Introducing Ruger's PC Charger Pistol: A 'Pistol-Caliber Carbine' Gun

July 20, 2020 Topic: Security Blog Brand: The Buzz Tags: GunGunsHandgunsFirearmsPistolPistol Caliber GunRuger

Introducing Ruger's PC Charger Pistol: A 'Pistol-Caliber Carbine' Gun

In some ways, the PC Charger is about as barebones as it can come. Could that be an advantage? 

The very notion of a "PC" firearm could be a concern to some, but this isn't a handgun for social justice warriors or so-called agents of change. In actuality, the PC is for "pistol-caliber carbine" – and is Sturm Ruger & Company's series of firearms that were designed as a companion to the Ruger P-Series semi-automatic pistols beginning in the mid-1990s.

While the concept didn't initially catch on, this year Ruger gave it another go to be "PC" in a way shooters might appreciate and the result is the PC Charger, the pistol variant of a semi-automatic carbine. As it has a barrel less than the 16-inches required by U.S. federal law – not to be a short-barreled rifle – it has no buttstock but does feature a comfortable pistol grip.

Ruger is quick to point out that its PC Charger boasts an abundance of features including a 6.5-inch barrel; an integrated rear Picatinny rail that allows for mounting of picatinny-style braces; a glass-filled polymer chassis system; a flared magazine well for improved magazine reloading capabilities; and an ergonomic pistol grip with extended trigger reach. That polymer chassis system can allow for the use of standard AR pistol grips.

The PC Charger is CNC-machined from an aerospace-grade 7075-T6 aluminum billet, while the receiver includes an integrated Picatinny-style rail and is Type III hard-coat anodized for maximum durability.

Take Aim – But Bring Your Own Sights

In some ways, the PC Charger is about as barebones as it can come. There are no sights provided but as noted the rail system is there for shooters to bring the sights of their choice – whether that be rail-mountable flip-up "iron" sights, red-dot or other options.

Not a Handful:

While technically a pistol – due to the lack of a stock – this is really still a compact two-handed firearm that features an anodized aluminum freefloat handguard with M-Lock slots for attaching accessories and because the PC Charger's barrel is just 6.5 inches, a hand stop is placed on the underside of that handguard.

Magazine Well Options:

The PC Charger maintains several hallmark features of the original PC Carbine, including an easily interchangeable magazine well system that allows the pistol to accept Ruger Security-9 and SR9 magazines, as well as Glock double-stack magazines.

It also offers a dead blow action with a custom tungsten weight that shortens bolt travel and reduces felt recoil and muzzle rise; a reversible magazine release and charging handle to accommodate right- or left-handed use; a simple takedown mechanism to allow for quick separation of the barrel/forend assembly from the action; a durable heat-treated, chrome-moly steel bolt; a cold hammer-forged chrome-moly steel barrel with ultra-precise rifling and a 1/2-inch x 28 threaded barrel.

The PC Charger models ship with the SR-Series and Security-9 pistol magazine well installed and an additional magazine well that accepts those newer Glock magazines. The standard model features a 17-round capacity, and an additional 10-round, state-compliant model also is available.

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer who has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers and websites. He is the author of several books on military headgear including A Gallery of Military Headdress, which is available on Amazon.com.