Looking for input on the ruger PC carbine

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MidRoad

MidRoad

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Thinking about picking up a new PC carbine. Plan on a Hd/plinking gun. Live in NY so features and capacity is limited.

My LGS just got a batch in. What are your guys thoughts on them? Been reliable? Any known issues? Anyone have high round counts on them? Thanks!
 
I have a forty that I bought for plinking also. Just a straight California’s take down. It’s reliable. I had to get a brass catcher for it though. I only have about 300 rds or so through it. I like it a little kick and reloading challenges. You might need a chronograph with the longer barrel @MidRoad .
 
I have a 9mm and use the Glock magazine well. I've got maybe 1000 rds through it with zero malfunctions. It shoots 3-5" groups at 100 yds with any 9mm ammo. Any NATO ball is the most accurate.

The longer barrel only gives about 100-150 fps more than a 5" pistol. Not a lot for a cartridge that is already going 1100 fps +. If you shoot 147 subsonic ammo you may find you lose some velocity compared to a pistol.
 
I have a 9mm with the Glock magwell installed. It was one of the early ones and needed to go back to the factory once. Ruger covered shipping both directions and it has been flawless since. I have a Bushnell TRS-25 on mine, and have no trouble ringing steel at 100 yards with it. Haven't really shot it for groups yet, as that's not its purpose. Still, I should probably shoot it over a chronograph and test it for groups at 50 just to see what its doing.
 
I got mine about six months after they came out. I've got at least 3000 rounds through it.

I had to replace the extractor. Unfired brass would not extract from the chamber. It was a 10 minute fix. I upgraded to the M*Carbo part.

They are crazy accurate. Tons of fun. I cast my own bullets and it's less expensive for me to shoot 9mm than it is 22 LR. I caught a Volquartsen trigger pack on eBay for half price. I can do splits in the tenth of a second range and keep the shoots within a couple of inches at 25 yards.
 
Texas10mm said:
I got mine about six months after they came out. I've got at least 3000 rounds through it.

I had to replace the extractor. Unfired brass would not extract from the chamber. It was a 10 minute fix. I upgraded to the M*Carbo part.

They are crazy accurate. Tons of fun. I cast my own bullets and it's less expensive for me to shoot 9mm than it is 22 LR. I caught a Volquartsen trigger pack on eBay for half price. I can do splits in the tenth of a second range and keep the shoots within a couple of inches at 25 yards.
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Thats one thing thats appealing to me, seem to be super simple.

Dont have an AR currently. Hate the featurless horse crap we have to have here in NY. Figured this would make a good, simple hd/plinking gun.
 
Love my 9mm Ruger PCC. Has ~350 rounds through it and it's been dead reliable. Not a single problem. Using Magpul 21rd Glock mags. I have a Burris 1-5x 30mm scope on it and at 50 yards it shoots very very well. 20200307_123930.jpg that is 5 or 6 rounds of GECO 115gr FMJ from my Ruger Carbine. Shot at 50 yards this was shot before I had 100 rounds down the barrel too.
 
I am seeing mostly low round counts being reported. Mine now has several thousand rounds through it and while I like the gun, there are some problems.

First of all, the front handguard heats up really quick. I changed out my handguard for a Midwest Industries aluminum version and this problem went away.

A bigger issue for me has been the intermittent jams. This gun (mine in particular anyway) very much prefers to be run clean and well oiled. If it gets dirty the jams are usually pretty spectacular.

A further, but minor point: my charging handle needs retightening every few hundred rounds or so. I realize I could Lock-Tight the retaining screw, but seeing how I need to disassemble the gun to clean it that doesn't seem like a great idea.

Even with all those issues I still love the concept of the PC Carbine. I will be selling mine to a friend eventually, but that is only so I can pick up the new (and better for my needs) PC Charger.
20191107_052504.jpg 20200712_051955.jpg
 
kBob said:
What are the prices like on these NOW? Not MSRP, what are shops getting for them?

-kBob
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Somewhere around $600+/- here in Central California. Plenty of legal horse excrement here too, so the Ruger PCs are very popular.

I second the concern for the charging handle loosening. I strip mine down to clean/lube inside the receiver after every shooting session, so it gets frequently re-tightened and hasn't been an issue for me yet, but like screws on a single action Colt it's something to regularly check.
 
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My only loose-screw issues with the PC 9 are with the fore end screw and the barrel lock but loosening a bit, but blue lock tite worked wonders.

Mine has a bit above a thousand through it, with the GLOCK mags it’s been great.

Stay safe.
 
While it lacks the elegance and refinement of a Hi-Point, the Ruger PCC gets nothing but high marks from the owners that I know. I shoot in a local competition that has PCC side matches frequently. In the last two years, the Ruger PCC has become the dominant firearm in that admittedly small world, and I can't recall any failures other than reloads or any serious complaints.
 
Legionnaire said:
I have a 9mm with the Glock magwell installed. It was one of the early ones and needed to go back to the factory once. Ruger covered shipping both directions and it has been flawless since. I have a Bushnell TRS-25 on mine, and have no trouble ringing steel at 100 yards with it. Haven't really shot it for groups yet, as that's not its purpose. Still, I should probably shoot it over a chronograph and test it for groups at 50 just to see what its doing.
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Same here, had an earlier one that had FTE problems and mangled brass with some ammo. I sent it back to Ruger with them paying shipment and it came back fine, chugs through all ammo I've tried. I'd recommend it for the OPs uses and requirements.
 
I got mine when the LGS could not lay hands on one shortly after they hit. Waited till one place on the other side of the country had them for $525 and ordered one. Has been perfect from day one. Lost track how much ammo it has eaten. Only problem I have is as others said, forearm screw loosening. Blue LT keeps it fine until I have to take it down to clean. Put another drop on and it's good to go again. Wife who is VERY recoil sensitive will shoot this and loves it. Even if I had to go to 10 round mags it would still be a ton of fun and a great around the house gun. +P 9mm ammo will give the same performance you get with a .357 in a 4inch tube with these. Great guns.
 
DocRock said:
While it lacks the elegance and refinement of a Hi-Point, the Ruger PCC gets nothing but high marks from the owners that I know. I shoot in a local competition that has PCC side matches frequently. In the last two years, the Ruger PCC has become the dominant firearm in that admittedly small world, and I can't recall any failures other than reloads or any serious complaints.
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I've shot my Ruger in the PCC class at my club matches a couple of times. I've smoked some pretty high dollar AR carbines. The accuracy combined with the 7 ounce linear comp means my muzzle movement is very small.
 
Took me a long time to warm up to these things after I gave my two ARs to my sons. Then decided it might be a good thing to have a PC to plink around with at the family properties and for neighborhood social work.
Paid $530 for mine 3 weeks ago from GrabaGun. Will be using the 17 round SR9 mags with it.
Have not shot it yet, but it has some very cool features. If it works reliably then I’ll be happy.

9E3C52C0-E024-4F47-BB02-2331852B23A5.jpeg
 
I've had the opportunity to shoot two of them.....I like how they handle. No failures of any kind but I don't know the round count. Handy little semi auto carbine
 
Mine's 2 years old this month and approaching 500 rounds. No problems yet and I'm alert about things like the charging handle bolt loosening up or the forearm screw vibrating loose. Very handy little carbine and I even like the iron sights it came with. Had a holographic sight here that I wasn't using and put it on for awhile but went back to the irons. It's nice having the option to use Glock mags as I own a Glock 19 but I haven't got around to installing the Glock mag well yet. Gonna put that on my "to do" list. Here's my buddy ringing 100 yd. steel with the Holo sight. IMG_7200.JPG . Here it is at present. IMG_2041.JPG . That built in rail atop the receiver is another nice feature for making it simple & easy to use optics, red dots, holo sights, etc.
 
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