AR-15 Pistol in .300 Blackout for car gun?

[Hypnogator]

With the recent ATF ruling removing restrictions on "arm braces," I'm contemplating an AR-15 pistol in .300 Blackout to replace my current AR-15 as a "car gun." My main use for it would be as a defensive weapon against a "Reginald Denny" type situation should I inadvertently drive into a situation involving multiple attackers. Would not need rifle capabilities, as I don't anticipate having to counter sniper fire!

I'm currently looking at a Radical Firearms .300 BLACKOUT 8.5 in. Pistol w/ SB15 Brace, which I can get for around $550. Has anyone had any experience with this company, good or bad? Is there anything better out there it the $500-$800 range?

Finally, since the .300 Blackout has the same OAL as the 5.56mm, I'm assuming it'll feed properly through regular 20- and 30-rd AR-15 mags. I have Lancer Warfighter and MagPul magazines. Should I be looking at anything else?

Thanks!

 

[badkarmamib]

I built my 5.56 pistol with a Radical barrel, worked great. A buddy took a deer last season with one of their .300 uppers, and has no complaints. Considering that (afaik) all of their barrels are nitrided, it is hard to beat the price. I did notice that PSA is having some ridiculous sales right now, too.

 

[Gordon]

My son uses a .300 pistol upper for his car gun , picture this with Mag Pul pop up back up sights on the rail.

 

[redbullitt]

Pretty much that same as my car gun. 10 inch barrel here, 300 blk. Fixed larue iron sights. 110g barnes bullets.

My pmags have been fine, lancers fine, as well as the GI mags. Does not seem picky at all. Things might change a bit with the heavy smk bullets with the nose profile, but no issues in my guns.

I think you will like it just fine and I think it will fit the role you are thinking. We have stupid long gun/car laws here, so the pistol lets me have some firepower ready. Would prefer a full carbine, but the pistol is more than adequate.

 

[FL-NC]

Oddly, in my state, it is illegal to carry a loaded long gun in your car, but not a handgun. Probably due to road hunting, or prohibition-era gunfights on back roads with moonshiners. So a AR PISTOL would be legal. BUT- the cost and risk of theft of a gun of that type and the difficulty really hiding it while keeping it accessible would be a problem. Remember that even the police generally keep their long guns either in the trunk or locked down in the front seat. In the event that a group of thugs were to jump you in a vehicle, the close proximity of the encounter would probably be best handled by a reliable handgun in a respectable caliber with a practical magazine capacity. Fast and accurate fire will rule the day, and would most likely end the encounter after 1 or 2 of them are successfully engaged. In the event that the attackers are committed to the point that they are willing to engage you with gunfire (and presumably the element of surprise), you will likely be shot at some point, hopefully along with at least some of them. I end each training session seated in a lawn chair. I practice my "draw, lean away, aim high" to fire through the driver's side window and "draw. lean away, aim low" for in the event that the door is open. In both directions, as I could be seated on either end of the car. Due to seat belt and door locks, its unlikely that I could be easily pulled from the vehicle, but not impossible. If the attack is simultaneous and on BOTH sides and I'm the passenger, I must be prepared to "shoot a path" to clear MY side, exit the vehicle, and either engage over the vehicle or even move to the driver's side to get an unobstructed field of fire to eliminate threats to the driver. I most likely won't be able to do this from inside the vehicle without further endangering the driver with my own rounds.
The only application where the heavier caliber of the AR pistol would be best, in my opinion, would be firing THROUGH the front or side glass from INSIDE the vehicle. After which, everyone in the car will be getting fitted for hearing aids.

 

[Sistema1927]

The one on the top is 5.56.

The one on the bottom is 300 AAC Blackout.

Both are 8.5" with KAK Shockwave braces.

You can build them for less than you can buy them, even with the uppers already assembled.

 

[Armored farmer]

My 10.5" pistol
I can't answer to the .300blk but I love this gun.
I went with 5.56 because I wanted the option of using my .22lr conversion kit. I am happy with it. I've been calling it a truck gun, but it is hanging on my bed post right now.
I may need another!

5.56
Sig brace
Pistol light
Sightmark mil-spec reflex
Single point sling
Knurled takedown pins.
Discreet carry case with 120rds in mags

 

[Hypnogator]

I may need another!

Sigh! Know the feelin'! I've built an AR for long-range shooting, an AR Carbine for CQB to intermediate, and bought a Bushmaster Carbon-15 for a beater to clamp in the back of my MUTT. But thinking a pistol in .300 Blackout would be handier than the carbine without sacrificing much accuracy.

 

[Tirod]

I built mine in 5.56. .300BO is incrementally a more powerful round and tolerates a shorter barrel, building costs are equal. Ammo costs are not. IIRC they don't make much steel cased .300BO for $7 a box nor have I seen it available locally. 5.56 - cases of it at gun stores.

Cost of practice will likely be more important than incremental increases in delivered foot pounds because you will be more accurate with shot placement - and shot placement is more important than caliber. In shoot my pistol a lot more knowing it's not costing me the same as the 6.8 carbine. .300BO isn't any cheaper nor is there any milsurp to purchase.

Leaving a gun in the car is another subject entirely. Some have done so for years with no issues. On the other hand, the theft of guns from vehicles in areas where it's known to be required to store them - Federal property, airports, etc. - has increased, and thefts are the #1 method of acquiring guns illegally.

If the OP is an urban dweller with known risks in his environment then his assessment is his alone, for many of us it's not going to happen until we have already heard of public rioting and shooting in the streets. At that point I want something I've practiced with and when you can shoot 3X as much ammo for the same dollars then you will be better at it. Maybe not 3X better but you won't be 3X poorer and budgets do exist for some of us.

 

[wally]

I built mine in 5.56. .300BO is incrementally a more powerful round and tolerates a shorter barrel, building costs are equal. Ammo costs are not. IIRC they don't make much steel cased .300BO for $7 a box nor have I seen it available locally. 5.56 - cases of it at gun stores.

I built mine with a 7.5" 7.62x39 upper -- plenty of cheap steel cased ammo for practice. Downside is you may need to put some effort into selecting reliable magazines or swapping in stronger mag springs, but it can integrate with your practice sessions.

 

[cfullgraf]

I have a 300 BLK AR-15 pistol. I feel it, and even one chambered in 223 Rem, is too unwieldy to be a car/truck gun. But that is just me, if using it as a car gun floats your boat, why not.

I do like 300 BLK AR-15 for a defense gun on my farm. Effective out to 100 yards or so, rainbow trajectory to minimize down range collateral damage.

 

[Prijador]

I'd second the idea of considering 7.62x39. Still hard to go wrong with .300.

I think .223 loses a lot of velocity out of a short barrel, which is much less of a problem for 7.62x39 or .300 (I don't have the numbers in front of me right now, so correct me if I'm wrong).
The big draw of 5.56, for me, is the performance against armored targets, (bad guys do occasionally wear body armor). I believe a shorter barrel works against - or negates - that advantage.

 

[Hokkmike]

My FN 5.7 w/ 30 (20 is standard) round magazine is up for the job....

 

[Sistema1927]

I have a 300 BLK AR-15 pistol. I feel it, and even one chambered in 223 Rem, is too unwieldy to be a car/truck gun.

I am guessing that different people have differing definitions as to what constitutes a "car gun". For me, a "car gun" is the one that I carry along to supplement my carry handgun. I don't expect to use my AR pistol while in the car or while driving, but rather when dismounted in dangerous territory. For me, that is the area down around the Mexican border where all sorts of bad things tend to happen, and one is well served to have access to weaponry surpassing their normal CCW handgun. In this role the 300 AAC AR pistol works quite well.

 

[Prijador]

My FN 5.7 w/ 30 (20 is standard) round magazine is up for the job....

Heh, yes. That is why I also have a FiveSeveN

Edited to add: and ok wow, hearty agreement with Sistema1927 - that locale definitely calls for something like a pistol in .300!

 

[justice06rr]

With the recent ATF ruling removing restrictions on "arm braces," I'm contemplating an AR-15 pistol in .300 Blackout to replace my current AR-15 as a "car gun." My main use for it would be as a defensive weapon against a "Reginald Denny" type situation should I inadvertently drive into a situation involving multiple attackers. Would not need rifle capabilities, as I don't anticipate having to counter sniper fire!

I'm currently looking at a Radical Firearms .300 BLACKOUT 8.5 in. Pistol w/ SB15 Brace, which I can get for around $550. Has anyone had any experience with this company, good or bad? Is there anything better out there it the $500-$800 range?

Finally, since the .300 Blackout has the same OAL as the 5.56mm, I'm assuming it'll feed properly through regular 20- and 30-rd AR-15 mags. I have Lancer Warfighter and MagPul magazines. Should I be looking at anything else?

Thanks!

Radical Firearms makes good AR's for the price. Its a good value for $550 with the Brace. All standard AR15 parts should work including any 5.56 mags.

For a short-barreled AR pistol, the 300BLK is a good round to go with as long as you don't mind paying extra for the cost of ammo.

 

[Zerodefect]

Mas Defense is waaay better than Radical, for the same price. You'll have to snap it together yourself, but it's easier than baking a cake.

Check em out.