Ruger PC9 Carbine

Disco Bob

Disco Bob

Regular
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
There is now a number of thread that discuss a number of issues with the above carbine. From issues with ejections and the issues with the quality of the materials that the ejection part is made of. Another thread mentioned that issues with the mag catch and that the user can not be slamming the mag into the mag well on the PC9 carbine.

Is this a reliable and durable carbine that one should hang onto? I mean is this a firearm that will go 30, 40 or 50,000 rounds? I will like to know before I sink much more money into unit with extra mags Mid West parts and etc.

Would this carbine be able to be considered a SHTF unit or it's just a light weight play toy?
 
I'm on my third one, so I'm a fan. I think if yoh expect to get tens of thousands of rounds out of a gun, you should also expect to upgrade and replace parts. My first gun was missing g one of the trigger pins right out of the box, it was one of the first that came to Canada when the Canadian version was released, don't know if the rush had anything to do with it, but otherwise all of mine have been very reliable. They are great guns out of the box, and even better as you upgrade.
 
Every rifle brand and line has issues. The pc carbine has some unique to it. Slamming the mags in can bend the mag stop but you get two of them swap it if this happenes. And like a lot of ruger parts the extractor is a molded piece, which is easy to wear out. Luckily companies like mcarbo have improved replacement parts, which is all ready a major improvement over others that do not. Its a great little rifle, bit heavy but not perfect, but neither is the jr carbine that i hear rattles its threads loose and ive seen break firing pins, or the fx9 that literally mangles aluminium casings and i do mean completly mangled. In the end its up to you but most people are happy with them.
 
I think they are all borderline mediocre guns, from the FX9 to the RPCC to the JR9. None will be mistaken for a Perazzi product.
 
I love mine. With a Sparc11 on it at 50 yards my Lyman 356402 bullets go into a 1" circle from a rest with ease. My gun favours 125gr bullets, both lead cast and BDC FMJ vs 147gr Copper plated Can Pro. To date my cast are easily the most accurate out to 50 yards off a rest with the BDC a close 2nd. I have ordered a 1.5x 5X scope for it and think even tighter groups are possible.

Mine has been flawless to date both with my various reloads and a few Win HP defensive ammo. With the right setting the gun could be a fun gopher plinker out to 50 - 75 yards.

I am impressed with the build quality of the gun. The gun holds zero after several take downs. It comes with a much better trigger than a stock CZ Scorpian a stranger let me try. He replaced the trigger parts in the Scorpian with HB Industries parts. Build quality of the Ruger is about as good but does not surpass the Czech offering. I don't think the FX9 or the JR enjoy the same build quality and none compare to the Scorpian in either accuracy or build. Both the Ruger, the Scorpian and the Beretta CX4 Storm reflect better engineering than virtually all other 9MM carbines offered from smaller companies IMHO.

Take Care

Bob
 
Ribstaylor said:
Every rifle brand and line has issues. The pc carbine has some unique to it. Slamming the mags in can bend the mag stop but you get two of them swap it if this happenes. And like a lot of ruger parts the extractor is a molded piece, which is easy to wear out. Luckily companies like mcarbo have improved replacement parts, which is all ready a major improvement over others that do not. Its a great little rifle, bit heavy but not perfect, but neither is the jr carbine that i hear rattles its threads loose and ive seen break firing pins, or the fx9 that literally mangles aluminium casings and i do mean completly mangled. In the end its up to you but most people are happy with them.
Click to expand...

With the extractor, generally how many rounds before they go? Does it make any diff. with regards to shooting reloads or factory ammo like American Eagle with regards to the extractor?
With the mag stop, should I change it out right from the get go? These are all normal wear and tear parts generally at what mileage should I expect things to fail?

I'm just used to how my Glock 17 keeps on running, but I only shoot factory ammo with it.
 
Disco Bob- Neither part should ever fail..but they do. Mine and another fellow at our club have probably 1K rds through each of our guns with no issues. You have to remember when one guy has a problem and another guy says he had the same thing, the two become the norm. Some of the extractors broke I guess. When mine does, or if it does I will get a new one. I would think it is pretty rare but who knows maybe my gun will fall apart after 5K rds. I suspect it won't but maybe. Don't go looking for problems during the day with a flashlight.

Take Care

Bob
 
Canuck44 said:
Disco Bob- Neither part should ever fail..but they do. Mine and another fellow at our club have probably 1K rds through each of our guns with no issues. You have to remember when one guy has a problem and another guy says he had the same thing, the two become the norm. Some of the extractors broke I guess. When mine does, or if it does I will get a new one. I would think it is pretty rare but who knows maybe my gun will fall apart after 5K rds. I suspect it won't but maybe. Don't go looking for problems during the day with a flashlight.

Take Care

Bob
Click to expand...

Thank you.
 
I've currently made two offers on a PC9 through the EE. I'm excited to get my hands on one, as my wife will finally enjoy shooting something other than a .22 and my SP01. Plus I love me a PCC. I'd get a beretta storm but I dont like the ergos.
 
Crousis said:
I'd get a beretta storm but I dont like the ergos.
Click to expand...

Comrades Trudeau and Blair say "Nyet to Beretta Storm!!!"

OP: I think 30k+ is pretty optimistic for any firearm... Most ARs needed re-barreling by then due to throat erosion.

A lot of DSS members have switched to NR PCCs as the OIC took our ARs away... Several PC9s and FX9s are out there and have already seen several thousand rounds. My observations so far:

Yes, the FX9 mashes aluminum cases... That's PROBABLY why they tell you to ONLY use brass. The only other issue seems to be pickiness with some Glock magazines not engaging the bolt hold open. Other than that, keep them WET and they run well.

The PC9s seem to be holding up quite well. We've not seen any of the extraction issues yet, but maybe we will.

BOTH Gen 2 Sub2000s broke at the match last Sunday. One action fragged (second time for that carbine, and YES it was factory ammo) and the other charging handle broke.

Good luck
 
There are a handful of the new Ruger PC Carbines at the Club where I shoot.

No one has 40,000 rounds yet - probably a thousand tops!

No one has had any failures, a few have had the odd FTE.

Most of the folks use their Glock magazines - I scoop up the Ruger mags (as I have no Glock pistols).

We are very happy with the little rifles and plan to start shooting steel plates with them as part of our pistol shooting outings.

My biggest complaint is that the blowback action makes the ejected brass a bit harder to find in the grass after shooting.
 
Phat Eagle I think you would agree there is a significant difference between the .223 and 9MM when it comes to barrel wear and throat erosion. I shoot a lot pf lead through my guns for practice and I would expect as much as 100K might go through a pistol or PCC served a steady diet of lead bullets. That assumes reasonable maintenance with recoil spring replacement. I would also expect more wear using plated and FNJ bullets due to the higher level of friction involved.

One of the gun rags several years ago did a "wear/accuracy" test involving a SIG 226 IIRC. After 10K rds groups opened up marginally. I do recall thinking the difference in accuracy before and after might well have been noting more than an expected variance in two ten shot groups.

For most, I would think the question is moot. Going to the range once a month six times a year and firing off say 200 rds of 9MM would take you how long to hit say 50K rds...42 years. The dedicated crowd obviously do more but I suspect most don't during their child raising years.

Take Care

Bob
 
Canuck44 said:
Or buy a Brass Catcher from Caldwell. I have the one that sits on your rail and the other bigger basket type. Both are relatively inexpensive and work.

Take Care

Bob
Click to expand...


I will see if I can find one of those.

I do not reload for 9mm yet - the little buggers are too small for my fat fingers.
 
Ribstaylor said:
Every rifle brand and line has issues. The pc carbine has some unique to it. Slamming the mags in can bend the mag stop but you get two of them swap it if this happenes. And like a lot of ruger parts the extractor is a molded piece, which is easy to wear out. Luckily companies like mcarbo have improved replacement parts, which is all ready a major improvement over others that do not. Its a great little rifle, bit heavy but not perfect, but neither is the jr carbine that i hear rattles its threads loose and ive seen break firing pins, or the fx9 that literally mangles aluminium casings and i do mean completly mangled. In the end its up to you but most people are happy with them.
Click to expand...

The issue you had with the aluminum cases is an ammo problem really, not a gun problem. Did you not know that any blowback action is pretty much a no go with aluminum casings? In a blowback the case is beginning to be extracted while there is still pressure in the barrel. Aluminum casings need FULL chamber support in order to not split or get blowouts in the case head area and blowbacks do not provide that.
 
Thresher said:
The issue you had with the aluminum cases is an ammo problem really, not a gun problem. Did you not know that any blowback action is pretty much a no go with aluminum casings? In a blowback the case is beginning to be extracted while there is still pressure in the barrel. Aluminum casings need FULL chamber support in order to not split or get blowouts in the case head area and blowbacks do not provide that.
Click to expand...

I didn’t know this. I have a PC9 and it’s shot ~500 rounds of Blaser Al 9mm with no problems.

C1CD1E6E-0755-4C37-9E0A-8FDFBD86CDEB.jpg

Shoots it well too. That’s at 50yds with a 3 MOA red dot.
 

Attachments

  • C1CD1E6E-0755-4C37-9E0A-8FDFBD86CDEB.jpg
    C1CD1E6E-0755-4C37-9E0A-8FDFBD86CDEB.jpg
    88.4 KB · Views: 254
adamg said:
I think they are all borderline mediocre guns, from the FX9 to the RPCC to the JR9. None will be mistaken for a Perazzi product.
Click to expand...

I would tend to agree. you could also toss the w180 in their as well....not a 9mm carbine,,,, but has the same track record.

I have to laugh, I have a high point 9mm and I have yet to encounter "any" issues.....and I've blasted the crap outa that thing !

It just keeps going....and going....
 
Last edited:
Kinda looks like the way I shoot my Ruger PC Carbine, a little high and to the right, just off iron sights though.

Lay some tarp on the floor if you want to catch brass.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom