carbon 15 pistol

[mcnasty]

I'm looking for an owner's opinion about a Professional Ordinance Carbon-15 pistol. How reliable are they? I found a used, never fired one for $600. Is that a Fair price? Thanks for imput. Mcnasty

[imanaknut]

Welcome to the group!!!!

First, is it a type 21 or a type 97 pistol? The 21 does not have a fluted barrel, it also has a very obvious taper. The barrel on the 97 is fluted and straighter. The price difference is night and day. The 21s are between $350 and $500. The Type 97 runs between $800 and $1050!!!

As for reliability, the new ones are much better than the old ones. If I remember the cut-off it was somewhere around 1998 before they got better. If you know the serial number, you can call Pro-ordnance and they will give you the actual date of manufacture and verify the type. I have a Type 97 Carbine and got the actual date of manufacture from them. They also verified that it is the type that I thought it was as it is not marked on the firearm.

You also have to remember that they use a match grade barrel and they can be very tempermental. Mine refused to eject any South African stuff, but I have no problems with Sellier & Bellot, Remington UMC, and good old USGI Ball.

They are also nice as they use standard AR15 mags.

Check some of the auction sites, gunbroker and auction arms off the top of my head. Also check the Pro-ordnance web for more info.

Good luck.

[Attilla]

picked up my type 21 brand new (2001 model) from a local dealer for 600. OTD and am very pleased with it. :)

[imanaknut]

Just to explain, the price range that it listed for the Type 21 is used, NIB would normally be higher.

I do have to mention that my Type 97 had the biggest muzzle flash of any firearm that I have ever owned. Easily visible on a sunny day, on a cloudy one you can see the flash through the scope! It is really weird when you pull the trigger and the target disappears in an orange flash!