By R.K. Campbell
The implement reviewed here isn’t a firearm at all but a carbine conversion. It isn’t unusual for a centerfire firearm to have a .22 caliber conversion unit offered as an accessory. These devices date back as far as the German Luger and apparently were produced almost as soon as self loading centerfire pistols were developed. (Charles Kenyon, Lugers at Random.) The MechTech CCU (Carbine Conversion Unit) is far more complex than a .22 caliber conversion unit of a centerfire handgun but on the other hand it is simple enough to be handy and effective. The Carbine Conversion Unit is available for other handguns such as the Colt 1911 but we chose the Glock 19 unit because it was handy, available, the Glock 19 is well distributed, and because the Glock is such a common pistol in police service. The CCU is an accessory rather than a firearm so there is no federal paperwork involved in obtaining the unit. The stock isn’t added to the handgun but rather the conversion comes complete or with whatever accessories the user orders. The unit arrives bare and you must add a buttstock or sights as you see fit to the order. The conversion is available for the 1911 and other Glocks, but the Glock 19 and its inexpensive 9mm ammunition is a great selling point. To make the CCU ready for use, you remove the slide complete with the barrel and recoil spring from the Glock pistol. After removing the slide of the Glock you fit the receiver into the MechTech conversion. The result is a light and handy carbine. When assembling the Glock conversion it is vital that a piece known as the Glock Block is included. This piece takes the place of the integral barrel feed ramp and ensures feed reliability of the pistol. There is no manual safety or slide lock with the CCU, only the standard trigger action of the Glock. The safe action trigger operates in the normal manner. We have the same lack of a manual safety as with the Glock, but we have the Glock DAO trigger action and the Glock trigger lever. This trigger lever is misunderstood. It is not a true safety but rather a device that stops inertia of the trigger from allowing the trigger to trip and fire the gun if the Glock is dropped. This trigger lever retains its operation with the MechTech carbine. The MechTech is a standard blow back design with a bolt that is massive enough to contain the recoil of the strongest +P loads. The action is simple enough. Insert a magazine in the Glock receiver, rack the bolt of the conversion and you are ready to fire. For test purposes our conversion was ordered with garden grade AR-15 sights, aperture rear and post front and an AR-15 type three position folding stock.
The CCU was put to the test over a period of weeks in the hands of several interested raters. We have fired nearly one thousand rounds of ammunition as of this writing. The MechTech conversion works well, is fast handling and accurate enough. It is a rather neat setup. This isn’t a set up for an expert rifleman; they will prefer an AR-15 rifle. But for tactical defense of a dwelling the CCU conversion is formidable and the expense isn’t daunting. If there is a drawback it is that you have to have another firearm on hand to convert to a CCU/carbine. A shooter may wish to convert his Glock for outdoors use, for small game hunting, or perhaps for home or area defense. This is not as handy as simply having another carbine. What is appealing is the fact that the CCU is well made of good material, accurate, and reliable. The hit potential of the CCU is far superior to the pistol. Long range accuracy is much greater and even muzzle velocity is greatly increased. The MechTech conversion is an interesting option that adds to the utility of the Glock pistol. It is high on performance and practicality. Another advantage is simplicity of ownership. There is no type of legal paper work requirement as the CCU isn’t a firearm any more than a barrel or slide is a firearm. The CCU is only a gun part. The base price of the MechTech CCU is reasonable for such high quality. Adding a fixed carrying handle rear sight, post front sight and adjustable stock added to the price of the conversion but this is simply part of the game.
Firing Impressions
Running a combat course with the CCU, the Glock magazine and a good supply of Black Hills 124 grain FMJ was an eye opener. This is a very easy carbine to hit with. The trigger is manageable, with rapid reset, an advantage of the Glock. While trigger discipline is always important there are no other double action only or safe action carbines we are aware of, and the CCU/Glock match up seems a good one for police use or personal defense. Hits came easy on man sized targets by simply hanging the front sight on the mid section and applying the proper trigger press. At 25 yards, relatively inexperienced shooters were making groups they could never have dreamed of with the Glock pistol.
We also tested the popular 33-round Glock magazine with the MechTech conversion. Reliability was faultless. We fired several loaded with an assortment of FMJ and JHP loads with good results. However, after a bit of loading it was noted that these magazines are very difficult to load past the 30-round mark. We also used a pair of 33-round magazines reputedly imported from Korea. One would hold only 28 rounds and neither was completely reliable. They are cheaply made and you get what you pay for. Another feature of the MechTech was that with its sixteen inch barrel, ammunition performance is considerably enhanced. The Black Hills EXP, as an example, broke nearly 1,500 fps from the carbine length barrel. This is nearly a two hundred fifty feet per second advantage over the pistol. This translates to reliable bullet upset. For service use, the Black Hills 124 grain JHP would probably offer the best balance of expansion and penetration. The bullet tends to stay together with consistency and offers an option against felons behind cover. Overall, the MechTech conversion is a winner on many counts. The CCU is easy to hit with, reliable, and with increased ammunition performance over the handgun. If you are interested in increasing the effectiveness of your pistol for specific duties, the CCU has much to recommend. For more information, visit them at www.Mechtechsys.com
Performance
| Load | Velocity | 50 yard group |
| Black Hills 115 gr. EXP | 1,515 fps | 2.8 inches |
| Black Hills 124 gr. JHP | 1,390 fps | 3.25 inches |
| Cor Bon 115 gr. DPX | 1,444 fps | 4.0 inches |
| Cor Bon 115 gr. JHP | 1,560 fps | 3.0 inches |
| Hornady 135 gr. Critical Duty | 1,201 fps | 3.5 inches |
| Win. Ranger T 124 grain +P | 1,465 fps | 3.0 inches |
| Winchester 115 gr. FMJ | 1,320 fps | 4.0 inches |
| Wolf 115 gr. FMJ | 1,366 fps | 4.5 inches |
This article first appeared in Small Arms Review SAW (May 2013) |
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