Mossberg MC1sc In-Depth Review w/ Video

Mossberg surprised most of us earlier this year when they announced that they were releasing their first handgun in roughly a century. I covered the story when it first broke. I got our hands on it at the Shot Show. And now that I have one in my hands, I’ve provided you this review of the Mossberg MC1SC.

First off, why would Mossberg want to release a single-stack 9mm subcompact pistol? Some would say that the market is flooded with comparable guns. Speaking with Peter Boruchowski at the Mossberg booth at this past shot show, he explained why. Mossberg is known for shotguns. But shotguns are just a small segment of firearm sales. They wanted to tap into a larger segment. Handguns. Which brings us to the Mossberg MC1sc.

Mossberg MC1sc Overview

The Mossberg MC1sc is a single-stack subcompact 9mm pistol designed from the group up for concealed carry. At first glance, it does look a little different than some of the other single-stack pistols it is competing with. The first thing you’ll notice is the grip texture. Instead of having a texture around the whole grip, it has an upper section that wraps around the back and a lower section that wraps around the front. So you wind up having grip texture where middle and ring finger wraps around the grip. You also have grip texture in the palm of your hand but not on you purlicue (between your thumb and index.)

The second thing you will notice is the serrations on the front and back of the slide. Mossberg is calling them their “signature multi-angle slide serrations for positive slide manipulation.” While shooting and handling the MC1sc, I didn’t notice any issues coming over the top and racking the slide instead of hitting the slide release. But I do notice that my fingers can tend to slip on the front slide serrations when trying to do a press check when they are slippery. While it is better than having no serrations on the front compared to my Glock 43, the serrations on the new Beretta APX Carry (review coming soon) seem to catch your fingers a lot better even though they are much larger.

Before I get further into this review, here are the specifications and features of the Mossberg MC1sc.

Mossberg MC1sc Specifications & Features

Mossberg MC1sc Comparisons

As you can see from the comparisons above, the Mossberg MC1sc falls right in line with the rest of its competition other than the Sig P365 which squeezes in a few more rounds than the others. I didn’t have one on hand to compare to the Mossberg MC1sc, so I’ve left it out of the comparisons.

Mossberg MC1sc Review Breakdown

For this review, I’m going to use Col Ben’s ten criteria and factors for evaluating any handgun. If you have read any of his many reviews here on USA Carry, you should be very familiar with them. My only change is that I’m using a 1 to 5 star rating system.

1. Accuracy and Reliability:  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I didn’t have any problems shooting the MC1sc. Some people don’t like shooting these small pistols, but I don’t mind them as much as something smaller like my Ruger LCP (which I can’t remember the last time I shot.) While they aren’t as nice as having a full grip as I do on my Glock 19, I’m able to get enough of a grip to shoot them comfortably.

The first day at the range with the MC1sc, I shot about 250 rounds of different types of ammo, which I will list below. And if it wasn’t for the heat on that day, I could have stuck around and shot more. It shot every type of ammo I ran through it flawlessly. I didn’t have a single malfunction. Not that I was expecting a failure, but you never know with a new gun. Especially from a company that hasn’t made a pistol in 100 years.

Ammo Used for this Mossberg MC1sc Review:

I would like to thanks Sig Sauer and Federal Premium for being ammo sponsors and sending me a variety of ammo to shoot in these reviews. 

• Fiocchi 115 Grain FMJ
• Federal Syntech Training Match 124 Grain
• Remington UMC 115 Grain FMJ
• Winchester White Box 115 Grain FMJ
• Sig 365 115 Grain  FMJ Elite Ball Ammo
• Sig 365 115 Grain V-Crown JHP
• Federal Premium 124 Grain HST JHP
• Speed 124 Grain +P Gold Dot

As far as the accuracy of the Mossberg MC1sc, I would have to say it is spot on and more accurate than I am. As you can see in the video, my steel target has hits all over it. There were times when I was trying to run the gun as fast as possible and not focusing on accuracy but still keeping most of the hits on target. The farthest back I shot was 25 yards and was still able to keep it on target. Although the hostage shots from that distance were difficult. If I had to compare it to another pistol, I would say it is just as accurate as my Glock 43 which I’ve shot a lot over the past year since that is one of my daily carry pistols.

2. Trigger Press: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

After putting roughly 350 rounds though the Mossberg MC1sc, my Layman Trigger Pull Gauge gave me an average of 4 lbs. 9oz. after ten reading. Comparing that to my Glock 43, which just gave me a reading of 5lb 13oz. after ten readings. While numbers don’t lie, when I Was at the range the second time shooting the MC1sc and G43 back and forth, I really couldn’t tell the difference. And neither could a friend of mine that was at the range with me. The trigger pull weight on the MC1sc, and Glock 43 felt very similar.

3. Trigger: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When I first tried the trigger on the Mossberg MC1sc at the Shot Show, I was pleasantly surprised. I’m not used to a flat trigger, but I liked the feel of it. Testing the trigger’s pull weight, wall, release, and reset felt a lot like my Glock 43, which I like personally. I think we can sometimes focus too much on things like trigger reset, but this is a gun review, and I have to mention it.

4. Barrel Length: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

As far as barrel length goes, the MC1sc is on par with the rest of the pistols in its class. It has a  3.4” barrel with a Diamond-Like Carbon Coating. I would rather have a longer slide with the same size grip, but as far as I know, there are no pistols on the market like that currently. But I am tempted to covert my 43 into a 43L, but that’s for another article. But obviously, it does make it a very compact and concealable handgun which is great for the summer months like these. Depending on the type of pockets in the pants or shorts you are wearing, you could fit the MC1sc in your pocket. Just make sure you are using a pocket holster. I very rarely carry a gun in my pocket, but that is a personal preference.

5. Sights: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The sights on the model I tested are Mossberg’s Snag-free Dovetail White 3-Dot. The sight radius is 133.7 mm or 5.27”. The white dots are large and easy to pick up when aiming. If you are looking for night sights, there is a model with Truglo Tritium PRO Sights, but that will add about another $100 to the price of the gun. But the sights are Sig #8 compatible, so you can find many different aftermarket sights to swap the standard 3-dot sights with if you wish. You can always replace the sights yourself or have a gunsmith do it.

The one thing I don’t like about the 3-dot sights is the snag-free part of the rear sight. Being that they are sloped down, if you needed to, you couldn’t rack the slide against a hard surface or your pants. I’ve never had to do this and hope I never will. But having the ability to do so is a plus in my book. Being that my pistol is always in a kydex holster, the snag-free feature doesn’t do much for me.

6. Proper Gun Weight: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The weight of the Mossberg MC1sc unloaded comes in at 19 oz. which lands it about the middle of the pistols we compared it to. But compared to the Glock 43, which is roughly 1 oz. lighter, I don’t notice the difference. And I don’t think you will either. I think the weight of it feels good when shooting it. Not too light. Not too heavy. There’s not much else I can say about the weight.

7. Caliber: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Mossberg MC1sc is chambered in the popular 9mm caliber. Some of you will like that. Some of you won’t. I prefer 9mm in anything I am carrying. They don’t make the Mossberg MC1sc is any other caliber at the moment so if you are looking for a subcompact single-stack pistol chambered in .45 ACP or some other caliber, you will have to look elsewhere.

8. Capacity: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I think where some people may look down on the MC1sc is the capacity. Ever since Sig came out with their P365, it made the rest of the pistols in its class look bad. But I think having six rounds in the mag and 1 in the chamber is sufficient. If I’m looking to carry more rounds, then I’ll strap on my Glock 19. But if I’m going for a bit more concealability, then seven rounds is acceptable to me. And most of the time I have a spare mag on me which gives me a total of 13 rounds. And since it does accept Glock 43 magazines, you always have the option of getting an extended magazine. I saw some aftermarket options available, but I haven’t used any so I cannot comment on them. I would leave the gun as it is, small and compact.

9. Ergonomics: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

While I can start by saying, “It feels good in the hand,” that probably doesn’t mean much to you. Everyone had different hand sizes and preferences. But what I can do is compare it to what I am used to shooting, which is the Glock 43. And when doing so, there are a few things that stick out.

MC1sc Grip Texture

First, which is most apparent is the grip texture. Instead of the same texturing on the front, back and sides, you have one section that starts on the side of the grip and wraps about the back. And then you have another section that starts lower on the grip and wraps around the grip. In between those grip texture sections you have the smooth polymer finish like the rest of the frame. Both sections on the side have textures that are pretty aggressive compared to the Glock 43.

On the front and rear of the grip, you have a different texture that is more like oval inset pockets with vertical bars across them, which seems to press into your skin and help the pistol stay put. In my testing, it was very hot and sweaty, but I had no issues with the pistol moving around in my hand. Neither texture was too aggressive, and I found them comfortable. But different than the Glock 43 grip texture that I am used to.

Pinky Dangle…

The second thing I noticed is that even though the Mossberg MC1sc and Glock 43 have the same heigh (4.25”), I can get just a little bit more of my pinky around the bottom of the grip on the Glock 43. It seems that the Glock 43 has a bit more of an undercut underneath the trigger guard which allows you to fit just a bit more of your fingers around the grip than the MC1sc. Now that doesn’t make a huge difference since my support hand is wrapping around my strong hand (and pinky) and pulling everything together. But I do feel like my grip feels better on my Glock 43. The pinky, though small, is strong and an essential part of your grip on the gun. You watch John Correia discuss this in his video here.

Where to Put My Thumb?

Lastly, there’s a channel on the frame that seems to direct your thumb down below the slide stop lever. I tried resting my thumb down that channel, but it was not comfortable for me at all, so I wound up riding the slide stop lever causing the slide to not lock to the rear on an empty mag at times. This is something that can be fixed with training and shooting more, but I just wasn’t used to it.

10. Miscellaneous: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

One thing I didn’t mind is the packaging. While some pistols come in a nice hard plastic case or a zippered nylon pouch, the Mossberg MC1sc comes in a cardboard box. The gun is held to another piece of cardboard tightly with clear plastic. And then you have the usual manual and gun lock. I assume this is a way to keep the costs down and I like it. My guns are either on me or in a safe. All of those fancy plastic gun cases are stored in my attic in case I ever sell the gun. I don’t use them to transport the guns back and forth to the range. That’s what my range bag is for. So I am all for the simple cardboard box.

Total Point: 44 ⭐️out of 50 possible.

Conclusion

So what do I think of the Mossberg MC1sc? If I didn’t already have a Glock 43 and was in the market for a subcompact single-stack 9mm, I would be hard-pressed to choose this over the Glock 43 or one of the other pistols in its class. As I mentioned, I had zero malfunctions. It ate every type of ammo I fed it. And the main thing that stands out to me is the price. You can pick up a Mossberg MC1sc right now from Palmetto State Armory for $299. That’s $150 less than the Glock 43. Not a bad deal at all. I think Mossberg did their homework and brought a great pistol to what some would say is an oversaturated market.

And since the name of the gun has the lowercase “sc,” we can only assume this stands for subcompact. So depending on the success of the MC1sc, will we see a Mossberg MC1c (compact) in the future to go head to head against the Glock 43x and 48? Only time will tell.