When Ruger released its LC Carbine, the 5.7x28 mm FN community embraced it with open arms. This long-awaited companion to the company's pistol chambered in the same cartridge seemed like the culmination of a beautiful story starring the pint-sized round. Nonetheless, many Americans have yet to accept the 5.7 as part of the shooting landscape, citing a lack of availability and practicality as they thumb their nose at it. This sentiment loses its validity when we consider Ruger’s latest LC Carbine, as it slings the all-American .45 ACP downrange.
Revealed at the 2023 SHOT Show Industry Day at the range, I nearly walked past it until a Ruger staff member reeled me back with the glorious phrase, “Hey, this one’s in forty-five.” After putting half a mag downrange, I knew I needed more time with one back home. To my delight, they were already in production, and I was able to obtain a sample.
The “LC” in LC carbine stands for “Light and Compact,” and being that it can slip into even a moderately sized range bag, I’d say they nailed it. Just like its predecessor, the .45 ACP edition features a folding stock that deploys without having to engage any hardware. It’s also adjustable for length of pull. It mounts to the receiver via a rearward Picatinny rail.
Another less obvious factor that adds to its compact design is its unique blowback action. Using a bolt that slides partially over the barrel, the required mass for proper semi-automatic function is displaced forward, as is the receiver space needed for reliable cycling. Since material is needed in this area for the other operating components anyway, this system is inherently efficient.
When you first heard the news, you might have jokingly asked, “Does it take Glock magazines?” well, surprisingly, it does! At the time of its creation, Ruger wasn’t producing a pistol that took a double-stack .45 ACP magazine, so it turned to this popular platform instead of reinventing the wheel. Hearing “Glock mag” might lead you to think the LC Carbine also carries an obtuse grip angle like the pistols they typically slide into. This isn’t the case, as Ruger kept with the straighter M1911-type angle that many Americans prefer. My test sample included a steel-lipped SGM Tactical mag with a 13-round capacity, reminding us that it will fit any aftermarket mags of this pattern as well.
Careful placement of the controls ensures they remain easy to reach with a firing hand grip. At first glance, the layout looks a touch intimidating, but only a minor bit of exploration is needed to become proficient. Ruger gave the lefty a little love with this as the thumb safety is ambidextrous, and an additional safety is located within the trigger shoe. The charging handle is reversible, and I was fond of the fact that it is non-reciprocating, as it could interfere with support hand placement otherwise.
The magazine catch can be swapped to either side, but the bolt stop can only be configured for right-handed use. I can’t fault Ruger for this, as a tug of the charging handle allows the bolt to go back into the battery, which is going to be the preferred method for most users anyway. Besides, as a lefty, I’ve been using my trigger finger to swipe bolt- and slide-stops since my first reload, so it’s not really that big of a deal for anybody with a touch of experience.
Ruger includes a pair of flip-up sights with the LC Carbine, so it’s range-ready right from the box. However, there is just too much room to grow not to take advantage. I started by mounting a Sightmark Ultra Shot M-Spec Pro red-dot optic, as its multi-use reticle is perfect for everything I had in store. Centered in the lens is a 2-m.o.a. dot encompassed by a 65-m.o.a. ring. This combo yields a rapid aiming point for close-quarter use and a finer point for precision target work. The quick-detach hardware turned this into a quick installation, taking just a few seconds to clip on.
Turning my attention to the threaded muzzle, I mounted a Silencer Central Banish 45 suppressor using a 0.578”x28 TPI adapter and fixed barrel spacer. Most .45 ACP ammunition is subsonic, making this an extraordinarily quiet firearm, but care must be taken during your selection process, as higher than advertised velocities can be expected when fired out of a long gun. Ammo Inc. makes a 230-grain load in its Stealth line, boasting reliable cycling and a velocity of only 757 f.p.s. Granted, that’s likely out of a handgun, but nonetheless, I felt confident.
Interested in its possible use as a home-defense arm, I also grabbed a few boxes of Fiocchi’s Defense Dynamics, with a listed velocity of 850 f.p.s. on a hollow-point bullet of the same weight. Lastly was Barnes 185-grain monolithic VOR-TX load, which specifies a speed of 1,060 f.p.s., indicating it could break the sound barrier out of a carbine. Of course, f.p.s. is like a “Miles Per Gallon” rating, meaning the only way to tell for sure is to find out through use, so I went off to the range.
I began by zeroing in with Ammo Inc’s Stealth, which was considerably accurate and indeed subsonic. Putting a few boxes of it on an array of steel targets was exhilarating. The recoil was minimal, and the addition of the suppressor toned this down as well. Amazingly, the blowback wasn’t awful either, and being that left-handed shooting puts the action in my face, I’d know.
The trigger broke at a measured 6 lbs., 7 ozs., which is tougher than many custom guns out there but well within the realm of factory firearms. I can’t say it slowed me down as I gobbled through 200 rounds during what felt like a very short morning. In preparation for a quick cleaning, I removed the suppressor and reinstalled the thread protector. After a few pulls with a bore snake, I conducted a benchrest accuracy test and was reminded just how consistent .45 ACP can be from a quality firearm.
Ruger’s latest LC Carbine proved to be a handy little firearm. Aside from being a tremendously fun little plinker, it ate all of our range fodder with impunity. This included both styles of hollow-point ammunition as well as the reduced velocity Stealth loads we ran through it. Reliability like that qualifies it for home defense, while our 50-yard accuracy results indicate that it has what it takes for predator control as well.
Being that it hosts suppressors as well as it does, it’s a perfect solution to a late-night coyote that’s harassing your chicken coop. I believe that adding this chambering to the lineup was the right move, as America needs more big-bore carbines on the shelves, and there just isn’t a feeling that can match sending .45 ACP downrange.
Ruger LC Carbine .45 ACP Specifications
Action Type: blowback-operated, centerfire carbine
Chambering: .45 ACP
Receiver: aluminum alloy
Barrel: 16.25" alloy steel, threaded 0.578"x28
Twist: six-groove, 1:16"-RH
Magazine: 13-round detachable box
Sights: adjustable, Ruger Rapid Deploy
Stock: folding, synthetic; adjustable, 12.6" to 14.6"
Weight: 7 lbs, 2 ozs.
Overall Length: 30.6" (extended)
MSRP: $1,009
