As a pistol instructor, you might think that I would be familiar with all sorts of firearms, but you would be wrong. Just like a medical doctor might know psychiatry but not obstetrics, I feel much more knowledgeable in the world of handguns than long guns. That is changing this year with my increasing interest in rifles. When I think of rifles, I think more in terms of either a hunting rifle or an AR-15. Both are popular for hunting, sport, and defense. I had never heard of a pistol carbine chambered in 5.7x28mm that looked and felt like a rifle. I didn’t even know that such a caliber was available. As a small-framed and rather unathletic female, I struggle a bit with the weight of a regular full-sized rifle, but this Ruger LC Carbine is very lightweight and easy to handle and is super fun to shoot!
Sponsored by Ruger
Although it usually comes with one metal magazine, my Ruger LC Carbine came with two, each with 20-round capacity. I am pleased with how light it is at 5.9 pounds unloaded. For those who would like the better accuracy and ease of a rifle without the weight, this will make a good option. It has very nice adjustable Ruger® Rapid Deploy sights that fold flat for transport. Another feature is that it is fitted with an adjustable folding stock that makes it go from an overall length of 30.60 inches to a little over 22 inches so that it fits into your tactical backpack. Sweet for compact storage or easy transport!
What is the 5.7x28mm caliber, you ask? Although the cartridge looks like a mini rifle round to me, it is actually a pistol caliber that was meant to replace the ubiquitous 9mm. If you’d like to learn more about the history of the 5.7x28mm round, check out the article by Babbs’ husband, Jason. It’s a really cool round! To get an idea on how it performs as a pistol, check out the review of the Ruger-57. The Carbine uses the same magazine and has the same ergonomic controls as this gun. As is often the case for my little thumbs, the controls were a bit far for me but they were manageable with a bit of an adjustment.
I tested the carbine with several different ammunition, all in 40 grain. The Fiocchi Range Dynamics FMJ, Speer Gold-Dot Personal Protection GDHP and American Eagle FMJ all performed well and consistently. They are quite a bit more expensive than the 9mm, but pack more punch, while they are less expensive than .223 or 5.56 (if you’re comparing prices).
At one point, I played with the speed and accuracy at about 15 to 20 yards, dumping all 20 rounds in the magazine in about 15 seconds. Hardly a world record, but with my stature and inexperience, I was pretty pleased with the pattern and with practice I’m sure I could get it to tighten significantly. This gave me confidence in its use and accuracy as a defensive gun.
The timing was perfect to receive the gun as I hosted Tatiana Whitlock, another WON contributor and fabulous instructor, for a rifle class. She worked with me as I learned to hold, carry and manage this rifle. I attached my sling to the multiple QD sling sockets. I can easily add other equipment and favorite accessories to the Picatinny rail, as well as a suppressor to the threaded barrel.
I also had my friend, Lindsay, try out the carbine. She has larger hands and she didn’t have any issues reaching the mag release or ambidextrous safety.
The overall length is between 28.70 to 30.60 inches. The length of the pull goes from 14.50 to 12.50 inches. The fluted, black nitride barrel is 16.25 inches, so it does not need any special tags. The upper receiver and handguard finish is Type III Hard-Coat Anodized and the lower receiver is made of aluminum alloy. You can find more details on the specifications on the Ruger website.
In a nutshell, why would a woman buy a Ruger LC Carbine instead of a standard rifle?
I would definitely recommend trying this carbine out!
MSRP: $1009.00
Julie Park was born in South Korea, raised in Canada, and is now living in her beloved Rockies in beautiful Colorado Springs with her husband and 5 kids. An attempted break-in transformed this stay-at-home, unassuming woman into a pistol-packin’ mama serious about the safety of herself and her loved ones. She is a certified NRA pistol instructor and Chief Range Safety Officer, and has been teaching and training women (and men!) just like her for the past several years. She has been a chapter and state leader in women’s shooting organizations and an instructor at her local range. She loves discovering new guns and products for women and sharing her passion with others. If she’s not shooting and training, she is homeschooling her kids, enjoying travels and connecting with her favorite books and people. View all posts by Julie Park
