Just got our hands on the brand new CMMG Dissent, a 16-inch 9mm carbine that really stands out with its looks. From the color to the milling on the receiver, this gun has a cool vibe right out of the box. CMMG sent this over for us to check out, and rest assured, our opinion won’t be swayed – you’ll see everything that happens with this gun today, no matter what.

The Dissent is CMMG’s latest take on their carbine, and they’ve packed it with some neat features that make it more than just another 9mm AR. They’ve actually put some thought into innovation here, which is always a good sign.

A Closer Look At The Dissent

Starting at the top, we’ve got an included muzzle brake. Now, for a 9mm, you might not strictly need it, and you could swap it out for a suppressor. But if you’re just shooting outdoors, it’s fine. For home defense, you might want to take it off.

The handguard is a full M-LOK setup, giving you plenty of room for accessories. We threw on a BCM vertical grip, and it fit right on.

One of the standout features is the side charging handle. If you’re not a fan of the traditional AR charging handle, this is a much better system in my opinion. It’s super smooth and easy to use.

The receiver itself has some nice milling, and the controls are competition-style. The trigger is particularly impressive, with a really quick reset that you’ll see in action soon. It’s got a 45-degree ambi safety, a CMMG grip that feels good, and a stock that reminds me a bit of an SCAR stock, but it actually looks good. This stock folds and retracts, allowing for adjustable length of pull, which is pretty handy.

How Does It Shoot? The Radial Delayed Blowback System

This gun runs on a radial delayed blowback system. The idea is that it should have less recoil than a standard blowback 9mm. We’re about to find out if that’s true.

Key Takeaways

• Low Recoil: The radial delayed blowback system significantly reduces felt recoil, making it very pleasant to shoot.
• Impressive Trigger: The trigger is light with a quick reset, comparable to high-end competition triggers.
• Ambidextrous Controls: Features like the 45-degree safety and side charging handle are user-friendly.
• Adjustable & Folding Stock: The stock offers a wide range of adjustment and folds for easier storage or transport.
• Glock Magazine Compatibility: Uses readily available Glock magazines, which is a big plus for many shooters.
• Reliability: Handled various ammo types and standard Glock magazines without issues.

Hitting The Range

Right off the bat, the trigger is incredibly light – better than many triggers I’ve felt on much more expensive PCCs. It’s almost too good, making it a little hard to get used to at first.

The stock, even when fully retracted, felt a bit long for me, which is saying something. So, CMMG has definitely made this for people of average to larger builds.

After a couple of mags, it’s clear this gun is easy to shoot. The brake helps, but honestly, the recoil is so low it’s almost ridiculous. The action is super smooth, and the charging handle is a breeze to use.

That radial delayed system really does feel similar to an MP5 system in terms of results – very little recoil, especially for a carbine that can fold. The adjustable stock has a good range, making it adaptable for different shooters. And the folding feature is great for getting it in and out of vehicles.

But the real star of the show is the recoil management. It’s just insane how little this thing kicks. Everything feels like an AR – the controls are intuitive, which is a big win. The only real downside is the weight; at 6.6 pounds, it can be a bit challenging to hold steady for unsupported shots at smaller targets. Still, it’s a really fun gun.

Accuracy Testing At 75 Yards

We took it out to 75 yards, which is a good distance for most 9mm PCCs. While you can push them further, 75 yards gives us a solid accuracy test.

As you can see, it performs well. The recoil is so minimal, it’s really impressive. We ran through some drills: a single shot, some 2-2-2 drills (two shots on one target, two on another, two on a third), and a build drill. The times were solid, especially considering we were just getting warmed up with the gun.

First Impressions: The Verdict

My first impressions of the CMMG Dissent are extremely positive. I honestly didn’t expect to like it this much. We put about 300 rounds through it today, and it ran flawlessly.

The brake is effective, but the radial delayed system is even more so. My previous experience with CMMG’s radial system was on a shorter pistol, so I didn’t get the full effect. But on this 16-inch carbine, I was really impressed.

This Dissent is built for American-style shooting – home defense, range time. It shoots like a dream under normal conditions. While it doesn’t have an ejection port cover, it takes Glock magazines, which is a huge plus. The magazine release is slick, and the trigger is genuinely impressive – as good as, if not better than, a JP5 or an MPX competition trigger.

This gun might actually be better than an MPX competition, which is tough to admit since I like that gun a lot. It has that adjustable, folding stock, and likely the least recoil of any bufferless system I’ve tried. The stock is very adjustable, the butt pad is comfortable, and the grip angle is fine.

Using Glock mags is awesome. It’s often hard for Glock mag carbines to run reliably, but CMMG seems to have nailed it. They’ve also done a great job with the magazine release, making it feel just like a standard rifle magazine release.

The rail is comfortable, and the charging handle and action are surprisingly slick for a bufferless system.

The main things I’d point out are the forward weight – it’s a bit top-heavy with mass on the front of the rail and the brake. Also, the price. While the CMMG Banshee is around $1,000-$1,200, the Dissent is closer to $2,200. That’s a significant jump, but you do get more for your money. If you’re looking for a competitor to the MPX or JP5, this is definitely a contender.

On the plus side, the 16-inch barrel gives you more velocity for 9mm, which helps with penetration and expansion, though you’re past the point of maximum velocity gain. The main reason for the 16-inch barrel is legal – no NFA hassle. It’s great to have a 9mm carbine you can just take out and have fun with, and it serves as a great training tool for your AR. The low recoil, affordable ammo, and Glock mag compatibility make it a fantastic companion, especially if you already own a Glock.

Overall, I’m much more impressed with this than I expected. It’s a very cool design, shoots incredibly well, and has been reliable through 300 rounds with different ammo types and standard Glock magazines. The only real knocks are the front weight and the price. But if you’re in the market for a high-performance 9mm carbine, the CMMG Dissent is definitely worth considering.