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Pistol caliber carbines (PCCs) are incredibly popular, ranging from budget-friendly options to premium firearms designed for competition. While the 9mm cartridge is the standard for most PCCs, what if you want a little more power, more “oomph,” or greater penetration? That’s where magnum-powered PCCs come in.
Pistol caliber carbines (PCCs) are incredibly popular, ranging from budget-friendly options to premium firearms designed for competition. While the 9mm cartridge is the standard for most PCCs, what if you want a little more power, more “oomph,” or greater penetration? That’s where magnum-powered PCCs come in.
The line between a standard cartridge and a magnum cartridge can be arbitrary, as seen with the .22 Magnum and .44 Magnum. Most often, a magnum round is a more powerful descendant of a standard round. When you take one of these powerful rounds and chamber it in a rifle or subgun platform, you get a magnum PCC.
Magnum PCCs are a niche in the gun industry, but they offer a powerful, low-recoil, close-range option that can satisfy a variety of roles. In general, if you need a light rifle for close-range shooting that will quickly neutralize a threat, a magnum PCC is for you.
Brush Hunting
Brush hunting is exactly what it sounds like. If you’re moving through dense terrain, like a Florida swamp, where visibility is limited to nearly nothing or maybe 50 yards, the magnum PCC is an excellent choice. These powerful guns are often lightweight and easy to shoot offhand. They pack a punch that offers a little forgiveness if your shot is less than perfect.
Pest Control
Like brush hunting, pest control is often done up close. If you’re chasing a literal fox out of the hen house, you want to put it down quickly and surely. A magnum PCC is perfect for close-range shots that have to count. They’ll effectively take down coyotes, hogs, and more. Plus, if you’re trying to juggle a flashlight and open a gate, it’s easier to use a light and powerful rifle than other guns.
Defensive Applications
If you find yourself in a state that might not be semi-automatic rifle friendly, a magnum-powered PCC can be an excellent option. They are powerful, hard-hitting, and can be fired quickly when necessary. Not all magnum PCCs are appropriate for home defense, but if you’re restricted by magazine and rifle limitations, the magnum PCC is a great way to go.
The Best Magnum PCCs
#1 Henry Big Boy X |  | M-LOK compatible, high-visibility sights, threaded barrel. | See Price |
#2 Uberti Cattleman Revolving Carbine |  | Adjustable sight options, multiple calibers, lightweight. | See Price |
#3 Ruger M77 |  | Rotary magazine, open iron sights, bolt action. | See Price |
#4 CMMG Banshee Mk10 |  | Radial delayed blowback, uses Glock magazines, AR compatible. | See Price |
#5 Big Horn Armory Black Thunder Lever Gun |  | M-LOK slots, optics ready, extremely powerful. | See Price |
#6 Rossi LWC |  | Lightweight, hammer-fired, optics ready. | See Price |
#7 Wren Metal Works Integrally Suppressed Lever Action Rifle |  | Integrated suppressor, optics ready, tuned design. | See Price |
Here is our list for the best mini red dot sights:
- Henry Big Boy X
- Uberti Cattleman Revolving Carbine
- Ruger M77
- CMMG Banshee Mk10
- Big Horn Armory Black Thunder Lever Gun
- Rossi LWC
- Wren Metal Works .44 Magnum
Here are the detailed reviews of all the mini red dots I’ve listed along with a side-by-side spec table on each. Each one of these red dot sights has unique features which lead to their location on this list.
Henry Big Boy X
A lever action-styled PCC chambered in 44 magnum that provides plenty of opportunity for customization and accessories.
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Henry Big Boy X Specs
-
Barrel Length (in)
0.96 -
Overall Length (in)
36.2 -
Weight (lbs)
7.3 -
Caliber
.45 Colt, .44 Magnum, .357 Magnum
Henry Big Boy X
Henry might be the most prolific producer of magnum-powered PCCs. They make enough to fill an entire list of rifles, but I picked the Henry Big Boy X. The Big Boy X offers a modern lever action option in a variety of calibers with a tough-to-beat configuration. The Big Boy X series maintains a classic lever action design that pairs well with magnum calibers.
Specifically, the inherent strength and reliability of a lever gun are key. The manual action keeps things simple and ensures total reliability. Magnum rounds are often loaded at various power levels. A lever action doesn’t care if it’s a light loaded round or a hot round; it will work with both equally well.
The Big Boy X allows you to pick your favorite magnum-powered pistol cartridge, including the .45 Colt, .357 Magnum, and .44 Magnum. With the .44 Magnum and .357 Magnum, you can also shoot .44 Special and .38 Special respectively. This allows for lower recoil and, in some cases, cheaper ammo. Any of these three calibers would be a good choice for medium game, and the .45 Colt and .44 Magnum would work brilliantly for bear defense, with the .357 being no slouch either.
The Big Boy X integrates modern features, including M-LOK slots and rails for accessories. These guns are optics-ready and come with high-visibility sights. The lever action design is smooth and fast, and with a capacity of seven rounds, you have a rapid-firing, hard-hitting, powerful weapon that would be an adequate defensive choice.
They even threaded the barrel for muzzle devices, and suppressors are a natural go-to. The Big Boy X is an excellent all-around magnum-powered PCC that introduces you to lever guns. Henry makes excellent rifles, and these are solid, dependable, and accurate.
Big Boy X Pros and Cons
- Accurate
- Modern Features
- Multiple Caliber Options
- ExpensivePolymer Lens
Uberti Cattleman
A lever action-styled PCC chambered in 44 magnum that provides plenty of opportunity for customization and accessories.
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Uberti Cattleman Revolving Carbine Specs
-
Barrel Length (in)
18 -
Overall Length (in)
35.1 -
Weight (lbs)
4.12 -
Caliber
.357 Mag, .44/40, .44 Mag, .45 LC
Uberti Cattleman Revolving Carbine Review
Revolving rifles have a rich history in the United States. Samuel Colt’s first big sale to the United States Government was a series of ring-lever revolving rifles, which were the first repeating rifles adopted by the U.S. Military. The Uberti Cattleman Revolving Carbine isn’t based on these historic rifles, but it’s a fairly unique design that takes cues from the Colt Single Action Army and extends them into a rifle.
The Uberti Cattleman Revolving Carbine offers a fairly novel, but ultimately useful, rifle platform. It chambers a variety of cartridges, and users can pick between a .357 Magnum, .45 Long Colt, .44 Magnum, or even the rarely appreciated .44/40. Any of these cartridges can be a dependable, capable magnum PCC round for bear defense, hunting, or pest control.
The rifle uses a single-action design with a six-shot cylinder. It loads and unloads like a Single Action Army revolver, with a loading gate and an ejection rod. So, it’s not quick, but it’s simple and effective. This wouldn’t be an ideal option for defensive shooting unless you’re in a real pinch.
Because it’s a revolver, there’s a gap between the cylinder and barrel where excess gas is expelled. This means you have to use a specialized shooting style that places both arms rearward. This isn’t difficult since the rifle is incredibly lightweight at less than five pounds. This makes them handy rifles that could be excellent working tools.
The Uberti Cattleman Revolving Carbines are single action only, so the trigger is always super lightweight. The long sight radius makes it easy to shoot accurately. The Cattleman Revolving Carbine has simple sights—a ramp and a trench in the backstrap and not much more. You can pick an adjustable rear sight model or add one if you choose. It has its challenges, but you can’t beat its unique nature.
Uberti Cattleman Revolving Carbine Pros and Cons
- Light Trigger
- Multiple Caliber Options
- Super Lightweight
- Cylinder Gap Blast
Ruger M77
A bolt action magnum-powered PCC is a bit odd, but if you want a dedicated short-range hunting rifle, it’s tough to go wrong with the M77 series.
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Ruger M77 Specs
-
Barrel Length (in)
18.5 -
Overall Length (in)
38.5 -
Weight (oz)
5.6 -
Calber
.44 Mag/.357 Mag
Ruger M77 Review
Ruger has a long history of magnum-powered pistol caliber carbines. The only one they still produce is the M77 series. The M77s are bolt action designs that come in several traditional rifle calibers. Ruger has also pushed the M77 series into the magnum PCC world. A bolt action magnum-powered PCC is a bit odd, but if you want a dedicated short-range hunting rifle, it’s tough to go wrong with the M77 series.
The M77 series comes in both .357 Magnum and .44 Magnum. Regardless of the caliber, the gun uses a rotary style magazine, which ensures reliability with these heavily rimmed revolver cartridges. This ensures reliable feeding and allows you to carry five rounds of .357 or four rounds of .44 Magnum.
The bolt action design paired with an amazing trigger makes this an absurdly accurate magnum-powered PCC. These are still handgun rounds and will never be precision-oriented long-range cartridges, but within 150 yards, these things can be exceptionally accurate. This makes them well-suited for medium game hunting in dense environments.
Ruger includes a set of basic iron sights that are crafted for close-range use, but adding an optic isn’t difficult. I also appreciate the threaded barrel, which makes adding a suppressor easy. Both the .357 Magnum and .44 Magnum suppress rather well. These rifles weigh 5.3 pounds, which makes them handy and lightweight for brush hunting.
I’ve always appreciated how fast and easy these guns are to shoot offhand. The lightweight nature, the open iron sights, and the low recoil make them perfect for offhand shooting. These guns excel at brush hunting, and that’s where they shine brightly. These rifles are somewhat expensive, and availability is mixed, which is the main downside.
Ruger M77 Pros and Cons
- Accurate
- Lightweight
- Reliable
- Expensive
CMMG Banshee Mk10
The 10mm isn’t a traditional magnum round, but as far as semi-auto pistol cartridges go, it’s the closest you’re going to get with an automatic cartridge.
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CMMG Banshee Mk10 Specs
-
Barrel Length (in)
8 -
Barrel Length (in)
23.8 -
Weight (lbs)
5.5 -
Caliber
10mm
CMMG Banshee Mk10 Review
The 10mm isn’t a traditional magnum round, but as far as semi-auto pistol cartridges go, it’s the closest you’re going to get with an automatic cartridge. The 10mm can beat the .357 Magnum and can even reach the lower levels of the .41 Magnum cartridge. Unlike magnum rounds designed for revolvers, the 10mm is designed for semi-autos and lacks the pronounced rim. This is why the CMMG Banshee Mk10 is the only semi-auto on the list.
The Mk10 is an AR-style design that gives you all the advantages of an AR PCC, but the power is upgraded to the mighty 10mm. The CMMG Banshee series are premium grade platforms and are made as braced pistols. The Banshee Mk10 features an 8-inch barrel that allows the 10mm to gain some serious velocity, which helps keep it flying flat within a 100-ish yards.
There are lots of 10mm platforms, so why would I pick the Banshee? Unlike other systems, the Banshee doesn’t use a direct blowback system. Instead, we get a radial delayed blowback system. I love this system for PCCs. It cuts recoil drastically and creates an extremely smooth-shooting platform. This makes the gun well-suited for defensive use, especially so.
The mighty 10mm round hits hard enough that it could be used for hunting and pest control. A platform like this is a great riding gun. Throw it on the ATV, the UTV, or golf cart, and you have a weapon that can be used to kill hogs, coyotes, and other pests you have to deal with in rural environments. The 10mm is an excellent penetrator, and with the right rounds, it will drop these animals in a flash.
The Banshee series are not cheap guns, but they are high performers. They embrace the AR ergonomics and layout, which makes it a weapon that’s simple to use and familiar to most of us.
CMMG Banshee Mk10 Pros and Cons
- Ergonomic
- Low Recoil
- Semi-Auto
- Expensive
Big Horn Armory Black Thunder
These guns are extremely expensive and require a wait. These are hand-built platforms from a small shop that doesn’t cut corners.
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Big Horn Armory Specs
-
Barrel Length (in)
16 -
Overall Length (in)
37 -
Weight (lbs)
7.6 -
Caliber
.500 S&W Magnum
Big Horn Armory Black Thunder Lever Gun Review
Who doesn’t love a powerhouse of a gun? Like an absurdly powerful gun? Mix that with a semi-custom platform, and you get the Big Horn Armory Black Thunder Lever Gun. Big Horn Armory is all about the big bore, hard-hitting, bone-crushing cartridges in various platforms. The Black Thunder Lever Gun chambers the .500 S&W Magnum, which is one of the most powerful production calibers on the market.
The Black Thunder Lever Gun makes good use of the mighty .500 S&W Magnum in a lever action platform. The .500 S&W can fire projectiles as light as 200 grains and as heavy as 700 grains. You can find something for dealing with nearly any game. You can hunt deer, hogs, coyotes, and bear. It’s a powerhouse of a cartridge in a gun that’s a bit easier to handle than your traditional revolver.
The Black Thunder Lever Gun also gives you a few modern features. We get synthetic furniture, M-LOK compatible handguard slots, a long scope rail, and a threaded barrel. The gun comes topped with a massive compensator to try and take some sting out of the mighty .500 S&W’s recoil. The Black Thunder Lever Gun is based on Big Horn Armory’s Model 89.
This gun features a side loading gate and a top ejecting design. This combination does require a scope mount placed a bit far forward, so you’ll be using red dots or scout scopes. To be fair, the .500 S&W is a powerful round, but it’s not one designed for long-range precision. You probably won’t need much more than a red dot anyway.
These guns are extremely expensive and require a wait. These are hand-built platforms from a small shop that doesn’t cut corners.
Big Horn Armory Black Thunder Pros and Cons
- Extremely Powerful
- Modern layout
- Uber Smooth Action
- Expensive
Rossi LWC
The Rossi Lightweight Carbine Lives up to it’s name and comes in multiple calibers.
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Rossi LWC Specs
-
Barrel Length (in)
16.5 -
Overall Length (in)
31.5 -
Weight (lbs)
5.24 -
Caliber
.357 Mag and .44 Mag
Rossi LWC Review
I’m going to sandwich the most affordable magnum-powered PCC between two of the most expensive out there. The Rossi LWC, or Lightweight Carbine, is an extremely affordable, single-shot carbine that comes in a few different calibers. Our magnum-powered PCC variant uses the .357 Magnum or .44 Magnum. This lightweight little carbine can be had for less than three hundred dollars. It’s simplistic, but effective, accurate, and capable.
Rossi designed these guns to be simple, but extremely modern. We get an optics rail, and a red dot is a great companion. The barrel features threading, and the design is so short a suppressor seems almost mandatory. Polymer furniture keeps the weight low, and Rossi offers a folding stock to make it even more compact and handy, but that’s an aftermarket addition.
The LWC uses a hammer-fired design, and the single-action nature delivers a fantastic trigger. It breaks cleanly, and for the price point, it’s fantastic. It makes putting some .357/.44 holes in targets easy. The Rossi LWC might not offer fast follow-up shots, but it allows you to make your shots count as long as you do your part.
A simple, compact rifle like this excels for hunting purposes. It’s light, handy, and easy to carry, and super easy to shoot offhand. It excels in that offhand shooting on-the-fly role. It’s powerful enough in either caliber for medium game at close range. Outside of hunting, the Rossi LWC would be a great working rifle or general camp rifle.
Recoil isn’t too rough with a stock on rounds designed traditionally for revolvers. It’s a rifle that could be wielded by nearly anyone. It strikes an excellent compromise between being lightweight and having light recoil. The LWC won’t blow your socks off, but it’s a functional, magnum PCC.
Rossi LWC Pros and Cons
- Affordable
- Accurate
- Lightweight
- Single Shot
Wren Metal Works Lever Action
If you’re like me and a fan of magnum-powered PCCs, the Wren Metal Works rifle is for you.
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Wren Metal Works .44 Magnum Specs
-
Barrel Length (in)
Varies -
Overall Length
Varies -
Weight (oz)
Varies -
Caliber
.44 Magnum
Wren Metal Works Review
Wren Metal Works is a small custom shop that pumps out some of the coolest rifle designs of all time. If you’re like me and a fan of magnum-powered PCCs, the Wren Metal Works rifle is for you. These are integrally suppressed lever action rifles designed to work with various cartridges. Since our discussion revolves around pistol calibers, we’ll stick to the .44 Magnum variant.
It’s best explained by breaking the entire process down. The Integrally Suppressed Lever Action rifle isn’t just one rifle. Wren Metal Works can turn a Henry Big Boy X, a Marlin 1894, a Marlin 1895, or a S&W 1854 into an integrally suppressed lever action rifle. The first step is integrating a suppressor, which is a custom Wren Metal Works design constructed from titanium, stainless steel, and aluminum.
They trim the barrel, integrate the suppressor, and then add an optics rail that allows you to see over the suppressor. They also redo the stock with a modern take that’s lightweight and integrates a shell carrier. That’s not all they do; they also smooth out the inside of the gun, and you get a tuned action, a custom trigger, and a tuned feed ramp for increased reliability.
The Wren Metal Works Integrally Suppressed rifle has to be one of the coolest PCCs out there. The engineering and effort put into these platforms make them exceptional guns. A suppressed .44 Magnum would be an outstanding hunting rifle. It would be extremely quiet and powerful, which preserves your hearing and would take down a deer with ease.
The downside? Well, it costs more than six thousand dollars total, and it will take a long time to produce one. They are upfront and honest about that, so it’s tough to find too much fault with Wren Metal Works.
Wren Metal Works Pros and Cons
- Extremely Quiet
- Tuned Action
- Easy Shooting
- Expensive
Pistol caliber carbines are extremely popular, but we don’t hear much of magnum-powered PCCs. They do exist, but don’t get the same appreciation as the typical 9mm carbine. Magnum-powered cartridges are more versatile and more usable rounds. The extra range and power they offer can make them excellent hunting cartridges, defensive cartridges, and more. If you don’t have one, maybe we’ve given you a few options to consider.
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