Developed in 1990 as a go between the 5.56 NATO and 9x19mm cartridge for martial use, the FN 5.7x28mm cartridge’s popularity has its proponents and detractors in the civilian world. The popularity of the cartridges waned for some time but in the last few years, the cartridge is seeing a resurgence with the release of affordable options by popular brands—particularly the Ruger 57 pistol and the PSA 5.7 Rock.
Although there are a few carbines available chambered for the 5.7x28mm, the new Ruger LC Carbine has a lot of potential and serves as an obvious follow-up to the Ruger-57. Jeremy takes the LC to task in a recent GunMag video, but in the end, he has more to say about the round it fires.
Ruger LC Carbine
The LC Carbine shares the same 20-round magazines, pistol grip, and thumb safety of the Ruger-57, but is otherwise a completely different animal. Weighing in at a hair under 6 pounds, the carbine sports a 16 1/4 inch barrel, allowing you to get the most out of the 5.7 round. The carbine uses an M-Lock handguard nearly to the muzzle and features a folding buttstock.
The sighting plane consists of a Picatinny rail that will take any conceivable optic, but from the box, it arrives with rebranded MBUS-like polymer flip-up sights. Otherwise, the LC Carbine is a straight blowback carbine that uses spring weight and a heavy bolt to cycle the action and uses a left-side charging handle. The setup of the charging handle does not get in the way whether you are a right-handed shooter or a lefty like Jeremy, as it does not reciprocate with every shot.
5.7x28mm
The LC Carbine comes across as an alternative 22 rifle with the potential for defensive applications. On the range, the rifle shoots accurately with little perceived recoil. Ballistically, the 5.7×28 is a bottlenecked cartridge that uses spitzer bullets ranging between 27-40 grains in weight. It is in the light and fast category, running at about 1600 feet per second out of a handgun. Out of this 16-inch barreled carbine, you can expect velocities north of 2000 feet per second.
The 5.7 is often compared to the 22 Winchester Magnum. With the hottest 40-grain 22 Magnum loads, you can achieve upwards of 1900 feet per second but you have to contend with sometimes unreliable rimfire ignition and the use of round-nosed projectiles. The 5.7 is somewhat more powerful, centerfire, and uses spitzer rounds that have a flat trajectory. The 5.7×28 can compete in the realm of varmint hunting and provides more confidence for defensive applications.
Here’s the problem.
Jeremy has a different take. From the outset, the 5.7 was not designed to replace the 22 Magnum. It was designed to replace traditional pistol cartridges—particularly the 9mm Luger round—in the era of modern Kevlar body armor. But most folks will do just fine with 9mm in most scenarios. 9mm pistols, carbines, and ammunition are plentiful and can be had for a fair price. Although Ruger and other companies have started to popularize the 5.7×28, the variety and availability of guns for it leaves something to be desired; the ammunition is less available and far more expensive than most defensive handgun and carbine rounds.
Although most might be better served for less with a 9mm pistol or PCC, the Ruger LC Carbine is another platform in the 5.7 chambering, which gets us closer to an affordable, awesome round with plenty of applications.
