Do You Own a Ruger PC9?

MikeInOr said:
I have owned my PC Carbine for a few years now and it is a great gun... but it is no M1 carbine. The M1 carbine is a gas operated action and the PC Carbine is a simple blow back action. The PC Carbine has a heavy bolt that slides backwards and hits the back of the receiver which sends considerable shock into the gun, through the stock and into your shoulder and cheek that is resting against the stock. It is not considerable recoil, it is considerable shock. The M1 Carbine also has very little recoil but does not have the annoying shock that is associated with a blow back carbine. Carrying a PC Carbine DOES have a very similar feel to carrying M1 Carbine as they both have a quality well machined feel to them.

As much as I like my PC Carbine if I had to do it over again I would put out the extra money and get a non-blow back carbine. I would probably look at an HK roller delayed blow back (aka MP5) or a gas operated action. Recoil isn't going to be considerably different but the lack of shock from the bolt slamming into the back of the received will make for a more pleasant shooter.

Just my .02 cents.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your input. I've owned WWII vintage M1 Carbines in the past and liked them but completely different kind of gun in my experience. I reload and .30 Carbine ammo is expensive to even reload these days, much less buy new factory ammo.
I like the H&Ks but at 4-6x the cost, for a 9mm plinker, just not worth it. Even the Turkish clones are double the cost at least. Nah.
 
drobs said:
I was about ready to ditch my Ruger PC Carbine until I put a Magpul Stock on it. Now it's a Keeper.
It just feels more handy.
Click to expand...

Oh wow, I didn't know that cutout in the Magpul stock worked that way, to be able to group in the barrel assembly, that's so cool. Probably worth the extra $100 for me to just order the model with that Magpul stock instead of buying the Ruger stock and then swapping it out. I love it.
 
Crosshair said:
Do buy the PC-9
Do NOT buy the M-Lock forearm. Just don't. It's both too heavy, bulky, and makes the gun front heavy. Buy the "Normal" forearm version.
Click to expand...

For a plinker, I don't see the point of the M-Lock forearm. I'm not going to mount a light, I can use a regular sling point and I have owned front heavy guns and they are not fun, much better to have the weight toward the stock.
I do like the Magpul version of the stock though that drobs showed, that is pretty sweet for storage.
 
Jim Watson said:
A friend bought a Ruger to shoot while he figured out how to make his AR 9mm work. When he got the AR straightened out, he pretty much retired the Ruger, saying 22 years in the Army left him proficient with the AR.
Click to expand...

I could just assemble a 9mm AR also, probably for about the same money I could buy a PC Carbine for. But I have plenty of ARs and I like the PC Carbine's ability to break in two for transport, that is pretty appealing to me.
 
easy said:
https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2020/04/23/custom-ruger-pcsh-41/
View attachment 1140441
Click to expand...
That might be cool, if it actually worked like a PPSH.

Capybara said:
I could just assemble a 9mm AR also, probably for about the same money I could buy a PC Carbine for. But I have plenty of ARs and I like the PC Carbine's ability to break in two for transport, that is pretty appealing to me.
Click to expand...
Id suggest if you can, you try and shoot one first. If I had, I wouldnt have bothered.

If youre familiar with closed bolt guns like the AR's and HK's, youll really notice a difference, in both feel and accuracy.

The only way to really know, is either shoot one, or get one. :)
 
Capybara said:
Oh wow, I didn't know that cutout in the Magpul stock worked that way, to be able to group in the barrel assembly, that's so cool. Probably worth the extra $100 for me to just order the model with that Magpul stock instead of buying the Ruger stock and then swapping it out. I love it.
Click to expand...

I like the look of Nature Boy's forearm. Has that PPSH look to it.

If I were you I would buy the Magpul stocked version instead swapping stocks. That option wasn't available when I bought mine.
As one of the other posters mentioned there is a non-captive pin in the trigger group or action that will just fall out when you are swapping stocks. The stock works just fine for holding it in place though.

I'm impressed with the stock peep sights. It's really easy to run my backyard gongs with this gun. It's like a big 10/22.
 
Crosshair said:
You're missing the point. It's not a matter of one being manageable and the other unmanageable. The point is that the M-Lock forearm is, much of the time, useless extra weight. Placed where it doesn't need to be. So buy the version without it.
Click to expand...

I bought it SPECIFICALLY because of forearm and the availability of a 50 round drum mag for that PPSh vibe.

So in my particular case, absolutely necessary, and as I showed above, not too heavy
 
Crosshair said:
You're missing the point. It's not a matter of one being manageable and the other unmanageable. The point is that the M-Lock forearm is, much of the time, useless extra weight. Placed where it doesn't need to be. So buy the version without it.
Click to expand...

Are you really going to notice the difference in weight? If you do, maybe it's time to visit a Gym.

Standard Forearm Ruger PCC: 6.8lbs
https://ruger.com/products/pcCarbine/specSheets/19100.html

M-Lock Forearm Ruger PCC: 7lbs
https://ruger.com/products/pcCarbine/specSheets/19115.html

Magpul Stock Ruger PCC: 6.2lbs
https://ruger.com/products/pcCarbine/specSheets/19130.html
 
drobs said:
Are you really going to notice the difference in weight? If you do, maybe it's time to visit a Gym.

Standard Forearm Ruger PCC: 6.8lbs
https://ruger.com/products/pcCarbine/specSheets/19100.html

M-Lock Forearm Ruger PCC: 7lbs
https://ruger.com/products/pcCarbine/specSheets/19115.html

Magpul Stock Ruger PCC: 6.2lbs
https://ruger.com/products/pcCarbine/specSheets/19130.html
Click to expand...
Yes, people absolutely do notice the weight. Otherwise we'd all be shooting 20 pound BARs. Why are people even contesting this?

No it's not a matter of "Going to the Gym". People don't want useless weight on the end of their gun if it doesn't do something useful. (People tolerate suppressor weight due to the sound suppression, for example.)

Literally all I did was let them know that the M-Lock version is heavier and puts the weight far out on the barrel. If they weren't gonna strap on half a dozen accessories, one is better off without it.
 
Crosshair said:
Yes, people absolutely do notice the weight. Otherwise we'd all be shooting 20 pound BARs. Why are people even contesting this?

No it's not a matter of "Going to the Gym". People don't want useless weight on the end of their gun if it doesn't do something useful. (People tolerate suppressor weight due to the sound suppression, for example.)

Literally all I did was let them know that the M-Lock version is heavier and puts the weight far out on the barrel. If they weren't gonna strap on half a dozen accessories, one is better off without it.
Click to expand...
For a gun like this, I agree, weight isnt really a plus, and actually kind of defeats the purpose of something "handy".

Now if youre shooting offhand a lot, that weight forward is a plus. Makes for a steady holding gun, and helps to reduce overswing when moving from one target to another.

Hitting the gym's not a bad idea either. Shooting is a physical sort of thing, and the better physical shape you're in, the better you tend to do overall. Especially if you use your body to support the gun when you shoot.
 
drobs said:
Are you really going to notice the difference in weight? If you do, maybe it's time to visit a Gym.

Standard Forearm Ruger PCC: 6.8lbs
https://ruger.com/products/pcCarbine/specSheets/19100.html

M-Lock Forearm Ruger PCC: 7lbs
https://ruger.com/products/pcCarbine/specSheets/19115.html

Magpul Stock Ruger PCC: 6.2lbs
https://ruger.com/products/pcCarbine/specSheets/19130.html
Click to expand...

Interesting that the Magpul version is quite a few ounces lighter, that's cool.

I would like to shoot the PC Carbine before buying one but my local indoor range doesn't rent one and I don't know anyone with one.
I could post on Calguns and possibly meet someone at a local range when they're going to be out shooting to see if they'd let me shoot theirs.
Then again, in 2023, if you buy a gun, don't like it and sell it, you probably aren't going to lose too much money, more just time, hassle, sales tax and DROS.
 
Trackskippy, the PPsh really came to mind, with the perfed forend and the drum mag. :thumbup:
I've had two original Police Carbines; stumbled on to the second one more recently, with the factory receiver sight. Sold the earlier one to a buddy as a house gun, and he never complained about it. They are Ruger overbuilt, and even seem to run on aftermarket mags. They really have an M1 carbine feel.
I'd still recommend the current PC9 as a house gun for most folks; it's a better alternative than an AR or a shottie for rookies, and easier to shoot than a handgun. Magazines are abundant and cheap.
Couple gripes; the takedown system demands the aperture sight out on the barrel, and chances a loss of fine zero with an optic on the receiver. A place to mount a light would help. If taken down, it's not quick to assemble.
Really prefer the Scorpion carbine; the folding stock is a better answer to the compactness issue, it's quick to put into service, and there is no loss of zero. But it it more expensive, and requires proprietary (though relatively inexpensive) magazines.
Moon
 
I have two Ruger PC Carbines that I shoot in steel challenge and both have been amazingly reliable. When I only had one I shot 16 stages of steel challenge with it over two sessions in one day. About 400 rounds fired as fast as I'm capable of with no malfunctions.

It's a really good comparison to call them a 10/22 on steroids.

Minimum things to do if you buy one.

Get a spare extractor. There are a lot of reports of the OEM extractors wearing quickly or having issues out of the box. Get a Tandemkross or MCarbo extractor. Use the OEM until failure or put in the aftermarket and keep the OEM as a spare.

Replace the recoil spring plastic retainer with an aftermarket stainless one.

Get a couple of recoil buffers for spares. They do take a beating. The heavier recoil springs that are available will lessen the beating some.

That's the minimum I would do.

Tandemkross makes replacement pins for the trigger housing that won't fall out when you disassemble the gun. The pins that TK makes for the mag release on the 10/22 can be cut and used for the mag release pin on the PCC.

I put a TK fiber optic front sight on my iron sights gun.

I use a TK Shadow Mount on my red dot rifle. It replaced the rear sight on the PCC and mounts the dot low enough that the cheek weld for my dot and my irons is almost the same.

Things like an extended mag release, extended charging handle or ambi safety are up to the taste/needs of the user.

Here are my rifles. The hand guards are from Taccom and are mainly to allow the angled foregrip. They both started as base model 19100s and I run SR9 mags.

IMG_20221104_214551.jpg
 
Thanks for the input Marvin, that's all great information. I quite like shooting my 10/22 so I'm sure I would enjoy the PC Carbine as well.
Now I am just debating buying an assembled 9mm AR that takes Glock mags or assembling one myself in comparison to the PC Carbine.

Definitely advantages and disadvantages to both, the PC Carbine versus a 9mm AR. I would appreciate the PC for storage as my gun safe
is literally full in the long gun area but has a little shelf space above where I think I could wedge the PC Carbine up there. Cost is about the same.

The big AR advantage to me seems to be that I would have a buffer tube, buffer and spring, rather than straight blowback so follow ups and strings
on the AR might be a touch better? Possibly a longer sight plane? But the AR doesn't break down quite as easily, although separating the upper from the lower is pretty quick and could help with storage space.

Tough choices. I'm not in a hurry, I want to see if I can find a colleague or friend who has the PC Carbine and actually shoot it, I've never shot one. Come to think of it, I've only shot a 9mm AR once, but I recall it was fun and easy to shoot. I live in the People's Republic of California though and the PC Carbine with the rifle stocks are considered "featureless", whereas a 9mm AR would have to have a lame grip fin like my other ARs have, which is a drag. Our AW Ban is getting overturned by Judge Benitez but the state will appeal to the 9th so who knows how much longer we'll have to put up with our AW BS?

Does anyone in this thread have the PC Carbine AND a 9mm AR? What pros and cons have you found for either?
 
Capybara said:
The big AR advantage to me seems to be that I would have a buffer tube, buffer and spring, rather than straight blowback so follow ups and strings
on the AR might be a touch better?
Click to expand...

Capybara said:
Does anyone in this thread have the PC Carbine AND a 9mm AR? What pros and cons have you found for either?
Click to expand...

AR9s are still straight blowback. They just use the buffer tube for the spring & buffer. The bolt on the Ruger PC Carbine uses the tungsten weight instead of the buffer to get the recoil mass into the right weight area.

I did not find that I shot my AR9 any better than my Ruger PCC. I'm not an "AR guy". The controls on a traditional rifle are more to my liking. I had a PSA AR9, with upgraded trigger, buffer and buffer spring. It ran well and was dependable but I would rather shoot the Ruger's.

The biggest advantage I see to an AR9 is ease of takedown and availability of parts. Just like any other AR they can be customized extensively.

Here is an excellent site about the AR9 platform:

https://blowback9.wordpress.com/blog/
 
Thanks for your experience Marvin, much appreciated. It sounds like I am more of an AR guy than you are, but I also love AKs and C&R bolt actions from 100 years ago. I'm all over the map and pretty much like all different kinds of guns but I
get what you are saying about the handling, balance and feel between the two. I'll check out that site!

*edit
https://blowback9.wordpress.com/2022/01/22/the-9mm-ar-a-flawed-design/
Wow! Just reading this article really steers me back to the Ruger. I didn't realize that a 9mm AR was so rife with so many engineering and design compromises! Seeing it explained in detail really brings it home. At least the PC Carbine was designed as a 9mm rifle. It seems as if it's kind of a stroke of luck and a lot of chance if you have a reliable and reliably feeding 9mm AR. Unreliable guns really turn me off, I just sell them if it's not something logical and easy to repair or address.
 
Last edited:
Capybara said:
Thanks for your experience Marvin, much appreciated. It sounds like I am more of an AR guy than you are, but I also love AKs and C&R bolt actions from 100 years ago. I'm all over the map and pretty much like all different kinds of guns but I
get what you are saying about the handling, balance and feel between the two. I'll check out that site!

*edit
https://blowback9.wordpress.com/2022/01/22/the-9mm-ar-a-flawed-design/
Wow! Just reading this article really steers me back to the Ruger. I didn't realize that a 9mm AR was so rife with so many engineering and design compromises! Seeing it explained in detail really brings it home. At least the PC Carbine was designed as a 9mm rifle. It seems as if it's kind of a stroke of luck and a lot of chance if you have a reliable and reliably feeding 9mm AR. Unreliable guns really turn me off, I just sell them if it's not something logical and easy to repair or address.
Click to expand...


I’m with you. I pretty much like all guns and have a predilection for milsurps, so the Ruger with that mlok barrel shroud was really the only way to go, especially when I found it on sale. It looks great, just wish they actually made them with a wood stock. It’s a fun rifle. Not exactly small and petite feeling, but then again, I have a single shot .357 for carrying in the field that can’t weigh more than 5lbs, 9mm is not considered an ideal hunting round, and the original Suomi, Ppsh, etc weren’t light guns either.

The AR-9 itself seems to be a challenge. What you want, if going that route, is one of the somewhat proprietary modified AR-type guns from manufacturers like CMMG, Angstadt Arms, etc. They still retain many AR virtues without the potential AR-9 vices. Of course, by that point the other virtue of cost starts to disappear so you really ought to cross shop those with the CZ Scorpion, kalashnikov 9mm, sig mpx, hk clones, etc.

There is the Extar EP9 (I think that’s the model?) which is light, cheap, polymer, AR based, and guys seem to really like, so not a bad option too.
 
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