Ruger LC Carbine 5.7x28mm

It's been quite awhile since I've posted anything. Just picked up the Ruger LC Carbine 5.7X28 and had to the range for the 1st time today. I never would have considered it but my retina specialist has been after me for awhile to lower the recoil on my long guns. I previously had gotten the PC Carbine in 9mm and the HI-Point (don't laugh) carbine in .45ACP. The 5.7X28 certainly fits the bill when it come to low recoil. It's like shooting my 10-22M. I shot at an indoor range off-hand at 25 yards. After 10 rounds I was consistently getting in the 9 & 10 rings. Really like the sights on it. If I ever get back to the outdoor range I'll put it on the bench and take it out to 50 and 100 yards to see how it does.

Just got back from the range with mine also.

This thing is absolutely great. Slipped a Sig Romeo5 red dot on it and took it to the range. Shot it at 10 yards and it was one raged hole. Almost the same at 25 yards. The flip up sights can be used right through the Sig red dot scope (love this feature).

I ordered the 5 shot mag extension as well as the mag loader from the Ruger Shop and they both work great. You will love the loader since your fingers get a little sore loading 20 rounds without it.

You have to play with it a little to get the stock to unfold from it's folded position but it is smoothing out real nice. I did move the charging handle to the right side which works better for me.

Windage was correct for the red dot and flip up sights. I did crank the front sight all the way down since the POI was a little low. However, I just realized that was only because of parallax from shooting at 10 yards. Will readjust it next time I am at the range.

Trooper Joe

Trooper Joe said:

Just got back from the range with mine also.

This thing is absolutely great. Slipped a Sig Romeo5 red dot on it and took it to the range. Shot it at 10 yards and it was one raged hole. Almost the same at 25 yards. The flip up sights can be used right through the Sig red dot scope (love this feature).

I ordered the 5 shot mag extension as well as the mag loader from the Ruger Shop and they both work great. You will love the loader since your fingers get a little sore loading 20 rounds without it.

You have to play with it a little to get the stock to unfold from it's folded position but it is smoothing out real nice. I did move the charging handle to the right side which works better for me.

Windage was correct for the red dot and flip up sights. I did crank the front sight all the way down since the POI was a little low. However, I just realized that was only because of parallax from shooting at 10 yards. Will readjust it next time I am at the range.

Trooper Joe

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Unfortunately I live in the very gun unfriendly state of Maryland so any magazine over 10 rounds is verboten. Weird law. Can't sell or send in by common carrier any +10 round magazines but nothing stops me from going to another state that doesn't have a round limit and bringing one or more back. I'm less than 45 minutes from PA and one son has a house in WVA and the other lives in AZ so if I really wanted to I could get the higher capacity mags. Right now the 10 round will suffice. I picked up a couple of OEM 2 packs on eBay for 2/3 the price that Ruger is selling them for plus free shipping.

I would love to see the LCCarbine in 9mm or 357sig. The PC is so 30 years ago.

I really like the format of the LCCarbine but have no interest in 5.7. I think it would compete well in today's market against contemporary platforms. The mag in grip allows longer barrels in a much more versatile and contemporary platform.

Hvymax said:

I would love to see the LCCarbine in 9mm or 357sig. The PC is so 30 years ago.

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I have both and yes the LC has some features that the PC does not but I find them both enjoyable and comparable to shoot. Doubt if Ruger would entertain having competing 9mm carbines. I do like my SIG SP2340 and I could see it in a carbine. MORIARTI makes one but only as a custom build and says you shouldn't use personal defense ammo in it. Plus there is the price of ammo.

Maybe we should give Ruger more than a few weeks to decide if they have a market for additional calibers?

I haven't seen a PC in a store in years not that I care. High Points are more interesting. They're like the Chrysler K car of firearms.

I ordered one thru the LGS this morning... I've been curious about them for awhile, and the other day, I happened across a fella selling a quantity of ammo for less than today's prices, and that pushed me over the edge. Hopefully it will be in hand next week.

Hvymax said:

The mag in grip allows longer barrels in a much more versatile and contemporary platform.

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Yes, half-way to a bullpup.

Honestly if I don't find a PCC I like soon I'll probably make a 357sig Mac11 bullpup.

This is my only bullpup:

"However, I just realized that was only because of parallax from shooting at 10 yards. Will readjust it next time I am at the range."
Not to sound nit-picky BUT open sights don't suffer from parallax issues(nor do most 'dot optics', for that matter).

Mobuck said:

"However, I just realized that was only because of parallax from shooting at 10 yards. Will readjust it next time I am at the range."
Not to sound nit-picky BUT open sights don't suffer from parallax issues(nor do most 'dot optics', for that matter).

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The Parallax wheel on my 10-40 ffp gives me accurate ranges to over 700yds.

Air-cooled said:

This is my only bullpup:

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One of mine

Last week's ice storm delayed lots of things, so I just picked it up yesterday.

First impressions: Lighter than most carbines in this style, fore-end is slim, but a bit square. Sights aren't bad for budget back-up sights. Trigger is better than most you got out of the box in the 90s. I think it will be fine for shooting under stress (speed), but it could use a little bit of improvement for range-day accuracy testing...

Speaking of that, I put a little Leupold VX-Hog 1x-4x scope on top for testing, but it will most likely wear a red-dot optic down the stretch. It also got a mini-comp from HB Industries which is o-ring retained so easy to remove for silencer use. And I put a Crimson Trace laser on it as well, with thoughts of it becoming the wife's new "Get out of my House!" gun.

Hope to have the chance to range-test it next week.

Air-cooled said:

This is my only bullpup:

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I just got another!!!

Hello guys. New to the forum but like most of you I have been shooting and reloading for over 45 years.
I purchased the Ruger 5.7 carbine over the winter because I wanted to find a good throw around varmint rifle, kind of like the Ruger 10-22 but different just in case I seen something in the fields on the way to work.

I have looked all over for load data for the 5.7 and 90% of it was for pistol and the other 10% was for the FN PS90 and this information from what I tried was unsafe to say the least so here I am loading "SPECIFICALLY" for the Ruger 5.7 carbine.
I wanted to share some data for the ones that have been looking like I have and found nothing for the Ruger 5.7 carbine.

Well the snow is finally gone in Minnesota and I had a chance to get out and do some testing today.
So this is for you guys that might be interested in reloading the 5.7 if you don't already have any load data to try. Also. If anyone else has any data to share with me please post thanks.
Of course, use this info at your own risk as I take no responsibility in your loading good or bad habits and this also goes for me and other if you guys have any data to share.

Now that we got that out of the way.

Using my labradar this is what I had found.
I won't post the lows and definitely not the high loads as I want this to be safe and believe me the loads I found for the FN P90 are not for the Ruger.
I found that HS-6 works very well and burns clean with this load data.
So here we go.
Once fired brass.
Trim case to 1.130
Winchester #41 primers
Hornady 40gr Vmax
All loads Hod HS-6
OAL 1.580 no crimp

Temp today at time of testing
70 degrees and 30% humidity
elevation is 890' a.s.l
6.0 gr - 2345 FPS
6.1gr. No testing as of yet
6.2 gr- 2414 FPS
6.3 gr. No testing as of yet
6.4 gr 2464 FPS but I had one blown primer in this group of 5. There was no pressure signs on the other primers so I am sure this might have been a case that was already hot from the factory or a bad pocket.
Note: I am using "supposedly" once fired brass that I had purchased from the range.

I'm working up more loads now to test accraracy, not that there is a lot of load choices with 5.7 because .1 gr makes a big difference in this little case as I'm sure you all know.
I can tell you that the factory ammo that I had shot through this carbine showed
2030 FPS on the labradar. So as you can see there is a big increase from using pistol loads vs loading for a carbine.

I will be testing for accuracy now that I have my pressure testing finished.
I will be testing
6.0
6.1
6.2
6.3
6.4
For safety reasons nothing over 6.4 will be discussed as some have taken this load to 7 and over.
I hope some of you find this helpful.
Once I get a repeat of today's temperature I will be back on the bench and get more info and I will post this for those of you who are interested.

There are plenty of 30 carbines around, you just have to pay collector prices for them or buy one of the less than stelar clones. I suspect the bad clones might have had something to do with the 30s fade into the background. The 30 carbine has always been one of my favorite rifles to shoot, but alas, mine has past on to a son, it's third generation owner.

Vegasgunhand said:

A couple of observations since getting a 57 Carbine. I think this is going to be one great home defense gun. Install a light, and a "shake awake" optic, and you have a pretty potent package. The ability for even a relatively new shooter to put multiple rounds on target in quick session, makes for a formidable package. The round also becomes less penetrative than a 9 mm bullet when it hits a sheet rock wall. So there is less chance a stray round will strike a loved one in another room. And lets face it, if an intruder is hammered by several rounds of 5.7x28, he will be less likely to continue to be a threat to you or your family. The U.S. Secret Service has used the 5.7x28 for many years in their FN P90 submachineguns, and have been very impressed with it. And as with ALL handgun calibers, it is still bullet placement that wins a gunfight.

There are very few standard factory magazines that hold more than the 20 rounds of the Ruger 57. And there are already aftermarket manufacturers who are making magazine extensions for the 57. I'm sure as this system takes off, there may even be a Ruger factory magazine with higher capacity coming. Even with "just" 20 rounds, I don't think a home owner is not going to have sufficient ammo to stop a home invasion.

The down side of this little carbine is of course the cost of the ammunition, it is higher than even most 5.56 ammo. I feel with all the new weapons chambered for the 5.7x28 cartridge coming out from Palmetto State Armory, CMMG, AR57, and this Ruger 57, the ammunition will have a much stronger market. The ammo companies can see the potential to stepping up the 5.7 production line.

So is the Ruger 57 perfect? No, but IMHO, with the addition of a light and optic, it is an awesome choice for a home defense weapon.

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just purchased my 5.7 carbine fired 20 rounds and the firing pin broke off in a primer sent it back to ruger hopefully will be back soon!!!