Question about AR pistols

[Varminterror]

I don't think I'd SBR the polymer lower.

I share this same sentiment - and frankly, if you replace “SBR” in the above phrase with, words and phrases like, “own,” “buy another,” “recommend to anyone, ever,” “want to have,” “feel comfortable or confident shooting much with,” etc... well, the phrase remains true to reflect my opinion of polymer lowers.

There are some properly built polymer and carbon fiber units out there, but the standard polymer lower configuration simply is NOT one I recommend.

 

[TonyAngel]

This one is carbon fiber which is why I wanted to try it out.

 

[mustbe]

I used the BA modern series 11.5" for my last build and been very happy with it. H2 buffer with a standard BCM extension. I started with a fresh lower and the SBA3 brace. Don't get me wrong, the SBA3 is a fine brace and I'm glad they are available, but I wish I hadn't wasted the money and just SBRed the lower right away. Mix and match any stock in your collection, no worries about length of pull BS. No worries about overall length and use of forward grips.

My worst carbine stocks are still better than any brace. Using Eforms, the turn around on form 1s is pretty fast these days. Just don't use a lower with some stupid trendy poo flinging monkey roll mark. ( or worse, polymer)

Not sure how different the 10.5" is vs the 11.5", but I think the additional dwell time of the 11.5" makes it more reliable when switching from suppressed or not. I'm using a Griffin minimalist flash hider as a suppressor mount and the muzzle blast seems no worse than a 14.5".

 

[DustyGmt]

I use a flash can on my 10.5 and a standard birdcage on my 11.5 and to be honest people warn about pistols being insanely loud and obnoxiously concussive, I didnt find either of my pistols to be that bad. The flash can is nice to have though, it does its job.

I like the Griffin Armament M4SD flash comp as well, it changes the sound of the report, it's a short dense boom as opposed to the 5.56's typical loud sharp crack as well as keeping the barrel from jumping.

Having a good muzzle device makes all the difference.

 

[TonyAngel]

Man, lots of good info flying around. You guys are right. The SBA3 costs about as much as the stamp. On that point, I’m just gonna run the Blade for now until things get back to normal.

I wanted as small as possible and as light as practically possible, so I went with the 10.5. A couple of friends of mine that actually use(d) 10.5s for work assured me that they run fine.

I’m still on the fence about the muzzle device. I’m having trouble finding something small but effective for throwing the blast ahead of me. A reduction in muzzle flip would be nice too. I just don’t want it to be unpleasant to shoot or to be standing near while I’m shooting.

Anyway, I just got notification that my LPK was delivered so I’ll take it to the range tomorrow and let you know how it went.

 

[Demi-human]

Kaw Valley Precision Linear Compensator.

Finishes a barrel nicely, I like mine.

 

[SlowFuse]

There are some properly built polymer and carbon fiber units out there, but the standard polymer lower configuration simply is NOT one I recommend.

The Cavalry arms (now GWACS) is the better of the poly lowers from what I understand. I have three, one came factory on a Sabre Defence rifle, one Cav. Arms Mk II and the last one I got was made by GWACS who bought out Cavalry Arms and their tooling at some point. All three of these variants seem fine, but I dont think I beat on any of these guns enough to find weaknesses of poly lowers vs standard. The Cav Arms weren't exactly popular because of the lack of customization, grip and stock are all molded together in one piece with the lower. However, I think that's what made them a stronger design than most others. The other brands that are built like a standard lower (no fixed stock molded into it) are the ones that got a bad rap early on. Manufacturers started putting reinforcements in areas prone to failure like the take-down pin holes and the threaded buffer tube attachment area. By that time I think too many people had a sour taste in their mouths whether it be from actual experience or complaints repeated on the internet. If you have a recently made one you likely have an improved/redesigned version that works ok.

I posted this pic way back in the The High Road AR15 Picture Thread, about 7 years ago. Attached here to save you a search here or on Google if care to see what the one piece looks like. Back to your original topic though... This specific lower would be a terrible choice for a SBR, which would pretty much be a necessary step if you used it with a less than 16" barrel considering it has a non-replaceable fixed stock. But it looks like you confirmed you wouldn't be using a poly lower if you SBR?

 

[TonyAngel]

Kaw Valley Precision Linear Compensator.

Finishes a barrel nicely, I like mine.

That is precisely the one I'm looking at. I have a Levang Linear Comp on my 14.5 and like it a lot, but apparently, you can't get them any longer.

Well, guys, thanks for all of the advise. I certainly took at all to heart and will keep it in mind for my next build that I am about to start shopping for.

I got almost all of the parts in. Apparently, I neglected to get a muzzle device, but here's a link to the finished product, sans muzzle device. https://photos.app.goo.gl/q9szuuTjKwVaQtRTA Sorry, I don't have a host for pics.

After I got it all together, the fit between the lower and upper is perfect. It doesn't even rock. As for the issue that I had with the safety, I got the Aero LPK in today and decided to swap out the safety and it is acting like it should now. I don't know what's up with that since it worked fine in the Spike's lower. Oh, well. No time to worry about that now. Gotta go shopping.

Thanks.

 

[MistWolf]

Man, lots of good info flying around. You guys are right. The SBA3 costs about as much as the stamp. On that point, I’m just gonna run the Blade for now until things get back to normal.

I wanted as small as possible and as light as practically possible, so I went with the 10.5. A couple of friends of mine that actually use(d) 10.5s for work assured me that they run fine.

I’m still on the fence about the muzzle device. I’m having trouble finding something small but effective for throwing the blast ahead of me. A reduction in muzzle flip would be nice too. I just don’t want it to be unpleasant to shoot or to be standing near while I’m shooting.

Anyway, I just got notification that my LPK was delivered so I’ll take it to the range tomorrow and let you know how it went.

Take a good look at the Black River Tactical Covert Comp. Almost zero side blast, small, light and very affordable. Very happy with mine and a couple of close friends who have them are also pleased.

 

[TonyAngel]

Take a good look at the Black River Tactical Covert Comp. Almost zero side blast, small, light and very affordable. Very happy with mine and a couple of close friends who have them are also pleased.

Thanks a bunch MistWolf. There is so much stuff out there. Finding what you want/need is almost by accident. What I really hate is finding something that you didn't know you NEEDED until you saw it.

 

[Texas10mm]

I just bought the $20 model I found on eBay and it works like a champ.

 

[TonyAngel]

I just bought the $20 model I found on eBay and it works like a champ.

The one I got was the compact model for like $15. Looks like a Levang, kinda. I just wanted something to screw on the end of the barrel. I checked out that one Lone Wolf is talking about. I'm thinking that's gonna be the one.

 

[TonyAngel]

Oh, an update. I took it out to the range today. I put 400 rounds of Winchester 5.56 through it. Not a single hitch. It ran like a clock. It's ejecting at around 3 to 4:00 running an H2 buffer. I think I'm gonna back off to an H buffer. It appears that Ballistic Advantage got the gas port right. I didn't spend much time target shooting. I just wanted to run a bunch of rounds through it. I sighted in for minute of clay pigeon at about 50 and just went mag after mag. But yeah, gotta get that muzzle device. It's LOUD.

 

[MistWolf]

Oh, an update. I took it out to the range today. I put 400 rounds of Winchester 5.56 through it. Not a single hitch. It ran like a clock. It's ejecting at around 3 to 4:00 running an H2 buffer. I think I'm gonna back off to an H buffer. It appears that Ballistic Advantage got the gas port right. I didn't spend much time target shooting. I just wanted to run a bunch of rounds through it. I sighted in for minute of clay pigeon at about 50 and just went mag after mag. But yeah, gotta get that muzzle device. It's LOUD.

DO NOT change buffers based on ejection angle. It doesn't matter if the cases fly straight forward or straight aft or make a curlyque over the top and land on the opposite side, the H2 is the right buffer. If it's not, there's a problem with the gas drive (gas port too large or too small, leak or blockage in the system, out of spec ammo) or the action spring is out of spec.

The single item most likely to affect ejection pattern is the extractor spring. Yes, extractor. Not ejector.

 

[TonyAngel]

DO NOT change buffers based on ejection angle. It doesn't matter if the cases fly straight forward or straight aft or make a curlyque over the top and land on the opposite side, the H2 is the right buffer. If it's not, there's a problem with the gas drive (gas port too large or too small, leak or blockage in the system, out of spec ammo) or the action spring is out of spec.

The single item most likely to affect ejection pattern is the extractor spring. Yes, extractor. Not ejector.

I will heed your advise and keep running the H2. It shot good and the triple taps were super fast. Maybe I'm just not used to the way the gun shoots. As it is, there is no evidence of bolt bounce, no evidence of any leakage round the gas tube AND I added a QD end plate. Woohoo!! If that linear comp does what I hope it will, this may very well become my goto AR. I didn't even find the Blade to be uncomfortable. It's gonna stay the way it is. When I run across a lower that I want to spend the rest of my life with, I'm gonna SBR it and then transfer all of the goodies to that and have a REAL stock.

 

[MistWolf]

Get a PSA Stealth Lower- https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-ar-15-m4-carbine-stripped-lower-receiver.html

We've had good results with PSA lowers

 

[TonyAngel]

It says it has a full auto position. Is it actually a low shelf lower or is that just there for show? The website doesn't say. I'm likely gonna go with either the Palmetto or an Aero.

 

[DustyGmt]

Get a PSA Stealth Lower- https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-ar-15-m4-carbine-stripped-lower-receiver.html

We've had good results with PSA lowers

I have lowers from a few different manufacturers, from higher priced options to the lower priced options like the PSA and Anderson and in my experience there doesnt seem to be any discernable difference in quality that could be quantified in any way.

I think PSA is pretty great and they are the least expensive that I have found anyway. I do however recommend a higher quality LPK, I've used a couple from PSA and they work fine, I have confidence in them, I would just say if you can afford it go with colt, BCM, DD. I'm not sure but if I had to guess I'd say Aero makes a good LPK but I dont know where they source them. The Armaspec is ok, but the PSA LPK's just feel a lil off in quality.

 

[KYregular]

Hey guys,

I'm getting busy on my computer getting ready for an AR pistol build and something just popped into my head.

What sort of buffer setup is it on an AR pistol? Is it a standard carbine setup or is there a "pistol" setup that I need to be looking at? The plan is to put a Shockwave Blade brace on it. Is there one tube that is preferable over another? What about adjustability?

Also, for you guys running 10.5s, what weight buffer are you using? I usually shoot Federal or Winchester 5.56, but also shoot the cheap steel cased stuff.

I run a carbine buffer with my 10.5" 300AAC, throws brass at s perfect four o'clock. The right buffer for YOUR gun will depend a lot on the barrel gas port, length, etc. I would start with carbine any watch ejection to begin with. If your gonna run a blade, look at the Strike Industries blade. As far as a buffer tube, get a pistol tube that will accommodate your blade and you'll be fine.

 

[KYregular]

I'm with varminterror. I like the SBR a lot less than the brace. Personally, short barrel AR's are just miserable to shoot. The concussive blast is unreal. Unless you have a suppressor.
But of the braces, I like the sba4 best, followed by the a3. And a $35 adjustable gas block is a must.

I run my 300 AAC 10.5" with a Midwest blast diverter, no concussive blast.

 

[TonyAngel]

I run a carbine buffer with my 10.5" 300AAC, throws brass at s perfect four o'clock. The right buffer for YOUR gun will depend a lot on the barrel gas port, length, etc. I would start with carbine any watch ejection to begin with. If your gonna run a blade, look at the Strike Industries blade. As far as a buffer tube, get a pistol tube that will accommodate your blade and you'll be fine.

I got the KAK buffer tube and Blade. I'm just using a flip up front sight/gas block. The ejection pattern is fine. I'm running an H2 buffer.

 

[MistWolf]

I run a carbine buffer with my 10.5" 300AAC, throws brass at s perfect four o'clock. The right buffer for YOUR gun will depend a lot on the barrel gas port, length, etc. I would start with carbine any watch ejection to begin with.

The AR Tony has put together is a 5.56 and there is no need to play around with buffer weights. What works is known- H, H2, A5H2 and Rifle, depending on which RE is used. Gas port diameters are also known. If the gas port is too large or too small, changing the buffer won't fix it. If a buffer lighter than H or heavier than A5H2/Rifle is needed to fix ejection angle, the AR has other problems.

If the AR is in spec- Colt or Sprinco M4 extractor spring, good ejector, proper gas port, proper action spring, proper buffer and in spec ammo is used, ejection angle becomes a moot point.

I suspect it's much the same for the 300, but I haven't tested ARs in that caliber.

 

[Skylerbone]

I know there are less expensive options but after soliciting information here @Varminterror pointed me toward the Kaw Valley Precision linear comp. After reading up and considering other brands I ordered the KVP then proceeded to eliminate birdcages on all of my personal ARs (kids will have to wait their turn).




KVP 3 1/4” Magnum vs Standard.








My weekend-fresh 10.5” upper will be getting a KVP Magnum once it arrives. Shown with an aluminum 9mm placeholder I ordered by mistake.

 

[MistWolf]

It says it has a full auto position. Is it actually a low shelf lower or is that just there for show? The website doesn't say. I'm likely gonna go with either the Palmetto or an Aero.

Low shelf. That lower is actually their M4 lower.

Here is the link for their Stealth lower-
https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-stealth-lower.html

 

[TonyAngel]

I know there are less expensive options but after soliciting information here @Varminterror pointed me toward the Kaw Valley Precision linear comp. After reading up and considering other brands I ordered the KVP then proceeded to eliminate birdcages on all of my personal ARs (kids will have to wait their turn).




KVP 3 1/4” Magnum vs Standard.
View attachment 905876


View attachment 905877


View attachment 905878

My weekend-fresh 10.5” upper will be getting a KVP Magnum once it arrives. Shown with an aluminum 9mm placeholder I ordered by mistake.
View attachment 905896

Yep. The good ones work. I started using the Levang years ago, but can’t get them any longer. I’ve had many comment on how quiet my AR is. Of course, they were standing behind me.