Scope or Red Dot for Ruger PC 9 Carbine?

I have a Ruger PC9 and absolutely love it. I use in in our men's league for the PCC class. I went with a Romeo 5 red dot knowing the 9 is limited. I used the higher mounts to co-witness with the iron sites which works well. It is very accurate, eats any bullet I pour or load for it from 124 -153.

I am 69, wear bifocals so red dots are a friendly companion. My optometrist measured me for shooting glasses and asked me if I wanted to see the target, front site, or rear site - choose one because our respective cannot focus on all three. Thus the beauty of red dots.

To further complicate things, I am right handed and left eye dominant. I shoot scopes and open sights with my right eye. A pistol with a red dot uses my left eye. I have to think about it when I am.shooting in league. The dot is perfectly round with my left eye and a squiggly line with my right. I live with it.

Check out the entry level Holsons on Amazon. They have long battery life and shake awake features for $154. I believe the modules are 403R but don't quote me.
 
s4s4u said:
... I prefer the speed and lightweight of the red dot on a CQB gun.
Click to expand...

I think a lot of folks forget how fast the weight adds up, when you're attaching stuff to a firearm. Add a sling (get a nice one), add an optic (with the bullet-proof steel rings/bases, and why not some extra magnification), add a light (just in case), get some extra mags (the steel ones will last forever), and it's got a threaded muzzle, so better get a quality brake or flash suppressor.

Why not? As I once saw it phrased on an AR forum, "ounces count", because (before you know it) you've added enough ounces here and there, that you've added a pound or two or three to the weapon. It's amazing how much weight you can save, just by paying attention to the little things, and comparing weights on competing items.

And the PCC isn't exactly light to start with. I started mine out with a compact Japanese 2-7x scope (I liked it!), but it seemed a bit heavy; then I tried a compact red dot (liked that better!); and now I'm back to the iron sights, which I like best of all.

As always, IMHO, FWIW, YMMV, etc., etc.
:)
 
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Huskerguy72 said:
I have a Ruger PC9 and absolutely love it. I use in in our men's league for the PCC class. I went with a Romeo 5 red dot knowing the 9 is limited. I used the higher mounts to co-witness with the iron sites which works well. It is very accurate, eats any bullet I pour or load for it from 124 -153.

I am 69, wear bifocals so red dots are a friendly companion. My optometrist measured me for shooting glasses and asked me if I wanted to see the target, front site, or rear site - choose one because our respective cannot focus on all three. Thus the beauty of red dots.

To further complicate things, I am right handed and left eye dominant. I shoot scopes and open sights with my right eye. A pistol with a red dot uses my left eye. I have to think about it when I am.shooting in league. The dot is perfectly round with my left eye and a squiggly line with my right. I live with it.

Check out the entry level Holsons on Amazon. They have long battery life and shake awake features for $154. I believe the modules are 403R but don't quote me.
Click to expand...
This makes me ask again... Are you using a PC9 or a PCC? Since the PC9 is a different firearm than the current PCC, I just wonder how folks are mounting their red dots to a PC9 without a rail. The options of a ring-mounted red dot are somewhat limited.
 
When I first purchased my Ruger PC 9 I had on hand a Leupold 2.5 scope with German reticle installed by Leupold's Custom Shop and it worked out quite well. That bold vertical sharp pointed post really stands out and quick on target. Have now on the carbine a Sig #5 red dot and magnifier and can also use the irons on the rifle quite easily, good combination for me. I do indeed like the Ruger Carbine and find it to be very handy to use, good piece of kit.
 
And I'll ask again...

I keep reading folks comments of their PC9. Are there that many still in circulation? They haven't been made since 2006.

Or are you guys really speaking of the PCC?

They are not the same guns, and have different features. And since I own both, I like reading experiences with both.
 
I feel your pain WAYNO ….. they’re not making the distinction between the two and makes info here hard to follow.

Like when so many talk about their Ruger SS.
Security Six
Stainless Steel
Single Six
Service Six
Speed Six … etc …. ❓❓
 
This is a Ruger PC Carbine in 9mm
1679769872543.png


This is a Ruger PC9 In the foreground & PC4 in the back.
1679770187515.jpeg


1679770323666.jpeg


Optics & other accessories are rather limited on these.
 
I'm running the Primary Arms SLx 5x36mm Gen III Prism Scope with the ACSS Aurora Reticle, I love it. I actually bought it for my AR, but didn't care for on the AR, But Love it on the PC carbine. Has just the right amount of magnification for me
 
Hvymax said:
Under 100yds red dot all day. Faster and easier to hit than you can even imagine. A 1-4x wouldn't be bad if you're going for 100+yds
Click to expand...
Yep. For PCC use I think the Dot is better for the distances it would be used for. A scope will be much heavier but be sure it goes down to 1X. I have a PCC that uses Glock mags and I think of it as extending my ability to shoot a pistol 75-100 yards at a human size target with a reasonable chance of good hits under stress and carrying additional fpe. My AR has a 1x6 scope because I want to be able to reach out and touch someone at distance of 100+ yards with a lot of fpe. I think of my PCC as a long range more accurate handgun. It's a very long barrel pistol. But I'm carrying the same ammo and mags as my pistol. Dot is my recommendation. I have my PCC zeroed for 25 yards. I can shoot effectively from 0-75 yards. Big drop from 75 yards to 100 yards. At some point you need a rifle not a long range pistol.
 
WAYNO said:
And I'll ask again...

I keep reading folks comments of their PC9. Are there that many still in circulation? They haven't been made since 2006.

Or are you guys really speaking of the PCC?

They are not the same guns, and have different features. And since I own both, I like reading experiences with both.
Click to expand...
My apologies, I have the more recent Ruger PC Carbine in 9. At my league shoot, there is a class called Pistol Caliber Carbine or PCC. It can get confusing, count me in on contributing to that confusion.
 
Seems like some interested here and just to clarify I'm looking at the current Ruger PCC in 9mm. Just learning long guns now with a few 10/22s. The club I go to has some nice shorter 25yrd ranges that will allow both 22lr rifle and pistol caliber rifles , which is one of reasons I was thinking about getting one. The PCC basic model also has the rifle style stock which is another reason.
 
laterider7 said:
Seems like some interested here and just to clarify I'm looking at the current Ruger PCC in 9mm. Just learning long guns now with a few 10/22s. The club I go to has some nice shorter 25yrd ranges that will allow both 22lr rifle and pistol caliber rifles , which is one of reasons I was thinking about getting one. The PCC basic model also has the rifle style stock which is another reason.
Click to expand...
Again, I have lots of experience with both the PC9/4 and PCC. They are both pretty phenomenal. I have shot both, extensively on the 50 yard range, and there's no doubt they would be effective at much longer ranges. My preference still remains with the PC9/4, if for nothing more than the aperture sight mounted on the receiver, where it belongs.

But now having a red dot on my modern PCC, it's pretty special too.
(y)
 
I use a Holosun green dot, 507C-GR. I mounted it on the barrel, with a mount that replaced the rear sight.
 
After a little more research led by inputs here, going to try a red dot instead of prism. Looking at Romeo 5 that still allows for using the iron sights out of the box, nothing else to buy. Considered getting a riser for the holosun I already have but that is setup for my MK IV and trying the Romeo 5 out on my PCC may lead me back to trying that setup again on the MK IV. Understand there are certainly better red dots on market but read good things on this one so will go with it when I can. Thanks to all again.
 
I haven’t found my ideal sight system for my pcc 9, yet. I got a great deal on a Romeo 5 but I can’t see the target clearly at the max distance at the indoor range (30 or 50 yards, can’t remember which.) I definitely need a magnifier.

I love the iron sights, I just can’t see well enough to use them for much distance.
 
I would never put a scope on a PCC. I opted for a S2K becuase of the folding feature so an optic was never part of its planned use. It's likely more accurate with irons than some non-folding PCC's with a dot.
 
I have til now, had little interest in red dot sights. And with the earlier PC9/4, the ghost ring sights worked so well there was no reason for me to consider any other sight options.

The new PCC is different. The barrel mounted aperture is very ineffective for me. I have a couple different low end red dots. Figured I'd try one, just to see. And it does improve things. On the range, as a novelty, it's fine. In the real world I would still remove it.

But for shooters who are comfortable with a red dot, this cheapo works so well, a higher level red dot could surely be the cats meow.
 
I put one of these on mine with a green dot, couldn't be happier:

https://www.sigsauer.com/romeo7s-1x22-mm.html
It uses a single tripple A instead of some round disk type battery which i highly dislike. It supposedly lasts 50k hours. You can adjust the brightness level.
It turns itself off and wakes up with any movement, so its set and forget plus idiot proof which i really need :D

It comes with a green dot which my eyes prefer.

Good luck!
 
laterider7 said:
After a little more research led by inputs here, going to try a red dot instead of prism. Looking at Romeo 5 that still allows for using the iron sights out of the box, nothing else to buy. Considered getting a riser for the holosun I already have but that is setup for my MK IV and trying the Romeo 5 out on my PCC may lead me back to trying that setup again on the MK IV. Understand there are certainly better red dots on market but read good things on this one so will go with it when I can. Thanks to all again.
Click to expand...
One of the reasons I chose a Prism, is the Reticle is always there, just not illuminated if battery dies. With a red dot, you out of luck.
Also..... you will not be really happy with just a red dot, you also need the outer circle for fast acquisition of short range target.
 
This is why I come here, so much good input. I've yet to get this out to range and will start with the iron sights when I do. There was also a tip somewhere to check the two small set screws on the rear sight as they may have excessive oil and/or not that tight. I've already done some initial going over to remove excess oil in chamber and elsewhere and clean the barrel just in case, of course I read the tip after I did that.
 
Got out to the range today with the PCC for first time this morning. Went with 25yards and checked the sights with a rest, just had to adjust once and got on target with some fairly tight groups.
At this point I've decided to stick with the peep sights for a while, first time using this kind of sight and found them working well for me. I'll do a bit more at 25yards and then try 50 to see where I get with that. I know my range has steel at 25yard, not sure about 50 but I can do target at 50. Won't switch to steel until I get a bit more comfy with it but pleased with this purchase.
 
Most users will never get the biggest benefit that the dot optic provides. That comes if/when shooting in dim light is REQUIRED. Put that dimly lit dot where you need to land the bullets and 'let-er-rip'.
 
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