Jim and Family:
I just found out that I can get a 16″ rifle here in Hawaii. I was considering an Uzi but am uncertain about the differences between model A and B. Also, the stamped metal doesn’t excite me, but I think having such a gun fills an important role in my armory.
For travel out of the stronghold, it takes the place between carrying a .223 or .308 rifle suitable for home defense and reaching out and touching someone and walking about with a handgun.
For travel when the world is in quasi-collapse and I want more rounds and accuracy than a pistol but don’t want to use a full assault rifle. I like the idea of an Uzi type gun, tucked under my jacket. Lightweight is also a plus. If the world becomes lawless, the barrel could also be shortened. So, what gun do you recommend? Uzi A, B or other? Thanks guys. – Fred in Hawaii
JWR Replies: I do not recommend full size semi-auto Uzis. In relation to the power of the cartridge that they shoot (the 9mm Parabellum pistol cartridge) they are quite over-sized and heavy. A Linda, TEC-9, or a Mini-Uzi is actually more practical if you want a high capacity 9mm with a fairly long sight radius. If you want a semi-auto 9mm carbine, then the Marlin Camp Carbine is actually a better choice. For that matter, an M1 Carbine is more powerful, and nearly as compact as an Uzi carbine (at least when one is in a Choate or M1A1 replica folding stock.)
I generally try to steer my consulting clients away from 9mm, .45 ACP or even .30 M1 carbines, except if they are strictly relegated to secondary/small game/training use. As previously discussed in SurvivalBlog, long guns chambered in pistol calibers lack penetration and stopping power. They generally give people a false sense of security. A semi-auto Uzi has a high quotient for drama, but is not a very practical gun. A .223 M4gery is far superior and versatile, capable of dealing with two-legged predators out to 300 meters. (That would be quite a stretch for a 9mm carbine!) If compactness is your primary goal (rather than long range accuracy) some pistols chambered in intermediate rifle calibers include the OA-93 pistol, the Kel-Tec PLR-16, and “Krinkov” AK pistols. Just be forewarned that they are quite noisy and have a big muzzle flash!
You have a unique situation in Hawaii, since “pistol” high capacity magazines are banned there. This is quite a limiting factor. If I understand the Hawaii magazine ban law correctly, if there is any pistol made that uses rifle magazines, then those rifle magazines are also banned. For example, there are currently pistols made that use AR-15 and AK-47 magazines, and there were also a few hundred pistols made back in the 1970s that used M1 Carbine magazines. (The Universal “Enforcer” pistol.) So 10+ round M1 Carbine magazines would be classed as high capacity “pistol” magazines in Hawaii. I did some searching and found this in a digest of state gun laws at The Hawaii Rifle Association web site: “Hawaii state law prohibits greater than 10 round detachable pistol magazines (including rifle magazines capable of use in any pistol, such as the AR-15/M16, M1 Carbine, H&K carbine, Thompson, and aftermarket Ruger .22 magazines) unless blocked to hold 10 rounds or less and ‘not readily restorable.’ Possession of illegal magazines is a misdemeanor, and possession of a handgun with one inserted is a class C felony.” Based on this, you may have to do some more legal research and plan accordingly to stay within the confines of Hawaii’s draconian gun laws.