An AR pistol is an AR-15-patterned weapon without a butt stock or vertical foregrip, featuring a shorter barrel length, with a stabilizing brace designed to resemble a stock but allow one-handed firing.
AR pistols can be an invaluable weapon in home and personal defense situations; however, there are certain restrictions and guidelines for these pistols in order to avoid misclassification as short barreled rifles (SBR), which requires paying an SBR tax of $200 as well as an extended waiting time period of six months.
Barrel Length
As is evident from its importance, barrel length is of paramount importance in shooting sports. Longer barrels generally produce higher velocities than shorter ones – though exactly how much increased velocity you receive will depend on both type of ammo used and your rifle model. Some bullet types require additional energy to break apart inside targets which means more travel distance must be covered before hitting their mark, ultimately decreasing speed overall.
No single solution exists when it comes to selecting a barrel length; what matters most is how you intend on using your rifle. Home defense users would likely benefit from having one with pistol-length barrel for improved accuracy while those seeking maximum performance might prefer something longer.
Another key difference between an AR pistol and AR rifle is that traditional buttstocks cannot be fitted onto an AR pistol as this would fall under the category of short-barreled rifle (SBR) and require an NFA tax stamp for legal ownership. Instead, innovative manufacturers have come up with braces designed specifically to support shouldering an AR pistol much like you would an SBR rifle.
Note, however, that the BATFE recently announced they intend to remove the stabilizing brace exemption for AR pistols with stabilizers – this will effectively make all such firearms SBRs and require you to apply for an NFA tax stamp and go through an application and waiting process before possessing one.
Therefore, if you intend on building an AR pistol that you plan on using as a rifle, ensure its stabilizer can be easily detached so as not to end up classified as a Short Barreled Rifle (SBR). Otherwise, this could prompt some shooters to opt instead for purchasing or building their own AR rifle instead. SBRs often involve extra paperwork and paperwork-heavy regulations which many shooters prefer not having to deal with.
Weight
Rifles will usually weigh slightly more than AR pistols due to the absence of buttstocks and barrel lengths under 16 inches requiring legal classification as short-barreled rifles (SBR). To purchase such SBRs legally with ATF license.
A pistol boasts lighter frames and handguards than rifles, making it easier to move in tight spaces like hallways or small rooms. However, proper configuration must be performed to ensure accuracy and safety during close quarters use. This may require installing sound suppression system as well as flash suppressor to keep it quieter during firing.
An AR pistol with too many accessories attached can quickly become too heavy. That is why it is crucial to take into account its purpose before selecting how you will configure it; for example, is an M-Lok rail attachment necessary for mounting light or vertical foregrips or lights? Probably not; an EOTech mounted to a LaRue throw mount might work just as effectively and be significantly lighter.
An AR pistol can weigh in at 6 pounds with basic components; however, this does not include low-mass bolt carriers or carbon fiber handguards, which could add another couple of pounds depending on your requirements.
Another consideration should be the ammunition you will use. There are certain cartridges which perform better than others; an AR pistol might be more suited to light varmint loads than battle rifle.
Unfortunately, many shooters tend to view AR pistols as little more than noisy crickets or an amusing distraction while they wait for their SBR application to be approved by NFA examiners – this is unfortunate, as AR pistols can be extremely enjoyable guns to own and shoot – it’s easy to make them as accurate as any regular handgun and loaded them up with different types of ammunition for endless fun shoot sessions!
Length of Pull
If you’re building an AR pistol, one consideration you should make is the length of a pull. This distance runs from the front of trigger to back of recoil pad when shouldering; typically 1″ should do. This ensures comfortable holding position as well as natural sight alignment when shouldering the gun.
Though the length of a pull may seem inconsequential, it can have profound implications for performance and accuracy. A pull with sufficient length enables easy, accurate shooting at long ranges where wobble can become an issue.
The length of a pull depends on the type of stock you select. Many manufacturers provide rifle-style stocks, while there are also pistol-style stocks. The main distinction between the two styles of stocks is that pistol-style stocks are designed for two anchor points – your hands – while rifle-style stocks should be shot from three points of contact – shoulders, firing hand, and support hand.
An important consideration when purchasing and using an AR pistol is legality and operations regulations. According to ATF standards, an AR pistol must feature a barrel that measures less than 16 inches in length without shoulder stock or forearm stabilizing brace; however it may have forearm stabilizing arm braces to aid its users.
Although an AR pistol can be legally used, it differs significantly from a short-barreled rifle (SBR) as they require special paperwork from the ATF for acquisition and transportation. An AR pistol does not require this extra paperwork and can easily be transported as you would any regular handgun; making them ideal options for hunters traveling and camping, emergency evacuation scenarios or survival purposes.
Safety
AR pistols with shorter barrels tend to produce an unexpected amount of recoil that can damage both your gun and you, blowing back in your face as you shoot. To mitigate noise levels caused by AR pistols it is highly advised that they be equipped with suppressors in order to limit recoil.
AR pistols and rifles differ by virtue of one key difference – rifles feature stocks to help stabilize their weapon when firing it, making them much simpler to fire than pistols. Furthermore, the stock helps minimize recoil felt from firing the weapon which may be unpleasant or painful for some shooters.
AR pistols do not feature stocks; however, they can still be equipped with a stabilizing brace for added stabilization. These braces may be fixed or collapsible and do not have to be placed against the shooter’s shoulder like stocks do. At present, ATF has decided that braces do not count as stocks and thus an AR pistol equipped with such brace can be used without filing SBR Form 1.
One of the key factors when deciding between an AR pistol or rifle is which gun best meets your needs. If you require lots of accessories to mount, an AR pistol might be better, since its more room can accommodate them than with rifles. On the other hand, rifles typically boast longer barrels and more ergonomic stocks, making them the superior choice when shooting close range targets.
As part of your decision for an AR pistol or rifle, take weight into consideration when making your selection. If you plan on carrying it around regularly, lightweight rifles might be best; to reduce weight with an AR pistol use a lightened upper and lower receiver set with lightweight barrel profile and free-float handguard (M-Lok recommended).