Ruger’s design teams aren’t known for having the wildest imaginations regarding futuristic form factors, but they’re widely regarded for producing highly functional designs. When the LC Charger in 5.7×28 was announced, it signaled a more mainstream adoption of the diminutive cartridge. With 5.7 getting SAAMI approval in 2024, the LC Charger is primed to bring an inexpensive 5.7×28 platform to the market. Does it perform?
Ruger LC Charger 5.7×28 Pistol
Live Inventory Price Checker
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Ruger LC Charger 5.7x28mm 10.3in Black Anodized Modern Sporting Pistol - 20+1 Rounds - Black | Sportsman's Warehouse | $ 829.99 $ 749.97 |
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Ruger LC Charger 5.7x28mm 10.30" 10rd Pistol | Palmetto State Armory | $ 987.99 $ 730.99 |
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Ruger LC Charger 5.7x28mm 10.3 Barrel 20-Rounds | GrabAGun | $ 748.99 |
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Ruger LC Charger 5.7x28mm 10.30" 10rd Pistol | Palmetto State Armory | $ 987.99 $ 730.99 |
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The Ruger LC Charger is a nominal pistol by modern definition but wisely comes with a rear-mounted picatinny section for braces/stocks. Having an SB Tactical brace handy, I mounted it. Lacking in factory iron sights, a Bushnell TRS-125 was added, as well as a SAS Reaper Ti suppressor. Regarding ergonomics, the LC Charger acquits itself well. The MP5-like charging handle is in the right spot for easy off-hand operation. Even with short and broad hands, the bolt release, mag release, and safety (which is ambidextrous) are easy to hit. Well done, Ruger. The trigger is better than workmanlike. It’s not a precision rifle trigger, but it’s no slop job either. A little creep, no grit to speak of, then a pretty nice break.
The LC Charger isn’t heavy—it’s right around 4 lbs out of the box. Once I added the triangle brace, titanium suppressor, and red dot, it was still close to 6 lbs. For reference, my 11-year-old kid loves shooting this gun.
Technical Details
- Barrel: 10.3 in. Nitride Finish
- Overall Length: 16 in.
- Weight: 66.5 ounces
- Twist Rate: 1:9RH
- Receiver Coating: Type III Hard-Coat Anodized
- Handguard: MLOK Attachment Slots
- Magazine Capacity: 10 and 20 rounds
- Sights: None
Range Time
Testing:
My first few range days were spend accuracy and gel block testing four type of ammunition. I list ammo prices based on what Ammoseek is telling me as of the time of writing.
With a rough zero using the first round listed below, From a rest, FN’s SS197SR 40gr round grouped pretty consistently around 1MOA at 25 yards. At ~1 yard, this round blew through all 16″ of Clear Ballistics calibrated 10% gel. Not bad at all for one of the cheapest rounds available in this caliber, at ~$.42/round.
Speer’s Gold Dot Personal Protection 40gr offering hung pretty close in accuracy, averaging just over 1MOA (1.1). The Gold Dot very consistently expanded, coming to a stop 12.5″ deep in the ballistic gelatin. If you need terminal performance, you’ll find it easier to justify Speer’s $.73/round price over the FMJ range rounds.
Federal’s American Eagle 40gr FMJ opened up the groups a bit, still a very good 1.5 MOA. American Eagle blew through the gel block, hardly deforming. $.46/round.
The FN GUNR 40gr round did acceptably, clustering around the 2 MOA mark, and also passing clean through the gelatin brick with only rifling marks to show for it. While the Ruger LC Charger groups well for a ‘pistol’ (let’s just call it a PDW?), it really shines in CQB-style shooting.
The LC Charger is light, well balanced, and should get a “handling” rating in the 90th percentile. This gun is easy to shoot. Ready/up and Mozambiques are fun with the LC Charger. Shooting my miniature e-type silhouette at 100 yards is a breeze. Like I mentioned, even my 11 year old loves shooting this gun, and he usually sticks to .22 lr.
Best Uses
While the 5.7×28 round has higher muzzle velocity compared to handguns and common PDW’s of similar barrel lengths (which usually are chambered in ‘handgun’ calibers ), the relatively light projectile weight means it’s not well suited for medium or heavy game.
In a defensive scenario (and using ammo like Speer’s Gold Dot), the LC Charger and 5.7×28 combine to make a fantastic combo. 5.7×28 has laughably little recoil, and it’s managed well by the LC Charger. I know everyone wants the “Mp7 at home”, and I think the LC Charger is the closest factory gun to achieving that goal in function, if not aesthetics. I don’t think that a defensive gun is where the Ruger LC Charger will find most of its customers though.
As a truck gun, or tractor gun as I call it on the homestead, the LC Charger is small, light, and will do just fine deterring (permanently) unwanted pests to 100 yards with ease. An optic with a little magnification like the Primary Arms GLx 2x would pair really well with the LC Charger, keeping the gun light and fast, while enhancing accuracy a bit.
The LC Charger in a Nutshell
Let’s break it down:
Pro’s:
- Accurate
- No recoil
- Reliable
- Handles well
Con’s:
- The pistol grip is long, due to the length of the 5.7 cartridge
- Rounds fed by dropping the locked bolt on a loaded mag had shockingly reduced recoil impulse, thought the first round in every mag was a squib
Bottom Line:
The Ruger LC Charger is well-designed, compact, and a nice shooter. 5.7×28 is what it is, for better and worse. Paired with the LC Charger, I’d say this gun plays to the caliber’s strengths. Given that 5.7×28 ammo has dropped significantly in price over the last few years, now is a better time than ever to try out the zippy little round.
Ruger has the LC Charger’s MSRP at $999, while it’s available from retailers for $749.99 currently. If you’re interested in adding a carbine/PDW sized 5.7 gun to your collection, the Ruger LC Charger is a great place to start.
About Rex Nanorum
It would’ve been nice if he’d chronographed the rounds and simply just gel tested them. Also, it would’ve been interesting to see how the bullets did in say a 2″x4″ or ply wood or dry wall, something harder than mere gel.
I’m still not sold on the 5.7 cartridge. Each round costs almost as much as M855. I’d be willing to change my mind on the 5.7, if I saw some tests beyond just basic accuracy and gel.
Think I will stick with my 9mm. After all, it will blow the suspect’s lungs right out his back. Heard that from a firearms expert! (Sarcasm mode off).
You know, I too heard that from a “firearms expert” lol. I also heard from another “expert” that a Glock is easier to get than a library card…
When I bought my Glock 17, it was MUCH harder to get than a library card!
I made my own library card. It isn’t an exact copy, but it does a pretty good job and I don’t have to worry about anyone asking about any overdue books.
Yeah? Is it accurate?
I do have some chrono testing coming up when the weather breaks, I’ll update the article when it’s finished.
Doing various material penetration testing isn’t something I’m planning, simply put it’s time and money testing a caliber that isn’t intended for sure. It’s a smaller form factor than .223, with better efficiency (less wasted powder, muzzle blast etc) from short barrels. It’s really more akin to a handgun round, optimized for range.
That’d be interesting information. I’ll be looking forward to it. Thanks.
Penetration is absoluely what the 5.7×28 was designed for, and penetration testing would give some insight into just how badly the cartridge is handicapped without the proper armor piercing smmunition.
Small Arms Solutions talks about the P90 and a 5.7. He said the cartridge dumps so much energy into body armor that there isn’t enough energy left over to reliably create fatal wounds.
This is off topic, but, is there any word on Remington guns? The new Remarms plant in Georgia? Any word on when they’ll be shipping new guns?
First round is always a squib? A squib is low powder / no powder round that results in bullet stuck in the barrel with next bullet colliding and causing serious damage to barrel / gun.
I absolutely HATE the modern trend of gun manufacturers neglecting to put good iron sights on their rifles from the factory. I don’t care for scopes or red dots, and quality aftermarket irons, if you can even find a set that matches the gun well, are expensive.
That pic of the author’s gun is not a “triangle” brace.
The big thing lacking, and the only thing memorable about the cartridge other than the 50 round mag in the original P90, is the proper armor piercing ammunition, which is not available. Without the ammo, meh.
Didn’t you every see Stargate? The P90 was used to kill plenty of heavily armored aliens!!!