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ZEV Firearms Buying Guide

Everything you need to know about the ZEV x Magpul FDP, the folding 9mm that runs on Glock magazines: SBR vs. pistol, specs, our exclusive threaded barrel version, how to suppress it, and how the Form 4 works.

What Is the ZEV x Magpul FDP?

ZEV Technologies got its start building the first drop-in replacement triggers for Glock pistols, and today it builds its own pistols and rifles. The Folding Defensive Platform (FDP) is ZEV's collaboration with Magpul: a 9mm that folds into a flat rectangle about 11 in. long for storage and unfolds to about 20 in. when you need it.

Under the folding shell, the FDP's action is built like a Glock-pattern pistol. It has a 7.05 in. ZEV match grade barrel in 416R stainless steel, a slide machined from a single billet of 17-4 stainless steel, and a 4140 steel frame. It runs on Glock-pattern 9mm magazines and ships with two Magpul PMAG 21 GL9s.

• Folds and deploys fast: press the ambidextrous charging handle lever and the FDP unfolds and locks open.
• Ambidextrous controls: an ambidextrous charging system and a reversible magazine release.
• Optics ready: a full-length 1913 Picatinny top rail, plus adjustable iron sights built into the carry handle.
• Manual safety: a manual safety on the left side.
• Case ready: ships with laser-cut foam that fits a Pelican 1450 case.

Pick the configuration first, then the setup:

• Most compact, with a stock: the FDP SBR. It's an NFA item that ships to your door after an approved Form 4.
• No NFA paperwork: the FDP pistol. It transfers through your local FFL.
• Ready for a suppressor: either one in our threaded barrel version.

FDP SBR vs. FDP Pistol

ZEV calls the SBR the FDP-Carbine and the pistol the FDP-Pistol. Both share the same 9mm action, 7.05 in. barrel and Glock-pattern magazines. The difference is the paperwork and the size.

• FDP SBR (FDP-Carbine): the shortest version, at 10.75 in. folded. Because it's a short-barreled rifle, you buy it on an ATF Form 4. The federal tax on SBRs is $0 as of January 1, 2026, but you still need an approved Form 4. We handle the paperwork in-house and ship it to your door after ATF approval, where SBRs are legal.
• FDP Pistol: 11.5 in. folded. It isn't an NFA item, so there's no Form 4; it transfers through your local FFL like any other handgun and must comply with your state's laws.

Thinking about buying the pistol now and an SBR later? ZEV lists an SBR conversion kit for the FDP pistol as coming soon. Converting a pistol into an SBR is making an NFA firearm, so you need an approved ATF Form 1 before you install a stock. We offer Form 1 filing too.

ZEV FDP Specs

Specs from ZEV's FDP owner's manual.

The FDP With a Threaded Barrel

The FDP we sell comes with a threaded barrel installed, in both the SBR and pistol configurations. That makes it ready for a suppressor out of the box, and it's a Capitol Armory exclusive.

Already own an FDP with a standard barrel? The FDP Threaded Barrel is ZEV's drop-in replacement barrel for the FDP pistol and SBR:

• 416R stainless steel with a black nitride finish and a 32 RA surface finish
• 1/2x28 threads, with a thread protector included
• 1:10 right-hand twist

How to Suppress the FDP

A threaded FDP and a 9mm suppressor make a compact, quiet setup. RECOIL measured an average of 1,064 fps with 147-grain ammo out of the FDP's 7 in. barrel, which is below the speed of sound. Subsonic ammo like that is what makes a suppressed 9mm quiet.

Go short and light

The whole point of the FDP is a compact package, so pick a suppressor that doesn't add much length or weight. Our picks are SilencerCo's titanium Spectre 9 and Spectre 9K:

• SilencerCo Spectre 9K: 3.69 in. and 3.17 oz. The shortest, lightest option, and the best fit if you want the FDP to stay as small as possible.
• SilencerCo Spectre 9: 4.76 in. and 3.9 oz. About an inch longer for a little more suppression, and still very light.

Both are titanium, full-auto rated for 9mm, and use SilencerCo's Alpha mount system. Mount one with the 1/2x28 Alpha Direct Thread Mount or a 1/2x28 SilencerCo Piston. See the SilencerCo buying guide for more on both, or shop all pistol suppressors.

Do you need a booster?

Mechanically, the FDP works like a Glock: the barrel locks into the slide when it fires, unlike most pistol caliber carbines, which have fixed barrels. With a suppressor as light as the Spectre 9 or 9K, you may not need a booster, and the FDP may run on a direct thread mount. Mileage varies with ammo and setup, so if it doesn't cycle reliably, switch to a 1/2x28 piston. Our pistol suppressor guide explains how boosters work.

Buying an FDP From Capitol Armory

FDP SBR

• Check that SBRs are legal where you live. Our how to buy an SBR guide lists the states we ship to and any state limits, such as magazine capacity.
• Decide how you'll own it: as an individual or on an NFA trust.
• Buy the FDP SBR, then complete your eForm 4 with us.
• Send your fingerprints. Use our at-home fingerprint kit, or if you already have an EFT fingerprint file or want your prints done digitally, upload your EFT file right on our site. We'll prompt you for it after you place your order. Our at-home fingerprinting guide walks you through it.
• After ATF approval, your FDP ships from our facility to your door.

FDP Pistol

• Buy the FDP pistol and choose your local FFL. It ships to that FFL, where you complete the transfer.
• Check your state's laws first. ZEV doesn't sell the FDP pistol into some restricted states.

Browse all short barrel rifles.

What Reviewers Found

RECOIL: Found the FDP easy to put on target quickly, especially with a red dot, with quick transitions and a "very mild" recoil impulse. With magnified optics they rang steel at 200 yards, and they called it "a seriously capable gun." Read the review

ZEV FDP FAQ

Is the ZEV FDP an SBR or a pistol?

Both are available. The FDP SBR (ZEV's FDP-Carbine) has a stock and is an NFA short-barreled rifle bought on a Form 4. The FDP pistol isn't an NFA item and transfers through your local FFL.

Does the FDP take Glock magazines?

Yes. The FDP runs on Glock-pattern 9mm magazines and ships with two Magpul PMAG 21 GL9 magazines.

How long is the FDP folded?

The FDP SBR is 10.75 in. long folded and 20.125 in. unfolded. The FDP pistol is 11.5 in. folded and 20.875 in. unfolded. Both have a 7.052 in. barrel and weigh 3.25 lbs.

Is the FDP threaded for a suppressor?

The FDP we sell comes with a 1/2x28 threaded barrel installed, a Capitol Armory exclusive. For an FDP with a standard barrel, ZEV's FDP threaded barrel is a drop-in replacement.

What suppressor should I put on the FDP?

Something short and light, so it doesn't undo the FDP's compact size. Our picks are the SilencerCo Spectre 9K (3.69 in., 3.17 oz) and Spectre 9 (4.76 in., 3.9 oz), both titanium.

Do I need a booster to suppress the FDP?

Maybe not. The FDP's barrel locks into the slide like a Glock's, but with a suppressor as light as the Spectre 9 or 9K, it may run on a direct thread mount. Mileage varies with ammo and setup, so if it doesn't cycle reliably, use a 1/2x28 piston.

Do I still pay for a tax stamp on the FDP SBR?

No. As of January 1, 2026, the federal tax on SBRs is $0. You still need an approved ATF Form 4, and we handle that paperwork in-house.

Can I turn an FDP pistol into an SBR?

Yes, with an approved ATF Form 1 before you install a stock. ZEV lists an FDP SBR conversion kit as coming soon.

Who makes the FDP?

ZEV Technologies, in a collaboration with Magpul. ZEV started with the first drop-in replacement triggers for Glock pistols.

Ready to Buy Your ZEV FDP?

Every FDP SBR purchase includes electronic filing, and your SBR ships from our facility to your home. Need a trust or fingerprints? We handle those too.

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