AR pistols, any difference between them?

[CANNONMAN]

I just love AR's and have a bunch of them. The pistols I've seen I thought, at first glance, were SBR's. I saw a Daniel Defense SBR and it's $1,800 price tag along with a $200 stamp and... not for me. I reload the crap out of .223 and have a great time with them. My bump stock is a great way to lighten your ammo inventory. I doubt there is much good to say about these as the price tags I've seen hover around the $700 range. Is there a difference in these? What should one look for over another? I know about all the things not to do to one of these. But I want one. Suggestions please.

 

[FrankCastleThePunisher]

Get at least a 10.5 or 11.5 barrel for AR pistol.

 

[armedwalleye]

Why at least a 10.5??

 

[Zerodefect]

Reliability. .300BLK is good to go down to 7.5" though.

Now's not the best time to spend thousands on an AR. You can build one yourself for $700.

 

[USAF_Vet]

My AR pistol was built for around $550, give or take.

Built it on stripped receivers.

Lower:
Aero Precision
PSA basic LPK
Magpul MOE+ grip
Generic carbine receiver extension, buffer, and spring.
Buffer tube foam pad for cheek weld.
Will eventually replace the trigger with the PSA enhanced trigger group.

Upper:
Aero Precision blem stripped receiver
Generic Forward assist and dust cover
PSA full auto BCG
.223 Wylde chambered HBAR 10.5" U.S. contract over run barrel from SurplusAmmo.com
carbine gas system with rail height railed gas block.
A2 birdcage muzzle device
Magpul MOE M-lok hand guard.

Got a lot of stuff either on sale, or with reward points to reduce costs. I've changed a few things here and there like optic mounts and back up sights, but the base firearm fit that quoted price range. It's getting the best parts out of all my ARs since I'll be Form 1 stamping it. The spare parts have mostly all migrated into other builds. Like the trigger group will migrate to my current 9mm pistol build when I drop in the enhanced PSA trigger.

 

[Ibmikey]

I too built a 300 BO pistol utilizing a CMMG 12.5" barrel intended for supersonic ammo. With a Ni boron BCG, 6" rail, YHM fold sights, Sig Brace and enhanced Daniel Defense hider/comp i have approximately $ 650 in the whole project.

 

[CANNONMAN]

If you guys got a moment, I'd really like to see a few pics of your builds!

 

[strambo]

Other than the $200 stamp, there is no price different between an SBR and an AR "pistol." Before someone mentions a stock, the "braces" cost as much or more than a typical stock and the pistol buffer tubes look like they cost a little more than a regular one so the cost is basically a wash either way.

With the versatility of the AR, I think it is worth it to have at least 1 SBR lower.

 

[MachIVshooter]

Reliability. .300BLK is good to go down to 7.5" though.

7.5" 5.56 guns can be reliable. I don't ever recall having a hiccup with this one, not even using underpowered tula .223 (Can't say the same for my BCM 12.5")



DSA lower
Milspec guts
WMD upper
DD M16 BCG
DSA steel charging handle
BD Chromoly barrel
Noveske KX-3 flash can
Magpul MOE grip
Magpul MOE handguard
Magpul RVG
Magpul STR stock
Aimpoint PRO
Streamlight TLR-1 HP

 

[Capybara]

My AR "Other" and yes mods, have posted this gun before, discussed it's legality with mods here and yes, it is totally legal to have a VFG and not be an AOW because it over 26" OAL per the Franklin Armory ATF ruling of two and a half years ago.

Spikes lower
Magpul Magazine
YHM Upper with 11.5" Barrel
Mako Group VFG
Aimpoint Pro




I live in state that doesn't allow modern SBRs so this is as close I can get legally here.

 

[FL-NC]

10" or more

If you are going to do this, I advise 10" of barrel or more. The shorter "pistol length" gas systems can be "finicky" at best. As far as quality, etc.- same as any AR- it depends. What would make a decent/reliable standard AR carbine will generally translate to essentially the same thing in a pistol- the differences being a shorter barrel and a different buffer tube.

 

[buck1032]

I too was about to build my first AR and was going to build a pistol. I trolled the net looking at AR pistols and ran across a Radical Arms pistol. They were selling for $499. The more I priced building and adding the tools to build I started to really like the Radical Arms one. Just before Christmas the price dropped to $424.99. I jumped on that price. Granted it didn't come with sights and its not tacticooled out. I slapped on some Magpul sights and a cheap single point sling. I haven't had the chance to take it to the range yet.

Its out of stock now, http://www.primaryarms.com/radical-firearms-105-556-17-ar-15-pistol/p/rf10.5pistol556-nb/

 

[Rembrandt]

Have one of these ordered, Rockriver Arms pistol (piston operated, no buffer tube) Not cheap, but innovative action.

 

[Hacker15E]

Other than the $200 stamp, there is no price different between an SBR and an AR "pistol." Before someone mentions a stock, the "braces" cost as much or more than a typical stock and the pistol buffer tubes look like they cost a little more than a regular one so the cost is basically a wash either way.

With the versatility of the AR, I think it is worth it to have at least 1 SBR lower.

Remember, there are a whole lot of folks who move frequently (especially military) or who want/need to travel across state lines with their shorty "rifle".

It isn't a matter of economics that pushes folks to pistols rather than SBRs.