Not a Rifle at Present...Aero Pistol Build

[Skylerbone]

I know it’s not a rifle...but it could be someday, and like others I sort of feel ARs belong in the Rifle Forum so here it is.

I started this build after some inspiration coupled with compelling reasons to start all future ARs as pistols. The process began with the usual reasoning, yes, a sale on lowers. From there my imagination ran wild as I poured over reviews of individual parts from extended magazine releases to safety selectors. In the end I swiped a few goodies from a previous assembly and it’s now a brace and RDS away from range time (I may just run BUIS with a sling in the mean time but youth deer season starts Saturday).

The Lower:
Aero Gen 2
Strike Industries Enhanced LPK
Rock River Arms 2-Stage Match Varmint Trigger (3.5 lbs)
ERGO E2 Grip
Strike Lightweight Latch Pins
BAD Enhanced Magazine Release Button
BAD Enhanced Magazine Catch
BAD Enhanced Bolt Catch
Magpul Enhanced Aluminum Trigger Guard
Expo Arms Milspec Carbine Receiver Extension
Expo Arms Milspec Carbine Buffer Spring
Kaw Valley Precision H2 Buffer

The Upper:
Aero Precision M4E1 Complete, 7.5” 5.56 Barrel, Melonite Coated, EM-7 Gen 2 M-LOK Handguard
Toolcraft NiB Bolt Carrier Group, 158 MPI Bolt
Strike Industries ARCH Charging Handle

As it sits, about $670. With expected updates, around $960 (SBA-3 Brace, Vortex SPARC Red Dot, KAK Flash Can).

I chose a few red anodized parts for something a little different, mainly to inspire my six children before they begin their own builds but I admit to liking the look myself. On to the pictures!


Nice finish and adjustable lock up with the upper.


Battle Arms Development Parts


Strike Industries LPK installed.


The ERGO E2 grip with larger “gripwell” in subdued “Inferno Camo”.


ERGO now includes the grip screw and lock washer but omits the plug!?! Argh!!!


View from the top.


IMO the best under $100 BCG I’ve laid eyes on, the upper is pretty nice too featuring ambi QD points for sling attachment.


Yes, it’s gonna be a “blast” to shoot, all the more reason I’ll be ordering a long flash can or maybe a linear comp.


H2 (1.5???) Buffer.

 

[Demi-human]

Nice pistola! I like the Strike Ind. Parts I have used. I agree, no matter the barrel length, ARs are rifles. I do notice a lack of Ar pistol in the safe...

 

[tallpaul]

That barrel will bark

 

[Skylerbone]

isn't using a rifle or carbine buffer tube a No-no on a pistol build? I believe that makes it a NFA item and not a pistol?

ATF determines that based on barrel and overall length (I asked a lot of questions before I built). Because I was uncertain if I would really want to keep it in pistol form, I wanted something convertible with a simple upper removal and stock/brace swap that didn’t have me constantly staking or re-staking the castle nut.

I looked at available braces and found SB Tactical’s SBA-3 which at the time was the only one I knew of that utilizes a standard carbine extension. I see now the Shockwave 2 is designed for a proprietary carbine tube (this portion edited due to incorrect information). The SB actually includes a carbine extension and KAK provides their proprietary tube.

 

[tallpaul]

ATF determines that based on barrel and overall length (I asked a lot of questions before I built). Because I was uncertain if I would really want to keep it in pistol form, I wanted something convertible with a simple upper removal and stock/brace swap that didn’t have me constantly staking or re-staking the castle nut.

I looked at available braces and found SB Tactical’s SBA-3 which at the time was the only one I knew of that utilizes a standard carbine extension. I see now the Shockwave 2 is also designed for the carbine tube. The SB actually includes a carbine extension.

I did look for answers after I posted- hence the deletion of my comment on my behalf... I am actually really happy to hear this since I seem to have developed a taste for the AR pistol with a brace myself AR's do tend to multiply... and in this time of cheap ar parts it is hard not to

I just bought a 450 bushmaster carbine length upper and put together a rifle lower... I have not even shot it yet and the thought of a AR pistol in 450 bushmaster to go with it has already been haunting me...

 

[badkarmamib]

I see now the Shockwave 2 is also designed for the carbine tube.

It appears that the Shockwave2 takes a "proprietary" carbine buffer tube. I am not sure how interchangeable they are.

https://shockwavetechnologies.com/sitelatest/product/black-shockwave-blade-2-0-pistol-stabilizer/

"Made from high-strength glass-reinforced polymer, the Blade 2.0 is manufactured to exacting tolerances and fits all pistols equipped with a proprietary carbine-style buffer tube (included), manufactured by KAK Industries. Just slip it on and lock in place. Adjusts with a simple finger lever."

Actually, this is answered by Shockwave in the comments:

Garrett says:
August 3, 2018 at 4:09 pm


Will these work on any standard carbine buffer tube?

Reply

1. Shockwave Technologies says:
   August 23, 2018 at 4:16 pm
   No, sorry. But they come with the tube you need.
   
   Thanks!
   
   Reply

 

[Skylerbone]

Ah, thank you for that @badkarmamib. I glanced at a pic of one and saw what looked to be a carbine extension. Interchangeability is important to me though I’m now more convinced than not I will be leaving it in pistol form permanently.

 

[imashooter]

The Blade 2 will fit on a carbine tube but will not lock-in due to it's lever design. A pistol is a pistol and is not subject to oal or tube type. Only that it originated from an "other" lower, a "pistol" lower so to speak, etc. It's all bs, especially the ridiculous SBR stuff since a pistol with a readily collapsible stock is about as sbr-ish as you can get. Nice build.

 

[Tallbald]

Very handsome. Very. SO happy for you too! Don.

 

[Varminterror]

It's all bs, especially the ridiculous SBR stuff since a pistol with a readily collapsible stock is about as sbr-ish as you can get.

If it has a readily collapsible STOCK, then it’s not a pistol.

A stabilizing brace isn’t a stock, adjustable or not. That’s the current ATF determination.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Looking good.
I wonder where you may have gotten the idea to put red accents.

 

[Skylerbone]

@GunnyUSMC I had nearly forgotten about that one! You are close though, I had seen the rifle your youngest built which looked race car-esque (even showed it to the kids here). I also recalled you mentioning Strike Industries as GTG. Either way I’d have been happy to attempt mimicking any number of your builds (definitely diggin the Jack receiver). I really need to make headway on a first upper build too, maybe after deer season.

 

[drobs]

Nice looking AR pistols.

Now I'm feeling a little self conscious with my basic PSA pistol AR.


Hmm... maybe I should add some "bling" to the matching PSA pistol kit I have sitting at home waiting for me.

 

[imashooter]

If it has a readily collapsible STOCK, then it’s not a pistol.

A stabilizing brace isn’t a stock, adjustable or not. That’s the current ATF determination.

If it has a collapsible "brace", it's a pistol if either it came configured that way or it was added to a logged in "other".

 

[Varminterror]

If it has a collapsible "brace", it's a pistol if either it came configured that way or it was added to a logged in "other".

Read the thread.

 

[imashooter]

Read the thread.

Ok, per your request, I once again read the thread. Now what?

 

[Gtscotty]

Neat pistol! I bet you'll like the SBA3 on that setup, I got mine in yesterday and quickly mounted it up on a stripped lower I had laying around just to try it out. The quality seems quite good, and the function and ergos are great for a brace. I have other priorities at the moment, but the SBA3 got me excited about piecing together the rest of that pistol.

 

[badkarmamib]

Neat pistol! I bet you'll like the SBA3 on that setup, I got mine in yesterday and quickly mounted it up on a stripped lower I had laying around just to try it out. The quality seems quite good, and the function and ergos are great for a brace. I have other priorities at the moment, but the SBA3 got me excited about piecing together the rest of that pistol.

Dangit! I had a pistol, hated the ergos on it, traded it for a 1911. When the SBA3 came out, I was intrigued, but kept telling myself that I still don't want another AR pistol. Y'all aren't helping!

 

[Skylerbone]

traded it for a 1911

Hilarious I was just pondering this afternoon whether I shouldn’t have spent the money on another 1911!

I really am a newb with the AR in pistol form so when I started investigating braces the SB was one of the first I ran across.

 

[Gtscotty]

The Upper:
Aero Precision M4E1 Complete, 7.5” 5.56 Barrel, Melonite Coated, EM-7 Gen 2 M-LOK Handguard

How do you like that M4E1 upper? I used one in another build and am sold. You're stuck with Aero's (excellent) handguards, but they are very nicely designed and make assembly so easy.

 

[JONWILL]

Nice gun. I would have changed two things though. I would have upgraded to the Aero lower that has the enclose trigger guard built in. I would have also gone with a Primary Arms
Red Dot. It has a 50,000 hour battery life much longer than the Sparc.

 

[Skylerbone]

How do you like that M4E1 upper?

It looks great and I see no reason to swap the handguard since M-LOK is poised to become the standard. Had I pieced things together myself, I would have opted for the standard Aero upper, Odin Works barrel, and O2 Lite 9 1/2” handguard with a 5” flash can.

In the end I’m very pleased that I went Aero and everything matches. Now to find time to shoot it.

 

[imashooter]

Congratulations. believe you'll like it just fine.

 

[KYregular]

Nice looking AR pistols.

Now I'm feeling a little self conscious with my basic PSA pistol AR.
View attachment 803112

Hmm... maybe I should add some "bling" to the matching PSA pistol kit I have sitting at home waiting for me.

Nothing wrong with your setup, looks good. There is no need for an AR pistol to shoot 1 MOA, not saying PSA is incapable however.

 

[Skylerbone]

I would have upgraded to the Aero lower that has the enclose trigger guard built in. I would have also gone with a Primary Arms

On the lower, I purchased it on a 24 hour sale (limit 1) and it was just a whim. Liked it so I set it aside for something different.

The reasoning on the SPARC over PA is that PSA bundles it with the brace I want which means paying “full price” for the dot plus $50 gets me an entire lower build kit AND the RDS ($250). That leaves me an LPK for another future build plus what I need for now.

I already own the original version of the SPARC along with a Strikefire and I can’t argue with the Vortex warranty, plus, for my purposes the 5,000 hour battery life on a single AAA should be sufficient.

I’ve seen the Primary Arms unit before and I think I’d like it just as much, but now that the Sig Romeo is dropping in price there are even more great choices, some of them tough.