Sterling 9mm Semi-Auto Carbine

PA PATRIOT · #1 11-18-09, 02:18

Has anybody seen the Sterling 9mm Semi-Auto 9mm sporter built by Wiselite, have not seen many reviews but looks like a fun gun to shoot.

This is the Sterling Sporter carbine Semi Auto rifle chambered for 9mm. This is a Semi Auto replica built by Wiselite Arms, through CAI. Features new 16.25"inch barrel, a black crackle finish, ventilated barrel shroud, and a folding stock. Magazine holds 34rds.

Any Opinions?

PA PATRIOT · #2 11-18-09, 18:52

L-Bump!

No one owns or knows anything about these?

SteyrAUG · #3 11-18-09, 19:35

I was wondering about them myself.

RAM Engineer · #4 11-18-09, 20:44

I wanna buy one and make a Stormtrooper blaster out of it.

Outrider · #5 11-19-09, 03:47

You might want to check out UziTalk.com. That seems to be a place for Sterling fans to congregate. Wise Lite Arms, the manufacturer, posts over there. It might be worth seeing what issues and questions people are raising and what his responses are.

Good luck

Caeser25 · #6 11-19-09, 22:03

They look like a neat little piece of history.

Luckystiff · #7 11-20-09, 03:24

I remember seeing the Sterlings at the gun shows back in the 1980's. I was very glad to see them come back into production. I got my fingers crossed that they are being made right. Neat guns on full-auto and semi.

PA PATRIOT · #8 11-22-09, 13:15

Took the plunge and picked one up, had a choice out of several Sterlings on the rack and selected the one which had the best trigger and the strongest bolt return spring. All looked in excellent/new condition and came with two magazines but the manual is very marginal at best so INTERNET help with disassembly will be needed. The only thing I didn't like was when they refinished the gun they went right over the front post sight and rear ghost ring with a black crinkle type finish which made the front post too thick and clogged the rear ghost ring a bit. I striped the front post and refinished it in white and then used a thin nail and gently rotated it in the rear ghost ring until it was back to full diameter, now the sight picture is clear and crisp and on check was straight and level. With help from a u-tube video I disassembled the Sterling which is pretty easy and inspected the springs and bolt carrier, all the springs appeared brand new with no rust or pitting, the bolt also appeared brand new so I suspect that this bolt is a un-used/un-issued part and not a strip down. Inside the main receiver tube I did see some weld marks which were buffed down nicely and appeared solid and the barrel is claimed to be of new manufacture which it appears so. After wiping everything down and re-lubing reassembly was reasonably easy and the folding stock locked back and forward with ease. When loading the magazines it is recommended to down load them for the first few hundred rounds by two rounds until the springs break in. I started my first range trip at 25yds using Federal Classic 115gr H/P's (BP9) and I had a fail to feed on the first three rounds I attempted to fire. The fourth round fed fine and fired and the next ten rounds fired hitting centered height wise but just a hair right, a minor adjustment and I was hitting "X" ring firing about one inch groups of ten shots at 25yds. I re-loaded that same magazine that had the feeding problem five more times and used it without problem. Overall I like this Sterling with my only complaint being that its cycle time (Bolt Speed) seems a hair slow retarding the rate of fire a bit. Now the Sterling is a blow-back type of action but so is my Kel-tec Sub-2000 and Hi-Point carbines and they both cycle faster. I'M thinking this gun may need +P or Carbine pressure 9mm to get the full benefit of this heavy spring-ed action. I will be shooting it at 50yds/100yds today using +P and some Uzi carbine ammo and will report back later.

TOrrock · #9 11-22-09, 13:27

If that thing is firing from an open bolt you need to send it back the the mfg. as soon as possible, as there's something wrong and unsafe.

They are re-engineered to fire from a closed bolt. BATF does not allow open bolt semi autos anymore.

The original sub gun that those are built off of fires from an open bolt, but the semi autos are all closed bolt.

geminidglocker · #10 11-22-09, 13:45

OPEN BOLT?????????? Do you mean that you got a real Sterling with a tax stamp?

PA PATRIOT · #11 11-22-09, 20:31

Templar,

Its a semi-auto and your right that its fires from a closed bolt, my bolt was hanging on the magazine and would clear and chamber a round when the trigger pull was started. I'm not sure what caused this but the bolt closes normally now. I may have been short cycling the action were the top seated round had enough pressure to stop the bolt or the magazine was a hair long in the action. I'M also wondering if I may have re-assembled the gun incorrectly after the first cleaning or maybe the gun is still a bit tight and dry because I'M not sure of all the lube points yet as I had stated the manual sucks and I know nothing about this build of firearm. Any how shes good to go now with the bolt fully closing on its own. I still may call Wiselite to see if I can get a better manual or some advice on the break down and re-assembly of this gun.

Geminidglocker,

I wish, what I have is a plain Sterling Sporter Carbine Semi Auto rifle chambered for 9mm. This is a Semi Auto replica built by Wiselite Arms, through CAI. Features a new 16.25"inch barrel, black crackle finish, ventilated barrel shroud, and a folding stock. Magazine holds 34rds.

Heres the link,
http://www.centuryarms.biz/proddetai...rod=RI1582%2DX

TOrrock · #12 11-22-09, 20:43

Lube points should be the FCG and a light coat of oil on the bolt and recoil spring.

Here's a member of the site getting some trigger time on my Andrewski Mk.4 Sterling at a Vickers class this year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NWxT...eature=related

PA PATRIOT · #13 11-22-09, 21:04

I could only wish to be able to afford something like that, the semi-auto version sells for $550.00 out the door with two magazines but I think its priced a little high for only being a 9mm carbine made from spare parts, a re-manufactured receiver and a lite sporter weight barrel. Not sure if 10 or 15 years down the road on could get spare parts like springs, firing pin or extractors so I may try to find a few spares just in case.

MPi-KMS-72 · #14 11-23-09, 13:02

That would make a cool SBR- I just can't get past that L O N G barrel to me they are annoying.

geminidglocker · #15 11-23-09, 13:05

Yes, I agree, a nice SBR indeed.

iwouldntknow · #16 09-14-10, 23:12

Has any one else gotten one? Does anyone else have anything to add? I'm looking at buying one from J&G for 400 bucks. I can't find a whole lot online about them, except the first ones had some issues that seem to have been mainly taken care of in later versions.

jamaicanj · #17 09-18-10, 09:17

Tagged for followup.

iwouldntknow · #18 09-26-10, 01:14

I finally got to pick it up at the fun store today. 500+ rounds later I had to stop myself because I had just about shot all my ammo.

Overall, I love it and would buy again.
BUT the front site is too tall(it shoots low) and I had some issues with it heating up and failing to fire. It would click, click, click, bang when I was pulling the trigger. I have no clue whats happening. I may try contacting Wiselite for more info.