Gun Review: Angstadt Arms UDP-9, a pistol-caliber carbine (VIDEO)

With an explosion of pistol-caliber carbines hitting the market over the past few years, Angstadt Arms stands out at the forefront with the UDP-9. The design’s pristine fit and finish, familiar controls, and impressive overall performance makes for a desirable package at around $1,400.

Out of the box, the Angstadt UDP-9 has a consistent matte black color and hard-coat anodized finish. The pistol features a 5.5-inch M-Lok rail that’s flush with the upper receiver, which fits tightly with the lower. It’s equipped with an SBA3 brace on a mil-spec buffer tube. Instead of a typical A2 style grip, the gun has a Magpul K2 pistol grip. The K2 has more of a vertical angle that aids the ergonomics of the fire controls. The gun also takes Glock magazines. From muzzle to brace, the UDP-9 measures in at 22 inches and weighs 5 pounds.

Those familiar with AR-15 controls will find the compact gun easy to run fast. Mag changes are a breeze with the over-sized mag release and flared magwell. Recoil is very manageable and what you would expect out of 5-pound pistol chambered in 9mm. While the trigger is nothing to write home about, it’s not bad enough to slow this PDW down. For the trigger snobs, though, the good news is that the UDP-9 works with most aftermarket AR-15 fire controls.

Running the gun suppressed takes some precision. The pistol’s barrel has 1/2×36 threading tucked about a 1/2-inch behind the rail. This makes running the gun suppressed a bit of a challenge with a fatter can. My AAC Tyrant fit like a glove, but my Blackhawk Mini Boss didn’t work because of its larger circumference. A simple solution would be to have a 1/2-inch shorter rail or a 1/2-inch longer barrel. But, if you’re not running a silencer than this is a nothing burger.

On a side note, I want to mention something about Angstadt’s customer service. My first range session didn’t last too long. After 20 rounds, I had a casing blowout while chambered, which left the casing stuck firmly in the chamber. The pressure that blew out the back of the casing broke the bolt catch and bent the transfer bar, which initiates the last round hold open. It wasn’t the gun’s fault – bad ammo happens! Fortunately, Angstadt sent out replacement parts within a couple days. After the repairs, I fed it a steady diet of 115- and 147-grain steel and brass and also mixed in a bit of Hornady Critical Duty 124 grain. The UDP-9 ran everything I put through it!

The Angstadt UDP-9 makes it is easy to see why the pistol-caliber carbine craze has exploded. The $1,395 price tag makes a lot of sense when you compare it to some of the other popular 9mm platforms by Sig Sauer or Heckler & Koch. The UDP-9 is an excellent option for a new shooter or someone looking to get into some competitive shooting scenes. Or maybe if you just want a fun gun to shoot.

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