AR 15 pistol

Hoginedgewood · February 8, 2017

I know it's not practical, I have a rifle already, or do I have two?

Any way let's imagine the cost of converting a rifle!

Also the short barrels have less twist? So accuracy doesn't exist?

But are they fun? They look unique!

rcoe · February 8, 2017

I have one with a 10.5" barrel and it is surprisingly accurate out to about 200 meters. Occasionally I will shoot mine in comps and aside from the increased recoil that slows followup shots I usually shoot just as well with it as my 16" barreled rifle. Plus the compact size makes getting over and around obstacles much easier. I would really like to build one with a 7-8" barrel and a silencer.

MrSteam · February 10, 2017

AR Pistols shoot fine. As the other gentlemen stated the accuracy between a 16" barrel and a 10.5" barrel at ranges under 300 yards is not an issue. With the use of a pistol brace resting on the cheek or center of the chest (both legal under BATFE regs) you will find it easy to have good shot placement. I own 6 AR rifles and enjoy shooting my gas piston AR pistol very much. I often take it camping with me due to its size and light weight. If you are looking to build a fun effective pistol I think you will enjoy one.

Mine

Hoginedgewood · February 10, 2017

AR Pistols shoot fine. As the other gentlemen stated the accuracy between a 16" barrel and a 10.5" barrel at ranges under 300 yards is not an issue. With the use of a pistol brace resting on the cheek or center of the chest (both legal under BATFE regs) you will find it easy to have good shot placement. I own 6 AR rifles and enjoy shooting my gas piston AR pistol very much. I often take it camping with me due to its size and light weight. If you are looking to build a fun effective pistol I think you will enjoy one.

Mine

Is that a 10.5" barrel?

And, if changing a barrel, one needs a new gas tube, hand guard, and will the front sight be reusable? Any other parts to buy?

Then there's the wrench, and measuring the barrel to reciever? I know a guy.....

MrSteam · February 10, 2017

Is that a 10.5" barrel?

And, if changing a barrel, one needs a new gas tube, hand guard, and will the front sight be reusable? Any other parts to buy?

Then there's the wrench, and measuring the barrel to reciever? I know a guy.....

Yes that is a 10.5" barrel. No on the standard 16", 14.5" and 10.5" barrels the gas system is the same length. They shorten the barrel by pulling the flash hider back to the gas block. If you get a carbine length hand guard you should be fine. 7" barrels are a different story. Those require a different gas tube and hand guard.

Yes you do need a special wrench to remove and install an AR barrel from the upper receiver. Well I say that but there are ways to do it without it but I do not recommend it. Yes the front site is reusable. It can be a bit of a pain to get on and off but you can do it.

Something to watch out for if when the weapon was manufactured new (or entered on your 4473 forum you filled out when you bought it) as a rifle you can not convert it to a pistol. If it was sold as a pistol, an unbuilt lower receiver or an 80% receiver you milled yourself then you can build it as anything you want (within the NFA law of course). Pistol can become a rifle but a rifle can not become a pistol. Got to love the GCA law. Make sure you understand the definition of a pistol in the NFA before you do your build.

They are a blast to shoot. Good luck with your project.

My Mil spec clones

M16A1, M16A2, M16A4, M4A1

MrSteam · February 10, 2017

Is that a 10.5" barrel?

And, if changing a barrel, one needs a new gas tube, hand guard, and will the front sight be reusable? Any other parts to buy?

Then there's the wrench, and measuring the barrel to reciever? I know a guy.....

Oh I forgot to say as for installing the new barrel there are no measuring issues you need to worry about. AR's are like Legos. You just snap them together. You don't have to worry about head spacing. That is already set in the star chamber when the barrel was machined. Just torque the barrel nut and you are good to go.

Hoginedgewood · February 10, 2017

Yes that is a 10.5" barrel. No on the standard 16", 14.5" and 10.5" barrels the gas system is the same length. They shorten the barrel by pulling the flash hider back to the gas block. If you get a carbine length hand guard you should be fine. 7" barrels are a different story. Those require a different gas tube and hand guard.

Yes you do need a special wrench to remove and install an AR barrel from the upper receiver. Well I say that but there are ways to do it without it but I do not recommend it. Yes the front site is reusable. It can be a bit of a pain to get on and off but you can do it.

Something to watch out for if when the weapon was manufactured new (or entered on your 4473 forum you filled out when you bought it) as a rifle you can not convert it to a pistol. If it was sold as a pistol, an unbuilt lower receiver or an 80% receiver you milled yourself then you can build it as anything you want (within the NFA law of course). Pistol can become a rifle but a rifle can not become a pistol. Got to love the GCA law. Make sure you understand the definition of a pistol in the NFA before you do your build.

They are a blast to shoot. Good luck with your project.

My Mil spec clones

M16A1, M16A2, M16A4, M4A1

I bought just the lower, went back later to find out what they had put on the paper, they said AOW

I assume that works.

MrSteam · February 11, 2017

I bought just the lower, went back later to find out what they had put on the paper, they said AOW

I assume that works.

Well its not really an AOW (Any Other Weapon) as defined in the NFA but I am sure what they meant was Other so you are all set. Smart of you to check.

Some shops were asking customers of stripped lowers what they planed to build and were listing the receiver as a rifle or pistol based on what the customer said. This is not correct. The ATF issued a guidance letter informing FFL's to list stripped receivers as other. That caused issues for some customers but I have not heard of anyone getting in trouble over it. If the ATF is looking that closely at your paperwork you are already in trouble for something bigger.

BlackZ71Silverado · February 11, 2017

Yes that is a 10.5" barrel. No on the standard 16", 14.5" and 10.5" barrels the gas system is the same length. They shorten the barrel by pulling the flash hider back to the gas block. If you get a carbine length hand guard you should be fine. 7" barrels are a different story. Those require a different gas tube and hand guard.

Yes you do need a special wrench to remove and install an AR barrel from the upper receiver. Well I say that but there are ways to do it without it but I do not recommend it. Yes the front site is reusable. It can be a bit of a pain to get on and off but you can do it.

Something to watch out for if when the weapon was manufactured new (or entered on your 4473 forum you filled out when you bought it) as a rifle you can not convert it to a pistol. If it was sold as a pistol, an unbuilt lower receiver or an 80% receiver you milled yourself then you can build it as anything you want (within the NFA law of course). Pistol can become a rifle but a rifle can not become a pistol. Got to love the GCA law. Make sure you understand the definition of a pistol in the NFA before you do your build.

They are a blast to shoot. Good luck with your project.

My Mil spec clones

M16A1, M16A2, M16A4, M4A1

This information in this post is not totally correct.

There are actually several manufacturers that offer different length gas systems with a carbine having a 14.5" or 16" barrel. Just because an AR platform firearm has a 14.5" or 16" barrel does not mean it has a carbine length gas system.

If someone is not familiar with the AR platform, I would highly suggest buying a complete pistol and not making an attempt at bubbah-smithing one at your home. As far as an 80% receiver goes, it's near impossible for the average person to come up with a completed lower that is properly spec'd. The milling machines one would need are extremely expensive and it's not an easy task to complete without years of experience on those machines.

What is the purpose of this pistol going to be?

Do you plan on purchasing one of the gimmicky supposed "arm braces" like the one pictured in a previous post?

If you really need a short barrel, I would suggest going through the required MFA process and purchasing a real SBR so everything is squared away.

Most of these AR "pistols" you see are built by lower quality manufacturers and are not built according to the proper procedures and specs. Most of the quality manufacturers don't offer these pistol types but they but they do build SBR's. Do yourself a favor and purchase a quality AR from a proven manufacturer that builds and tests their weapons and parts properly.

Colt, BCM, Daniel Defense would all be good choices and you have several different options.

Hoginedgewood · February 13, 2017

This information in this post is not totally correct.

There are actually several manufacturers that offer different length gas systems with a carbine having a 14.5" or 16" barrel. Just because an AR platform firearm has a 14.5" or 16" barrel does not mean it has a carbine length gas system.

I

If someone is not familiar with the AR platform, I would highly suggest buying a complete pistol and not making an attempt at bubbah-smithing one at your home. As far as an 80% receiver goes, it's near impossible for the average person to come up with a completed lower that is properly spec'd. The milling machines one would need are extremely expensive and it's not an easy task to complete without years of experience on those machines.

What is the purpose of this pistol going to be?

Do you plan on purchasing one of the gimmicky supposed "arm braces" like the one pictured in a previous post?

If you really need a short barrel, I would suggest going through the required MFA process and purchasing a real SBR so everything is squared away.

Most of these AR "pistols" you see are built by lower quality manufacturers and are not built according to the proper procedures and specs. Most of the quality manufacturers don't offer these pistol types but they but they do build SBR's. Do yourself a favor and purchase a quality AR from a proven manufacturer that builds and tests their weapons and parts properly.

Colt, BCM, Daniel Defense would all be good choices and you have several different options.

My purpose is just to have one. Guns are like potato chips, one is just a start. I'd like to be able to carry one in the saddle bag on the bike.

BlackZ71Silverado · February 18, 2017

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I would highly suggest you rethink that idea because it's not a good one.

Not only will that get you a lot of unwanted attention, or maybe it will get you the attention you are looking for.

It will also make you a possible target to someone planning on committing a crime.

Another thing to think about, and it's really sad but it's reality, there are a lot of people in our country who have been programmed to panic and think bad guy when they see a firearm. These are the people who will call 911 and have you stopped, questioned, pulled over, followed, and possibly cited depending on the area you are in and their local laws.

If you want to carry a firearm, you should do it properly and carry concealed. Get yourself a concealed weapon license, or permit depending on location, and a pistol or revolver that you are comfortable with and a good holster. Take a class and become proficient with that firearm before carrying. Carrying a firearm should not be displayed to other people, nobody but you should know you are carrying. Don't put yourself and everybody around you in danger with a firearm that isn't properly secure on a motorcycle. Carry it the correct way and do so safely.

Ibmikey · February 23, 2017

I too shoot an AR pistol, they are loads of fun but i normally double protect my ears with plugs and muffs. My creation started as a stripped lower, although not required i stamped " pistol" on the interior and the last four of the serial, the upper also received the last four on the lug. Using a CMMG 8.5" barrel in 300 Blackout, full length rail, Faxon "Loud Mouth" muzzle brake, pistol extension with a blade brace and topped with fold down sights and a Bushnell TRS 25 red dot sight. I have all 300 BO mags marked distinctly to keep them seperated from .223 mags, a 300 in a 223 can go kaboom!

The pistols are surprisingly accurate and on a single point sling be slung out of the way while transitioning to a regular pistol.

I currently have a complete .223 project in a box with a 10.5" barrel that I will assemble one day. AR's are such fun to build and shoot but my three dozen of them is bordering on having gone just a bit overboard.

I can build an AR from scratch in an hour but have not the faintest idea how to post photos on a forum, in fact turning the I pad on is a challenge for my computer skills.

Daghnar · May 26, 2017

Do not mean to necro this post but as it was not that old I will:

I just got my first AR pistol, not my first AR though. I have owned AR's since I got out of the Armed forces and fell in love with the platform there. I currently own 3 AR15's, AR Pistol, and a Tavor (Just the ones I own in 5.56). I was debating on going the SBR path but the cons outweighed the pros for what I wanted to do with my AR Pistol plus I have the Tavor which is just as short as most SBR's that my friends have (26" overall with a 16" barrel) plus it has better accuracy while maintaining very good CQC capability with a Red dot and 6x magnifier combo.

Not to mention if you go the SBR route you cannot travel with that SBR out of your state it was issued without submitting the proper paperwork and waiting for approval. In my state, as long as you have your CPL, you can legally transport the AR pistol fully loaded and concealed in your vehicle.. you cannot do that with your SBR. I have mounted an ARMA15 AR lock in my truck and keep the AR pistol locked in there while out and about along with a "Get home bag".

As for the Stabilizer brace, it has been clarified by the ATF (In a formal letter) that you are not making or remaking the AR pistol into an NFA gun my merely attaching the brace and touching your shoulder as long as the brace is unaltered as designed AND your intent was not to circumvent NFA to make an SBR. I have found the brace to be useful at times but also cumbersome at others, your mileage my vary.

In short I got the AR pistol to play around with as it is very fun to shoot and to keep as a legal alternative to transport in my truck as a force multiplier if SHTF. If I was at home my primary weapon would be and still is the Tavor.

Hope this helps a bit.