This week on #SundayGunday, we’re checking out a nifty survival or predator carbine—the Ruger Light Compact Carbine—LC for short—chambered in .45 ACP.
Pistol caliber carbines are quickly becoming one of the most popular firearm styles in America, and there’s good reason for it. Fast handling, lightweight and easy on the shoulder, the platform offers improved ballistics over a standard pistol, thanks to its significantly longer barrel, while maintaining the capacity of a traditional carbine. It’s a very hard combo to beat. This one in particular is a favorite among the staff.
The LC Carbine boasts a folding stock that can be set up to fold to either side, with an adjustable length of pull that stretches from 12.6 to 14.6 inches. This leads into a grip and receiver that feels as comfortable in the hand as any pistol, but with the added benefit of a full stretch of Picatinny rail from the rear of its receiver to the front of its handguard, with flip up Ruger Rapid Deploy iron sights fore and aft, and the ability to mount a magnified optic or red-dot anywhere along its length. That CNC milled, hard-coat anodized aluminum handguard also comes equipped with M-Lok slots on its remaining seven sides, and if that’s not enough room, there is even more Pic rail down below, just in front of the trigger guard.
The barrel stretches 16.25 inches, for excellent handling capabilities, and its muzzle is threaded to .578-28 TPI, to add a suppressor or flash hider. Here’s the best part. The Ruger LC Carbine is designed to accept Glock-pattern full-size magazines, for easy availability, and up to 30 round capacity. The gun does come with one 13 rounder that doesn’t protrude very far out of the grip, as well as an M-Lok QD sling socket, and hex wrenches for disassembly. The gun also boasts multiple QD slots elsewhere on the gun, including the stock and rear of the receiver.
Controls are easy to master, and virtually identical to the Ruger 5.7 pistol, with an ambidextrous safety sitting above the rear of the grip, while the magazine release sits in the usual spot behind the trigger. The charging handle is even reversible, making the gun easier to run for lefties, or righties who prefer to charge the gun with their support hand. Inside, the gun runs around Ruger’s Secure Action fire control system, with a protected internal hammer and a trigger with a blade safety. All in all, this gun is a whole lot of fun for just 7.1 pounds, and would be great with a thermal for night hunting sounders or packs. It is also available in 10mm, or 5.7x28.
For more information, visit ruger.com. And of course, to help in the fight to keep our 2nd Amendment rights, click the join button in the upper lefthand corner to pick up an NRA membership.
