Thoughts on AR pistols
- Thread starter jes3se
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They can be great depending on application, caliber, and bullet.
Built one for my wife that likes a lighter AR in 5.56.
For HD, it’s loaded with 64 grain Gold Dot which isn’t As velocity dependent like FMJ and works well at in home distances.
I think a lot of people get worked up over the whole velocity/short barrel issue as all they ever shoot is FMJ, but since I’m not bound by The Hague, I’ll shoot the best “man stopper” round I can, whether soft point or hollow point.
Now keep in mind what I’m talking about are intermediate distances, maybe out to 100m, of course as previously said, it’s not really the best for out door work and I have other better ARs to fill that role, but for CQB it’s just fine.
Built one for my wife that likes a lighter AR in 5.56.
For HD, it’s loaded with 64 grain Gold Dot which isn’t As velocity dependent like FMJ and works well at in home distances.
I think a lot of people get worked up over the whole velocity/short barrel issue as all they ever shoot is FMJ, but since I’m not bound by The Hague, I’ll shoot the best “man stopper” round I can, whether soft point or hollow point.
Now keep in mind what I’m talking about are intermediate distances, maybe out to 100m, of course as previously said, it’s not really the best for out door work and I have other better ARs to fill that role, but for CQB it’s just fine.
Gunslinger808 said:
This. So many of the comments I see from people poo-pooing on AR pistols are from people who think all anyone uses are FMJs. If you use a modern bonded projectile such as the Gold Dot, GMX, TSX, or something like MK262, you extend the useful range of these short barreled ARs out significantly. Would an AR pistol be my first choice at 200y? Nope. But if it's what I had, and I was using a modern load, I wouldn't hesitate to do so. Do I ever see myself needed to do that short of a complete societal collapse scenario? Also no. So for me, they're more a 50y and in item (I'd be using a pistol in my house to start, in an effort to save my hearing, fighting my way to a rifle should it be needed), and a novelty. If I were going to carry a rifle around on the regular, my 14.5" or 16" would be taking the lead, again loaded with quality, modern defensive ammo. In today's world, the reality is that while M193 will work in a pinch, if you're serious about using your rifle to defend yourself, then M193/FMJ loads are far, far down the list of good choices, regardless of your barrel length.
[/quote]The 75 grain GD's would be a better choice for that, just my opinion though.
Are you loading your own or using factory?
[/quote]
Factory, I have about 1500 rds of the Gold Dot, and another 1000 of ETSP (XM223SP1).
Both are great and very accurate, I’ve not done any jell testing of my own, but the ones I’ve seen from other sources leave me confident in their ability to do the job.
Are you loading your own or using factory?
[/quote]
Factory, I have about 1500 rds of the Gold Dot, and another 1000 of ETSP (XM223SP1).
Both are great and very accurate, I’ve not done any jell testing of my own, but the ones I’ve seen from other sources leave me confident in their ability to do the job.
BananaHands
Member
IMO AR pistols make sense if you’re going to suppress it. So you pretty much end up with a 16” overall barrel with the suppressor. If you’re going to run unsuppressed, they make no sense to me.
sharp
Member
Ballistic Therapy said:
Because then it's longer than 16" after you've attached your flash hider.
Azchilleverde
Member
I'm using a 10.5" barrel AR pistol topped with an Aimpoint M2. Like another poster, I'm loading it with 64gr Gold Dots.
Racewin
Member
Depends what/how far you want to shoot, and where/how it will be carried. While many will say that a sub-16" 5.56 loses too much energy to be effective, I think it's wise to consider the reasons actual professionals use them.
My unprofessional opinion is that a traditional AR is great for the person (most people) that wants to plink around and have a self-defense weapon for an unlikely SHTF event.
The extra cost and complexities of a pistol/SBR are better for people that will either train to take advantage of the short barrel, and/or are looking to expand a collection that already includes a traditional AR.
Due to the cost and other issues with an SBR, you might start off with a pistol tube (not a brace). If you decide you like it, and being able to shoulder it would be a game changer, go for the SBR. Either way, you aren't spending money on a brace that you would have either not liked or ended up swapping out for a stock (SBR).
My unprofessional opinion is that a traditional AR is great for the person (most people) that wants to plink around and have a self-defense weapon for an unlikely SHTF event.
The extra cost and complexities of a pistol/SBR are better for people that will either train to take advantage of the short barrel, and/or are looking to expand a collection that already includes a traditional AR.
Due to the cost and other issues with an SBR, you might start off with a pistol tube (not a brace). If you decide you like it, and being able to shoulder it would be a game changer, go for the SBR. Either way, you aren't spending money on a brace that you would have either not liked or ended up swapping out for a stock (SBR).
I have both 5.56 and .300 BO pistols but if I was only buying or building one it would be a .300 BO. The increased energy makes up for loss of velocity in the short barrel. Also you can go subsonic suppressed for HD. I didn't read all 4 pages so I may be repeating what has already been said.
Below my latest 8.5" .300 BO build. I have another 10.5" about 75% complete but currently the parts I want for it are getting very hard to find.
View attachment 1
Below my latest 8.5" .300 BO build. I have another 10.5" about 75% complete but currently the parts I want for it are getting very hard to find.
View attachment 1
TIEFighterTK069
Member
I have a spare $.02 to pitch in despite not reading every page of the thread 
Below 10.3 - 5" my opinion is that pistol caliber is the way to go if someone is looking for an AR weapon system to pull PDW duty.
In and out of vehicles and in close quarters, 10.3 - 5" is still a lot to wheel about, especially suppressed. Hearing loss is no joke, and 5.56 is incredibly loud inside, unsuppressed.
A nice, short PDW (7 - 9" barrel) in 9mm with the same controls and ergo as a longer barrelled 5.56 (or your flavor of 30 cal. depending on how serious the duty) system gives the user mobility, cross platform ammo and magazines with a Glock primary sidearm, and outstanding ballistic performance, all with the added benefit of being able to properly shoulder the weapon when possible.
If it's just for LARPing, well none of that really matters.
Below 10.3 - 5" my opinion is that pistol caliber is the way to go if someone is looking for an AR weapon system to pull PDW duty.
In and out of vehicles and in close quarters, 10.3 - 5" is still a lot to wheel about, especially suppressed. Hearing loss is no joke, and 5.56 is incredibly loud inside, unsuppressed.
A nice, short PDW (7 - 9" barrel) in 9mm with the same controls and ergo as a longer barrelled 5.56 (or your flavor of 30 cal. depending on how serious the duty) system gives the user mobility, cross platform ammo and magazines with a Glock primary sidearm, and outstanding ballistic performance, all with the added benefit of being able to properly shoulder the weapon when possible.
If it's just for LARPing, well none of that really matters.
I watch every Bill Burr comedy special I come across funny to me. Figured he was antigunner but he did a whole bit about blasting away in your dark bedroom with a .357. He goes with a .22 revolver, and on and on it creeps into his routine and it does appear he likes guns too.
I have some mild interest in a 300blk pistol. But I'm not really interested in 300blk to begin with.
I don't like loud concussive guns so my only AR pistol is a 9mm with a 8" barrel. I put the SOB brace on it because it was a comfortable length. To be honest, I don't see great advantages to the 8" length vs a 16" carbine, especially when also going to a low pressure cartridge to keep the blast down.
I just wish I could get a fixed stock with a 11-12" LOP. A couple inches less than 16" doesn't change much handling for me as much as the stock can.
I don't like loud concussive guns so my only AR pistol is a 9mm with a 8" barrel. I put the SOB brace on it because it was a comfortable length. To be honest, I don't see great advantages to the 8" length vs a 16" carbine, especially when also going to a low pressure cartridge to keep the blast down.
I just wish I could get a fixed stock with a 11-12" LOP. A couple inches less than 16" doesn't change much handling for me as much as the stock can.
A65453 said:
Um...you can.
https://magpul.com/moe-fixed-carbine-stock-mil-spec.html?mp_global_color=118
or
https://www.thedefensiveedge.com/Sully_Stock_p/sully01.htm
Or maybe you can find an old Rock River Arms Entry Stock.
https://www.brownells.com/rifle-parts/stock-parts/buttstocks/ar-15-le-entry-stock-fixed-carbine-length-prod9946.aspx
tlieberman240
Member
Having run a bunch of PCCs and AR pistol variants, I think the AR pistol/SBR is pretty solid. 10.3 - 12.5" is a good size for a gun shooting 5.56. I personally like 11.5, which is why I have one.
For anything shorter than that, 300blk just makes sense. 7"-9" is pretty easily doable with that caliber, and with supersonic ammo, it's still very capable at more than spitting distance.
PCCs don't really make sense to me unless it's something extremely compact and has folding capability. An MP5k or a CZ Scorpion Micro K would be as big as I'd want from 9mm. Anything larger than that, I'd rather just have 300blk with a LAW folder.. which I have. And ironically one of which is for sale lmao.
For anything shorter than that, 300blk just makes sense. 7"-9" is pretty easily doable with that caliber, and with supersonic ammo, it's still very capable at more than spitting distance.
PCCs don't really make sense to me unless it's something extremely compact and has folding capability. An MP5k or a CZ Scorpion Micro K would be as big as I'd want from 9mm. Anything larger than that, I'd rather just have 300blk with a LAW folder.. which I have. And ironically one of which is for sale lmao.
I put the AR together for my wife.
She travels a lot and finds the pistol a perfect balance of size and firepower, she uses either 64 grain GoldDot soft points or 62 grain ETSPs which aren’t as velocity dependent for stopping power.
The .22 is her cheap practice piece, tried to keep them as similar as possible.
She travels a lot and finds the pistol a perfect balance of size and firepower, she uses either 64 grain GoldDot soft points or 62 grain ETSPs which aren’t as velocity dependent for stopping power.
The .22 is her cheap practice piece, tried to keep them as similar as possible.
Mike-4
Member
I never cared for the AR pistol concept when they first came out as it didn't make sense to me. It wasn't a pistol and it wasn't a rifle so I saw no practical use it. Over the last 2-3 years I've warmed up to the AR pistol mainly for range or outdoor use and SHTF scenarios because of the portability aspect and I do own one now. For indoor use, a pistol or PCC is my preferred choice due to the excessive muzzle blast / noise from an AR caliber pistol.
kenpoprofessor
Member
Mike-4 said:
I wasn't interested in them either, until I purchased an EXTAR EXP. Best AR pistol I own: Little to no recoil, full AR capability, easy to put on optics or keep naked, accurate, only 3.1lbs unloaded, ability to fire single handed. Oh, and did I mention little to no recoil?? Oh yea, I did, but it is impressively easy to keep on target shooting the venerable .223/.556 round.
Have a great, gun carryin', Kenpo day
Clyde