First Look: Ruger LC Carbine 5.7x28mm

RUGER LC CARBINE, THE POOR MAN’S MP7?

NEW from Ruger, the LC Carbine is the next step in their line of 5.7x28mm firearms. A lightweight carbine with a 16.25” barrel but an overall length of only 28”-30” makes for an extremely compact package.

Weighing only 5.7lbs, this carbine is feature-rich, including a folding adjustable stock, rapid deployment sights, full-length 1913 Picatinny rail, M-LOK on the handguard, and a 1/2”-28 threaded barrel.

The heart of this carbine is the bolt-over-barrel 2-piece bolt design allowing for a more compact weapon while maintaining enough mass in the bolt for the fixed barrel blow back design.

Fire control group is identical to the Ruger 5.7 pistol and uses the same ergonomics with a 1911-style manual safety. This also means the LC Carbine shares magazines with the Ruger 5.7, giving some much-appreciated cross-compatibility. 

Iain Harrison got to give the Ruger LC Carbine a little test drive and found the trigger to be a “long mushy pull with indeterminate break point, long, indistinct reset, and all the overtravel you could ever want.”

While it might not be a precision marksman's weapon, the telescoping bolt and compact design are practically begging to be SBR’d into an even smaller format. 

Ruger will be offering the LC Carbine in 3 models to start, but they are effectively the same. The main model is full-featured and comes with one 20-round magazine, the second model has a fixed stock and a 10-round magazine, and the last model is full-featured but comes with a 10-round magazine. If you’re in a more restricted state, hopefully, one of these models will be for you.

SPECS:

• Capacity: 20+1
• Weight: 5.7 lb.
• Overall Length: 28.70″ – 30.60″
• Length of Pull: 12.50″ – 14.50″
• Twist: 1:9″ RH
• Barrel Length: 16.25″
• Barrel Feature: Fluted, Black Nitride
• Thread Pattern: 1/2″-28
• Receiver Material: Aluminum Alloy
• Stock: Folding, Adjustable
• Length of Pull: 12.50″ – 14.50″
• Sights: Adjustable Ruger Rapid Deploy
• Receiver Finish: Type III Hard-Coat Anodized
• Suggested Retail: $979.00

NEXT STEP: Download Your Free Target Pack from RECOIL

For years, RECOIL magazine has treated its readers to a full-size (sometimes full color!) shooting target tucked into each big issue. Now we've compiled over 50 of our most popular targets into this one digital PDF download. From handgun drills to AR-15 practice, these 50+ targets have you covered. Print off as many as you like (ammo not included).

Get your pack of 50 Print-at-Home targets when you subscribe to the RECOIL email newsletter. We'll send you weekly updates on guns, gear, industry news, and special offers from leading manufacturers - your guide to the firearms lifestyle.

You want this. Trust Us.