Posted on 02/17/2015 5:14:19 AM PST by Jed Eckert
The Ruger Police carbine was designed by as a companion long arm to go with their P series pistols. This was to cash in on the trend of many law enforcement departments adding a carbine as an alternative or an addition to a shotgun for patrol cars. Ruger P series pistols use the same magazines and were offered in both 9mm and .40 caliber chamberings. Ruger made these carbines for 10 years, 1996 to 2006, marketing them to police departments but selling them to private buyers as well.
The carbine is externally a traditionally styled long arm with a manual push-button safety located behind the trigger guard. The magazine release is located on the slightly lowered magazine well, and the cocking handle is located on the bolt they operate from the right side. There is a bolt release located on the left side of the receiver. The bolt locks back on an empty magazine after the last shot. The balance point is located between the supporting hands, making it fast to shoulder and track a target.
The stock is solid black polymer with molded checkering on the wrist and forearm, capped with a rubber buttplate that is ribbed and rounded. It has two sling swivels one on the front barrel band and one on the bottom of the buttstock midline.
The metal sights consist of a military style front with protective wings located at the muzzle and a “ghost ring” rear sight located 12 ½ inches back from it
The top of the receiver is milled to accept Ruger scope rings.
Like most pistol caliber carbines, the Ruger is a blowback operated autoloader. That means the weight of the bolt and the expansion of the case is what keeps the chamber sealed until the pressure is low enough for the action to extract the fired case and chamber the next round. In center fire guns, this means the bolt has to be heavy. In order to keep the carbine compact and balanced, Ruger designed a two piece bolt. The working bolt in the receiver that houses the extractor, ejector, and firing pin and the massive bolt are located in the forend. They are connected by steel rods. The combined mass of these is enough to hold the breech safely closed during firing. Without an expanded case in the chamber to add friction, the bolt is held closed only by the recoil spring. To keep the bolt closed when not firing, Ruger added a bolt safety lock to the working bolt. It is deactivated by pulling back on the bolt handle or pulling the trigger. This is typical Ruger “belt and suspenders” engineering.
Being designed for short range and fast action, the PC was shot at 15 yards with the issue iron sights. The accuracy was as expected: two inch groups with lots of touching holes.
The PC9/4 carbine is a good addition to any urban dweller’s arsenal. Ruger has always made quality firearms that were priced on the lower end of the scale. Both it and the Ruger P series pistols can be generally found on the used market at a lower price than most other brands. While the weight is more like a full sized rifle, the carbine is compact and well balanced. Also it is solid enough to use as a melee weapon.
The roots of its design are from the 20th Century 2nd generation carbines. That means no rails or pistol grip, no muzzle break/flash hider, and night sights. It is a solid firearm that will take a lot of abuse and function accurately and reliably. The only change I would recommend is the addition of an electronic sight, such as the Lucid M7 shown above or an Aimpoint. While the top of the receiver is milled for Ruger scope rings, you can mount a Picatinny rail adapter to the receiver. For best cheek weld, you will want to choose a sight that is lower than those sold for AR straight stock style rifles.
Specifications:
More photos at the source
I already have a Marlin 9mm Camp Carbine that uses the same mags as my S&W 669 pistol.
What I really want is a .45 ACP carbine that uses Glock mags.
I have a .45 ACP carbine that takes 1911 magazines.
the extended 11 shot versions are perfect.
For a simple ghetto gun, Detroit recommends the Hipoint 995 TS. I picked one up for less than $100 last year.
A good steady shooting platform and better ballistic performance with the 9 mm rounds, especially the +P.
Shot the Baretta Cx4 yesterday in 9mm. Will use the same mags as the 92s.
Nice gun, fired about 60rds of Speer +Ps 124 out of the box with no problems.
BTW, the ballistics on carbines with pistol cartridges is not exponentionally greater than with standard pistol length barrels due to fast burning powders.
Anyway, supported fire at 50 yrds with iron sights, easy to put together a 2 inch group for someone who is a sub accurate shooter due to vision issues.
Just Right Carbines makes a carbine chambered in .45ACP that uses Glock magazines.
Is there one in .40S&W?
My wife has the CX4,reloads with slower powder boost the performance.Blue Dot is especially useful.
Police carbine in a pistol round, taking same mag as their service pistol: This as always been a smart idea.
These can be extremely accurate.
Is there enough spare room in the case for a suitable amount of slow burning powder?? I don’t reload but I thought that might be a consideration.
In any event, with the standard rounds, I sense it is great for what it is intended, a shoulder weapon easily effective to 100 yds with iron sights to compliment a 9MM sidearm. It also comes in 40 and 45 cal. I do not consider this a hunting firearm.
Also have a kit for my 9mm pistol as well. Great way to practice cheaply...
The loads nearly fill the case,the bullet compresses the powder.
They used to make one a few years back. I'm certain there will be one offered in .40 S&W again.
Is that the Marlin Camp Carbine? I know they used to make one in .45ACP but I never could find one in stock.
Yes, the Camp Carbine. Found a used one with a synthetic folding stock.
I've heard only good things about the Hi-Point carbines. Somebody was making an aftermarket stock (ATI?) that gave it the Beretta Cx4 Storm look.
I have a Ruger 9mm pistol and a Ruger .22 rifle so I’ve been a satisfied customer for some time. If I thought I needed a rifle with that kind of stopping power I’d definitely look into it.
Thanks. They look good. I'll have to check them out. Haven't seen them around here yet.
Hipoint makes a tactical stock now which works well. It’s really cheap.
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