LWRC IC-9 9mm PCC Test and Review

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The LWRC IC-9 is a standout in the world of pistol caliber carbines. It was one of 20 PCCs we ran through the gauntlet during a week of intense testing in the Nevada desert and it distinguished itself in a highly competitive field. When the dust settled – and there was plenty of it – it earned our Editor’s Choice award as one of the best pistol caliber carbines available. Not only does it score high marks in terms of performance, innovation, and its feature set, but it does so at an excellent price.

I go into detail about the IC-9’s charms in the video above, but the quick takeaway is that it is a flat-shooting and accurate platform with a soft recoil impulse that ran without any stoppages or failures. It also has very good ergonomics with AR-type controls and grip. 

Under the hood, it features a simple and clever operating system that allows a direct-blowback action to shoot like a delayed-roller blowback firearm. This Chamber Ring Delayed Blowback action has shallow grooves cut in the chamber — the “rings” — that momentarily hold the cartridge in place allowing chamber pressure to drop before the bolt recoils. This provides the same benefit that delayed-roller blowback actions like the MP5 have built their reputations on — but with no extra parts.

LWRC IC-9 Variants

LWRC offers the IC-9 in numerous configurations including 16-inch rifles, and 8.5-inch pistols (with or without braces), and SBRs. If you don’t want them in the standard black you can pick from four Cerakote colors — FDE, Olive Drab, Tungsten Gray, and Patriot Brown — for an additional fee. 

No matter which flavor you go with, they all have ambidextrous controls, an AR-style charging handle, A2 pattern grip, and M-Lok slots on their handguards. I opted for an 8.5 inch pistol with a brace in FDE.

The IC-9 In Action

We put several hundred rounds through the IC-9 during our test running a wide range of 9mm bullet styles and weights. We never cleaned it despite the ample servings of heat, dust, and grit dished up at Staccato’s Vegas facility. And it wasn’t unusual for us to run 30-round mags in quick succession until the PCC became too hot to handle. 

The IC-9 stood up to this rough treatment without complaint. We had no malfunctions or mechanical issues. 

I configured it with a B&T Vers36-XM suppressor and a Trijicon MRO red dot paired with Trijicon’s 3X magnifier, which paired nicely with the IC-9. Typically with suppressed guns — even when running flow-through designs like the Verx36-XM — you can get extra gas in your face from the additional backpressure. That wasn’t the case with the IC-9, which was one of the least “gassy” guns in the test.

The PCC’s accuracy impressed us as well. We used it to engage plates 150 yards downrange without difficulty, despite the gun’s 6-pound trigger. 

That trigger, which is heavier than we’d like, didn’t hold us back from running the IC-9 quickly either. With its minimal muzzle movement and soft recoil we were able to hose down the steel, even when transitioning through multiple targets. 

LWRC IC-9 Details

The brace the IC-9 shipped with is decent and adjusts to 5 different lengths of pull. There are QD sling attachments at the rear of the brace and one on the buffer tube end plate. The handguard has three QD sling cuts as well. Going forward, I would get a proper stock and SBR the gun. 

The mag releases on either side are easy to reach, as are the ambi bolt catches. Loading, unloading, and swapping magazines felt smooth and effortless, thanks to the intuitive and well-positioned controls.

The IC-9 has a Picatinny rail that runs the full length of the upper and handguard. Every other slot has a reference number to make it easy to mount sights and accessories in the same position, which is a nice touch.

LWRC configures the IC-9 with a slightly oversized triggerguard and its Ultra Combat grip that has a rubberized texture and shape that’s an improvement over a standard A2-type grip. 

Takedown and Servicing

The lower has captured AR-type takedown pins that give you access to the bolt, barrel, and trigger for cleaning and maintenance. The coating on the bolt carrier and hammer makes it easy to either wipe fouling off or blast it with brake cleaner or other appropriate solvent.

Final Thoughts

For me, this PCC checks every box I look for when considering a new gun. It shoots and handles like a champ, whether the targets are near or far. It has demonstrated dead-nuts reliability while operating under harsh conditions. The quality of its build and the thoughtful details in its design tell you it is made by people who know their craft and understand their customers. 

And while by no means is the IC-9 an entry level gun, it is a very good value. Compared to other high-end PCCs it delivers equivalent, and often better, performance while costing less. What’s not to like?