I've fired both the PC9 and PC40 and don't find the recoil to be bad on either. Why? Because both carbines, which appears to be 5.5 lbs, are somewhat over 7 lbs and because of that excessive weight, handle recoil well. If anything, they're too heavy for a pistol cailber carbine. Ruger engineered them that way so as to make them blowback. I'd wish they had used the delayed roller locking blowback system of HK or Calico. We'd would have had a 4.5 lb carbine that way.
Don't try a detailed dissassembly on your own on it. It can be done, but it can be messy.
Despite its fault (weight), I still think it would a nifty patrol carbine which could be issued in lieu of a .223 rifle. With a red dot sight, it should be capable of head shots at 75 yards and with it's pistol compatible magazine, you don't have to lug around extra mags. Mind you, I think the reason why a department would issue a patrol rifle and the pistol caliber carbine are different.
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