A folding carbine in 9mm is a neat trick. The Smith & Wesson M&P FPC (Folding Police Carbine) has a 16.3 inch barrel, a 23-round magazine and a black finish, and it folds in half for easier transport.

Pistol-caliber carbines have become a popular range gun. 9mm ammo is cheap and easy to find, recoil is mild and a 16 inch barrel gives better accuracy and velocity than a handgun. Many shooters in North Carolina use a carbine like this for steel matches, plinking and as a truck gun, since it folds small. Wipe it down after wet weather and store it dry, because North Carolina humidity is hard on steel.

The folding design lets the carbine stow in a bag or a compact case. That is useful for travel and for owners who want something small in a closet or safe. Mounting an optic is straightforward, and you can add a sling to carry it.

It is semi-automatic, firing one round per trigger pull, and uses a common pistol-style magazine. It ships to a North Carolina FFL dealer, where you complete the background check at pickup.