Ruger LC Carbine 45 ACP | Review Leave a comment

When Ruger debuted their PC Carbine in 9mm 2018, we all heard the lamentations from the masses: “Oh, I’d buy it if it was only in 45!” In 2022, Ruger rolled out the LC Carbine in 5.7x 28mm. Once again, we heard: “Oh, I’d buy it if it was only in 45!”

Well, if we heard it, so did Ruger. Earlier this year, they launched the LC Carbine in 45 ACP. As much as I am a fan of 45 ACP, it felt a little lackluster, to be honest. Probably because I think of the old-school 230-grain FMJ subsonic loads for 1911s first. However, after a few hours, the hamster wheel started turning in my mind, and I began thinking of the newer loads that have emerged in recent years that used better, lighter bullets that traveled faster. How would they perform in a 16-inch barrel?

Maybe there’s a method to the madness that I almost overlooked.

Ruger LC Carbine 45 ACP

The Build

Unboxing the Ruger LC Carbine reveals a sleek yet rugged pistol caliber carbine sporting a Type III hard-coat anodized aluminum handguard with M-LOK attachment slots all around. There are numerous QD sling sockets to allow attachment of a sling wherever you find it convenient. The butt stock is side-folding and the 16.25-inch barrel is threaded .578×28″ for a silencer, flash suppressor or muzzle brake.

The safety is ambidextrous, the non-reciprocating charging handle is reversible, and the magazine release is generously sized. Speaking of magazines, Ruger ships the carbine with a 13-round Glock pattern magazine that fits the Model 21.

While the LC Carbine comes with Ruger’s Rapid Deploy open sights, I mounted Lucid’s new E7 optic. This is a rugged little sight that uses a blue colored emitter as opposed to the more common red or green.

The LC Carbine has a remarkable balance due to Ruger using a bolt-over-barrel system. This allows the chamber to set directly over the trigger and in the subsequent range test, may be the key to its reliability.

Range Time

In order to zero the rifle, I started out with 200 rounds of Winchester White Box 230-grain FMJ. With the price of ammo these days, I wasn’t going to burn up the good stuff unnecessarily. Besides, WWB ammo is great for the old reliability test.

Recoil was mild and the carbine proved to be accurate, reliable but most of all a lot of fun; especially due to the Lucid E7. At 25 yards I was able to shoot 1.75-inch groups from the bench.

With the LC Carbine and the Lucid E7 dialed in, it was time to change it up again.

Black Hills Honey Badger Ammunition uses a solid copper, non-deforming, non-fragmenting 135-grain projectile with wide, sharp flutes. It doesn’t expand like a hollow point because its design is optimized for penetration.

The groups tightened up to just over an inch. According to Black Hills, the Honey Badger 45 ACP travels at 1250 fps when fired from a 5-inch barrel. Out of the Ruger LC 45 I clocked these at 1,466 fps with the chronograph.

Some shooters will scoff at an increase of 200 fps, but I’ll take it.

Switching back to Winchester White Box, I attached a Bowers Group ASP 45.

The Bowers ASP is 1.5″ in diameter by 7″ long and as such, is one of the smallest and lightest 45 pistol silencers on the market It tips the scales at a mere 5 ounces. It is made of lightweight aluminum except for the mounting insert in order to keep weight down.

This one is intended to be used only as a “wet” silencer on handguns. Bowers says you can run it dry on a carbine, but I prefer using an ablative on a pistol round, particularly if the slight increase in velocity makes the rounds go supersonic.

You can use a cap full of water or a wire-pulling gel as an ablative. Sound level with the can attached and the 230-grain bullets went to about 125 dB.

Closing thoughts

If you’re a tried and true 45 ACP fan with a stack of Glock 21 magazines and have the need for a Pistol Caliber Carbine (PCC), this seems to be one of the better options out there. Although it doesn’t take down like most backpacker-type carbines, the folding stock makes it highly portable.

The increased performance of a lighter bullet with faster speed may make it a contender for small-game hunting or use against predators.
While I’m personally not a fan of PCCs unless they’re SBRs or full auto, this one has a lot of potential.

Ruger LC Carbine 45 ACP Specs:

• Make: Ruger
• Model: LC 45
• Capacity: 13+1
• Weight: 7.1 lb.
• Overall Length: 30.60″
• Length of Pull: 12.60″ – 14.60″
• Twist: 1:16″ RH with 6 grooves
• Barrel Length:16.25″
• Thread Pattern:578″-28
• Receiver Material: Aluminum Alloy
• Stock: Folding, Adjustable Length of Pull
• Sights: Adjustable Ruger® Rapid Deploy
• Receiver Finish: Type III Hard-Coat Anodized
• Suggested Retail: $1009.00

About Mike Searson

Mike Searson’s career as a shooter began as a Marine Rifleman at age 17. He has worked in the firearms industry his entire adult life as a Gunsmith, Ballistician, Consultant, Salesman, Author and was first certified to teach firearms safety in 1989.

Mike has written over 2000 articles for a number of magazines, websites and newsletters including Blade, RECOIL, OFF-GRID, Tactical Officer, SWAT, Tactical World, Gun Digest, Examiner.com and the US Concealed Carry Association as well as AmmoLand Shooting Sports News.

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