Thinking of a AR pistol in 5.56

[lionking]

Thinking recently it might be a good pack back gun up to 50 yard shooting, based on what I read 10 to 11 inch barrel seems best

For price range thinking of Radical firearms, Stag or Adams , want to buy a ready to go one not do a build, any suggestions?

 

[Dibbs]

I built one, they're nice.
Find the barrel size, with the twist you want, before you start. Otherwise this can hold up completion of the build.

 

[lionking]

I built one, they're nice.
Find the barrel size, with the twist you want, before you start. Otherwise this can hold up completion of the build.

1/7 twist

 

[Dibbs]

Yeah, that's what I was looking for, with my half-built unit, for about 5 months.
ISIA, I'd buy the barrel first.

 

[lionking]

Yeah, that's what I was looking for, with my half-built unit, for about 5 months.
ISIA, I'd buy the barrel first.

Brands I listed are all 1/7 avail on gun broker right now complete pistol, not interested in building I want a complete pistol ready to go.

 

[trackskippy]

I cheated and put together a couple with PSA completed 10.5" uppers and just put the lowers together.

They will shoot well a lot farther than 50 yards, and mine dont have any trouble shooting as well at 100 as my 16" guns. 4" to 5" at 200 seems to be about the norm.

This was my last one....



and one of the others....

 

[lionking]

I cheated and put together a couple with PSA completed 10.5" uppers and just put the lowers together.

They will shoot well a lot farther than 50 yards, and mine dont have any trouble shooting as well at 100 as my 16" guns. 4" to 5" at 200 seems to be about the norm.

This was my last one....

View attachment 1026799

and one of the others....

View attachment 1026800

The shorter the better as I say I'm thinking of backpack use with either a scabbard or directly attached to a MOLLE style back pack. My understanding is anything less than 10 inch barrel reduces the range and effectiveness of 5.56 substantially and is just crazy loud.

Actually a PSA I'll consider also.

 

[trackskippy]

My one son put together a 7" or 8" gun and its obnoxious to be next to when its being shot. Its handy, and Ive shot it at 100 yards, and it shoots fine, but the 10" or 11" guns, I think, are the sweet spot.

Ive chrono'd mine a couple of times, and the average was around 2400 or so. If I remember right, I think the same ammo was getting around 2800 or a little more.

 

[AK Hunter]

They are good noise makers but not very accurate or at least mines not. LOL

 

[trackskippy]

That hasnt been my experience. The gun above with the Aimpoint on it, will shoot 1"-1.5" at any given moment using my generic blasting load (55 grain Hornady FMJBT's over 25 grains of 748) at 100 yards from a rest, and thats shooting with a 4 moa red dot.

 

[CarJunkieLS1]

11 or 12 inch barrel really is the sweet spot for 5.56 AR pistols. My dads 11.5 inch upper he bought complete is a really nice shooter. It has a 2 moa dot and at 50 yards from a rest its a solid 3/4 inch shooter with my throw together reloads.

 

[Rock185]

SMGs, and short M-4, etc. type carbines, I understand. But I've always wondered about these rifle caliber "pistols". Perhaps I'm in the minority now days, but always considered a pistol, aside from recreational use, to be a firearm that can be conveniently carried, perhaps even concealed, while one is going about one's business. Situations where one does not expect immediate need of a firearm, but still needs or wants a firearm immediately available on one's person. I'm sure glad I was not required to carry a rifle caliber "pistol" a couple feet long, weighing 5 - 6 Lbs. while I was still gainfully employed. Now for recreation, as a "range toy", etc., to each his own. Enjoy But as a pistol carried for potential lethal force human, or animal, confrontations within 50 yards or so, not so much.......YMMV

 

[kwb377]

SMGs, and short M-4, etc. type carbines, I understand. But I've always wondered about these rifle caliber "pistols". Perhaps I'm in the minority now days, but always considered a pistol, aside from recreational use, to be a firearm that can be conveniently carried, perhaps even concealed, while one is going about one's business. Situations where one does not expect immediate need of a firearm, but still needs or wants a firearm immediately available on one's person. I'm sure glad I was not required to carry a rifle caliber "pistol" a couple feet long, weighing 5 - 6 Lbs. while I was still gainfully employed. Now for recreation, as a "range toy", etc., to each his own. Enjoy But as a pistol carried for potential lethal force human, or animal, confrontations within 50 yards or so, not so much.......YMMV

People aren't carrying AR pistols in the same vein that they do a handgun, ie: strapping them to their hip. While they're considered "pistols" (subject to change), most folks employ them the same way they would a short carbine.

No one is CCW'ing an AR pistol under a t-shirt. Now...adding a folding adaptor and concealing in a backpack? Oh yes.

 

[The Glockodile]

They’re exploited as a loophole of sorts in some states, where you can’t have a loaded rifle in your vehicle, for those who flirt with the idea of “truck guns” (apart from already being “a non - NFA SBR”).

But if you had a concealed pistol permit, they’re legal to stash - thusly satisfying the “my pistol is only a means for me to run to my rifle” mantra.

 

[Armored farmer]

My 10.5 in pistol is my favorite AR.
Very versatile.
Very....shall I say.....effective.
You're underestimating if you think its a 50yd gun. Its much better than that.

I built mine completely from PSA.

If you can find a 22lr conversion kit, they go good together.


A red dot or reflex works well on these pistols. My reflex is a Sightmark. The eye relief is unlimited.

 

[Lo-Profile]

I built 3 of them with a 10.5", 7.5" and a 4.5"
Added a Law Tactical folding adapter to the 7.5" and it fits inside a 17" sling pack.
I shoot the 10.5" the most.
The 4.5" was loud and obnoxious, but made a great fireball. It's a host for a CMMG 22lr conversion now.
Also built a 8" 300 blackout and have a ATI AR9 that uses Glock magazines.

They're all good reliable guns

 

[tarosean]

It's kind of a gamble right now... I want to tell you buy right now this second. But you may end up paying for a brace you have to destroy.

We are all kind of in limbo as to whether we are out $$$$$$$/grandfathered/good to go/etc. waiting on BATFE new ruling.

Oh and my preference is 10.5"

 

[Tirod]

Don't buy a lower with a brace now. Wait for the smoke to clear. A PSA upper and no brace pistol lower will go together in about 10 seconds, save you the hunting tax on a complete firearm, and do exactly what you want.

I completely assembled mine, 10.5, with a Covert linear compensator which will throw the noise downrange, not turn it 90 degrees quicker to your ear. And I never fire it under a canopy at the range. Also use a set of B5 guards, I know the fashion is free floats but at 100m max range for deer the barrel is so short, and no sling, there is no accuracy issue. Another $125 for a free float is basically decorative eyewash on a 1.5MOA gun. Hunting, you can't attach any toys that are legal in most states, and at home it's handy enough as long as you have light to ID what is going on. There is a requirement at that point to dial 911 and be the first on their line, not skulk about "clearing rooms."

Max range is based on 10.5" barrel ballistics and downrange power. For the most part tables are showing a drop off under 1,000 foot pounds on most ammo past 55-60 m. That is the very distinct negative of a shorter barrel - you will not get equivalent ethical ranges from them.

Other than that, I do hunt with mine in MO alternate season and it's light and easy to carry all day. Which, I shouldn't, I'm getting to old for that. I'm seeing ground blinds and stools in my near future.

 

[SwampWolf]

For almost every circumstance, I'd much rather have a short rifle than a long pistol. Even if I could have both (I can), and I've thought long and hard about the practical validity of having an AR Pistol, I still can't justify (in my mind) getting one. But my mind has been known to change...

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

AR pistol's are fun and can be useful.

loud though!

 

[SDGlock23]

I had one (Ruger version) and it was cool at first but I'm not a big rifle guy and as such I figured out a longer barrel makes more sense for an all around rifle, which I only have one AR15. If I wanted to have multiple then sure maybe a pistol.

 

[lionking]

So the future of legality is still up in the air?, I thought it was on the trend of not going anywhere ban wise. SwampWolf it wasn't until recently I thought that for practical purposes a AR pistol wasn't needed but been thinking about it in a 3-day back pack sense lately, small size and less weight 5 pounds or so attached to a back pack MOLLE style than even a M4 type carbine would be, leaving hands free to carry other things like fishing gear or whatever else ect..

A folding M1 carbine would work well also, very light and compact, the cartridge isn't as available though leaving ammo sources limited . A folding AK is also compact but on the heavy side however the cartridge is ideal. And the AR has more sighting options be it folding iron or a optic.

 

[jmr40]

I had a Ruger with 10.5" barrel. I was concerned about possible future brace bans so I bought an extra 16" barreled upper and standard length stock to easily convert it to a rifle if necessary.

I tried it for a while and it just wasn't for me. There was nothing wrong with it, and it was surprisingly accurate. But I had other 16" barreled rifles and I just didn't feel the 5.5" shorter barrel was enough smaller than my rifle barrels to justify the negatives. I was able to sell the pistol and upper together for more than I paid.

 

[sgt127]

The only way I’d own one is with a suppressor....

of course, then it’s the same length as a 16” AR.

They are utterly miserable to shoot without a can.

 

[Trey Veston]

I went with the PSA upper and lower and have been happy with mine. Function is good, accuracy is great, and a handy little boom stick that I will hopefully never need.