Ruger introduced the PC Carbine some time back. The PC Carbine is a modified 10/22 takedown that can accept 9mm. Ruger introduced the PC Charger after the success of its PC Carbine. Ruger also offers a Charger 10/22 which is basically a pistol-format version of the Carbine. This is our Ruger PC Charger Review.
What is the appeal to the gun?
The Ruger PC Charger is different from most other products on the market. It has a very short barrel for a pistol-caliber gun of this type. There is also a take-down that allows you to remove the barrel and handguard from your receiver. The gun can be folded up very small, so it can fit in most storage spaces. However, it is a heavy and bulky weapon. You can reduce the gun’s length, but you won’t be able to eliminate the bulk.
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The 10/22 falls within the.22-caliber firearms category. It is very similar to many other.22 rifles but quite different from any other 9mm pistols.
There are many options
Other similar brace pistols, such as the Stribog and the SIG Sauer MPX are available. The difference is more cosmetic. I am a huge fan of movie guns and have yet to see the Ruger PC Charger in any movie. This is a bit disappointing, but it could be due to the gun’s appearance. The gun is based on the Ruger 10/22 and has a strange futuristic look, but it also looks very traditional. It’s a strange combination. Although it has a cool sci-fi look, it lacks any tactical or sleek feel. This gun is a class act.
The first time I bought the Charger, the first thing that struck me was the mock-ups Kurt Russell used to portray Snake Plissken in Escape from LA. I can see this pistol being run as it is without a fixed power scope or variable power optic. It’s a unique setup that’s really cool. You’ll love it if you’re the type of guy who likes something different. You might consider another gun if you are looking for something that blends in with the rest.
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Ruger PC Charger Review Take-Down
Ruger PC Charger’s take-down function sets it apart from other firearms. The Ruger PC Charger is the only one that can take down the gun. It is extremely efficient and simple to use. It is easy to remove the barrel from the gun and has a locking mechanism that allows you tighten the fit. The ratchet can be adjusted to adjust the fit between the barrel’s receiver and the barrel. It will be easier to install the barrel if the ratchet is looser than if it is tightened. Once the barrel is installed, you can tighten it further. This gun is very easy to use.
I have the ratchet tightened to the point that it can go, but still be able to turn the barrel on and off. I have not noticed any significant degradation in accuracy. It is definitely accurate enough to my needs. This is not a gun I use to bench-rest at 100 yards in order to shoot quarter-sized groups.
Practicality
Although the take-down function is nice, I find its true utility to be somewhat questionable. This gun is quite large and bulky. The barrel and handguard only take a few inches off the gun. You are removing a few inches from the gun when you fold the brace and remove the handguard. You’re creating a new piece that must be stored separately. Although this gun is great for packing in a backpack or other gear for camping trips, it is heavy and cumbersome.
You may think this gun is the best take-down gun online. But when you get it in person, you’ll see that it’s more of a novelty than a useful feature.
Ergonomics Ruger PC Charger Review
Ruger PC Charger’s ergonomics are certainly different from other guns in its class. It is a 10/22-like gun, but there are some differences that I’ll discuss below.
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Safety
The Ruger PC Charger’s safety is identical to a Ruger 10/22. It is a cross-bolt-style safety, which sits in front the trigger guard. If you are a right-handed shooter, the safety must be pressed in. The gun will then heat up. To re-engage safety, press it to the opposite side of the receiver. Personally, I don’t like this type of safety. It’s not as intuitive to know if it’s on or off than an AR-15-style version.
It would also be easier to accidentally bump the safety, especially if the gun was being carried in a bag or on the back of a four wheeler. This gun is not one I would keep loaded with one in it. It seems to work well at the range, but I wouldn’t trust it to be moved around or for the safety to stay engaged.
Pistol Grip Ruger PC Charger Review
This firearm’s pistol grip uses an AR-15-style pistol grip. They have a Ruger-branded pistolgrip that is a combination of a Magpul MOE grip and an M1682. It feels great in your hand. It works well. However, I would suggest a more rounded grip to make it easier for QCB-style photography.
Mag Releases
This gun’s magazine release is unlike any other. The gun’s well is positioned much further forward than it would be on a 10/22. As a right-handed shooter, you can use the magazine release on the left side of your gun with your support hand thumb. It’s okay and easy to reach, but this gun is not designed to speed reload.
It’s not a problem or hindrance. It’s not a new gun, if you’re familiar with AR-15s. If you shoot left-handed, you can reach up and use your index fingers to push the magazine in and remove it. Another thing to remember is that magazines on these may not always drop completely.
Magazine Well
The Ruger PC Charger’s magazine well is different than most other options. It can switch between Ruger SR series mags and Glock mags. The magazine can use Glock mags by placing an insert in the magazine well. It comes with a Ruger SR-series mag. I, like most people, have decided to run Glock mags. I have many of them and there are many extended and affordable options when I decide to do so.
The magazine well has a nice bevel which allows you to insert a magazine quickly. Although it isn’t as good as other options, it’s still quite good. I would like to see more beveling. The best thing about the mag well setup is that you can use Glock 26 mags or 50- or 100-round extended drums.
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This will work with any Glock magazine. However, reliability will depend on the magazine. Keep in mind that aftermarket magazines can have issues that are unrelated to the gun. It is possible that your gun isn’t reliable with a large-capacity magazine, drum or drum that holds 50 rounds.
Ruger PC Charger Review Bolt Release/Hold-Open
This Ruger PC Charger does not have a bolt release, but it does have a bolt hold open. This hold-open is used to take down the firearm. You will need to lock the bolt to the rear of the gun if you are going to remove the barrel and handguard. The bolt hold is located in front the trigger guard, much like a 10/22. It’s just a piece stamped sheet metal that works well.
Charging Handle
The charging handle for the Ruger PC charger is ambidextrous. It sits in the middle section of the Picatinny rail. It is not my favorite position. A wide optic, such as an EA tech’s, can lead to you fracturing your fingers when you try to charge the weapon. It’s important to ensure that the optic is correct for your firearm.
The charging handle is a simple, rounded piece made of steel. It works. It’s not exceptional, but it’s still usable. It’s very easy to actuate and, on locked back magazines, it’s very quick and easy to drop the bolt and let it run.
Handguard
This gun’s handguard is small and compact. It covers almost the entire barrel. There are two M-LOK slots along the sides and one and a half at the bottom. It’s a very ergonomic handguard, and I don’t have any complaints about it. It works quite well.
Trigger Ruger PC Charger Review
The trigger of the PC Charger is very similar to a standard 10/22 trigger. The trigger will only give off a little bit of take-up when you pull out some slack, but there won’t be any creep. It’s a fairly heavy trigger, but not too heavy. It’s similar in weight to most AR-15 triggers that are mil-spec. This trigger reset is very spongy, and not authoritative. You’ll likely want a little more. This trigger is not one I would need to replace. It’s not as bad as the trigger for the CZ Scorpion. It’s a decent trigger but could use some improvement.
Brace/Stock
As the chassis has a 1913 Picatinny-style rail, it’s easy to mount a brace on the Ruger PC Charger. I have mounted a SB tactical M1913 brace. However, you can also SPR the gun to mount an actual stock.
This gun can be used with any 1913-style brace. You can mount a tailhook or a PSAAKV brace. There are many options and they all work well. Your brace may not work with the charging handle folded. This is the advantage of being able switch to the side with the charging handle. My SB tactical M1913 brace barely fits under the charging handle. I also have to press the handle underneath it when shooting. Amazingly, the bolt on my gun still works so I can shoot with the brace folded.
Ruger PC Charger 9mm Accessories
The Ruger PC 9mm Charger accessories will make your experience even better. You may want to make this a Snake Plissken gun, as I mentioned earlier. Or you may just want it to be fun to shoot at range. Accessories can make a huge difference, and we’re going over to them now.
Optics
As we mentioned earlier, optics can fit on a 12 O’clock rail that sits on top the receiver. This rail is machined to fit the receiver and will work with any optic as long as it doesn’t have a large base. Optics like the EOTECH and Holosun 510 are unlikely to work well. Optics with a broad base are better suited for a different gun. However, aim point micros and clones such as the Holosun are great.
Irons
This gun does not have any iron sights. It can shift without any iron sights whatsoever. The handguard does not have the ability to add a front sight. You would need to mount the iron sights on top. This would give you a short sight radius of around eight inches. I personally prefer a wider sight radius and don’t see myself adding iron sights.
Lights Ruger PC Charger Review
It is not easy to mount a light to the Ruger PC Charger. While you could mount one that you could activate using your thumb, it is difficult to find one that you can activate with both your hands. I like to have all my guns set up for ambidextrous usage. To do this, I mounted a Picatinny Rail to the M-LOK slot on right-hand side. Then mounted a stream light TLR-1HL. This works quite well.
To activate the lever when shooting it right-handed, I use my support hand middle finger. I can do constant-on or momentary operation easily. I can use my thumb to activate the light if I am shooting with my lefthand. It’s an intuitive and very easy setup that almost anyone can use.
Control Devices
You’ll have very few options for control devices due to the fact that there is only one M-LOK slot on the bottom handguard. It comes with a UTG stop, which I find to be very useful and would not hesitate to replace with any other. I am actually very happy with the UTG hand stop. Even if I could find another control device that would fit, I wouldn’t swap it for the UTG stop.
Sling
It is not as simple as you might think to mount a sling on the Ruger PC Charger. It is possible to mount a sling on one of the QD mountings on the receiver’s right- or left-hand sides. This is great if you only need a single point sling, but it’s not possible to mount a sling to one of the QD mounts on the rear. As a right-handed shooter, you could mount a QDcup in the M-LOK slot on your gun’s left-hand side. This would work well ergonomically but I’m not sure if that’s something I’d like to do. It all depends on what you are looking for in a gun sling. But, there are options.
Shooting Experience
It’s easy to load the gun. It works just like a 10/22 except that the magazines are easier to load ammunition into. Insert your Ruger SR-series mag into the magwell and then charge the weapon. You will feel a decently strong trigger pull as you pull it up on target. It breaks, and the recoil impulse feels surprisingly soft. Although you can feel the gun operating, it has a lighter recoil impulse that other guns such as the CZ Scorpion.
It is a blowback-style firearm and it shoots very soft. This gun is great fun to shoot. This gun is a great value for money. This gun shoots much more softly than the Stribog, which is the only non-AR-style platform in the same price range.
Suppresed
This gun is not for you if you are a fan or suppressed shooting.
This gun opens very quickly, so it is much louder than other options. It is louder than my Stribog shooting the same ammo. Also, it is not as quiet as a rotating bolt gun such as the SIG MPX. If you want to suppress it, I would recommend looking for another option. However, if you don’t have a suppressor this is a great option to shoot because the gun keeps it nice and mild.
Ruger PC ChargerNew and Pre-Owned
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Although this gun is a good beginner’s gun, it can also be used as a hobby gun. Although I don’t like the manual of arms as much, they are very easy to understand and simple to use for most shooters. Push a button, remove the magazine, and then pull the charging handle back. There is no bolt lock that will lock back on the last magazine you have. You can simply drop it by running a charging lever. This is the AK of pistol caliber carbines. It is very easy to understand.
Final Conclusions Ruger PC Charger Reviews
This gun is great for range but not good enough to be used as a backpack gun. This gun is best used for home defense. This gun is a great choice for someone who isn’t interested in firearms, but still wants to be able to defend themselves with an easy to use weapon. This gun can be used to load a magazine, keep it off, and then empty the chamber. You could then teach the person how to get up, grab the gun, and rack the charging handle, before they use it for home defense.
It is important to keep the gun safe, but it is very easy to use. To unload the gun, the user would simply press the magazine, pull the bolt out, and then rack it a few times to make sure there is no live round. This is simple and straightforward. It is lightweight and easy to use, especially when paired with a good brace.
If your loved one has arthritis and doesn’t want to carry a gun, and finds an AR-15 intimidating, it will be difficult to beat this AR-15 for home defense.
Value
This gun’s MSRP is $799. I bought it for less than $600. The market is a bit crazy right now, but I believe we’ll see this gun again in the mid-$500s when it falls. The gun is very well set up for that price when you add a $150 brace to the mix and an optic. You can get a great home defense setup for less than a thousand dollars, including the light. I hope you enjoyed our Ruger PC Charger Review.
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