Pistol caliber carbines can be fun. They are light in recoil and have a light report. They are almost as good as shooting a.22 but have better downrange terminal performance. They can be used with your sidearm as well, especially if they are built from the same platform. The Meta Tactical Apex Series Carbine Conversion Kit is proof of this.
The Meta Tactical Apex: What it is and what it’s not
This conversion is for Glock, Smith & Wesson and Polymer 80 pistols. However, it is not a brace and it is not a PDW conversion, like some other units. The Meta Tactical Apex kit is a complete carbine conversion kit. The 16-inch barrel converts your Glock pistol to a rifle for legal purposes. This gives you a legal advantage, as well as more accuracy and velocity.
Braced Glocks and other similar handguns will be gone if the ATF’s new brace regulations go into effect next spring, as they plan. The ATF worksheet states that the weapon must weigh no less than 64 ounces. ATF will not require a brace if the weapon weighs less than that, as all Glocks and traditional handguns do.
This means that all pistol braces, including the Endo Tactical, Recover Tactical, and Flux braces, as well as full conversions such the Roni or Recover Tactical DDW kits, are gone unless you SBR your gun. It’s not something I like, nor do I agree with it. However, that’s the rule being proposed.
The Apex makes your Glock a carbine. It can have a real buttstock and avoid the legal mess of a braced gun. You can also swap between handgun and handgun configurations without any hassle because there are no permanent modifications to your handgun.
I was sent a kit to make my 9mm Glock 17 and I’m excited to share what I discovered.
What you get in the Apex kit
Apex kits are purchased based on the gun and caliber of the buyer. It is available in ninemm,.40 S&W and.45 ACP sizes. Kits for Smith & Wesson MP series pistols and Polymer 80 pistols are also available in the same calibers.
Meta Tactical has models for Sig Sauer and Springfield Armory pistols. It’s a very broad range, and I was happy to see support for large frames.45 and 10mm Glocks.
Kits come in black, gray or olive drab green. The kit includes the APEX-Series Chassis, a 16-inch barrel with thread protection and a muzzle device. A wrench is included to attach the muzzle device, as well as an instruction manual.
A soft case was included with my T&E kit. However, that item is optional from Meta Tactical. Flip-up sights, an angle fore grip or vertical foregrips that can hold spare magazines are all options.
Assembling the Apex Converter Kit
The Apex conversion kit can be assembled in a matter of minutes. This kit can be assembled by anyone who can field strip a Glock. It takes about the same time.
Clear your handgun and take off the slide. Reassemble your pistol by swapping your barrel for the 16-inch barrel.
Now you have a very long barrel pistol, which reminds me of the one Jack Nicholson used to play the Joker in the 1989 Michael Keaton Batman movie. Once the barrel has been installed, you can use the provided wrench to attach the muzzle device.
Simply press a button at the bottom of the Apex chassis to install the long-barreled pistol. This will allow the chassis’ rear section to be released. It hinges upward. Next, remove the trigger pin from the release latch. Next, slide your Glock into place until it fits in the chassis.
Finally, push in the trigger engagement pin and close the hinged section of the chassis until it snaps closed. That’s it. It takes only seconds.
Then you can add sights using the Apex’s 35 slot aluminum Picatinny Rail. Flip-up sights can be added, as well as the optic of your choosing. I tried both my Bushnell TRS-26 as well as my Sightmark Wolverine CSR, but the CSR was my choice for range use.
From Tip to Grip
I have handled many braces and conversion kits for Glocks. The Meta Tactical is my favorite. These kits are made in the USA and have excellent build quality. Everything feels solid and well-thought out. The aluminum top rail is solid and provides a solid mounting platform for optics.
Three M-LOK slots are located on the sides and bottom of the handguard to mount grips or other accessories. The ambidextrous charging handle is located just above the M-LOK slot. It is a solid metal unit with checkered knobs to either side. It is easy to hold and cycle, and it isn’t reciprocating so it doesn’t get in your way while you shoot.
The Meta Tactical pistol grip is a Meta-Tactical design. However, it will accept regular AR handles with a flat top profile and no extended beavertail. The grip was comfortable, but it was a little too short for me. It’s functional but it might be something I want to replace. This is okay, I do it on all my ARs.
The Meta uses a trigger linkage in order to engage the Glock’s original trigger. A simple cross bolt safety is installed right above the trigger. To disengage the trigger, I must shift my firing grip with my firing hand. But, I can push it off with my supporthand.
From Mag to Butt
You’ll find the magazine release by moving backwards on the gun. This tab engages the pistol’s normal magazines release. The Meta has a tab on each side that allows you to set it up for left- or right-handed use depending on whether your donor pistol supports this. It was a bit awkward at first, but I soon got used to it.
I was able to easily pull up a spare mag from my support hand, and engage the release by keeping the carbine in my hand. This allowed me to quickly insert the new mag, and the empty mag dropped free.
The mag release is located above the ejection port. On the right side of gun, there’s an access port for slide release. The brass deflector is built into the ejection port. It kicks the brass forward, away from the shooter’s face, regardless of where you are firing from.
Access to the slide lock/release key is essential, as not all PDW kit allow it. It is useful in the event of a malfunction, or if you want the weapon to be visible. This slot is not blocked if the buttstock has been closed completely. It’s important to keep this in mind if you shoot from a compact position.
The 6-Position Stock
The stock is a 6-position stock that can be operated by a lever located at the bottom rear. The butt plate is wide and grooved to give you a solid firing position. This carbine is not a braced PDW, which is another advantage. This is a real buttplate that is actually designed for shoulder firing.
Six positions allow you to adjust the stock to the right length for the shooter, even when wearing armor or heavy winter clothing. The overall length of the pull can be adjusted from 13.5 to 17.5 inches.
Handling the Apex
The carbine’s balance is superb. With a Glock 17 installed, it only weighs 5.75 lbs. The carbine can be held with your primary hand. This allows you to use your support hand for opening doors and moving through cover. This allows you to operate the gun even if one of your arms is injured or out of commission.
Meta Tactical claims that the CCK trigger linkage mechanism of the pistol is compatible with any pistol. This seems to be true as this trigger is the best I have ever experienced on a bullpup. I have a 5.5-pound trigger in my donor gun and I don’t notice any increase in trigger weight when the gun is installed in the Apex chassis. The trigger reset is quick and positive.
The Range’s Meta Tactical Apex
The accuracy of the 16-inch Chrome Moly barrel was exceptional. I went to the range with my regular shooting partner. We quickly sighted the Apex in, and were making ragged groups of one-holes on the 25-yard range.
We started by slamming steel helmets against the backstop berm, just like my previous review. These could be rolled around easily, even in rapid fire. We were able to pick small targets and golf balls off the dirt backstop. The gun is worthy of a trip to the 100-yard range, but timing was not right.
The gun’s recoil is negligible and the gun stays on target. It is easy to control even when doing fast doubles. We fired 150 rounds of mixed Federal ball- and hollow point loads using my aging ammo stock. Two malfunctions occurred, but they were quickly fixed by the simple-to-use charging handles and the ability lock the slide to its rear.
We used the Apex with a mixture of factory, Magpul and Bosnian AC-Unity Mags. Everything worked fine, with the exception of two malfunctions.
Parting shots
If you have a spare Glock, Smith or P80 lying around, the Meta Tactical Apex kit is a great choice. It would also be great to keep in your truck for use with your carry guns. It is easy to switch to a carbine configuration. It would allow you to have rifle-like capabilities with your EDC gun, even if things go wrong, without the need to take your actual rifle.
It is very small and comparable to other pistol caliber options. It is shorter than my Kel-Tec SUB-2000 pistol carbine and better suited for optics mounting. It’s even lighter than my CZ Evo-3 Scorpion SBR. It has a 16-inch barrel, as opposed to the Scorpions’ 7 3/4-inch barrel.
You don’t even have to deal with NFA paperwork. You don’t need to worry about any brace rule changes because of its carbine barrel length.
The Meta Tactical Apex Carbine Kit costs $599.99 and is slightly more expensive than other Glock conversion kits. It’s very competitive when you consider the build quality, features, as well as the fact that the kit comes with a 16-inch barrel.
Although I had a few minor issues with the safety, and would likely replace the pistol grip, overall I am very impressed. I actually have a 10mm donor gun and am waiting for the 10mm P80 kit release later this month. I deserve it, after all, it’s my birthday!
MetaTactical.com has more information.
Meta Tactical Apex Conversion Kit Features
Bullpup design allowing for rapid target acquisition in a compact rifle platform16″ drop-in replacement barrelLightweight at just 3.25lbs + weight of stock firearm (1.5lbs average, unloaded)Ambidextrous design with shell deflector, ambi mag-release, and ambi non-reciprocating charging handleSupports suppressor height sightsCompatible with most aftermarket slides as well as optics ready/optics cut slides (without optic mounted)Built-in cheek rest allowing for a consistent cheek weldCompatible with most AR15 flat-top A2 style grips6-position adjustable stockM-LOK accessory system on handguard with a NATO picatinny top rail PROUDLY MADE IN THE U.S.A.MSRP: $599.99
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Personal Defense World published the article TESTED: Meta Tactical Apex Carbine Conversion Kit — Bullpup – Pistol to Bullpup.
