Estimated reading time: 11 minutes
Quick Verdict: Flat-Shooting 9mm With Real-World Control
If you want a compact 9mm that shoots flatter than most pistols out of the box, try the Archon Type B Gen 2. It is not perfect. The trigger needs reps and rounds to break in, and the grip angle will not fit every shooter instinctively. Still, it is one of the most pleasantly predictable pistols I have run hard.
Table of contents
- Quick Verdict: Flat-Shooting 9mm With Real-World Control
- Full Range Video: Archon Type B Gen 2 in Action
- AF Speedlock + Low Bore Axis: Why This 9mm Shoots So Flat
- Controls & Ergonomics Tuned for Fast Splits
- Trigger Feel & Horizontal Sear: What You’ll Notice
- Stage Recoil System: Flat, Fast, No Comp Needed
- Sights & Optics: Glock Dovetail, RMR Footprints
- Accuracy & Handling: Watch the Dot Snap Back
- Reliability: 700 Rounds, Suppressed, Zero Hiccups
- Holsters & Accessories: Carry to Competition
- What I Don’t Like: Grip Angle & Out-of-Box Trigger
- Who It’s For: Carry, Range, and Weekend Matches
- Archon Type B Gen 2 Specs
- Bottom Line: Low Bore Axis, Low Drama
- Pros and Cons
- Related Reads from GunsAmerica Digest
Full Range Video: Archon Type B Gen 2 in Action
AF Speedlock + Low Bore Axis: Why This 9mm Shoots So Flat
The Type B Gen 2 uses Archon’s AF Speedlock system. The barrel moves linearly a short distance as the slide cycles. It does not tip like a Browning linked-barrel design. This linear barrel movement keeps the bore almost continuously in line with your hand. The result is a very low height over bore. You get less muzzle rise and more consistent feeding. The magazines sit higher and feed straight into the barrel, requiring almost no ramp geometry.
This reduces friction on the cartridge, improving reliability and accuracy. This is not theoretical. With about 700 rounds through the pistol, including suppressed runs, the platform never hiccupped on a wide range of ammunition. Cheap Winchester White Box ran. Federal ran. Old ammo ran. I switched over to a threaded barrel and ran suppressed without issues as well. Threaded barrels are sold separately.
Controls & Ergonomics Tuned for Fast Splits
Archon built the Type B for fast work. The beavertail is pronounced, extended, and allows your hand to ride high. Your hand sits up under the slide without risking slide bite. The grip texture is aggressive enough to control recoil and split times in practical drills, even in hot or sweaty conditions, but not so aggressive that it chews or chafes in holsters.
You get four interchangeable backstraps. The compact configuration ships with a 15+1 capacity magazine similar to a Glock 19 footprint. Remove the spacer and change the backstrap, and the pistol accepts a 17+1 style magazine. The mag release is fully reversible. The slide release sits on the left side only.
The grip angle sits closer to a Glock than a 1911. If you’re used to a 2011 or 1911 grip angle, you will need a short transition period. Most shooters adapt quickly. Archon has already done the backstraps thing, and I wish that they allowed you to control the grip angle as well. In my opinion, it would be an almost perfect gun if it had a 1911 grip angle.
Trigger Feel & Horizontal Sear: What You’ll Notice
The Type B uses a horizontal sear and a tactile short-reset trigger. The factory pull initially felt a bit mushy. After several hundred rounds, the pull smoothed noticeably. Measured pulls averaged about 5 lb 3.5 oz across multiple attempts. The unit has built-in passive safeties typical of striker-fired pistols, along with a functioning firing pin safety. It is drop safe.
The horizontal sear keeps the trigger stack compact and places the sear geometry higher in the frame. That ties into the low-bore axis and the compact hand position. The net effect is a crisp reset, even if the initial take-up feels soft.
Stage Recoil System: Flat, Fast, No Comp Needed
Archon uses a three-stage progressive recoil spring. The progressive design holds tension through the cycle to avoid mid-cycle weakness. This feature smooths the slide movement and contributes to flatter recoil impulses. In practice, the system works well. The pistol manages recoil like a compensated gun, even without a compensator installed. That saves weight and maintains concealability.
Read Another Review of the Archon Type B
Sights & Optics: Glock Dovetail, RMR Footprints
The factory front sight is a steel unit with a red fiber optic insert. The rear is serrated and dovetailed to accept standard Glock-style sights. That’s a big deal since there are tons of aftermarket options for Glock sights.
There are currently three different options available for red dots: RMR, RMRc, and ACRO. There are no plates; you order the pistol with the red dot footprint that you want.
I mounted a C&H Precision COMP red dot sight because it’s tough, and I love the large window. It’s one of my favorite red dot sights, and it doesn’t break the bank. It uses the RMR footprint.
The ejection port on the Archon also helped keep optic glass clean.
Accuracy & Handling: Watch the Dot Snap Back
Out of the box, the Type B Gen 2 proved very accurate for a flat shooting 9mm pistol. I shot multiple one-hole groups that I didn’t think the ammo was capable of, but in the Archon, they really shot.
The straight feed path from the magazine into the chamber might be making a difference in the accuracy. Due to the lack of recoil, I could watch the dot return to the target and keep hitting with fast follow-ups. Slow fire groups and practical drill work both showed above-average performance compared to a similar striker-fired handgun.
The beavertail and low bore axis place your hand in the optimal position. That improves recoil control and reduces muzzle flip. The magwell has a small funnel built in. Reloads from a table or standing reloads are fast and predictable without adding bulk to the grip.
Reliability: 700 Rounds, Suppressed, Zero Hiccups
I ran a mix of bullet weights and brands. I ran suppressed and unsuppressed. Also, I ran it with a Streamlight TLR-1 with no issues. There were no failures to feed, fire, or eject through the test sample and ammo used. The magazine’s design keeps the rounds high and aligns them with the low barrel. I believe that simplifies feeding and contributes to the reliability.
Holsters & Accessories: Carry to Competition
Holsters are available. I ran the pistol in two different Blackpoint holsters. For concealed carry, I used the Blackpoint F03, and for open carry, I used the Blackpoint Standard OWB which allows the use of a Streamlight TLR-1 light. The holsters and gun both performed as expected. I was surprised at how comfortably I could carry the Blackpoint IWB with the Archon.
The Type B accepts common Glock-compatible sights and many aftermarket parts. Archon sells parts and mags through their U.S. website. The pistol ships with a soft case with multiple pouches and mag holders.
What I Don’t Like: Grip Angle & Out-of-Box Trigger
If you prefer 1911 or 2011 ergonomics, which I do, the Type B will require some practice to get it to present naturally due to the grip angle. The trigger is good but not class-leading. It improves with use and shooting. Given the price point relative to a Glock 19 or Glock 17, some buyers may expect a slightly better factory trigger. It’s not bad, and I’d even say above average for most pistols I shoot.
Also, there are claims online that the pistol accepts CZ75 magazines. They will fit in the gun, but don’t present the cartridge as high or line it up as well with the barrel. I wouldn’t count on them being reliable.
Who It’s For: Carry, Range, and Weekend Matches
Buy this if you want a compact 9mm that behaves like a gentleman and shoots extremely flat. Due to the ability to swap grip and magazine combinations, it will work great for concealed carry, open carry, or any other type of carry. I think it could be very competitive as a competition gun on weekends and a daily carry on weekdays. I was impressed with how well it ran with a suppressor. It does everything quite well.
If I wasn’t already so invested in guns that point like 1911’s I’d consider switching over to this platform completely and getting rid of all of my other pistols.
Archon Type B Gen 2 Specs
- Model: Type B Gen 2
- Caliber: 9×19
- Action: Striker-fired
- Barrel: 4.3 in, 6 grooves, 1:10 RH twist, 45° crown, nitride finish
- Frame: Steel, nitride finish
- Slide: Steel, nitride finish
- Locking system: AF Speedlock
- Trigger: Tactile, short reset
- Magazines: 16 RDS and 19 RDS options (compact ships 15+1 style)
- Weight: 29.6 oz unloaded
- Length: 7.7 in
- Height: 5.2 in
- Width: 1.4 in
- Sight radius: 6.5 in
- MSRP: $999
Bottom Line: Low Bore Axis, Low Drama
Archon engineered a pistol that reduces muzzle rise by lowering the bore axis and rethinking the locking and recoil systems. The Type B Gen 2 is fast, reliable, and accurate with a few minor compromises. It will not disappoint shooters who value flat recoil and fast splits.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: Very low bore axis; flat shooting feel; fast dot return; reliable with varied ammo; strong recoil control for a compact 9mm; good sight and optic options.
- Cons: Grip angle may require retraining for 1911 shooters; trigger starts a bit mushy; price may set expectations for a crisper stock trigger.
Related Reads from GunsAmerica Digest
- Still Champion: Glock 19 Gen5 MOS
- Archon Gen 2 Type B Pistol Review
- Striker-Fired Magic from Archon Firearms
- Stoeger STR-9F Review: Low Bore Axis Budget 9mm
- Alien Remus: Lowest Bore Axis Feel
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As the Editor-in-Chief of GunsAmerica, Hunt365, Decoding Darkness, and Suppressor Academy, True Pearce brings a rare blend of legal expertise, competitive shooting credentials, and deep hunting knowledge to the forefront of the firearms world. A former professional sponsored 3-Gun and Multigun competitor with multiple championships and titles, True’s shooting career began in long-range and tactical sniper matches—and he still burns powder in precision competitions, now branching into Hunter NRL.
A certified firearms instructor who has trained over 10,000 students face-to-face, True has also served on both sides of the courtroom as an attorney and currently as an elected Prosecuting Attorney. He has prosecuted and defended high-profile self-defense and firearms cases, giving him a unique, real-world perspective on the Second Amendment.
Outside the courtroom and off the range, True is a true western outdoorsman. A lifelong hunter and rancher, he rides and hunts off his own string of horses and pack animals, chasing elk, mule deer, wolves, coyotes, and anything else in season. He’s a longtime reloader, producing both precision rifle ammo and, back in the day, handloading over 40,000 rounds of 9mm and 5.56 annually for competition.
He’s also a thermal and night vision expert, known for his obsession with high-end optics, and is rarely found without a camera or a guitar nearby. Whether he’s glassing a distant ridge, reviewing cutting-edge gear, or deep in legal research, True brings passion, precision, and grit to everything he does.
Experience:
– Professional Shooter – Sponsored 3-Gun & Multigun competitor with multiple titles and a foundation in long-range and sniper/tactical matches.– Firearms Instructor – Certified instructor with over 10,000 students trained face-to-face.– Elected Prosecuting Attorney – Attorney with real-world experience defending and prosecuting self-defense and gun-related cases.– Hunter & Rancher – Horseback hunter with a working ranch, passionate about elk, deer, predator, and backcountry hunting.– Reloading & Ballistics Expert – Precision reloader and former high-volume competition handloader.– Optics Authority – Known for his deep knowledge and unrelenting standards in optics, thermal, and night vision gear.– Outdoor Creative – Avid photographer, guitar player, and outdoorsman with a sharp eye for gear and storytelling.– 2A Advocate – Committed to protecting the Second Amendment and educating Americans about their rights and responsibilities.
$1,000 starting price
I’ll put my little Smith & Wesson M&P 9 up against any gun out there as an EDC!
Anybody wants to care to go back and look at the article on YouTube by Hitchcock 45 where he ran every piece of crap ammo that he could find through that pistol and never had a hiccup and it was @ pretty good speed which I don’t understand why we need a high-speed pistol!
Usually that means people can’t shoot worth a damn so they just spray bullets!
You should have shot it against a Roth-Steyr– pref, the M1907– that would be very interesting with the age gap.
“Estimated reading time: 11 minutes”
PLUS ANOTHER 3 MINUTES to answer the most basic question that anyone looking at this article would wonder…HOW MUCH DOES THIS PISTOL COST????
This is another article that fails to answer the most basic fact of the pistol. The article even references the price of the pistol as if we already know it, “Given the price point relative to a Glock 19 or Glock 17, some buyers may expect….”.
The last time this happened was that article we got sucked into reading about an $8000 thermal optic. More and more of GOA articles are wasting my time and I’m growing skeptical of even opening them.