.223 pistols...practical or not?

[ns66]

i wonder if it's legal to wrap some foam around the extension tube, not make it longer, but make it more comfortable at the cheek?

 

[mf-dif]

Exactly what kind of holster do these things fit into?

They may meet some NFA concocted definition of a pistol, but they don't seem like pistols to me.

They dont fit into any holsters. Just a sling. Ive seen AR pistols with foam on the tube. Its only if its made to fit against your shoulder you run into sbr issues.

 

[Rexster]

I reckon an AR15 pistol might work for some folks as a "rule-booker" weapon that could share magazines with a companion AR15 carbine, as some jurisdictions do not allow loaded long guns inside vehicles, but do allow loaded pistols. Under such conditions, I would want a quite long barrel, a Noveske flash hider that diverts flash and blast forward, and a buffer tube to act as a third point of contact. Yes, such a weapon would primarily be the range toy, of the two, but could have a loaded magazine in place during transport.

I see a conventional pistol, that can be holstered, as much more versatile and dynamic in a wider range of conditions than an AR15 carbine, so I would not forego the holster pistol if toting an AR15 pistol.

Thankfully, I live in Texas, where our long guns can be loaded while inside vehicles, concealed, or not,
so a minimal-length carbine makes more sense as a fighting weapon. I may well, however, buy a designated pistol AR receiver, build it with parts on hand, and purchase a pistol-length upper, install an optic I have on hand, and have a nice range toy; nothing wrong with that!

 

[ns66]

any recommendations, good quality cheap price? i checked out bushmaster pistols, they ask for $800+, i could buy another ar-15 with that much money

 

[easyg]

Range toy in my opinion.

 

[FloridaShooter57]

I thought about getting a suppressor for my PLR-16 last year and noticed that manufacturers won't warranty them when used on a barrel shorter than 10" or so based on the theory that shorter barrels are not long enough to stabilize a bullet (which may hit internal baffles and damage the suppressor). I also read an article about how the M16's wounding ability was dramatically reduced when the barrel twist rate was increased from 1:14 to 1:12 before deployment in the field, in the interest of longer-range accuracy (see http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.223+Remington.html for details). The faster twist rate improved accuracy at the expense of eliminating the tumbling effect produced by the 1:14 twist barrel just BARELY being able to stabilize a 55 gr bullet.

If they tumble on impact, bullets from a short barrel like the PLR-16's might actually be MORE, rather than less effective than the same round from a longer barrel at short ranges where accuracy is not a critical. Especially if a heavier bullet than the usual 55 gr FMJ is used.

Just a thought...

 

[TestPilot]

Try holding a lightest carbine and hold it like a pistol. It will be immedeately appearent why these are not so practical as a pistol. Even if the carbine is heavier, if you remove attachments and unloaded, it will be about the same weight, or even ligher, than a loaded AR-15 pistol.

The weight of the 30 round 5.56 magazine fully loaded is as heavy as a small pistol. Imagine the speed of aim and tracking target with an awkward shaped pistol with the weight of another pistol hanging on the front, higher than evern bore axis, sight reference line even higher, etc.

If it were even near equal of a regular pistol, wouldn't every SWAT be using them in place of a pistol?

Imagine doing a pistol drill with a 2.5~3 kg weight loaded, and that weight hanging a bit to high and to the front, instead of feeling like it is in your hand like a regular pistol.

 

[TestPilot]

If they tumble on impact, bullets from a short barrel like the PLR-16's might actually be MORE, rather than less effective than the same round from a longer barrel at short ranges where accuracy is not a critical. Especially if a heavier bullet than the usual 55 gr FMJ is used.

What you need is enough impact shock to fragment and shatter well within the length of depth of the body. Either that or hydrostatic shock, which 5.56 without fragmenting or yaw is relatively poor at.

"Tumble" won't do much since by the time the bullet just start to yaw a little, it would already have gone through the body.

 

[hatt]

With training they're going to be practical in certain situations. Obviously they aren't CCW pieces. And they aren't going to be a versatile as an equivalent SBR.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I had a Sig P556. It was fun as all gert out, but not very practical.

In the future if I want an SBR that I don't want to register, I will buy a bullpup like an FS2000 or a Tavor as a compromise. I just couldn't get into the pistol. It was a very pricey toy. I like my guns to be practical as well as fun.

If the Tavor comes out in a 7.62, I'll be on it real fast.

 

[Ranger Roberts]

I have a bushmaster ar pistol. I got it for practically nothing because someone I knew through a work friend became a prohibited person and had to get rid of their weapons. I have taken it out a few times to play. For me it is fun to shoot here and there but doesn't really have any practical purpose. Just my opinion though. I'm sure there are others out there that have put the time and energy into being more proficient with it.

 

[rick melear]

I'm with Sam1911