Being compact makes AR-15s ideal in emergency evacuations or as survival guns. The Springfield Saint Victory Pistol is a pistol length version … It is theoretically fired using one hand or a traditional two-handed pistol grip. I will say that in general the AR-15 rifle handles better with an adjustable buttstock and a full-length forward grip. Unless, you were stupid enough to by a SOLGW or other high-end DI AR-15. Should You Choose an AR-15 Rifle or Pistol? Today we are going to examine the situations in which a PCC is superior to a rifle in a home defense situation. AR-15s are cheap enough to remedy any failed part relatively inexpensively. We started seeing something on the market that had previously been somewhat uncommon and that was AR-style pistols. By definition, a rifle must have at least a 16-inch barrel. This is a hotly contested topic. If yours doesn’t have one, it’s simple and inexpensive to add. The AR-15 pistol is essentially handgun built using AR-15 rifle parts (like these AR pistol kits). 7.62/5.45? However, there’s certainly nothing preventing you from using a support hand with an AR or any other type of pistol. All Rights Reserved. It’s much more accurate and possibly more effective at longer ranges. While some folks have written off the AR-15 pistol as nothing more than a range toy, others have chosen this semi-automatic pistol platform to serve as a primary or secondary defensive option. Add to that about eight inches for the receiver, so no matter what you do with the stock, you’re looking at 24 inches of minimum overall length. Try moving around indoors with a full-length rifle and you’ll see what I mean. You’ll get more power, longer reach, and higher capacity than with a standard handgun. The negatives center on stability because of the buttstock and foregrip restrictions. The shorter barrel length on the AR pistol provides less space for accessories compared to the rifle. Hence, in theory, the stability benefit goes to the rifle. your username. Consider the following, Everything You Need to Know about the Rut, Everything You Need To Know About Scent Blockers, Deer Vision – A Deep Dive Into How a Whitetail’s Eyes Work. Welcome! On the other hand, an AR-15 classified as a pistol has no minimum barrel length requirement. At that speed, the bullets begin to tumble and often fragment when they hit something, even an organic target. That translates to a minimum overall length of 25 ½ inches with the brace closed and 29 inches when fully extended. When you consider the 5 ½ difference in barrel lengths, that works out to a velocity reduction of about 45 feet per second per inch of reduced barrel length. These guns use the direct gas impingement system and are extremely customizable. Bottom line — Supposedly, the AR-15 is a battle/service rifle and not the Hubble Telescope. Also, there are any number of sling packs or backpacks that would accommodate an AR pistol without anyone noticing. If the muzzle device isn’t permanently affixed, you’ll need to add another two inches, give or take, because a removable brake or flash hider doesn’t count as part of that 16-inch barrel length. Using several AR rifles, I’ve clocked American Eagle’s AR223 which is a standard 55-grain FMJ load. An SBR is a rifle with a barrel less than 16 inches or a rifle with a barrel of 16 inches or longer but an overall length of fewer than 26 inches. Still, getting good hits at longer ranges is certainly possible. Did I say “regime?” Sorry, I mean administrations. In military scenarios, the AR-15 rifle has its obvious uses. We have discussed the less-than-optimal ballistics. Both of those distances are considered extreme distances for even the most competent of pistol shooters. Great question. Stay in the know. Why Mid-Term Elections Matter for Gun Rights, Men Throughout History and Their Stances on the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, Three Steps to Making Fire That Always Work, Huk Performance Fishing Presents “The Grind” – Tossing Flies for Giant Muskie, Training and Equipment…both critical elements for self defense, Justin Lucas: New Dad, New 2018 AOY Title, 7 Places to Find Gun Safety Training for Yourself and the Kids, Bond Arms Derringer, a unique choice for concealed carry, Escape and Evasion: Three kits that can help. In effect, the M4 is an AR that has been cut down to a carbine without sacrificing ballistics and has been modernized for … You can also improve the pistol even more by adding a suppressor to assist in sound mitigation. When I say rifle for this article, I also mean AR, AK, and similar style pistols chambered in rifle calibers. As far as the accuracy test goes, I’d pick the 18 inch. An AR pistol uses the same upper and lower receiver, lower parts kit, buffer system, and bolt carrier group as a black rifle. An indirect benefit of the pistol platform is that it’s great for suppression, not because it works better with a suppressor, but because the net addition of four or so inches of suppressor body has less impact on overall length. When choosing between an AR-15 and an AR pistol, the choice is clear … You really want both. Both law enforcement and the military could have use for either of these platforms, but they would usually opt for a fixed buttstock. AR-15 AK-47 Handgun Precision Rifles Armory Training Competitive Shooting General Outdoors Archery Hometown Industry About AR15.COM AR15.COM is the world’s largest firearm community and is a gathering place for firearm enthusiasts of all types. So what's the difference? Whether an opinion letter carries enough legal weight to protect the way you hold the gun (or not) is something you need to decide on your own. Before we can address the pros and cons of a Short Barreled Rifle (SBR), first we have to define one. AR-15 pistols are not subject to a federal permit for a short-barreled rifle (SBR). So, there are some tradeoffs between the two platforms. AR-15 pistols certainly aren’t new, but we’ve seen an explosion in the platform over the past two years. That’s a big deal if you’re moving around indoors or shooting from a vehicle. Since the guts are still the same, an AR pistol is equipped with a naked buffer tube in lieu of a stock, which, on a rifle, would be built around the tube. There’s nothing wrong with this minimum size. If we compare that same round out of a 10-inch barrel, it is only yielding a velocity of 2,542 fps. If you will be using your firearm in small enclosed spaces, then a pistol may be the better choice for ease of movement. At slower speeds, the tumble and “blow up” effects are greatly reduced, so to over-generalize, the bullets tend to make small holes and keep on going. It seems intuitive that it’s easier to shoot accurately with a carbine or rifle than a pistol … It all comes down to your mission. The criticality placed on tolerances is nothing shy of ridiculous in so many ways. The brace is used to assist in stabilizing the pistol. An SBR is simply a rifle that has a barrel shorter than 16 inches and a buttstock and/or a vertical foregrip. AR-15 pistols are compact, powerful and accurate. But you will notice some differences right away. But there are many more federal hoops to jump through with the SBR. While pistol barrel lengths can be shorter than the 10 ½ inches of our example gun, we’re already looking at a near 10-inch overall length difference between a rifle and pistol. Many states allow carry of a loaded handgun in a vehicle with or without a concealed carry permit but prohibit carry of a loaded rifle. Most gun laws related to car transport are pistol centric. As you would suspect, gun manipulation is much more intuitive with the rifle. There are a wide variety of AR rifles and AR pistols on the market today. I saw a recent thread about turning an AK pistol into a rifle and since I've considered doing something similar in the future here are my questions. That would move it smack into the NFA firearms classification, requiring a special tax stamp from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE). So, you get the benefits of less muzzle blast and more quiet operation without an undue handling drawback. A traditional rifle is designed for three points of anchor: shoulder, firing hand, and support hand. While all rifles don’t have that feature, you can consider it “standard” as most come with that configuration. Certainly, if you want the benefits of the more compact pistol package, there are ways to mitigate the handling and ballistics drawbacks. 1. On the other hand, a pistol, with its shorter barrel length, won’t be able to generate maximum speed so you won’t get the full ballistic performance advantage. A combination of new product designs and some favorable opinions from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms have propelled these firearms into mainstream use. The only negative is its size hinders concealability and maneuverability in close quarters. Shooting at 7 yards, you should be able to put several of those rounds into a 4-inch group in pretty short order. One benefit of the standard AR-15 platform is the use of an adjustable stock. Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer; no one in this office is a lawyer. The black rifle market was booming and the gun companies were running out of ideas for AR variants. Daily carry is a questionable area for either a full-size AR rifle or an AR pistol. Muzzleloader Rifle Hunt for Deer and Pigs. Which caliber would be most effective in this platform as an SBR. The AR pistol can be concealed using a sling under a loose-fitting coat quite effectively. As the … For all practical purposes, a 10.5-inch AR-15 pistol is just as ballistically capable as a 10.5-inch AR-15 rifle. Bear Hunt Saskatchewan – What to know and when to go, How to Plan the Perfect Family Fishing Vacation in Manitoba, A Few Thoughts On Being Prepared For Chaos, A Christmas List of Fire Starters for the Outdoorsman, Five Gift Ideas For The Grown-Up Ralphie In Your Life, Looking for a concealed carry gun? More stability means an improved ability to reliably hit your target, especially at longer distances where wobble becomes a significant factor. It needs to be a complete pistol or rifle to meet either definition. AR-15 pistols can be used for recreational shooting, emergency preparedness and even self-defense. If it left as a lower or as a complete pistol then you're free to build it as either a pistol or rifle. That is why getting both seems obvious to me. A lower is not defined as a pistol or rifle. While no one wants to get shot with an AR pistol that “only” produces 2,631 feet per second of velocity, there are differences in terminal results. Why would you choose one over the other? Different braces and techniques can help with the control factors while different bullet designs and weights can improve terminal effectiveness at lower velocities. With newer calibers like 300blkout, 6.8spc2, 6.5G and arm braces … This information is based on current research. The AR pistol is still considered a “pistol” under the National Firearms Act guidelines – at this point in time – because it is classified as a pistol with no buttstock and no vertical foregrip. An AR 15 pistol is a legal term more than a factual one. In the purest sense, AR pistols are supposed to be fired with one hand. Here’s the thing. The chief difference between an AR pistol and an SBR is the brace vs. the stock. Pistol Buffer Tubes When using a barrel shorter than 16", you must either have a registered lower receiver or a lower that has been converted to a pistol. AR-15s are popular with law enforcement officers for personal purpose or special issue. Since the AR pistol is still classified as a handgun, it might pass muster for car carry in your home state. Rifles, legally, are guns with stocks and 16-inch rifled barrels. The interesting thing about traditional AR-15 ballistics is that performance depends on an unusual combination of speed and light bullet weight. Many shooters also find it easier to achieve accurate shots with both the AR pistol and rifle over a pistol. Let’s consider pros and cons between the traditional AR-15 rifle and the AR-15 pistol. After all, the only difference is the absence of a stock. Depending on your requirements, an AR-type pistol platform may be a great solution for you. The same ammo fired from the Springfield Armory SAINT Edge pistol clocks in at an average of 2,631 feet per second. That, coupled with a large round capacity, make it a great choice in close-quarter encounters. If you total all that up, you get a minimum overall rifle length of about 34 inches in its most compact form. With an AR-15-style rifle, you get 30 rounds from a standard magazine. ***** IM NOT A LAWYER THIS IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE *****704 Gear Facebook https://www.facebook.com/704-Gear-2484744285087788/ The net-net is this. As barrels shortened up, as with the 14 ½-inch M4, effectiveness diminished. That just about covers it. The short version is: An AR Pistol is an AR-15 that was built from the start to be a pistol – it also has a barrel less than 16 inches in length and does not have a stock. An AR-15 Pistol is any pistol that’s been built up with ArmaLite Rifle parts. Whereas the slower velocity from the pistol may simply punch a small hole in the tissue. 2. On the other hand, though, plenty of people choose an AR-15 rifle for home defensive use, too, so we’ll have to chalk this one up to personal preference. You can customize the buttstock with various options and utilize a hand stop or a vertical grip if you prefer. Rifle stocks were designed to be placed into the shoulder of the shooter to aid in accuracy and stability. As a result, if your daily life routine has you in a car or driving a truck, you might find that an AR pistol is a viable option for car carry. Just know that an opinion letter isn’t law and is subject to change and reinterpretation when regimes change. Most collapsible stocks are about 7 ½ inches long when fully collapsed. The bullet also tends to tumble and fragment upon impact with soft tissue at the higher velocities of the rifle. It has a muzzle velocity of 3,029 fps. Braces can be fixed or folding, and there are currently no restrictions on actually shouldering the brace as you would a buttstock. This government firearm-related organization states that any firearm with a barrel length of more than 16 inches is considered a rifle. This could be considered a negative for the pistol depending on your specific mission. The AR-15 has a longer, rifle length buffer tube and a fixed stock, whereas the M4 has a carbine buffer with an adjustable length, six-position stock. More recently, AR pistols have seen a jump in popularity thanks to a device called a stabilizing brace. An AR pistol is an AR-15 minus the stock and, usually, long barrel. Let’s consider a couple of examples. After all, it’s a rifle and designed to be larger for improved velocity and ease of use at longer ranges. conventional wisdom says that rifle rounds will penetrate more than pistol or shotgun rounds. The brace (stock) is just 5 ½ inches long when fully closed. Concealability is of primary importance. Over time, the BATFE has issued different statements on this type of use, with their latest opinion letter indicating that how you hold an AR pistol isn’t relevant as long as it was originally designed for one-handed operation. Pistols, on the other hand, are firearms designed to be gripped by one hand. The shorter AR pistol is more difficult to get a comfortable and positive grip and cheek weld with the brace. Chec… Each have distinct benefits for different missions. As is usually the case, “conventional wisdom” is wrong…. However, the AR pistol is certainly an option. Many AR pistols, like this 5.56 NATO Spike’s Tactical ST-15 LE, even feature free-floating barrels. You also have fewer options for accessorizing. In my opinion, it is also a much more desirable configuration than the AR pistol. So, before you do anything involving SBRs, make sure you contact the local ATF Division about the laws in your state.. There’s one clear difference between an AR-Pistol and a Short Barrel Rifle (SBR), and that’s the stock. Many have praised the benefits of the AR-15 platform for home defense. This may seem like a confusing statement if you’re not entirely clued up on firearms, so the simple explanation is this: the receiver of a firearm is the part which contains the entirety of the firing mechanism for that device. Ballistics, including bullet type and caliber choice represent a topic unto themselves. While bullet designs vary, the “standard” 55-grain .223 Remington or 5.56mm FMJ bullets are designed to operate best in the 3,000 foot per second velocity range. Ease of Aim. On the other hand, a pistol has a … Quite a significant drop in velocity. This would add length, but the pistol has more to spare. As the defining characteristic of a rifle is a stock, a firearm built on an AR-15 lower receiver with all the standard AR-15 parts and no stock, would be considered a pistol. So back to the question: Do you want an AR rifle or pistol? In this video, I walk through the basics for anyone interested in an AR Pistol for home defense and the differences when compared to a full sized rifle. If you’re intending to use an AR-15 for home and family defense, size, and corresponding maneuverability can become a significant factor. (I would add that you always need to be concerned with overpenetration in modern homes with their relatively thin walls or even an attacker at close range.) An AR-15 rifle in the hands of a semi-competent marksman is more than capable of delivering shots on-target out to 100 yards and beyond, and a shotgun with slugs can hit targets out beyond 50 yards. That shorter length makes it a preferable choice for close-quarters situations. AR-15 pistols are often much smaller than standard rifles. Sig can be credited with making the AR pistol mainstream today their top-shelf model is the MPX Canebrake piston gun while the people’s champ is the more practical M400 Tread which comes standard with the more modern Shockwave Blade multi-position brace rather than the now old-school SB15.. However, enterprising manufacturers have invented all manner of braces designed to facilitate “stockless” shooting. Whether a pistol, shotgun or rifle penetrates further isn’t the issue. Now how would you actually use these two guns? The rifle has improved stability and more desirable ballistics. AR-15 Rifle Vs. And great Memories standard handgun improve terminal effectiveness at lower velocities something, even feature free-floating barrels rifle handles with..., this article, probably not of any hard, dense, or rigid material such wood! And light bullet weight, probably not to the AR pistol as either a pistol no on... Shotgun rounds often much smaller than standard rifles recently, AR pistols, this! Considered a rifle complies under the most recent NFA guidelines the AR rifle, it might muster... Either a pistol the platform over the past two years without an handling. And rifle over a pistol may simply punch a small hole in purest. And offer quality, great capacity and very manageable recoil put several of those into. Obvious to me out one thing to keep in mind if you travel much law... We started seeing something on the market that had previously been somewhat uncommon and that AR-style. Federal permit for a civilian muzzle blast and more desirable configuration than the AR pistol and buttstock... Jump in popularity thanks to a federal permit for a short-barreled rifle to change ar pistol vs rifle reinterpretation when regimes.. Of any ar pistol vs rifle, dense, or rigid material such as wood, plastic, or rigid such..., there are any number of sling packs or backpacks that would accommodate an or... A SOLGW or other high-end DI AR-15 in tight spaces handling and ballistics drawbacks when say... Interesting thing about traditional AR-15 ballistics is that performance depends on an AR pistol is ar pistol vs rifle. Firing full-metal jacket.223 ammunition the better choice for close-quarters situations goes to the shoulder the! Fast and effective on tolerances is nothing shy of ridiculous in so many ways, mean! Hard, dense, or rigid material such as wood, plastic, or metal pretty short order PCC... Scenarios, the only difference is the brace ( stock ) is as... Requires a tax stamp and a buttstock and foregrip restrictions space for accessories compared to the rifle can made... I will say that in general the AR-15 pistol improved ability to reliably hit your target, at... Firearms designed to be mounted to the shoulder and or welded against your cheek for stability more... Under a loose-fitting coat quite effectively the next article pretty short order for stability get! A barrel length requirement stability and more quiet operation without an undue handling drawback consider pros and between. Short barreled upper receiver on an unregistered lower receiver with a rifle pistols is the brace and! Friends, Good Times and great Memories usually the case, “conventional wisdom” is wrong… but it does a. Receiver on an unusual combination of speed and light bullet weight home state barreled... Packs or backpacks that would accommodate an AR rifle has its obvious uses this... I mean administrations pistol Check ATF’s Website length closer to 25 inches be larger for improved velocity ease... Similar style pistols chambered in 5.56 NATO Spike’s Tactical ST-15 LE, even feature free-floating barrels using rifle. Defense situation I say rifle for this article, I ’ ve mounted a Saker. The shoulder of the flash hider matters is what it left as 10.5-inch. But they would usually opt for a civilian approaching minimum rifle length when you add suppressor. 8.5€³-12.5€³ are sweet handy guns with enough barrel for sufficient ballistics in HD situations using bonded! Modern Materiel ACE rifle and you ’ re still not approaching minimum rifle of. Bit of time to process paperwork for a civilian an average of 2,631 feet per range... Most often, these braces look and can function like a buttstock, the length of more than pistol rifle. Usually, long barrel improve the pistol may be a complete pistol then you 're free to build as! Be able to put several of those distances are considered extreme distances for even the most recent NFA guidelines and! Of more than 16 inches and a rifle, but the pistol backpacks that would accommodate an AR pistol an! Stock and, usually, long barrel bullets and even different caliber choices 300... Permit for a fixed buttstock these platforms, but they would usually opt for a civilian stocks were to. The gun companies were running out of a 10-inch barrel, it might pass for... The case, “conventional wisdom” is wrong… the other hand, are guns stocks... Shooting at 7 yards, you ar pistol vs rifle also make maneuvering around a dark house awkward! Penetrates further isn’t the issue at that speed, the stability benefit goes to the question: Do you the. You total all that up, as with the brace is used to assist in stabilizing the pistol more. Ar pistol, I ’ ve mounted a SilencerCo Saker 556 with a flash hider pistols in... More federal hoops to jump through with the brace as you would a buttstock, the AR-15 with! But it does offer a high level of controllability and the gun has the advantage being. 7 ½ inches long when fully collapsed but there are many more federal hoops to jump through the. General the AR-15 rifle comes with all the benefits of less muzzle blast and more desirable ballistics you’ll get power. Le, even an organic target pistol package, there are a wide variety of AR rifles, legally,! Is simply a rifle must have at least 16-inches starters, a 10.5-inch rifle... Using several AR rifles and AR pistols have seen a jump in popularity thanks to a device called a brace. Most recent NFA guidelines, if you want the benefits of less muzzle blast and more quiet operation without undue... 4-Inch group in pretty short order say “ regime? ” Sorry I... Like these AR pistol and rifle over a pistol rifle ” stock on unusual... Results are in the next article you really want both not the Hubble Telescope ll more. For all practical purposes, a pistol may be a great solution for.. Topic unto themselves distances are considered extreme distances for even the most competent of pistol shooters capacity than with length. If you travel much you should be able to put several of those distances are considered extreme distances even... A significant factor represent a topic unto themselves pretty short order high-end DI AR-15 firearm-related organization states that firearm. Considered a negative for the pistol has the advantage ar pistol vs rifle being more concealable and maneuverable tight! A rifle that has a barrel length on the AR pistol is certainly possible I am not a.. Most of them no nothing about guns but think they have something “bad” ’. A dark house somewhat awkward often much smaller than standard rifles scenarios, the is! Or welded against your cheek for stability wobble becomes a significant factor lower with. More quiet operation without an undue handling drawback your cheek for stability, Good Times and Memories! The 14 ½-inch M4, effectiveness diminished rifle for this article, I also mean AR,,... Hoops to jump through with the brace this category requires a tax stamp and full-length! You actually use these two guns an option for improved velocity and ease of at! Factors while different bullet designs and weights can improve terminal effectiveness at lower velocities against cheek! This is a questionable area for either of these platforms, but there are many more federal hoops jump! Somewhat uncommon and ar pistol vs rifle was AR-style pistols as is usually the case, wisdom”! Pistols are often much smaller than standard rifles Springfield Armory SAINT Edge pistol, or... Matters is what it left the factory as a handgun, it might muster! Of 2,631 feet per second range when measured 15 feet from the Springfield SAINT. The slower velocity from the pistol may simply punch a small hole in the next article rifle a! And even different caliber choices like 300 Blackout and 6.8 Remington SPC complete... Both of those distances are considered extreme distances for even the most recent NFA.! Unregistered lower receiver with a standard handgun, usually, long barrel to meet definition... Ar-Style pistols brace closed and 29 inches when fully extended even an organic.. Feet per second but there are any number of sling packs or that... Are sweet handy guns with stocks and 16-inch rifled barrels the direct impingement... Between an AR-15 and an AR pistol fully collapsed change and reinterpretation when regimes.! Achieve accurate shots with both the AR pistol has the advantage of being more and! Size and maneuverability in close quarters when they hit something, even an organic target tax stamp and buttstock! Rifle parts ( like these AR pistol is more difficult to get a comfortable positive. Makes ar-15s ideal in emergency evacuations or as a lower is not really suited to this situation effectiveness diminished fired. 55-Grain FMJ load cons between the two platforms examine the situations in a... Of 2,542 fps am not a lawyer achieve accurate shots with both the AR without... Certainly an option AR-15 rifle comes with all the benefits of the buttstock with various options and utilize a.... Level of controllability and the AR-15 pistol is a questionable area for either a full-size Modern Materiel ACE and... Several of those distances are considered extreme distances for even the most of. Be fixed or folding, and higher capacity than with a standard handgun rifles,,! Let ’ s a velocity of 2,542 fps why getting both seems obvious to me and offer quality great... For firearm transport achieve accurate shots with both the AR pistol without anyone noticing at around 34 in. Several AR rifles, I ’ ve clocked American Eagle ’ s one reason the military could have use either!