{"id":125845,"date":"2020-03-29T12:19:08","date_gmt":"2020-03-29T16:19:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/?p=125845"},"modified":"2020-03-29T12:19:08","modified_gmt":"2023-09-06T15:48:02","slug":"ruger-pc-charger-reviewed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/ruger-pc-charger-reviewed\/","title":{"rendered":"Smallest Backpack gun? Ruger PC Charger Gets Reviewed"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Besides the Holosun HS507C that I mounted, what you see is what you get when you buy the Ruger PC Charger. You will also receive a 17 or 10 round SR-Series magazine depending on which model you purchase.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I got the Ruger PC Charger<\/a> in for testing and, admittedly, I was very excited about it. This new 9mm pistol can accept a pistol brace, muzzle device, and an optic which makes it easy and convenient to use. Also, this gun has takedown functionality, meaning you can remove the handguard and barrel from the receiver and carry it as a separate package. All of these details add up to make the Ruger PC Charger a great option for carrying a lot of firepower for personal protection in a concealed manner. You could hide it in many places including a backpack, nightstand, or truck console while it remains easily and quickly deployable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not only would the PC Charger be a good option for personal protection, but it is also a fun range gun! With a suppressor and subsonic ammunition, I could shoot this gun all day without worrying about my hearing, or getting a headache from the concussion of the blast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enough with why I think it might be cool, let’s talk about what exactly the Ruger PC Charger is and how it actually performed at the range!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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With a few add ons, this is my ideal setup for the PC Charger. I have attached a Holosun HS507C, SB Tactical FS1913 pistol brace, 33 round Glock-style magazine, and a Rebel Silencers SOS450 suppressor.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Models<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The Ruger PC Charger comes in two different offerings: model 29100 and 29101. The difference between these is simple: One is the “State Compliant” model (29101) which has a 10 round magazine instead of a 17 round magazine that is included in the other model. Besides this difference, they both share exactly the same specs, chambering of 9mm, and an MSRP of $799.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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While swapping the magazine well from the SR-Style one to the Glock magazine adapter, I took the chance to snap a picture of how it all goes together.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Interesting Features<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The PC Charger is very customizable. The end-user has the option to place the magazine release as well as the charging handle on the right or left-hand side. You can also swap the magazine well to convert the PC Charger to accept either Ruger or Glock magazines. All of these changes can be done without the addition of aftermarket parts. But once you open that window, there are endless options for different pistol braces, suppressors, muzzle brakes, pistol grips, foregrips, optics, lasers, and much more. And of course, the PC Charger will accept any buttstock (assuming you have the right paperwork) or brace that attaches via 1913 Picatinny rail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The PC Charger has a Picatinny section at the rear which can be used for attaching a brace or buttstock (assuming you do that the legal way). Also, notice the QD cup at the rear for attaching a sling.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

You can also use the M-LOK slots that are located at the 3,6 and 9 O’Clock positions on the handguard to attach your favorite accessories… and the options here are endless. The PC Charger comes with a hand-stop on the forend so that you have a point of reference in order to prevent your hand from going in front of the short 6.5″ barrel. With that said, do not attach a vertical foregrip on this pistol unless you want the ATF knocking on your door and endangering your dog. I also elected to mount a Rebel Silencers SOS450 can on the end of mine using the 1\/2×28 TPI threaded muzzle in order to quiet the gun down, making the shooting experience more pleasurable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Besides all of that, the main feature that distinguishes this gun from other 9mm pistols that are designed to accept a brace is its ability to be separated at the handguard and reattached in an instant. This takedown locking mechanism is very positive and easy to operate and the barrel extension fits into the receiver with very little play. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What you are looking at here is the receiver (bottom) which is ready to accept the forend unit (top). The silver pin on the forend locks into the receiver, creating a very tight fit.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When operating this mechanism, simply lock the bolt to the rear and operate the lever at the bottom of the handguard, twist the forend, and pull. All you have to do in order to put it back together is insert the barrel assembly into the receiver and twist until it locks. In a bit, I will also show you that it even returns to zero reliably after it has been taken down and is reassembled. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Another angle on the receiver and the forend unit while they are not connected.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Ruger PC Charger’s<\/a> receiver is constructed of aluminum, and so is the handguard while the chassis system is made from glass-filled polymer. Basically, the rest of the parts in this pistol are steel, save the polymer magwell and grip. This makes the PC Charger quite hefty, coming in at 5.2 pounds. Note that this weight is without optics and a brace. Because of this fact, you may be limited in where\/how you want to carry this pistol if you have it in mind for the purpose of personal defense. On the flip side, the PC Charger has a lot of mass to absorb recoil energy as well as a tungsten buffer weight which helps the user shoot the gun fast and flat. In the end, it’s up to you to decide what application you have for the PC Charger and if it fits that role. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I was able to fit the PC Charger in a conventional sized backpack with a suppressor and a brace attached, thanks to the takedown functionality it has to offer.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Experience at the Range<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

I had a blast shooting the Ruger PC Charger at the range. Thanks to the way I had the gun set up, recoil was minimal and accuracy was maxed out. After getting a rough zero on some dirt clods approximately 50 yards away (don’t knock it… I’m sure you have done it at least once yourself), I immediately went to banging away at steel. With the 33 round Glock magazine that I was using, it didn’t take long to run through several hundred rounds doing this. Through this process, I noticed that every shot seemed to land right where I wanted it to, making me think that the PC Charger might be fairly accurate!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But how accurate is it? The next step was to answer this question. I set a target out at 75 yards and put several 5 round groups on paper with a variety of ammunition consisting of Norma Hexagon Match Grade 124 grain, Federal American Eagle 115 and 147 grain and Federal Syntech Training Match 124 grain. Below, you can see that I had results that hovered around 1.5 – 2 MOA depending on ammunition. The 124 grain Norma Hexagon Match Grade put down the best groups, which is what I typically see, so I fired two different groups with it after taking the gun down and reassembling it. Based on what I see, it can be gathered that there is no point of impact shift, or that there is a slight shift: depending on if you think my aim is perfect at 75 yards while using a red dot optic. That said, I was very impressed with these results as they exceeded my expectations for most any firearm chambered in 9mm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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1.5 – 2 MOA with the Norma Hexagon Match 124 grain. These two targets are also the results of my return to zero testing. These results would suggest that the shift is under an inch if my shooting is perfect.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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3.77 MOA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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4.36 MOA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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3.23 MOA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Trigger<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

This topic is one of the most important aspects of a firearm in my own opinion. A high-quality trigger will help the shooter squeeze every bit of accuracy out of a platform regardless of the type; rifle or pistol. The trigger system in this firearm utilizes time-proven 10\/22 components. After extensive use, I’m glad to report that the trigger on the Ruger PC Charger exceeds my expectations on a niche platform like this. I measured the trigger pull to average 4.25 lbs using my Wheeler Trigger Pull Gauge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’d describe the trigger in the PC Charger to have a bit of takeup (about 1\/16″ worth) followed by a crisp break. The trigger almost gives off a two-stage vibe because the takeup is not creep, it is simply the bit of space that it takes to engage the mechanism. I found that I could quickly and definitively take this space up and hit a wall until the trigger would break crisply. I’ve definitely used many “Mil-Spec” triggers in ARs that are very bad comparatively. Again, to clarify, the trigger in the PC Charger is very good and set at a reasonable 4.25 pound pull weight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The safety and bolt catch on the PC Charger is located in front of the trigger. Both are easy to operate.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Specifications<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n