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.