Who owns the Ruger PC Backpacker? Let's hear about your experience!

[Capybara]

I just bought the TALO Distributors Edition Black Ruger PC Backpacker today. Anyone own one? Any feedback, stories, gotchas or opinions? Just seemed too cool to not own one. I checked out the new KelTec Sub2000 Gen 3 and the Smith & Wesson FPC but in the end, the Ruger was the only one that felt like shouldering an actual rifle to me, the other two felt like folding, sort of rifles but the PC Backpacker shoulders like an actual rifle, it felt more substantial. I liked the FPC and KelTec but in the end, the Ruger won out. I like the idea of it for a camping plinker, range plinker, SHTF gun, it's just a cool gun.

I also HATED the stupid grip fins on the FPC and KelTec (Yes, it's California and our overlords want us to have to use these stupid things!) and the cool old school RIFLE stock was the clincher, no stupid grip fin. I have to have them on my AK and ARs but for this, the traditional is nice, so refreshing to not have to mess with a grip fin.

.223, even reloads are so expensive now for just plinking and I really like the idea of just a fun 9mm carbine for me and for friends who go with me. Any recommendations on accessories? I just ordered the Magpul QD cups and a sling and the Holosun HE403 GR-DE optic.

 

[R Reed]

Friend had a pc carbine that he got a backpacker stock for. Loved it till it stopped working. Something about a bent ejector. He was careful not to jam his mags in hard. Replaced the ejector a couple times then sold it. Shot well, fun rifle.

 

[Capybara]

Friend had a pc carbine that he got a backpacker stock for. Loved it till it stopped working. Something about a bent ejector. He was careful not to jam his mags in hard. Replaced the ejector a couple times then sold it. Shot well, fun rifle.

Thanks for the experience. I coincidentally ordered a hardened steel replacement extractor from MCarbo today along with some other high wear replacement parts from TandemKross to replace some of the weaker Ruger internal parts. It's common on the PC Carbines for the extractor to go out after as few as a thousand rounds. https://www.mcarbo.com/ruger-pc-carbine-exact-edge-extractor.aspx

 

[MikeInOr]

I bought a PC Carbine first then the PC Charger when it came out. I really love the PC charger and got a SBR stamp for it.

They are both terrific guns. The PC Carbine does have the size and weight of a real rifle and doesn't feel toyish. Some day, probably after I retire, I will set out on an adventure to see how good of groups I can get on the PC Carbine at 100 yards with hand loads.

Both my PC Carbine and PC Charger have thousands of rounds through them and I have never had a problem. They shoot junk ammo that other 9mm's just won't shoot.

 

[zaitcev]

... the Ruger was the only one that felt like shouldering an actual rifle to me,

This is the same market that Henry Homesteader serves.

I have both and they are quite similar before you go bananas with accessorizing. Even the sight system is the same.

 

[Throwbackguy]

I have re-fallen in love with my Ruger PCC.
I originally bought one of the collapsible-stock, m-lok rail ones; because it didn't have sights, just pic rail space. Used it for years, and it faded into the background of 'fun gun' at the range.

But last month, I bought the Magpul Backpacker stock (and of course, the obligatory Ruger parts kit that you need when converting from the Midwest fore-end); it slipped together very easily, and, bottom line:
It's a brand-new gun. Again. (!) Lovin' it all over.

 

[Throwbackguy]

(Maybe shoulda mentioned to the OP
I have THOUSANDS of rounds thru it, with absolutely no issues. Shootin' it from the 25, 50, and 75-yd lines. [100, for me, involves a little more Kentucky windage. But doable...!] I swapped out the Glock-mag well from the start, for universal mag-buying. Blowback can be very dirty, and I clean this particular PCC much more than my S&W FPC. Maybe the chamber's a little sloppy, or the bolt assembly lets a little burnt powder into the upper rail area on slideback, or whatever; I still absolutely love it. [I added the little Magpul rubber extender on the back to cheat the LOP a much as possible; it's still a little gun to shoulder.

 

[Gordon]

I got a PCC Charger when they first came out and I had residency in Oregon. I love the Glock mag ability. I found a Sig Brace made it much more useable. As did a 3x Orism sight that eliminated the need for back up iron sights . However when the Brace Sbr amnesty started and because I couldn't take it down to my California homestead it was put as an SBR in the family trust along with a couple AR pistols that had braces. Of course when they were approved the braces came off and real stocks went on..the Ruger is a ammo gobbling tank. The bolt system damper takes off the blowback smack of other blow back carbines. 3" at 109 yard groups with ammo it likes. A few MCarbo parts for trigger and an extractor just in case. I leave the Canine on it ,serviceable easily and very compact and light. Amazing quiet for fifty rounds with a fresh wipe, or just run without a wipe with 147 grain bullets it's hearing safe In our opinion.

 

[Capybara]

Ha, ha, so much there that I'll never have in California, suppressor, folding stock but it's good to hear that you dig the rifle that it's been a good shooter.

 

[Capybara]

This is the same market that Henry Homesteader serves.

I have both and they are quite similar before you go bananas with accessorizing. Even the sight system is the same.

I just replaced some high wear parts and bought a sling and optic, same as I would do for most any new rifle these days. Pretty much done at this point, ordered a big batch of fresh 9mm rounds and looking forward to getting it out to the range,

 

[zaitcev]

I just replaced some high wear parts and bought a sling and optic, same as I would do for most any new rifle these days.

I am not in the preventative replacement camp. So I only replaced the bolt hold cross-pin and the action cross-pins with detented ones by TK. It was very inconvenient to deal with stock pins falling out. But no extractors, and not even buffers, although I expect them to wear out.

 

[Gordon]

Ha, ha, so much there that I'll never have in California, suppressor, folding stock but it's good to hear that you dig the rifle that it's been a good shooter.

I actually am in my place in California and have the fun guns locked into the heavy safes in a alarmed vault here among my daughter and her now married daughters. I return to play in Oregon in the good weather seasons last two years. My son's have safes full there.

 

[Pat Riot]

I bought a PC Carbine when they first came out. I bought some internal parts from MCARBO. The bufffer, the recoil spring retainer and the pins. I think that’s all.
I also added an Odin Works “Atlas 9” compensator to the barrel. Anyone that says a comp doesn’t reduce 9mm recoil is high, in my opinion. I had an RDS on it for a while, but recently mounted a Monstrum Banshee 1-4x20 scope to it. It really helped my accuracy and grouping.
I have been considering the Magpul Backpacker stock. I believe that would knock a little weight off the gun.
My PC Carbine is hands down my favorite long gun.

 

[Gordon]

I bought a PC Carbine when they first came out. I bought some internal parts from MCARBO. The bufffer, the recoil spring retainer and the pins. I think that’s all.
I also added an Odin Works “Atlas 9” compensator to the barrel. Anyone that says a comp doesn’t reduce 9mm recoil is high, in my opinion. I had an RDS on it for a while, but recently mounted a Monstrum Banshee 1-4x20 scope to it. It really helped my accuracy and grouping.
I have been considering the Magpul Backpacker stock. I believe that would knock a little weight off the gun.
My PC Carbine is hands down my favorite long gun.

Pat I put the 1x Power Vortex Prism scope I first had on my PCC Charger SBR on my recent Keltec KS-7 shotgun and put a 3x Vortex Prism scope on the Charger instead. You are absolutely correct. I found most of my 9mm plinking was at 50-100 yards and at small targets like drink cans or such and the 3x magnification increased the hits to 99% instead of 75 % . Also for those 200 yard fooling around shots I figured out how to calibrate the long distance 5.56 come ups in the 3x prism scope helpful . I like prism scopes on the Charger because I tried unsuccessfully the usual BUIS pop up sights on the charger. Prism scopes are heavy duty and have etched black reticules that work fine without batteries on.

 

[Pat Riot]

Pat I put the 1x Power Vortex Prism scope I first had on my PCC Charger SBR on my recent Keltec KS-7 shotgun and put a 3x Vortex Prism scope on the Charger instead. You are absolutely correct. I found most of my 9mm plinking was at 50-100 yards and at small targets like drink cans or such and the 3x magnification increased the hits to 99% instead of 75 % . Also for those 200 yard fooling around shots I figured out how to calibrate the long distance 5.56 come ups in the 3x prism scope helpful . I like prism scopes on the Charger because I tried unsuccessfully the usual BUIS pop up sights on the charger. Prism scopes are heavy duty and have etched black reticules that work fine without batteries on.

I haven’t tried a prism scope. I never considered one. I will have to check them out. Thank you.

I chose the Monstrum scope because they all have etched reticles and illuminated reticles…and I’m cheap.

Here’s the reticle on the scope I installed.

Screen grab from: https://monstrumtactical.com/banshee-1-4x20-lpvo-rifle-scope/

I am going to have to try some longer range shots out of curiosity.

I have a lot of fun shooting these. It becomes interesting on uneven terrain out past 50 yards.

Another screen grab:

Vital Impact HD Bouncing Targets - 3 Pack

Vital Impact HD Bouncing Targets 3 Pack -Long lasting HD bouncing targets are designed to be used with a wide range of calibers of ammunition.

www.sportsmans.com

 

[Gordon]

Here is the reticule in my Spitfire 3x prism scope , the come-ups are for up to 400 yards for 5.56 but the bottom 400 yard one gets close to the 40" drop at 200 yards from a 50 yard sight in at the center . I love lit rings or donuts for quick work

 

[ECVMatt]

I have a Ruger PC carbine and it has gone through multiple iterations. It currently is in a backpacker stock and I like that the best so far. It’s one of my family‘s favorite rifles to shoot. I posted many times about it here but it continues to impress. I also did some upgrades from M Carbo and the rifle really does run much better. It is a constant companion on shooting trips and consistently a favorite gun for everyone who’s there shooting with me from beginner to experienced.

 

[Riomouse911]

My PC is just the original version, with the Glock magwell and a Bushnell red dot on it. So far, it’s been a super fun plinker out to 100 yards, zero issues.

I did steal an idea from another THR member for a carry case: a Ridgid tool box from Home Depot, with cut-outs for the gun, sling and magazines made of a Kaisen foam insert.




I don’t know if the magpul stock is larger, if so a slightly larger toolbox could work if you desire to make a similar tote.

Stay safe.

 

[Pat Riot]

For carrying my PC Carbine I bought a Savior Urban Takedown Bag. I bought their gray model as I carried it on my motorcycle and in California “tactical” colors attract attention. Here in WV I have no worries about silliness like that.

I could only find a link for their ODG bags. Maybe they’re updating or something.

Amazon.com

It appears they have black and green on the Savior site. I steer clear of black. It seems like everything is black now. Nothing like looking for a black tool in a black bag…

Urban Takedown - 27"

Tested with many popular takedown rifles and its attachments, the Urban Takedown case is our take on how a rifle takedown bag should look and perform.

www.saviorequipment.com