I am currently building an AR rifle. As of now, I just have a stripped lower and a complete parts kit. First, I have no pistol in my preps. I have a Chinese sks that I have refinished and added a spring mounted firing pin to combat slam fire or accidental discharges that I am very comfortable with. I was thinking of selling the sks for a pistol once the AR was done. My dilemma is that I have many friends pistols. I am not a proficient with a pistol even with a NRA training lessons. I know it is all about practice and the longer sight radius of a rifle. Any opinions if I should build a full AR rifle and keep the sks or build an AR pistol and keep the sks?
Short answer is no. Build out the AR Rifle. I would keep the SKS and some ammo as a back up and look at getting a pistol. A good rifle is worth its weight in gold. Once you do get a pistol. Just keep practicing with it.
I look at a pistol as something to get me to my rifle.
Unless you are going to go SBR shortly I wouldn’t bother. A docsherm said, keep the rifles, SKS is a good rifle and something worth having, take the other lower and build a back up to your current rifle, shit ain’t getting cheaper and if you can swing it grab a BCM upper while it on sale. Buy yourself a glock or an H&K VP9(Not a fan of the M&P but if it works for you I am not going to yell at you.) or another vetted platform, hell I wouldn’t sneeze at a M9A1 though it would not be my first choice for concealed carry but if you have thecash and get getWC to work it over I would salute you as I feel the platform is more than workable, but that is meet and I have a very soft spot for DA guns so…
But short answer to AR pistol question for shit hitting the fan, NO, another is a better choice, especially if it is a quality rifle/build.
Get whatever pistol feels the best to you. If it is awkward it will prevent you from getting better. Both of the pistols you mentioned are good as long as you feel good with them.
I like my AR shorties, but for SHTF I want three other guns ahead of them; two 14.5 or 16" - a red dot and a magnified (1-4 or 3x minimum) plus a handgun. I’m partial to 9mm CZ 75s as I shoot them better than my second fave Sig P229.
Points well taken! I used to have a steyr m9a1. Felt like an extension of my arm. I would prefer a manual decocker or safety. Both the cz and berretta flip the bill. Thanks guys!
I agree with everyone. An AR built up right, the sks as backup, and get a good pistol you are comfortable with.
I am a big fan of Beretta. I’ve had a 96 since I turned 21 and I’ve carried an M9 a lot in the last 8 years. It isn’t the popular platform these days but it is reliable and well built. As an aside, my Beretta 96 is of advanced age/round count now and I recently replaced the recoil spring with a factory weighted Wolffe spring and changed the hammer spring to the Beretta hammer spring D version. That is the hammer spring that is stock in the DAO Berettas. I was on the range last week for the first time since changing out the springs and I felt like I had a new pistol! The DA trigger pull was much lighter and smoother. I would suggest this hammer spring change to anyone. It was a $5 part from Brownells and is Beretta factory so it isn’t an experiment or risk as it says its for the 92/96 series. The Beretta M9A1 or 96A1 would be my choice in Berettas if I was doing it over again as a light rail would be awesome. Berettas aren’t really a good CC gun anyway so the light would be nice to put on and leave on.
Yessir! If I had to put all the trust in a pistol to defend that what is loved it would probably be a beretta. A rail would be be nice but I would chose dependability.
For a all metal gun, and da/sa the cz P01 Tactical was a real nice gun… it almost came home with me.
Rifles/carbines are easier to shoot, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t practice out take carbine classes.
However, the pistol especially if concealed carried, will be a tool you are more likely to use. With no stock, and a shorter barrel they are that much more difficult to shoot. The fundamentals are the same, but a lot less forgiving.
The Berettas are nice guns. The only pistols that peeled me away from my beloved Beretta 92fs have been the Walther PPQ, and the M&P with an APEX trigger installed. I found I shoot striker fired pistols accurately and more consistently.
You know I keep forgetting about the CZ’s offerings. I don’t know why either because I haven’t run into many who had much if any negative things to say. Perhaps I should invest in one to jog my memory. Lol.
I agree with the guys above. Build that rifle, keep the SKS and try to get a pistol. With that said try to find some decent training. I know money is probably limited but training is key. I am sure there is somebody around your area that has some knowledge of firearms training and I don’t mean the guys who have been shooting since they were knee high. I was one of those guys once until I actually took a training class.
trying not to sound negative or douchy considering much of the good advice in this thread, however i would like to voice the opinion that most people, especially those of limited means would be alot better off investing training class dollars in other things.
99% of us wont be going around kicking in doors if SHTF. just my humble opinion.
Keep the SKS, and build the AR to a 16" Carbine or Midlength. You have some time, and AR parts are just getting cheaper (for now). Finish the AR build before the end of the year, and while you’re at it, save for a good pistol like a Glock or Beretta.
I shot an ar"pistol" a few weeks ago It was really stupid.,Loud, unpleasant to hold as a pistol and did I say loud? Painfully loud. Not fun or practical. A short barrel rifle with a silencer? Maybe but since I live in the State with the dumbest people regardless of their level of education live and it is a bad to think short barrel rifle with a silencer. I am really not saying short barrel rifle with a silencer.
While they are loud, that’s not surprising. 10.5" pistols or longer are more bearable even with just an A2.
Try double ear protection if you can’t handle it. I’ve shot Mosin M44’s and Draco AK pistols with no problems; those are louder than any AR pistol I’ve shot.
