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PSA/H&R Clones the Department of Energy Colt 9mm SMG (Ad-free)
🕑 Added 2025-01-18 12:00:10 +0000 UTCPalmetto State Armory, under their Harrington & Richardson brand, has released a particularly neat model of 9mm AR. They talked about doing this "at some point" at SHOT Show 2024, but lo and behold it's here and available on the cusp of SHOT 2025! Specifically, this is the Colt 633, an extra-short version of the Colt 9mm SMG. Originally released in 1985, Colt's 9mm adaptation of the AR/M16 platform was never hugely successful against competitors like the MP5. This particular model, with a 7" barrel, was only produced in very limited numbers originally, with the Department of Energy being the only significant purchaser. Why does the DoE need submachine guns, you might ask? Because they are legally responsible for security for nuclear material transportation and facilities.
This new clone of the 633 from H&R/PSA comes with a stabilizing brace that is designed to very closely resemble the original Colt collapsing stock. It uses the same sort of modified Uzi magazines as the original Colts, and is a very good external reproduction while featuring modern internals that are rathe improved form the 1985 state of the art. The most evident non-original feature is the threaded muzzle, which gives a level of flexibility that I suspect most people will appreciate despite its non-originality.
Disclaimer: PSA sent me this for filming. I paid for the SBR registration.
Comments
Clifton Ballad
Gotta wonder how it plays on full auto....
Troy Janda
As someone who was issued a colt SMG, and the department armor. I can absolutely confirm that agencies bought Colts because dealing with HK was sometimes a real pain in the butt for small agencies. Those colts ran for decades with very little problems. Maybe not as refined as the HK. But they were pretty darn good. And surprisingly, very controllable in full auto.
Martin Morehouse
My M16A1 in basic at Ft Jackson was an H&R.
Guido Schriewer
DO NOT remind me HOW long is 85 ago! *seigh
Guido Schriewer
WOW that is some huge brass deflector! for those jobs one should hope the nuc security dudes would get better than a 9 solala subgun. I mean those are HIGHrisc potential targets. think uzi mags came in flush (para's?) 20, 25, 32, 40(?).
ERB2
Thanks for the interesting review of a firearm I didn’t know existed. On an unrelated topic, I’m hoping you’ll take a look at the new Kel-Tec PR57. I think it the most radical pistol design I’ve seen since the Largo Alien!
Thomas Batha
In addition to M1 and M16 rifles, H&R was also a prime contrator for the M14. The AR platform used for a pistol caliber never made sense to me-- too big and clunkey for the round. I do like the "historicasl clone" idea, though.
