Upgrading my Ruger PC Carbine with the Midwest Industries M-LOK Handguard has made it much more functional. This handguard is designed to replace the OEM unit on the base model. That includes the 9mm and .40 caliber models 19100, 19101. 19102, and 19109, 19110, and 19111. From the factory, they’re equipped with a short polymer handguard and a tiny rail section. Not much utility there. Adding a free-float handguard with eight sides of M-LOK slots allows the addition of forward grips, lights, lasers, or other accessories. And it provides a place for your support hand, rather than touching the barrel.
Midwest Industries M-LOK Handguard for the Ruger PC Carbine specs
Although there is a 14″ version available as well, I chose the slightly more compact 12″ version. It’s machined from 6061 aluminum, fully dehorned, and then Type III hard coat anodized. With three anti-rotation QD sockets and M-LOK slots on all eight sides, it weighs just 10.9 ounces. Midwest Industries includes a mounting bolt and the proper size wrenches for easy installation. There’s also a five slot polymer M-LOK rail section in the package. So you don’t have to feel like you’re giving up that one tiny section included on the factory handguard.
Installation
As usual, it’s easier to embed the installation video than try to write out the instructions. The only thing you’ll need besides your PC Carbine and your new Midwest Industries M-LOK Handguard is an inch lb torque wrench. Before you order, watch the video below, and see just how quick and easy this process is. It took me about ten minutes, because I like to check out how everything works. Otherwise, this is one of the easier upgrades I’ve done lately. I’ll let Dave take it from here.
Installation complete, now what?
This is where some Ruger PC Carbine owners might go crazy with accessories. As mentioned, you can now easily attach a forward grip, light, or laser. Slap a rail section up top, and add a reflex sight or even a scope. The options are endless. For me, I was more concerned with sling mounts and just being able to grab something besides the barrel with my support hand. But eight sides with M-LOK slots on a 12 inch handguard really does allow for nearly limitless possibilities. And I will admit that it just looks much better too.
Range time
Our outdoor shooting area consists of steel gongs at varying distances. In addition, some folks have a tendency to drag their garbage our there, which isn’t cool. But it does make for an interesting time. Empty 20 pound propane tanks can make a pretty satisfying target at longer distances when shooting 9mm. Whether close in, or farther away, the Midwest Industries handguard offers plenty of room for proper hand placement. It’s not as though my PC Carbine was magically more accurate. It was just a bit more ergonomic. I made some longer shots with ease, and even with strings of 17 rounds, heat was not an issue.
Next steps
Since I already have another PC Carbine with an optic, I will keep this one with irons. But I do appreciate the option to add a small angled grip with a barrier stop. So that will probably happen soon enough. If this was going to be a defensive carbine, it would definitely get a flashlight as well. There is so much space, and so many M-LOK slots, options are really only limited by imagination. I’ve even seen them with bipods. Like that burger ad, you can have it your way.
Conclusion
One observation that I feel is very relevant is that this Midwest Industries M-LOK Handguard does not work with the Ruger PC Carbine that comes with a free-float handguard. You can’t swap the Ruger one for this one. Which is too bad. Because the finish on this version is so much better than the OEM one. I understand that Ruger needs to produce stuff to a certain price point. But their version is like a cheese grater compared to this. For anyone not sure which one to get, or those in states that don’t allow folding/collapsible stocks, this is a viable option. If I didn’t have the other model, I would be very content with this. If I was an early adopter, and bought the first model (which I did), there would be no regrets today. It’s definitely a solid upgrade. Check it out at MidwestIndustries.com
Special thanks to Midwest Industries for letting me try this out on my Ruger PC Carbine. They’ve definitely got the parts necessary to improve on some already great firearms. Excellent service too.