Ruger introduces new LC Carbine in 5.7x28mm caliber
Ruger Firearms announces the launch of the new LC Carbine, a versatile blowback-operated semi-automatic sporting and defensive carbine chambered in 5.7x28mm, feeding through Ruger-5.7 pistol magazines and sharing the latter's grip and controls configuration
Freshly announced by Ruger Firearms, the new Ruger LC Carbine 5.7x28mm semi-automatic carbine is but the latest of whole slough of 5.7x28mm caliber firearms launched in recent times on the global commercial markets.
Up until not too long ago, 5.7x28mm was a niche caliber used only by proprietary FN platform such as the P90 sub-machinegun, PS-90 semi-automatic carbine, and Five-Seven pistol.
In the past few years, however, the proliferation of non-AP 5.7x28mm loads and the launch of 5.7mm caliber lines by numerous ammunition manufacturers allowed this tiny zipper of a round to become increasingly popular among competition shooters, hunters, and simple citizens looking for low-recoil, high-performance firearms for target shooting or personal, home, and property protection.
Ruger LC Carbine 5.7x28mm semi-automatic carbine – right side, with stock extended
The Ruger LC Carbine has been conceived as an "all-rounder", rugged and reliable alternative for sport shooting, ranging from practical shooting disciplines to simple target shooting, training or leisure; as a handy backpacking alternative for campers and outdoorsmen to be used for protection against feral animals or small-game hunting; and for home defense.
The Ruger LC Carbine shares numerous features with the Company's own, previous 5.7x28mm caliber firearm – Ruger-5.7 semi-automatic pistol. And indeed, the Ruger LC Carbine is built around a Ruger-5.7 glass-reinforced black Nylon grip assembly, and shares the Ruger-5.7's trigger with trigger safety, manual safety, slide stop lever, magazine catch, and 20-rounds double-stack metal magazine.
Ruger LC Carbine 5.7x28mm semi-automatic carbine – left side, with stock folded
The frame of the Ruger LC Carbine is machined out of black hard-coat Type III anodized aluminum alloy, and features a full-length top MIL-STD 1913 Picatinny rail for optics and a set of factory-issued, Ruger-branded polymer flip-up sights. The handguard is likewise machined out of black anodized alloy, and is M-LOK compatible.
The Ruger LC Carbine is a closed-bolt, hammer-fired, single-action blowback-operated firearm; each LC Carbine comes with Ruger's now, side-folding and collapsible buttstock installed on a Picatinny interface. Both the stock and the mounting rail can easily be removed and replaced with an AR-15 type buffer tube for M4-compatible collapsible buttstocks at the owner's will.
Standing in at 72,7 to 77,7 cm / 28.70" to 30.60" depending on the position of the stock, and weighing in at 2,67 kg / 5.9 lb when empty, the Ruger LC Carbine features a fluted, nitride-finished 41,27 cm / 16.¼" barrel with a ½"-28 protected thread at the muzzle for flash hiders, muzzle brakes, compensators, or silencers (where legal). The eight right-handed grooves with a 1:9" twist rate will optimally stabilize most available 5.7x28mm commercial loads.
The charging handle of the Ruger LC Carbine is located on the left side of the receiver; the bolt partially wraps around the barrel extension – much like the telescopic bolt design found on open-bolt sub-machineguns such as the UZI or Beretta PM-12S – to achieve better weight balance.
The Ruger LC Carbine is currently available on the US market at a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $979.00. For further information concerning availability and pricing in your Country outside of the US, please reach out to your local authorized Ruger Firearms distributor.