AR pistols

AR "pistols" aren't really pistols. They're just legal workarounds for the Short Barrel Rifle regulations. It's just a matter of time before they're outlawed, either administratively or through legislation. Plan accordingly.

Note: I personally don't think that SBRs should be regulated at all, but the NFA is what it is.

AlexanderA said:

AR "pistols" aren't really pistols.

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They are pistols, UNTIL you add a brace/blade/riser. They are UNGAINLY pistols, due to the weight and the buffer tube, but both are necessary for the functional design.

AlexanderA said:

It's just a matter of time before they're outlawed, either administratively or through legislation.

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I don't know about outlawing the pistols themselves, but braces are on shaky ground.

AlexanderA said:

Note: I personally don't think that SBRs should be regulated at all, but the NFA is what it is.

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100% agree.

Risers on AR pistols make it illegal? Maybe I'm misunderstanding the term as used on a .... "pistol," but aren't risers what you mount on a picatinny rail to bring a red dot, or other sight, up to an appropriate height? How does that become illegal?

Where am I going wrong here?

Tommygunn said:

Risers on AR pistols make it illegal?

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Not sure where that notion comes from, still perfectly legal. A vertical foregrip longer than the magazine well (hanging below an imaginary horizontal line) is not permissible nor is a traditional stock, yet both are permissible with an SBR.

I was referring to cheek risers, and referencing the notion that it is hard to consider them as anything other than pistols when equipped with a bare buffer tube.

badkarmamib said:

They are pistols, UNTIL you add a brace/blade/riser. They are UNGAINLY pistols, due to the weight and the buffer tube, but both are necessary for the functional design.

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The so-called "brace" is what made the AR "pistol" popular. People caught on to the fact that they could have a functional SBR without the SBR paperwork. As a pistol (not fired from the shoulder), the AR is not really workable. I know that I could not hold it up with one hand if it had a full magazine. It would take two hands just to hold it up. That's not what we normally think of as a pistol.

AlexanderA said:

The so-called "brace" is what made the AR "pistol" popular. People caught on to the fact that they could have a functional SBR without the SBR paperwork. As a pistol (not fired from the shoulder), the AR is not really workable. I know that I could not hold it up with one hand if it had a full magazine. It would take two hands just to hold it up. That's not what we normally think of as a pistol.

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Exactly, it is a poor excuse for a pistol, and a grey-area item with the workaround brace. I used the "HK hold" on mine, with acceptable results, but traded it after 2 mags. I understand the appeal to some, but not my cup of tea.

badkarmamib said:

I was referring to cheek risers, and referencing the notion that it is hard to consider them as anything other than pistols when equipped with a bare buffer tube.

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Thanks for the clarification. Sorry I appeared so clueless.

I have a few ARs but not pistol types. I've been considering buying one, given potential threats of bans in the near future.

Tommygunn said:

Sorry I appeared so clueless.

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No, I should have clarified better.

Tommygunn said:

I have a few ARs but not pistol types. I've been considering buying one, given potential threats of bans in the near future.

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The gun shops in my area have been selling pistols like they are going out of style. I actually purchased mine about a day before the incident that prompted all the pistol madness coincidentally enough.
One shop is selling pistols that are nothing more than PSA kits for $900. I feel it's kind of gougey and feel sorry for the uninformed consumer who actually shells out for practically double what they really are....
I wonder about things like bans and whether I should stock up on whatever happens to be on the chopping block for a particular media cycle or if it's at all likely that the ban will only apply to future purchase or will pertain to what is already owned....

My LGS has DelTon AR pistols in .223 for $419.00. Since I already have a couple of red dot sights, I'm considering getting one and putting an arm brace on it to carry in my Jeep.

Before braces you could just shove the tube into your shoulder. Totally worked. Whatever.

Eventually all guns will be illegal if the statists have their way. .22LR’s (assassins weapons), shotguns (potentially sawed off), black powder (weren’t they used to fight for slavery?), scoped rifles (sniper rifles), your grandpa’s 1903 (stolen government guns), your grandmas .38 Spl (Saturday night special). Everything will be gone. Plan accordingly (to go wander off to radio controlled helicopters or something) if that happens.

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I’ve pretty much gone with either PSA or BCM pistols. I’d have to give the edge to BCM in terms of ... well pretty much everything (fit, finish, reliability and accuracy), but the PSA’s do work.

Unless you'e planning on suppressing it, I'd either go with a .300AAC or a PCC caliber. IMHO .223/5.56 in a short barrel is loud enough to take all the fun out of it. You can put a linear comp on it and direct the noise/concussion FWD some.

I built this 9" .300AAC last year, with the linear comp it's about as loud as a .223 out of a 14.5" barrel. The .300AAC out of a 9" barrel ME exceeds that of a .223/5.56 for those concerned with energy. About the only detriment is ammo cost, and since I reload it's sort of a wash when it comes to SD/HD type bullets.



Whatever draconian laws might come, you're still just a barrel swap away from being in compliance if you don't want to go the SBR route.

I plan to build one in 7.62x39 since I have a lot of that ammo on hand and have various sorts of rifles in that caliber. In a short barrel it is superior relative to effectiveness than is the 5.56 in a short barrel. To do 300 black out I will have to reload due to the cost of the ammo. The x39 is a little more powerful than is the 300 blackout due to more powder capacity. There seems to be some subsonic 7.62x39 on the market.