Ruger PC Charger, the 10/22s PCC Big Brother

Opinion: This wonderful article first appeared on AmmoLand Information in July of 2020 and seems right here now with recent updates.

Sturm, Ruger & Co. (mostly simply Ruger) is a well-known title in American firearms, and has revamped their line-up a number of occasions over the past 70 years to maintain their merchandise related with the occasions.  Now Ruger has launched the Ruger PC Charger, which regardless of being a pistol will problem others for house within the Pistol Caliber Carbine (PCC) market.

Ruger PC Charger

Initially a design primarily based on the favored 10/22, the Charger was a buttstock-less, short-barreled variant that was usually outfitted with a bipod.  Whereas the PC Charger (and the very related Ruger PCC) shares these traits, it provides others to current a loaded bundle.  Taking cues from the ten/22 Takedown, the PC Charger features a fast technique of eradicating the barrel.  In a transfer certain to please followers of journal compatibility, the PC Charger additionally consists of two completely different journal properly inserts (a 3rd is accessible), permitting shooters to make use of Glock mags, SR9/Safety 9 mags, or Ruger American mags.  Add on an ambi-capable bolt and ambi-mag launch, and also you’ll begin to see how a lot thought Ruger put into the PC Charger.  Right here’s the complete breakdown.

Tech Specs:

Weight: 5.2 lbs
Barrel Size: 6.50″
Total Size: 16.50″
Barrel Thread Sample:  1/2″-28
Barrel:  Chilly Hammer Solid, Chrome-Moly Metal
Barrel End:  Blued
Receiver Materials:  Aluminum Alloy
Receiver End:  Kind III Onerous-Coat Anodized
Rear Mounted Picatinny Rail for Inventory/Braces
Twist:1:10″ RH 6-Grooves

Particular Options:

Suitable with AR-15 grips
CNC-milled handguard options Magpul® M-LOK-compatible slots on the 3, 6, and 9 o’clock positions
6 o’clock place of the CNC-milled handguard encompasses a factory-installed handstop for safe assist hand placement
Useless blow motion encompasses a customized tungsten lifeless blow weight that shortens bolt journey and reduces felt recoil and muzzle rise.
Gentle, crisp set off pull with minimal overtravel and optimistic reset using confirmed 10/22® set off elements.

Pulling the PC Charger out of the field, I observed maintain strong it felt.  Nothing chintzy or wobbly.  The PC Charger feels somewhat on the heavy aspect, however at 5.2 lbs it’s actually not out of line in that respect.  It’s somewhat heavier than an HK Mp5k, and even somewhat greater than the B&T TP9, however lower than many AR15 primarily based PCCs.  Mentioning the Mp5K is not any accident, provided that the PC Charger in left-hand bolt configuration feels very related, minus the “HK slap”.

I took the PC Charger out for its first vary journey on a household shooting-date/picnic, which ended up getting shut down early when a storm moved in.  I simply needed to begin breaking the PC Charger in, and to get a really feel for it.  I screwed on an AAC TiRant suppressor and tossed on a crimson dot optic that I can’t discuss till later this month.  I put within the Glock magazine-well insert, however solely had spare 10-round mags.  A few notes from that journey:

The PC Charger has an fascinating recoil impulse.  There’s not a lot rearward power, as one would count on from a 5 lb 9mm, however somewhat extra torque than I’m used to.  The gun needed to rotate somewhat in my arms.  Not a detrimental, simply an fascinating and distinctive trait.
The set off took somewhat getting used to.  I ought to have been considering “10/22” however as a substitute was considering “AR15 PCC”, so the primary magazine went poorly.  After that, the gunshot properly on the restricted distances accessible, proving I used to be the limiting issue for that first magazine.
This actually appears like the ten/22’s massive brother, and that’s a very good factor.  You’re going to see some clone builds quickly, with a 22 Charger performing as a .22lr “coach” to its 9mm sibling.  With the identical set off, security and (right-handed) bolt operation, there are similarities galore.
Hole-point?  Spherical nostril?  The PC Charger reveals no desire but, feeding each fortunately.

Earlier than heading out for a extra full-figured vary day, I needed to bump the PC Charger up a pair notches.  I acquired a bundle from KCI, containing some 17-round stick mags and a Glock appropriate 50-round drum.  Additionally, a side-folding triangle brace got here in from Palmetto State Armory, which gives a implausible technique with which to shoulder brace the gun for a extra steady firing platform.  The one draw back is that this particular brace folds to the left aspect, interfering with left-handed bolt operation.

The following vary day was way more intensive.  Taking pictures the Ruger PC Charger with the PSA triangle brace was a vastly improved expertise, which is the plain purpose braces are so fashionable.  Utilizing a Major Arms SLx MD-25 crimson dot sight (RDS), the PC Charger routinely shot teams round an inch at 25 yards (3-4 MOA) utilizing Federal’s 115 gr American Eagle 9mm spherical.  For a rifle shooter used to the “1 MOA or bust” web rule of accuracy, that will not sound nice.  Examine the PC Charger to different PCC’s and also you’ll discover that 3-4 MOA is definitely forward of the curve, particularly when that features flyers.

Traversing the PC Charger side-to-side to have interaction a number of targets in a single string actually reveals how properly balanced the Ruger PC Charger is.  With a lightweight brace and a brief barrel, the overwhelming majority of the load is centered between the shooter’s arms, retaining the gun from being too front- or back-heavy.

A fast aspect notice, the KCI 33-round Glock 17 mags that had been generously offered to be used in testing this gun?  Labored completely with the PC Charger.  Easy feeding, each time.  Subsequent vary journey I’ll work out the 50-round drum and see how that works!

Backside line, the Ruger PC Charger can positively compete within the PCC market, offering lots of the options that weapons in that class sport, and plenty of others that they don’t.  Mix that with Ruger’s historical past as a high quality producer and a aggressive value level, you’re left with loads of causes to contemplate selecting one up.  The Ruger PC Charger has an MSRP of $799, with a present avenue value of $650.  What do you consider the PC Charger?  Hit the feedback part under!

About Rex Nanorum

Rex Nanorum is an Alaskan Expatriate dwelling in Oregon along with his spouse and youngsters. Rising up on industrial fishing vessels, he discovered his subsequent journey with the 2nd Bn, seventy fifth Ranger Regt. After 5 excursions to Afghanistan and Iraq, he adventured in regards to the west coast changing into a industrial fisheries and salvage SCUBA diver, rated helicopter pilot teacher (CFII) and private coach, earlier than changing into a gear reviewer and author.”

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