Ruger .40 carbine reviews?

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Col. Plink

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Hey y'all,

Thinking these are some of the best .40carbines out there, and of course wondering like Marlin Camp Carbine afficianados "why would they discontinue such a goo, popular gun?!"

That said, I'm looking for folks who have owned or used them for reviews/impressions. Which pistols do they share mags with? Police used 'em, so they must be pretty goo, right? Thanks!
 
I used to have a 9mm version. On the plus side it felt like a real rifle. Some of the other pistol carbines feel like battlestar galactica toys. On the down side the Ruger is heavy. The trigger is nothing special. Also because the stock and mag well are one piece you can't change much. The carbine wasn't popular with police or individuals so Ruger dropped it.
 
They discontinued them because they didn't sell enough. Simple economics. They were marketed to police departments but departments wanted a 5.56 rifle, not a 9mm or .40 pistol caliber carbine.

I've fired one a couple times and didn't like it as much as I thought I would.
 
Ruger PC-4

I got one, bought it a few years after they came out. Love it! It uses Beretta 40 Cal Mags. Yea I have to cut a notch for the mag lock but what the heck, they are cheap! It likes 155gr-180gr Bullets. Tried the little 135gr JHP's but they didn't group well.:cuss:Stuck a Beeman SS2 Short scope I had laying around on it. Good scope, looks like it was made for the carbine. I shoot cast lead bullets out of it with no problems and great accuracy too.:neener: Bottom photo is 165gr Rainier JHP over 6 grains Unique and 180gr Cast over 5grs of Unique. Same point of impact at 50 yds. I like it!

100_0873-1.jpg

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165GrRainerJHP6GrsUnique.jpg

180GrCastRCBSand165GrRainerSPOI.jpg
 
SGT> Stiglitz

Where did you get that base on your pc4. I would like one to put a holo or red dot sight on mine. thanx
 
I just picked one up. Haven't got it to the range yet, but I'm curious about the Beretta mags. Which ones do you use? PX4? 90two? 96?

You can get higher capacity Beretta mags and they're cheaper than the Ruger mags, so it'd be nice to be able to go that route. Thanks!
 
I didn't even know that Ruger had made a carbine like this. I'm going to have to see if I can find one somewhere...does anybody know how much these usually run for?
 
Yea the Ruger scope System blows of you want to put a small scope on your toys.........If you use other than Ruger Mags, you will need to cut a new locking notch in them. Ruger locks in the front of the magazine not the side. It's easy to do, the notch is right in the center, just copy the size and shape of the Ruger one. The magazines are HARD. You will go through some bits. After you get the hole. I use small files to shape it. After they are cut they file easy! Since you fit each mag to the gun, they fit great!

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Rhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTJGV5A7-4k

http://www.jackweigand.com/ranch.html

I use 40 Caliber Beretta 96D magazines since that used to be our duty wespon and I have lots of the magazines.......With a scope, at 50 yds, it is about a one holer. 100yds open up a bit. I use the Lyman
38.40 175gr No gas check. They come out of the mould about a 180grs. http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/bullet-casting/select-mould.php?styleRef=cat06#anc
 
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Fun little plinker. Got one so I could have a justification for getting a P94. Now I can walk around the property with a matching rifle/pistol combination.

First thing I discovered is that is does NOT like aluminum cased Blazer ammunition. I've seen other threads where this appears to be a common problem with the PC4. Absolutely no problem with brass ammo though. Feeding and ejection have been perfect with brass.

I've been developing a handload for it and the best I've gotten so far is 1.5" at 25 yards with Hornady 155 grain hollowpoints. Call it minute of coke can accuracy. Guess that's OK for a plinker. One fun thing I've found is that I can make jacketed hollowpoints for .40 out of empty 9mm cases. More on that later.
9mmcaseto40caliberbullet.jpg
 
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