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DIY PCC Concept Project (forum.guncadindex.com)

I’ve recently built a Rebel-9. It runs beautifully and made me wonder, “why not other calibers?” There are many 9mm PCCs designs currently and I wanted to spice things up and give a go at a DIY bolt for a different pistol round. My thought is to scale the size and weight of the bolt to appropriately accommodate said round (5.7, 10mm, 45acp) with SCS bolt face. Would use AR Barrel. Let me know if there are any ideas or suggestions. Also let me know if there is a reason this hasn’t been done before and am biting off more than I can chew lol. Thanks!

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[-] ClemensXIV@forum.guncadindex.com 8 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

The bolt has to weigh a lot more for those other calibers in a direct blowback firearm. In 9mm the bolt weighs about 1.7lbs. For 45acp and 10mm the bolt would need to be 2.3 and 2.8lbs respectively. It can be done but would require a lot of work to change calibers.

Edit: Source: https://10mmautocombat.wordpress.com/blowback-bolt-calculations/

[-] Kopsis@forum.guncadindex.com 3 points 2 weeks ago

It's more than just scaling the bolt. Heavier bolt means heavier recoil springs. Heavier recoil springs means larger/stronger receiver. Magwell and magazines also have to change for each caliber. Magazine design is one of the most difficult parts of creating a self-loading firearm. It's easy to make one that functions; it's hard to make one that functions reliably (even when using an existing design as a reference). You can "cheat" and rely on commercial mags, but even then you'll usually have to tune the feed geometry since the behavior of a .45ACP cartridge is going to be radically different than something like a 5.7.

There is a 9mm version of the Decker 380 in development right now and despite the cartridge itself being nearly identical just 2mm longer, nearly everything except the fire control system has had to change to some degree.

I wouldn't give people saying it won't work much weight in my decision of what you decide to pursue. It's takes considerably less effort to list off a few reasons (That doesn't mean they're not valid ) why you'll encounter difficulties with a given endeavor rather than providing suggestions because that requires original thinking.

Have said that I am capable of original thought
And I too have built a rebel 9! I would love one in .22lr .... I know that's probably the last pistol caliber cartridge you wanted to hear suggested .

[-] Signa@fosscad.io 1 points 2 weeks ago

The decker is a fully diy in .380acp and the 3dp90 is a a diy 5.7, so it for sure would work, the only thing in the 3dp90 that's usually not diy is the barrel, but they do include the blueprints in case you got a barrel blank and a lathe. I dunno about .45 since its such a bigger round, the bolt would have to be heavier and the upper stronger, but you can for sure do it

this post was submitted on 20 Nov 2025
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