While attending SHOT Show in Las Vegas this year as the BSA representative to the Brownell Youth Shooting Sports Ambassadors program, the new Ruger PC Carbine was one of the items that really stopped me in my tracks. First off, why was the word “Glock” on a sign in the Ruger booth? More importantly why was it right next to what looked like a 10/22 Takedown? Curious, I stopped to see what this new rifle was about. I had no idea that Ruger had been putting together one of the most fun 9mm carbines that I have ever shot.
When Ruger designed this rifle, I imagine they wanted a fun and convenient carbine that used the same magazines and ammunition as an everyday pistol. The PC Carbine (PCC) in its factory configuration shares magazines with the Ruger SR9 and with a quick mag well switch using the included tools, you can load up the Glock G9 series magazines (17, 19, 26, 34). Finding a magazine to use in this gun should be no issue, plus the extended capacity Glock mags are especially fun in a PCC. It’s also a great idea to match your PCC mags with your carry/home defense pistol so you have full interchangeability...whatever the situation calls for. Ruger also made it a point to base the PCC off of the very popular Ruger 10/22 Takedown. In fact, if you are familiar with the 10/22 Takedown then you will be very familiar with all the controls on the PC Carbine. It is essentially a beefed-up version of Ruger’s classic .22 rifle. They elevated the design and fixed some things that had been lacking on the 10/22, such as making the PC Carbine fully ambidextrous and making an excellent 3.5-pound trigger out of the box. As a left-handed shooter, I was especially thankful when I learned that both the charging handle and the safety can be switched to the left hand position in just a couple minutes.
At just 6 pounds, 10 ounces the carbine is heavier than a 10/22, but not hefty by any means. Its 16-inch barrel and composite stock help in making the rifle light and compact; it truly is a rifle you can take anywhere. With an AR-style high mounted scope or optic, the comb feels a little inadequate, but with a low-profile optic like the Trijicon RMR, the gun fit me pretty well. The adjustable length of pull should make it easy to fit to your size or clothing choices, and I am sure there will be many aftermarket stock options out for this awesome carbine soon. The Picatinny rail on the fore-end and sling mounts included are very handy, and the threaded barrel is convenient for a muzzle device. After several hundred rounds down range, even with cheap ammo, I didn’t get a single malfunction using either magwell. I shot several different types of 9mm through the carbine and only have good things to say about the accuracy, versatility and reliability of its design.
Overall, the Ruger PC Carbine is one of the best and most versatile pistol caliber carbines that I have ever shot. Its reliability and convenience make it a must-have for anybody wanting a fun gun to take plinking or competing, a small rifle to put in the truck to take hiking and hunting, or an effective and reliable home defense gun. The personalization that you can do to this rifle right out of the box make it great for everyone: left handed, right handed, home defense, hunter or steel shooter. Ruger really outdid themselves with this one; if you can find one for sale, I would recommend buying it as fast as you can because there are not many other carbines that can compete on the Ruger’s level.
When Ruger designed this rifle, I imagine they wanted a fun and convenient carbine that used the same magazines and ammunition as an everyday pistol. The PC Carbine (PCC) in its factory configuration shares magazines with the Ruger SR9 and with a quick mag well switch using the included tools, you can load up the Glock G9 series magazines (17, 19, 26, 34). Finding a magazine to use in this gun should be no issue, plus the extended capacity Glock mags are especially fun in a PCC. It’s also a great idea to match your PCC mags with your carry/home defense pistol so you have full interchangeability...whatever the situation calls for. Ruger also made it a point to base the PCC off of the very popular Ruger 10/22 Takedown. In fact, if you are familiar with the 10/22 Takedown then you will be very familiar with all the controls on the PC Carbine. It is essentially a beefed-up version of Ruger’s classic .22 rifle. They elevated the design and fixed some things that had been lacking on the 10/22, such as making the PC Carbine fully ambidextrous and making an excellent 3.5-pound trigger out of the box. As a left-handed shooter, I was especially thankful when I learned that both the charging handle and the safety can be switched to the left hand position in just a couple minutes.
At just 6 pounds, 10 ounces the carbine is heavier than a 10/22, but not hefty by any means. Its 16-inch barrel and composite stock help in making the rifle light and compact; it truly is a rifle you can take anywhere. With an AR-style high mounted scope or optic, the comb feels a little inadequate, but with a low-profile optic like the Trijicon RMR, the gun fit me pretty well. The adjustable length of pull should make it easy to fit to your size or clothing choices, and I am sure there will be many aftermarket stock options out for this awesome carbine soon. The Picatinny rail on the fore-end and sling mounts included are very handy, and the threaded barrel is convenient for a muzzle device. After several hundred rounds down range, even with cheap ammo, I didn’t get a single malfunction using either magwell. I shot several different types of 9mm through the carbine and only have good things to say about the accuracy, versatility and reliability of its design.
Overall, the Ruger PC Carbine is one of the best and most versatile pistol caliber carbines that I have ever shot. Its reliability and convenience make it a must-have for anybody wanting a fun gun to take plinking or competing, a small rifle to put in the truck to take hiking and hunting, or an effective and reliable home defense gun. The personalization that you can do to this rifle right out of the box make it great for everyone: left handed, right handed, home defense, hunter or steel shooter. Ruger really outdid themselves with this one; if you can find one for sale, I would recommend buying it as fast as you can because there are not many other carbines that can compete on the Ruger’s level.
