aero Precision does not sell complete firearms on its website; it only sells parts and complete uppers or lowers. Many retailers do the same, typically leaving you to piece together your build. That’s not necessarily a bad thing since the end result winds up being exactly what you want.
The latest iteration of my EPC-9.
To give Aero’s EPC-9 as close to a dedicated review as possible, I went ahead and ordered the complete upper, complete lower, and bolt carrier group, all from Aero. This included Aero’s lower parts kit, buffer, and barrel. The only things I added or changed were the furniture, some of the controls (safety and bolt catch), and the charging handle.
Now that I’ve had some quality time with the EPC-9 and sent a few hundred rounds downrange with it, I can share my honest thoughts about it so far.
Features
There were a few features that I knew were “must haves” for me and that I really enjoyed, and then there were a couple I feel Aero could have done a much better job on.
To start with the positives, I love the last round bolt hold open and the fact that it takes Glock magazines. Since I often carry a Glock, I wanted a PCC that would accept Glock mags since I have so many.
While the magwell is only slightly flared, it still seems to help with reloads just fine.
And let me tell you, this gun is not picky with its magazines. I’ve used Factory Glock mags, Amend2 mags, and Magpul mags, and all have seated, fed, and run well.
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Then there is the full-length Picatinny rail up top and plenty of M-LOK slots all over the handguard. Between the two, despite having a shorter barrel, you’ll have more than enough room for your favorite optic, hand stop, light, and more.
The integrated QD sling sockets are nice touches.
With a threaded barrel for easy suppressor hosting and a flared magwell for easy reloads, the EPC-9 is a well-rounded PCC that offers just enough features to justify the higher price tag compared to entry-level options.
Aero has also started including a heavier buffer, which has improved reliability. It’s nice to see a company continuing to strive for better, even if it’s just through minor tweaks.
But, as I mentioned earlier, there are a couple of areas where I feel the EPC-9 falls short, or at least the model I went with, which is the controls and the trigger. With ambidextrous safeties and extended bolt catches being so affordable, it would have been nice to see them included instead of the mil-spec ones.
The trigger is more of a personal preference issue, as I would have liked to see a flat-face trigger instead. It’s at least clean and consistent, though, and gets the job done.
A few extra bucks spent by the manufacturer on nicer controls would go a long way.
Thankfully, those are small “cons,” and I definitely wouldn’t consider them deal breakers or even close.
Specifications
| Barrel Length | 11 inches |
| Twist Rate | 1:10 |
| Threading | 1/2×28 |
| Caliber | 9mm |
| Upper Receiver Material | 7075-T6 aluminum |
| Lower Receiver Material | 7075-T6 aluminum |
| Magazine Style | Glock |
Reliability & Accuracy
Since my concealed carry caliber of choice is 9mm, I tend to shoot it more than any other caliber. I wound up grabbing several different loads to test with the EPC-9 that included 124-grain Federal Punch JHPs and the following:
Between them, I’ve put 350 rounds through the EPC-9 so far without a single issue. It’s not enough rounds to feel confident using it in a home defense-type role yet, but I have a feeling I’ll see the same performance out of the next few hundred, and then it will be good to go for any role.
With a Holosun SCRS up top, it’s been as accurate as you’d expect within the 50 or so yards I’ve been shooting it typically. Tight couple-inch groupings are easy to obtain within 25 yards, and nailing smaller-sized gongs or targets out at 50 yards has been no hard task either.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Lightweight and reliable
- Compatible with Glock magazines
- Heavier buffer for improved reliability
- Flared magwell
- Forged 7075-T6 aluminum receivers
- Last round bolt hold open
- Tons of attachment space via M-LOK and Picatinny rail
- Threaded barrel
- AR-15 part compatibility
Cons:
- Limited availability – often hard to find in stock
- Pricing can fluctuate greatly between sites and is often high on Aero’s own site
- Mil-spec controls
Conclusion
Overall, I’m extremely happy with my purchase of the Aero Precision EPC-9.
It’s a great middle-of-the-road PCC that offers more than enough features without breaking the bank. Since it can utilize so many AR-15 accessories and parts, I was able to make it very much “my own.”
