{"id":22093,"date":"2020-10-25T20:00:02","date_gmt":"2020-10-26T02:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunmagwarehouse.com\/blog\/?p=22093"},"modified":"2025-09-26T13:21:43","modified_gmt":"2025-09-26T18:21:43","slug":"masterpiece-arms-9mm-defender","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunmagwarehouse.com\/blog\/masterpiece-arms-9mm-defender\/","title":{"rendered":"Masterpiece Arms 9mm Defender (MPA 30) Pistol"},"content":{"rendered":"

In this article, we’ll be talking about the Masterpiece Arms 9mm Defender. First, however, we have to discuss the MAC 10 9mm.<\/p>\n

MAC 10 9mm \u2014 Predecessor of the MPA Defender Pistol<\/h2>\n

“The Guns that Made the 80’s Roar”<\/h3>\n

If you grew up watching action movies from the 70s, 80s, and 90s, you\u2019ve undoubtedly seen some variation of the MAC-10 machine pistol. Though it is commonly associated with gangs and cartels, it was used by some special troops and agents. However, the MAC-10 secured it’s strongest seat in Hollywood, wielded by legendary actors like John Wayne and Kurt Russell and used in iconic films like Scarface<\/em>.<\/p>\n

This article was originally published January 2020.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"John
John Wayne shooting the Mac 10 9mm in the 1974 film McQ<\/em>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Marta
Marta aims her MAC-10 on Tony in the 1983 film Scarface. Image source: imfdb.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"In
In the 1994 film Pulp Fiction<\/em>, Butch Coolidge (Bruce Willis) finds a suppressed MAC 10 9mm on his kitchen counter. Image source: imfdb.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Butch
Butch Coolidge with the suppressed MAC 10 9mm. Image source: imfdb.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Originally designed in the 1960s by Gordon Ingram, it was intended to be paired with a Sionics brand suppressor for commandos to use in clandestine operations.\u00a0 Its telescoping-bolt design and folding stock made for a weapon that was much more compact than the submachine guns of the era.<\/p>\n

\"Gordon
Gordon Ingram observes workers at the MAC plant. Image source: Small Arms Review.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Being a specialized weapon, and one that was restricted in commercial sales by the National Firearms Act, the MAC-10 and its subsequent variants (even the semiautomatic ones) never achieved widespread use.\u00a0 They, along with the TEC-9 and the Uzi, have been described as \u201cthe guns that made the 80s roar\u201d, and are often more associated with criminal gangs than they are Special Forces soldiers.\u00a0 The guns had spotty production by a variety of companies over the years (the Military Armament Corporation, Cobray, SWD, etc.), and sometimes suffered quality control issues.<\/p>\n

\"Dual<\/div>\n

Regulation Woes<\/h3>\n

The guns originally were available in .45ACP<\/a> and 9x19mm, with the .380 being added later.\u00a0 All of them were, originally, open bolt, blowback operated, select-fire machine pistols, made of stamped steel.\u00a0 Federal regulation repeatedly encroached on the already limited market these guns had; the Firearms Owners Protection Act of 1986 closed the NFA machine gun registry so that no new machine guns could be made legally transferrable between private citizens, and the 1994 Crime Bill (with its attached \u201cassault weapons\u201d ban) limited magazine capacities to 10 rounds.\u00a0 The entire MAC-10 family was almost legislated out of existence.<\/p>\n

\"Mac<\/div>\n
\"Early
Early RPB Industries MAC 10 9MM with 32 round magazine.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This changed around the turn of the century when Masterpiece Arms came onto the scene.\u00a0 They introduced closed bolt, semiautomatic, and legal MAC-style pistols.\u00a0 The .45ACP version used M3 Grease Gun magazines and was based on the MAC-10.\u00a0 The Mac 10 9mm used STEN gun magazines and was based on the Cobray M11\/9.<\/p>\n

Why STEN Magazines?<\/h3>\n

Some of you might be asking yourselves, \u201cSTEN magazines?\u00a0 What?\u201d\u00a0 Younger shooters might not remember the decade of the ill-conceived \u201cassault weapons ban\u201d.\u00a0 One of its provisions prohibited the sale of magazines holding more than ten rounds to anyone but government entities.\u00a0 The only ones that could legally be sold to ordinary private citizens were those manufactured before the law was enacted in September of 1994.\u00a0 These became known as \u201cpre-ban magazines\u201d, and given that the supply was limited, prices steadily climbed.\u00a0 In 1999, for example, a 13-round magazine for a Glock 21 would cost something like $110.\u00a0 A quality manufacture (Colt) 30-round AR-15\/M16 magazine could run $50 or more.\u00a0 Worse, affordable magazines were often junk.<\/p>\n

Surplus magazines for the British STEN submachine gun were, at the time, cheap and abundant. \u00a0You could buy them in bulk, most of them liquidated inventories from the Second World War.\u00a0 Nobody wants a MAC-style pistol that\u2019s limited to ten rounds, so Masterpiece Arms wisely decided to utilize ones that were readily available to the public.<\/p>\n

Then and Now<\/h3>\n

A lot has changed between then and now.\u00a0 The so-called assault weapons ban expired in 2004, and quality magazines are readily available for most firearms.\u00a0 STEN magazines are neither inexpensive nor abundant, surplus stocks having dried up.\u00a0 Masterpiece Arms primarily focuses on high-end precision rifles and chassis systems, but under their “Defender” line, they still make the MAC 10 9mm and MAC 10 5.7x28mm.<\/p>\n

MPA 30 (Masterpiece Arms 9mm Defender) Pistol Review<\/h2>\n

The variant I purchased is the MPA-30SST.\u00a0 It\u2019s a product-improved variant of the old Cobray M11\/9.\u00a0 It has a straight grip and utilizes STEN-type magazines.\u00a0 The charging handle has been moved from the top to the left side.\u00a0 A length of Picatinny rail is mounted to the top of the upper receiver and another, shorter bit is mounted to the underside of the lower in front of the trigger guard.\u00a0 It comes with a \u201csafety extension\u201d, a sort of faux-suppressor machined from solid aluminum.\u00a0 This can be removed, revealing a muzzle threaded at 1\/2×28.<\/p>\n

\"Masterpiece<\/a>
Masterpiece Arms MPA-30 SST “Defender” in 9x19mm.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"MPA-30
The MPA Defender safety extension can be removed, revealing a 1\/2 x 28 threaded muzzle.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The charging handle is on the left side of the upper receiver and doesn\u2019t reciprocate upon firing.\u00a0 It is similar in construction to that of the FAL rifle.<\/p>\n

\"The
The charging handle is reminiscent of the FN FAL rifle.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While the pistol is descended from the M11\/9, and through it the original MAC-10, I believe it to the finest iteration of the pistol ever produced.\u00a0 Masterpiece Arms\u2019 quality control is excellent, and the weapon has been modernized and improved in several ways.<\/p>\n

The most noticeable difference between this gun and an original is the improvement in the grip. The original had a stamped steel grip frame that was blocky and uncomfortable.\u00a0 The MPA-30 has a lower receiver machined from aluminum.\u00a0 This results in a significant weight reduction as well as improved ergonomics.<\/p>\n

The magazine release is a large paddle at the heel of the grip.\u00a0 Removing magazines is easy and can be done without breaking the firing grip.<\/p>\n

\"Masterpiece
The MPA Defender grip frame.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

More About Magazines<\/h3>\n

A note about magazines: as stated above, original STEN magazines are neither abundant nor inexpensive these days.\u00a0 For years, TAPCO manufactured plastic magazines that would work with either the STEN or the Masterpiece Arms pistol, as well as a magazine loader<\/a>.\u00a0 They seem to have discontinued production of these, though they can still be found on sites like Gun Broker and GunsAmerica.\u00a0 Masterpiece Arms still manufactures magazines and a magazine loader for the MPA 30 Defender Pistol, and they can be purchased from their website.\u00a0 I was able to stock up on magazines by hunting around online.<\/p>\n

\"MPA<\/a>
MPA 30 magazine.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

(If using a proprietary magazine is a deal-breaker for you, Masterpiece Arms also sells a variant of this pistol that uses Glock 17 magazines<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

\"TAPCO
TAPCO STEN magazine loader: a must-have.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The TAPCO brand magazines I purchased are robust but proved extremely difficult to load by hand.\u00a0 I purchased a magazine loader tool and would recommend it if you\u2019re interested in this kind of pistol.\u00a0 Without it, getting more than twenty rounds in the magazine was almost impossible.\u00a0 With it, loading them to a full thirty rounds was no trouble.<\/p>\n

\"TAPCO<\/a>
The magazine loader in action.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Performance<\/h3>\n

Ammo Matters<\/h4>\n

In my first outing with the MPA 30 Defender Pistol, I experienced numerous malfunctions with Remington UMC (green and white box) FMJ ammunition.\u00a0 For my next time out, I purchased Winchester white box 9x19mm NATO spec ammunition and the malfunctions ceased.\u00a0 NATO-spec 9mm runs a little hotter than SAAMI-spec, and sometimes a blowback weapon (especially one originally designed as a machine gun) needs a little more oomph<\/em> to reliably cycle.<\/p>\n

\"Winchester<\/a><\/div>\n

How Does it Shoot?<\/h4>\n

In my honest and subjective opinion, the Masterpiece Arms 9mm shoots about how I expected.\u00a0 I was pleased to discover that it didn\u2019t have the unpleasant trigger slap that semiauto MAC pistols have been known for.\u00a0 You can feel the bolt cycling in the trigger, but it\u2019s not a distraction. Also, the trigger comes with a rubber boot over it to cushion it further.<\/p>\n

\"MPA-30<\/div>\n

Heft<\/h4>\n

The Defender is a large pistol, large enough that it doesn\u2019t handle or point like a conventional handgun.\u00a0 Despite weighing almost four pounds the recoil is noticeable. Being blowback operated and originally intended to be full auto, it utilizes a big, heavy bolt, and all of that mass flipping back and forth can be felt by the shooter.<\/p>\n

\"MPA
The bolt is a substantial piece of steel.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sighting<\/h3>\n

The gun\u2019s metallic sights are also improved over the originals, at least in terms of firing the weapon like a pistol (vs. having a shoulder stock).\u00a0 The rear sight is a V-notch and the front sight is a steel post, protected by stout wings.\u00a0 Both are painted white for better visibility, and the sights proved serviceable, if not outstanding.<\/p>\n

Instead of relying on them, however, I decided to install a small red dot sight.\u00a0 The Sig Sauer Romeo-5 is small, lightweight, of decent quality, and has proved very durable in tests performed by various YouTubers.\u00a0 It can also be purchased for about $120, so it seemed like the perfect match for the MPA-30.\u00a0 I was not disappointed.<\/p>\n

\"The
The rear sight, adjustable for windage.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"The
The front sight, adjustable for elevation.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Stability<\/h4>\n

The MPA-30 is a hefty pistol and one that\u2019s more awkward to hold than a conventional semiautomatic handgun.\u00a0 It could definitely benefit from a single-point sling or an arm brace.\u00a0 If you wish to add either of these, there are threaded holes in the rear of the receiver that facilitates attaching them.\u00a0 Masterpiece Arms sells both a sling swivel attachment and a buffer tube adapter, which will allow you to install an arm brace designed for an AR-15-style pistol.\u00a0 Both of these items can be purchased from the MPA online store.<\/p>\n

\"MPA
The rear of the lower receiver has attachment points for various accessories.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

MPA 30 Defender Pistol Design<\/h3>\n

Owing to its ancestry, the MPA-30 is, mechanically, a very simple design.\u00a0 Removal of the front push pins (inner and outer) allows the upper receiver to slide off.\u00a0 The bolt and buffer come out as one piece.\u00a0 The barrel is fixed into the upper receiver.\u00a0 The gun is easy to field strip and only has a few parts.<\/p>\n

\"top<\/div>\n
\"Masterpiece<\/div>\n
\"Masterpiece-Arms-MPA30.<\/div>\n

Recommendations<\/h2>\n

Perhaps the most important question one could ask a firearms reviewer is, \u201cwould you recommend the Masterpiece Arms 9mm?\u201d\u00a0 In the case of the Masterpiece Arms MPA-30, my answer is yes, but with some caveats.\u00a0 If you want an M11-style pistol, the MPA line is the pinnacle of the design\u2019s development. Not since Gordon Ingram first dreamed up the MAC-10 in 1964 has such a high-quality example of the gun been produced.<\/p>\n

MPA Defender Utility<\/h3>\n

However, the legal requirements to sell this gun as a pistol place some limitations on the original design.\u00a0 Lacking the select-fire trigger group, it cannot be used as originally intended.\u00a0 Not having a shoulder stock somewhat inhibits good shooting, though this can probably be mitigated by using a taut single-point sling or an arm brace.\u00a0 As is, the Masterpiece Arms 9mm doesn\u2019t really do anything a conventional 9mm pistol can\u2019t, and there are certain roles it isn\u2019t suited for (carrying this weapon concealed is not practical, for instance).<\/p>\n

This is not to say that it couldn\u2019t be used to defend your home. Or that it couldn\u2019t find some utility as, perhaps, a truck gun.\u00a0 I just don\u2019t know that it would necessarily be better at these roles than other firearms. Also, if I had it to do again, I would perhaps consider the MPA-30-DMG model, the one which utilizes Glock magazines<\/a>. Glock magazines are ubiquitous these days and are readily available at gun stores and online.<\/p>\n

That all said, I love mine and don\u2019t regret purchasing it.\u00a0 It\u2019s cool-looking, it\u2019s different, and it\u2019s fun to shoot.\u00a0 Masterpiece Arms makes a good product.<\/p>\n

Learn more about the MPA Defender series pistols online: https:\/\/masterpiecearms.com\/cat\/defender-series\/pistols\/.<\/p>\n

\"Masterpiece<\/a><\/div>\n
\"MPA30
The Masterpiece Arms 9mm Defender. Not at all a purchase the author regrets.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Movies<\/div>\n

Movies from the 80s made many guns all but iconic.<\/p>\n

Masterpiece Arms 9mm Defender and Related Mac 10 9mm Imagery<\/h2>\n

Customer photos and pictures from various Masterpiece Arms social media platforms.\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\"MPA30<\/div>\n
\"MAC<\/div>\n
\"MAC<\/div>\n
\"MPA30<\/div>\n
\"MPA<\/div>\n
\"MPA<\/div>\n
\"MAC<\/div>\n
\"masterpiece<\/div>\n
\"MPA<\/div>\n

\"masterpiece
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