Ruger PC-4, .40 S&W Carbine: Awesome, but unfortunately discontinued.
The Ruger PC-4 (also made in 9mm/PC-9) is an outstanding home defense weapon or truck/trunk rifle. Semi-auto blowback action with factory 10+1 or LE 11+1 round magazines. There is a bolt lock-forward device that keeps the bolt from moving backwards until the trigger is pulled. If you drop the rifle or strike the butt the bolt will not move and the round stays locked in the chamber until the trigger it pulled. The bolt locks back to the rear on the last round. The carbine is solidly built. The steel receiver, heavy recoil spring (with buffer spring) and weighted bolt/operating slide make for very little felt recoil. The polymer stock, chequering and balance give the carbine a great handy quick sight-in capability. The 16” barrel allows for complete powder burn so there is no muzzle flash. The barrel is rated +P+. An average of an extra 200 FPS is gained by the 16” barrel when compared to a 4 ½” handgun shooting the same round. The long barrel makes the carbine perfect for indoor night-time shooting in that there is zero muzzle flash and minimal muzzle blast. The shooter will not be blinded or have ringing ears from shooting indoors in a HD situation. Reliability with factory ammo is outstanding, although Blazer aluminum cartridges are not recommended due to the strength of the blowback system which can cause case separations with aluminum cartridges. The carbine takes the same magazine as the Ruger P-series handguns. Recorded ballistics with Corbon 135 grain JHP show:
PC-4, 16” barrel = 1675 FPS / 810 FT. LBS. of energy measured at the muzzle.
Beretta 96, 4.5” barrel = 1381 FPS / 625 FT. LBS. of energy measured at the muzzle.
The Savannah Arsenal Project 