There are pistol caliber carbines, and then there are pistol caliber carbines that make a statement. GForce Arms has quietly built a reputation for offering capable, American-made firearms at prices that don't require selling your kidney, and their latest move keeps that tradition intact. The company is expanding its flagship JAWBONE PCC platform with two new .45 ACP barrel configurations: a compact 5-inch and a full-command 7-inch which are now shipping to authorized dealers nationwide. The JAWBONE already had fans in the 9mm world, so adding the big bore option was, in hindsight, inevitable.

The .45 ACP cartridge has been declared dead by trend-chasers roughly every five years since the 1980s, and it keeps showing up anyway, unbothered. GForce Arms isn't trying to reinvent the wheel here as they're putting a proven, 115-year-old caliber into a modern hybrid pistol platform and calling it a day. That's not a criticism; it's the point. The JAWBONE 45 ACP is designed for shooters who want the thump of a .45 without the constraints of a traditional handgun format, and at an MSRP of $599, the entry price is considerably more approachable than the competition.

One of the more practical decisions GForce made with the JAWBONE is the magazine compatibility. Rather than designing a proprietary feeding system that would leave owners hunting obscure magazines, the JAWBONE feeds from Glock G21/G30-compatible magazines. That's a deep and widely available ecosystem. Whether you're stocking up at a local gun store or ordering online at 11 p.m. because you remembered you're low, compatible magazines are not going to be the problem.

The JAWBONE 45 ACP ships with one KCI .45 ACP magazine included, which gets you started, though most owners will want to have a few extras on hand. The 7-inch barrel model is spec'd at 26+1 capacity, which is a meaningful amount of .45 ACP on tap for a platform of this size and price point. That kind of capacity in a home defense or training context starts to feel genuinely useful rather than just impressive on paper.

The construction leans on an aluminum alloy receiver paired with a 4140 steel barrel wearing a QPQ finish, a combination that balances weight management with durability. QPQ, for the uninitiated, is a surface hardening treatment that also offers solid corrosion resistance, which means this isn't just a range queen that wilts at the first sign of humidity. The overall length on the 7-inch configuration comes in at 23.25 inches, and the whole package weighs 5.6 pounds making it maneuverable enough to handle without requiring a CrossFit regimen.

Muzzle threading comes in at 5/8-24 UNEF, which opens the door for suppressor mounting or muzzle device attachment depending on your state's disposition toward such things. Speaking of which, GForce lists a lengthy set of restricted states which includes California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Washington, Colorado, Delaware, Oregon, and Vermont. With that list, buyers should confirm compliance with their local dealer before getting attached. The full-length Picatinny rail means optics and accessories can go on right out of the box, without adapters or creative problem-solving.

The JAWBONE ships fitted with the Ace of Brace paddle pistol brace, adding stability for home defense use, tactical training, or extended range sessions. The ambidextrous controls deserve a mention here such as the magazine release, charging handle, forend charge handle, and rear charging handle are all set up for left- or right-handed operation. It's the kind of feature that often gets buried in a spec sheet but makes a genuine difference in handling, especially for shooters who train across different positions or share the platform with someone who favors the other hand.

Trigger pull weight is rated at 4.5 pounds, plus or minus half a pound, which is a reasonable factory pull that should be workable for most applications without feeling mushy or dangerously light. Sights are not included, which is worth knowing before your first range trip. The Picatinny rail accommodates red dots and other optics cleanly, so that gap is easy enough to fill, but factor it into your budget. Every JAWBONE also comes with a 5-year limited warranty, which is a solid commitment for a firearm in this price range and signals GForce's confidence in the platform's long-term reliability.

Both the 5-inch and 7-inch .45 ACP JAWBONE configurations are now shipping to authorized dealers. The two barrel options give buyers a choice between something more compact and something with a bit more barrel for velocity and suppressor clearance — neither is a wrong answer, just different priorities. If you're in one of the listed restricted states, save yourself a trip and check first, the JAWBONE bites, but bureaucracy bites harder.