Ruger PC Carbine 9mm question for owners.

Status
Not open for further replies.

Balrog

Member
Joined
Nov 28, 2008
Messages
3,199
I bought a Ruger PC Carbine in 9mm a few months ago and just found time to shoot it over the holidays. I swapped out the mag well to use Glock magazines. I have now fired about 500 rounds through it, of various ammo types, including 115g ball and various 124 g JHPs.

I experienced no malfunctions. The farthest I have shot it was at 50 yards, with iron sights only so far. I have a great deal of difficulty seeing the front sight post and the target at the same time due to the fact that I have had eye surgery, but even still I was able to get easy hits on a silhouette target. I plan put a red dot on it soon, which I think will help me tremendously.

It has very little recoil and is a pleasure to shoot. The gun feels more solid than I thought it might. It definitely feels much more solid than a 10/22.

I guess the question I have is, what am I going to do with it? Is it just a range toy? If so, it sure is a fun one. But with a red dot I think it could be used as a home defense gun, though I am not sure why I would use it over an AR.

What do other owners of the Ruger PC Carbine use the gun for? Defense or just range toy?
 
Are there pistol caliber carbine matches in your area. Steel matches Usps’s and Idpa May be options. Competition is more fun than shooting at the square range or shooting at a rock.

They are certainly viable SD guns.
 
:what: You actually need a reason own a gun???????? :evil: I mean, I own a PC 9 CARBINE. I bought it 'cause I wanted it......:D
Keep in mind that he isn't trying to justify getting one, he already has it and wants to see all it can be for:D
I used to try my 44 mag lever at 200 plus yards for fun. I am convinced that pcc's can really help with fundamentals of long range without the 1000k+ range need. Wind shifts and drop happen a lot sooner with a pistol caliber, and its fun to play with...
 
After seeing them at the range (in carbine matches) I'm half convinced they're better than intermediate calibers for home defense. Easier to suppress, less blast, no recoil to speak of, and can be put into a shorter package without it sounding like setting off a bomb in a room. If I had the disposable income I'd be very tempted to get a short .45 carbine and suppress it, but a 9mm would do just as well.
 
Mine is a dedicated home defense and travel defense (if that's such a thing) weapon as well as a range toy. I have a silencer all picked out for it, just waiting to buy a few other things first. The PC Carbine is in a caliber much more preferable than an AR for indoor use IMO, but I certainly won't stand in the way of anyone seeking to destroy their hearing.

For travel, the takedown feature is outstanding and extremely easy to use. In fact, you can lock the bolt open on a loaded mag and assemble the gun in such a way that the bolt will close when the barrel locks into position. I can get my carbine loaded and assembled - from the backpack it rides in - in this fashion somewhere in the neighborhood of 10-15 seconds.
 
Last edited:
I haven't wrung mine out yet, but I can tell you what I bought it for: I plan to shoot it at the range for fun, and in the unlikely event that I ever need to bug out, it will go in a backpack along with a Glock 26 and a bunch of Glock magazines.
 
Range toy! I have both a quick release red dot and a quick release scope mount that holds an old Leupold 2x-7x. I am good with the iron sights out to maybe 25 - 50 yards. The red dot is easier with my old eyes and the scope is great for 50-100+ yards. Oh, I also have a laser hung under the barrel for shooting from the hip.

I prefer a handgun for home defense. I can walk around my property with a hand gun in a robe pocket. A long gun is just to cumbersome for home defense... for me. If I can't hit it with a hand gun... I probably shouldn't be shooting at it!
 
Last edited:
Does anyone have any suggestions of something to put the two halves in when broken down before it goes in a backpack? I have seen the Ruger takedown backpack case, but would probably rather just have something simple (maybe a gun sock?) put each half in and then slide it into my usual pack.
 
Does anyone have any suggestions of something to put the two halves in when broken down before it goes in a backpack? I have seen the Ruger takedown backpack case, but would probably rather just have something simple (maybe a gun sock?) put each half in and then slide it into my usual pack.

I've been curious about the folding takedown bags offered by the makers of Skinner Sights. Scroll down to about mid-page in the link below to see what I'm referring to.
http://www.skinnersights.com/scabbards_20.html
 
1. Fun range toy.
2. Teaching new shooters how to use a rifle without muzzle blast.
3. 2-gun or IDPA matches in your area.
4. Great budget entry carbine for PCC events, not a $1k semi customized AR.
5. Great hunting or hiking camp gun for family enjoyment. Not very big and heavy or particularly loud.
6. Easy to customize and suppress if desired.
 
I bought one, I shot it, I liked it. A neat little rifle but I have no use for it (as in a plan to use it for something on a regular basis). So I put it on consignment to sell it because I could tell it was one of those that was going to sit in the back of the gun safe gathering dust. A good lesson in resisting marketing unless I have a real reason for spending money on a firearm.

For this one I didn't.

Still a real nice gun. I found no fault with it. Functioned 100%
 
Last edited:
I'm hoping that Ruger releases a new cartridge or two in the carbine this year at SHOT. If they release a .45 ACP I'll be very happy. The dream would be a 10mm. I couldn't care less about .40 though.

My PCC is a range toy and a truck gun. I've got a case that holds it while broken down and it only takes a couple of seconds to assemble and load it. There are five 33 round Glock mags in the bag.
 
Find a steel challenge match near you. Most all of them have a PCC division. also take a kid with let them shoot steel with it. You will both be hooked.
 
I use mine for fun in the desert and as a travel gun. I love the takedown feature and how small of a travel package it creates. When I travel with the family, I have the Ruger, older but favorite Glock 17, and a ton of magazines. I know that .223 might be a better choice in some situations, but the convenience of one type of ammunition and one type of magazine usually wins out. I have a Sig red dot on mine and it is very accurate.

It is also a huge bonus that is looks and acts like a 10/22. My family is very familiar with the 10/22, so were able to basically just pick this rifle up and start shooting. Everyone over 10 is able to manipulate the controls, load, fire, and unload the rifle with ease. I know this may sound crazy, but my wife loves to shoot the AR-15 however does not want to learn how to properly use one. With this rifle I simply have to give it to her and she is good to go. This is a big bonus for our marriage. In fact, that alone is worth keeping the rifle!

Anyways, I hope you enjoy your rifle as much as we do. We are going up to the desert tomorrow and the Ruger is definitely coming with us.
 
I think it's a viable choice for home defense. It won't have the power of a rifle but it would have less muzzle blast than one, with or without a suppressor. Compared to a handgun it would have a little more velocity and is easier to shoot accurately, especially for less experienced shooters or really for anybody in a high stress situation. If you have a Glock or Ruger handgun you can grab the most appropriate weapon for a given situation and have cross functional mags. Plus if you are buying defensive ammunition in bulk to save money, being able to shoot that same ammo from multiple platforms is an advantage.

It's also just a fun little plinker that has some more punch than a 22LR.
 
I bought one back in July..... Was looking at it in the LGS ..... I liked it..... Was thinking of an excuse to buy it when the shop owner told me that many folks buy them as a home defense tool, but that they are also a great "fun gun". So I bought it and I'm glad I did. Even though another home defense piece wasn't really needed they are neat little guns. I, too, like the 10/22 similarities and while I've got a couple Ruger magazines here it's gonna get the Glock mag well put in as I also own a Glock 19 and the common magazines & ammo concept is appealing. Even with the standard sights it's a good shooter at least out to 50 yds. IME and while I'm considering a red dot just for grins it wouldn't be an absolute necessity but that integral mounting rail is nice to have. I know a left handed guy who also bought one and really likes it, too. He really appreciates that charging handle that can be switched over to the left side for "southpaws".
 
Another benefit is that the gun is political correct with a smaller capacity mag in some states. AR patterns are evil.
 
Does anyone have any suggestions of something to put the two halves in when broken down before it goes in a backpack? I have seen the Ruger takedown backpack case, but would probably rather just have something simple (maybe a gun sock?) put each half in and then slide it into my usual pack.
I have a 5.11 Covert M4 Shorty bag that works perfectly for it. It's basically a long backpack with 2 pockets. There are no markings anywhere on the bag that identify what the contents might be.
 
Last edited:
I bought mine this past summer mostly because I wanted a carbine that used Glock mags. I also liked that I could break it down and carry it in a backpack on my motorcycle.

I put each half in Allen gunsocks I bought at Sportsman’s Warehouse.
https://www.sportsmans.com/shooting/gun-cases-locks/rifle-cases/allen-gun-sock/p/p70700

I carry the gun in an AND1 backpack like this one.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/AND1-Bac...-fTeKiXJZIW5bbsmDdkPaguAF3L1m8uUaAlVrEALw_wcB

The pack is 20” tall so the stock and receiver wrapped in the sock is a bit snug but it does not flop around in the bag when carried. The rear half goes in the rear tall pocket, the barrel half goes in the next pocket forward and ammo and mags in the front pocket.

I mostly use mine as a fun gun for the range but I can use it as a travel gun. I would have to do some more shooting with it to wring put it’s accuracy at distance but at 25 yards I have full confidence in hitting right where I am aiming.

My PC Carbine has become my favorite long gun and it’s a great mate for my Glocks.

Also, I installed an Odin Works Atlas compensator and it works nicely for quicker follow up shots.
 
I`m a recent owner and would have to say that I bought it as both a range toy and truck gun. HD comes in 3rd but it is in the bedroom so it`d be handy if needed. SR9c is on the nightstand so there is a commonality of mags for home or truck. I put a Bushnell TRS 25 on it and am very pleased so far (only two range outings but so far so good). I feel that if I need a gun inside the house I`d probably grab the SR9c due to size but if there`s a problem outside the house then depending upon distance, either the PCC or Rem 870.
 
I got my PCC in early April as a complementary long gun for a 9mm 1911. I don't own any striker fired handguns so I was more interested by the caliber and the fact that it's a takedown design (already owned a 10/22 Takedown). Currently, I have 5 17rd SR-9 and 3 10rd G26 mags, the latter to accommodate a recent visit with a friend in CA. As with my 10/22 TD, I've mounted a UTG BugBuster 3-9x32mm AO scope on the PCC. Also like the 10/22 TD, this setup allows me to leave the scope mounted when I place the firearm in a Ruger TD storage bag. Since owning it, it has fired several brands (Fiocchi, GECO, Armscor, LAX Ammo) and weights (115gr and 124gr) of ammo with no issues whatsoever.

AAy6Z4nh.jpg
8pA2t4eh.jpg
rO8fPiIh.jpg
zcWAh3fh.jpg
ld63Sprh.jpg

25 yards
83Xluc1h.jpg
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top