PC Carbine opinions

[ACORN]

I’ve been good so far and not bought anything for a little while and was thinking about a Ruger PC Carbine but the prices seem all over the map. LGS has one for ~$500. It’s the regular one not the Reising look alike. If you have one how do you like it.

 

[ContinentalOp]

Have you tried doing a search? The Ruger PCC has been discussed a few times. Here's a recent thread: Ruger PC Carbine?

 

[dmthomp32]

There are several threads you can view. Ill add that I haven't read a bad review about the Ruger PCC. My father in law has one and loves it to death. There are lots of great PCC'S on the market but for the price, ability to use Glock mags and a take down feature this is a hard one to beat.

Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using Tapatalk

 

[Marshal Tom]

Buy one, you will not be sorry. I used one in our firearms program at a fancy resort. We purchased a variety of 9mm carbines that could be used on our steal pistol range. We and most of our guests liked the Ruger over the other offerings.

 

[rwsmith]

I've got a Kel tec....

...and I'm dreaming about Ruger or Beretta carbine. I've always been carbine nut but 9mm is the cat's meow and they are fun as gangbuster.

I like carbines so much that I would like to use it as a home defense because they feel so natural and I have great control with them. The Kel Tec works very well, but I don't think it's of the quality to depend on for life or death.

 

[JohnK]

Definitely a winner. I think it is the perfect home defense carbine. 400 ft/lbs, or so, about duplicates a .357 Mag in a handgun.

Perfect function, with a variety of ammo, including +P+.

Mine has a superb trigger, maybe the luck of the draw, but super nice.

 

[JayFramer]

I recently bought one and the Glock magazines are so loose in it they move about a quarter inch forward and back. I called Ruger asking about it and shook the gun next to the phone, sounded like a maraca. They seemed concerned and sent a shipping label. I’ll send it in after the holidays. I have never in my life encountered any firearm with such a loose magazine, and that includes haggard mixmatched Kalashnikovs.

 

[waffles]

Unlike the others, I did not care for mine. It's heavy for the cartridge, mostly because of the heavy bolt required by virtue of it being a blowback gun. That heavy bolt is also coming back every time it fires, which causes surprisingly high recoil. Mine was also not as reliable as I would've liked. I understand why most of the modern 9mm carbines and subguns use the blowback design (they're cheap and simple), but running an MP5 for awhile will ruin them for you. I sold my PCC pretty quickly and was happy to have done so.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

People complained that a M-1 Carbine is way under powered, yet it is 800 ft lbs. The 9mm is about 400! I had two of the Marlin Camp 9 Carbines, and found them woefully under powered on pest animals on the farm. If a 20 pound animal runs away what will a 180 pound thug do?

I know a number of farmers that use M-1 Carbines, but I know none that use any pistol caliber carbine (9mm, 40S&W or 45 ACP) there are some 357, 44 mag and a old 44-40 lever guns in service around Central Ohio.

I would thing in areas where larger predators abound, larger caliber rifles are the minimum.

I don't sell any of these guns, you should think about the unlikely but real world use! Other wise, you can run around playing Army with a Cap Gun or a 22 Long Rifle if ammo cost is a real concern.

Ivan

 

[BC38]

I got an email from Buds and they are selling the takedown for $399 with free shipping on their website.
I think that's about the best price I've seen for one

Ruger PC Carbine 9MM 16.12 Takedown TB/Fluted 17RD | 19100 - Buds Gun Shop

 

[Sargeyork]

More fun than You can stand! Shoot 500 rounds and not break the bank when you buy bulk packs, shoots steel and aluminum case and asks for more with 0 problems. I have shorter arms and fingers so I took the stock spacers off and it fits me perfect and feels short and nimble handling to address multiple steel plate bad guys! This carbine was well thought out and designed and made to last. Glock mag issues seem to be with the cheaper brands of mags and some of the high caps do fit loose but does not drop out or cause feeding malfunctions. When set up for ruger mags the mags fit more snugly. The shooting feel and handling are superb and I beleive it will be available in many calibers soon. Had mine for about a year.

 

[BC38]

People complained that a M-1 Carbine is way under powered, yet it is 800 ft lbs. The 9mm is about 400! I had two of the Marlin Camp 9 Carbines, and found them woefully under powered on pest animals on the farm. If a 20 pound animal runs away what will a 180 pound thug do?

400 ft lbs is pretty close to the bottom of the scale isn't it?

Looking at the Ballistics By The Inch site, out of a 16" barrel (typical for a carbine) the bottom end of all the 9mm rounds they tested made 400 ft lbs, several made 450, and a bunch made 550-650 ft lbs
Ballistics by the inch

It seems like a 20 lb animal running away after being hit with 400-650 ft lbs energy would have to have taken a pretty poor hit.

 

[Univibe]

...and I'm dreaming about Ruger or Beretta carbine. I've always been carbine nut but 9mm is the cat's meow and they are fun as gangbuster.

I like carbines so much that I would like to use it as a home defense because they feel so natural and I have great control with them. The Kel Tec works very well, but I don't think it's of the quality to depend on for life or death.

I do. My Sub 2000 with 30 round Glock magazine is my car gun. 100% reliable with Q4318 NATO. I threw a red dot on it. Good if I'm changing a tire and the Gang of Four shows up.

And I just got a Beretta cx4, will shoot it this week. It will replace the venerable pump shotgun for home invasion work.

 

[jimmyj]

Jimmy is old fashion:
I like shoulder arms to be in a rifle caliber and a handgun to be in a handgun caliber.

 

[LVSteve]

People complained that a M-1 Carbine is way under powered, yet it is 800 ft lbs. The 9mm is about 400! I had two of the Marlin Camp 9 Carbines, and found them woefully under powered on pest animals on the farm. If a 20 pound animal runs away what will a 180 pound thug do?

Comparing the terminal effects of a round in wild animals with that in humans generally doesn't go well.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Comparing the terminal effects of a round in wild animals with that in humans generally doesn't go well.

True, most animals are smarter!

I think the comment Jimmy J made is considered pretty true. People are "Old Fashioned" if they reject new ideas. It doesn't matter if the idea is good or not. I was just pointing out, a cartridge of 30 to 50% m0r4 power was considered under powered.

The real problem with 9mm & 40 S&W long guns is: people think they will have typical long gun performance at typical long gun ranges!

I have a friend that was shot just above the knee with a 55 grain soft point 22 caliber center fire bullet (we assume either 223 or 22-250) back in 1975. It really didn't do much damage! Why, because it was from over a mile away. Bullets have a useful range! 9's & 40's run out of range pretty quick! It is true, that with a carbine most people will be able to hit something at 100+ yards and even much further! But what is it really capable of when it gets there.

Not every situation demands a Main Battle caliber (308/3006/7.62x54R/303 Brit), that's why most modern armies have gone to 223 or 7.63x39! But 7.62x25 and 30 Carbine were considered marginable in the 1950's and they both way out perform 9mm & 40 in carbines!

The OP ask for opinions about a 9mm carbine in particular, and my opinion is more in general. But at least I have used all of the above cartridges if the field and at distance of 100+ yards, and at those distance ringing steel plates and shooting pop cans is the extent of their potential.

Ivan

 

[BC38]

Yeah, obviously a 9mm carbine isn't a long range weapon.
More suited to fairly close work on small to medium game or defense of a fortified position within a 50-100 yard perimeter.

 

[Skeptic 9c]

Based on large numbers of reviews the Ruger 9mm carbine sights are not well liked. But Ruger expects everyone will add a dot sight of some kind.
Geoff
Who is still looking...hummm I haven't checked the usual sale prices the day after Christmas.

 

[BAM-BAM]

I've got three PCCs; a Beretta CX-4 in 9mm a Ruger 77/357 and a Winchester Trapper.

The Beretta, with a red dot, is a PDW at ranges out to 75yds.... maybe 100 if the SHTF.....and pairs nicely with my Beretta 92 Centurions. Common magazines from the factory or Mec-Gar in 15,17,18,20 and 30 rds. Shorter than a AR with the stock collapsed..... about 5.5lb IIRC. While not a battle rifle I can get fist size double and triple taps out to 50 yds a lot faster than I can with a pistol....... there is a reason SWAT and Special operators used the MP-5 for decades. Not for full auto...... but.... for fast shot placement

The Ruger with a Weaver 1-3x20 shotgun scope... is my utility rifle in Penn's Woods out to 100yds.

The Winchester in .357 is like a piece of rock candy ...... for looking at! LOL it's too nice to drag though Penn's Woods. But would be a handy little Politically Correct carbine.

 

[Univibe]

Jimmy is old fashion:
I like shoulder arms to be in a rifle caliber and a handgun to be in a handgun caliber.

Univibe is progressive. Let off 5.56 in a room, and you get permanent hearing damage and maybe disorient yourself when you need focus the most.

But 9mm from a 16" barrel while still loud, is quieter than 9mm from a handgun.

I was in a small gun store years ago. Guy was working on an AR in the back room. An open standard sized door separated the back room from the main floor. Gun mechanic let off a round, somehow. It was insanely loud even from the next room through the doorway. Like permanamet hearing damage, for all I know.

So: PCCs make a lot of sense as home invasion weapons.