The Ruger LC Carbine In .45 ACP: Full Review

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A couple years back, Ruger shook things up when they introduced their LC Carbine chambered in 5.7x28mm. Frankly, FNH’s small-bore PDW cartridge had been stagnant until Ruger suddenly introduced a handgun and then their LC Carbine chambered for it. Much more modern in appearance compared to their more traditional PC carbine, the LC Carbine turned a lot of heads. Now, Ruger is back shaking things up again with a new model of LC Carbine. Once again, they are chambering it for a cartridge which is a bit of a surprise. While the first LC Carbine was chambered for the high velocity small-bore 5.7x28mm PDW cartridge, Ruger’s latest offering is a big-bore .45 ACP.

Introduced back in 1905, the .45 Automatic Colt Pistol cartridge is a straight-wall rimless design developed to satisfy the needs of the US Cavalry. Like the old black powder rimmed .45 Colt revolver cartridge before it, the .45 ACP was specifically developed with terminal performance in mind. While original development work was conducted with a 200-grain bullet at 900 fps, the US military adopted a 230-grain FMJ load at 830 fps. This load became famous and served American Expeditionary Force doughboys well “over there” during World War I, and millions of “Joes” that followed them through countless wars and actions around the globe until finally officially replaced in the 1980s.

Today, the .45 ACP cartridge, and the handgun that made it famous, is seeing a resurgence of popularity with American shooters. 1911 handguns remain hugely popular, and while 9mm models sell well, the traditional .45 ACP model is still a favorite. The biggest challenge to this caliber is simply the cost of ammunition compared to 9mm Parabellum. However, despite the difference in ammunition prices many shooters simply love the old .45. Why .45 ACP in a pistol caliber carbine (PCC)?

It has long been popular to have a long gun that fires the same ammunition as your sidearm. This has been popular with American sportsman, hunters, and adventurers since the 19th century, especially in the Old West. The Model 1873 Winchester and Colt “Peacemaker” was a very popular pair in the 19th century. Whether chambered in .44-40 Winchester Center Fire (W.C.F.) or .38-40 W.C.F. or even .32-20 W.C.F., a carbine and handgun sharing the same cartridge simplified logistics.

When fired from the longer barrel of the carbine, the cartridge would gain a sometimes-significant boost in velocity. Plus, hitting with a long gun is substantially easier than a handgun, especially at distance. There are a number of practical logistical advantages to needing only one type of ammunition for both long gun and pistol. This is still true today whether you are buying factory new ammunition or handloading. With the continued popularity of 1911 pistols, it only made sense for Ruger to design and introduce a new carbine in .45 ACP. The question is, how would it perform? Recently, I received an LC Carbine on temporary loan from Ruger for review in Firearms News. This allowed me to examine and test it on the range to form an opinion on it. Before I get into range testing though, let’s take a quick look at this modern .45 ACP carbine.

Starting at the muzzle you will note it is threaded and comes with a muzzle nut fitted. Thread pitch is .578x28 TPI. So, you can replace the factory muzzle nut with a muzzle brake or flash suppressor, or you can also mount a suitable sound suppressor. A number of companies produce sound suppressors for .45 caliber firearms, such as Silencer Central’s Banish 45 (SilencerCentral.com). The Banish 45 is only 6.7 inches in its short configuration (9.6 oz.), and 8.6 inches in its long configuration (11 oz.) — price is $949. This is just an example of the many suppressors you can choose from if you so desire to reduce the LC Carbine’s sound signature. The LC Carbine’s barrel is 16.2 inches. For corrosion resistance, the barrel is nitride treated. Surrounding the barrel is a CNC-milled M-LOK handguard. This is Type III hard-coat anodized aluminum and it features M-LOK slots on seven sides. The handguard is an improvement over the original design introduced on the 5.7x28mm model. The more numerous M-LOK slots allow easy mounting of accessories. Running the full length of the top of the carbine is a MIL STD 1913 “Picatinny” rail. This full-length rail makes mounting optics or iron sights a snap.

The receiver is a blocky piece and the design utilizes an over-hanging bolt to reduce the overall length. This is similar in concept to the well-known UZI submachine gun. Also like the UZI, the magazine well is located in the grip for easy “hand to hand” reloading. The non-reciprocating charging handle comes from the factory on the left side, but it can be reversed to the right side if the owner so chooses. The controls are similar to the Ruger-5.7 pistol and include ambidextrous manual safety levers. Ruger chose to feed their new LC Carbine using a Glock pattern magazine. My review sample came with one 13-round polymer magazine. When I tested the original 5.7x28mm model it’s magazine did not eject cleanly, but had to be pulled free from my review carbine. Examining this new model in .45 ACP though revealed it ejected its magazine cleanly with the push of a button. The magazine is a double-column design with single-position feeding and witness holes are provided on the back. While it ships with a 13-round magazine, factory or aftermarket Glock magazines of greater capacity may be utilized.

Internally, the design utilizes Ruger’s familiar Secure Action fire-control system, like the Ruger-5.7 pistol. This features a protected internal hammer with a bladed-safety trigger design. A pre-cocked double-action design, the hammer is partially cocked by the slide, but pulling the trigger brings it back slightly to full-cock before releasing it. Trigger pull on this design had some sponginess in its initial take-up and a fairly heavy break. Reset is distinct, but a bit long. At the rear of the receiver is a MIL STD 1913 rail section onto which a side-folding buttstock attaches. This multi-position collapsible stock provides a length of pull running from 12.2 to 14.2 inches. The design is reversible and standard AR-pattern stocks will fit onto the Ruger’s tube. The stock features a rubber pad to keep the butt from sliding around on your shoulder as well as multiple sling mounting points. If you prefer a different folding stock, the LC Carbine will accept aftermarket stocks which attach to a MIL STD 1913 Picatinny rail. So, there are plenty of options available such as from Midwest Industries (MidwestIndustriesInc.com).

The LC Carbine comes with Ruger’s Rapid Deploy flip-up polymer sights. These consist of a protected front post adjustable for elevation and a protected rear aperture adjustable for windage. If you prefer, you can mount a red dot, magnified optic, night vision or thermal unit. The LC Carbine comes with one Glock-pattern 13-round pistol magazine, M-LOK QD sling socket and hex wrenches for disassembly. Weight comes in at 7.1 pounds and overall length with the stock folded is only 22.5 inches. With the stock unfolded, but fully collapsed, the overall length measures 28.7 inches. While the LC Carbine is interesting, what will catch the attention of many is the .45 ACP chambering. The .45 ACP cartridge is a useful design with the ability to throw large diameter and heavy bullets at moderate velocity. Modern expanding loads are capable of expanding to diameters reaching an inch or more. Plus, the Ruger is designed to handle +P ammunition. While traditional .45 ACP loads do not typically receive a notable boost in velocity going from a handgun length barrel to the LC Carbine’s 16.2 inch tube, I was interested to see what gains could be had.

To check Ruger’s .45 ACP LC Carbine’s performance, I collected four different loads. The first is a modern lightweight 135-grain monolithic HoneyBadger from Black Hills Ammunition. This is not designed to expand, but utilizes flutes machined into the nose to disrupt tissue. Unlike a hollow point, it cannot become plugged and is designed to work well through barriers. The next is a 200-grain +P JHP load from Speer, their Gold Dot G2. This modern expanding design features a shallow dish in the nose filled with a high-performance elastomer. It is intended to provide uniform expansion and penetration through different types of barriers. Next are two traditional loads, a US military 230-grain FMJ Match load, and a steel case Wolf Performance Ammunition 230-grain FMJ load. These four loads were intended to both check the LC Carbine’s accuracy and reliability. Accuracy testing was conducted from off a bag on my bench. I would expect most who buy an LC Carbine will outfit it with some type of red dot sight, so I added an Aimpoint T1 red dot in a 1.93-inch height mount. A quick zero on a steel silhouette, and I got to work. Testing was then conducted at 100 yards with four five-shot groups fired with each load and velocity measured using a 
LabRadar Doppler chronograph.

As I began testing, I noted rounds load easily into the magazine, and the magazine locks securely into place with an upward push. The LC carbine features ambidextrous 1911-style safety levers and these are well-placed and easy to manipulate. On the left side just to the front of the safety lever is a pistol-style bolt catch/release. This can be used to lock the bolt to the rear or release it. On the right side of the receiver, forward of the trigger, is a round button which acts as a bolt release. This is very well-placed allowing easy operation with the trigger finger. The mag release is on the right side of the pistol grip and easy to manipulate. The charging handle does not require a great deal of force to operate and the carbine is comfortable to shoot. The trigger is a bit mushy and heavier than I’d prefer. While certainly serviceable, it is my only gripe.

Best accuracy was a virtual tie between Black Hills Ammunition’s 135-grain Honeybadger and Speer’s 200-grain +P Gold Dot G2. Both of these loads averaged 3.5 inches at 100 yards. The 135-grain Honeybadger was zipping along with an average muzzle velocity of 1,461 fps while the heavier 200-grain Speer Gold Dot G2 averaged 1,240 fps. Both the GI Match load and Wolf FMJ load averaged four inches at 100 yards. The GI 230-grain FMJ Match load had an average muzzle velocity of 934 fps while the Wolf 230-grain FMJ averaged 858 fps. As you can see, standard 230-grain loads do not gain much velocity in the longer barrel. Zero issues were encountered. Moving from the bench, I ran the LC Carbine through some drills on steel at 25 and 50 yards. I noted the recoil to be fairly mild for a blow-back .45 ACP, allowing fast follow-up shots. It moves around a bit, but not bad. I noted it shouldered quickly, swung fast, and pressing the trigger provided a nice “THWOK” on the steel. The carbine is comfortable in the hands, the stock adjusts easily and it’s quick to fold. The pistol-like controls are straight-forward to understand and employ. It’s an easy design to reload and to get back into action. Practical accuracy is very good for a PCC. It proved capable of making rapid multiple hits at the distances you would envision employing it at in a realistic personal protection scenario.

It folds up into a fairly short package for stowing in a backpack. Retrieving it from a pack, it is fairly quick to unfold the stock, chamber a round, and put into action. It can be fired with the stock folded if needed. The LC Carbine shines at distances out to 100 yards. However, plinking on the range will show that it is fully capable of making hits on a man-sized target at 200 yards if you do your part and know your drop. Just remember, as velocity drops off so does terminal performance. It is by no means a rifle. However, you can spend an enjoyable time at the range plinking at steel silhouettes well beyond 200 yards. But for social purposes, it performs best at 100 yards and in. To see if I could cause a stoppage, I loaded the magazine alternating 135-grain Honeybadgers with 200-grain Gold Dot G2s. Not only did the Ruger not miss a beat, but it shot both of them to the same point of impact at 100 yards. My only real gripe with the LC Carbine is I wish the trigger was a bit lighter. Sure, a folding charging handle would also be nice, especially if you plan on storing your LC Carbine in a pack, but, that is about it.

The LC Carbine is what it is, it’s a PCC chambered in .45 ACP. It’s not a rifle as it certainly lacks the exterior ballistics and terminal performance of a rifle. That said, it does make a great mate for a handgun chambered in .45 ACP. Plus, it also makes an excellent suppressor host. As 230-grain loads are subsonic, there is no sonic crack when firing suppressed. With no sonic crack, subsonic ammunition is quieter suppressed. While the .45 ACP may not be the quietest cartridge in the world to suppress, a good quality suppressor can make it very quiet. With this in mind, .45 ACP can be an economic alternative to subsonic loads in 300 AAC Blackout. One downside to heavy 300 BLK subsonic loads is they are expensive.

This is especially true for loads topped with match bullets and expanding monolithic solids. Plus, as they start out at just .30 caliber in diameter, if they expand its not usually very impressive. Many subsonic 300 BLK loads do not reliably expand, while others rely on yawing. In comparison standard .45 ACP 230 grain FMJ or Lead Semi-Wadcutters are subsonic and economical compared to factory loaded 300 BLK Subsonics. Modern .45 ACP expanding projectiles start off larger in diameter than most 300 BLK Subsonic loads are capable of expanding to. Just another possible use for Ruger’s LC Carbine in .45 ACP. 

Due to its mild recoil, fairly light weight and handy size, Ruger’s LC carbine is very fun to shoot. It’s easy to mount optics and accessories like a white light onto. Better still, it’s easy to make hits with at relevant personal protection distances. Most novice shooters will perform much better with Ruger’s LC Carbine, especially under stress, than with a typical service pistol. This is a very important point to consider. Personally, I would love to see Ruger introduce a pistol version of their .45 ACP LC Carbine. They do have a 10.3-inch barrel version of their 5.7x28mm model called the LC Charger pistol, so I think it is a real possibility. With a similar 10.3-inch barrel, it would make it very compact and reduce its weight. I think a pistol version of the .45 ACP LC Carbine would prove to be an excellent suppressor host and ultimately sell very well. I suspect we might see a 10mm LC Carbine down the road, which would be a lot of fun. So, all in all, the Ruger LC Carbine functioned and performed well. MSRP is $1,009 which is not bad for a PCC in .45 ACP. Ruger’s 5.7x28mm LC Carbine ignited 
a lot of interest and I suspect their new .45 ACP version will as well, just for different reasons. It’s a perfect match for .45 ACP handguns, and is an ideal candidate for a sound suppressor. If you like the .45 ACP cartridge, the new Ruger might be very appealing. For more information visit Ruger.com

Ruger LC Carbine .45 ACP Specs

• Caliber: .45 ACP
• Operation: Blowback
• Barrel: 16.2 in., 1:16-in. RH twist
• Trigger: Secure Action Double-Action
• Feed: Detachable 13-rd. box magazine
• Length: 22.7 in. (folded), 28.5-30.6 in. (extended)
• Weight: 7.1 lbs. 
• Sights: Protected post and adjustable rear aperture, Ruger Rapid Deploy
• Finish: Hardcoat anodized and black nitride
• MSRP: $1,009
• Contact: Ruger

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