Apologies if this is the wrong place for this.
I’m considering buying one. Are there any specific models that really stand out from the others? Are there any to be sure to avoid? Are there technical things one should look (out) for in researching different to researching long guns? Any and all constructive input is welcomed and appreciated.
What are you looking to do with it? That’s the question.
To me, AR pistols are just a way around SBR laws. In my state, I can’t own an SBR. That was the draw to me, for my (first) pistol I’m almost done building. Unfortunately, no suppressors either…so it’s ultimately a range toy.
The only real difference between a pistol and an SBR is the lack of a butt stock.
One good option is to buy stripped lower, build it out with a pistol style receiver extension (buffer tube) and top it off with a quality short barreled upper.
Especially for anything short barreled, I’d stay away from the cheaper brands.
They’re a little harder to do properly and sub standard parts will not help.
Not sure what caliber you are thinking, but if .556 I would strongly recommend 10.5 it higher barrel length. 11.5 is what I like personally. Anything less than 10.5 is risky from a reliability stand point and their is a huge disadvantage ballistically. If 300 BO or 9mm you can go shorter
A Sionics or BCM 11.5 upper is a good start. Build out a quality lower with brace of your choice .Gearhead Tailhook, SB, and KAK are all decent options depending on your preference
BCM “Pistol” lower, BCM 11.5" upper, Aimpoint PRO, Troy 7" Drop-in(non free-float), SBM4 brace
Nothing fancy; pretty basic and it shoots great but less than 100 rds. downrange.
My main goal with it is ease of carrying to/from/in the car so as small as possible while still being useful and usable. A second benefit is presumably less obvious as what it is so less incentive for someone to break in to steal it if it looks like a tennis racket case or whatever rather than a firearm.
Anyone have the SA Saint? If so, thoughts/comments/opinions?
I have not shot the Saint but I have handled a friend of mines Saint after he replaced the stock with the maxim defense CQB brace and it is amazingly small and compact. Not sure if there’s a smaller basically stock package out there.
I’ll second this. There’s a reason BCM doesn’t make a 5.56 barrel shorter than 11.5” and I’m guessing Sionics has the same reasons. Paul did a write up about their reasons for not going shorter than 11.5” for a 5.56 barrel. It can be found fairly easily with a Google search.
BCM sells a complete AR pistol utilizing their 11.5” URG and a bare pistol tube. Sionics sells a complete AR pistol utilizing their 11.5” URG, but theirs comes with the Shockwave Blade kit. As was mentioned above, the only difference between these and their SBR counterpart is the lack of a stock.
Thanks everyone for the good input. It is appreciated and gives me a good base to work from.
I’m a horrible person because no pictures. BUT, I bought the 12.5" BCM Kino upper (so I can use Mid-length handguards even though it is carbine gas and have a Fixed FSB- just preference and a little different.) and use a BCM FA BCG (as always.) I bought the Shockwave Blade kit that brownells sold for like $70 months/ year(s) ago and use that on it. I have a Troy Fixed rear. I have only put about 250 rds through it. My only impression is that it DOES NOT shoot as softly as Mid-length gas and a Muzzle Break but it is still a pussycat to shoot. Overall, it is only 3-4 inches shorter than my 16" Middy BCM with M4 stock collapsed. But that does make it swing differently and tuck in better.
It IS louder. I would say, if I wanted any shorter, I’d go to a 300 or pistol caliber depending on anticipated engagement ranges. BUt basically, it lets me FEEL SBR options without the hassle. And I felt like that length was less likely to cause me any problems based on anecdotal info and gas, etc.
Interestingly enough, it will not run with my VooDoo Lightweight BCG so I am going to probably list it for trade here. I fired ONE round and it didn’t cycle. I put it in my Middy and fired ONE round with the same result. I wiped the sexy looking BCG off and set it aside for my BCM BCG.
Nutshell- -DO IT! (it fits fine in a Tennis bag or duffel. 
)
Sounds like you went the right route!
Good choice, and hope it’s working out well.
For Pistols, I know my original is super overgassed. One of these days I will pick up a different barrel and fix that.
Overall though, I enjoy the KAK Shockwave.
Let us know how it does accuracy/precision wise for you.
Good info here, as I’m in the same boat as you OP.
I was going to pick up an aero precision 10.5” for my pistol build.
Best way to assemble a reliable AR pistol-
When you buy a complete lower with buttstock can you ask for it to be listed as other? (Granted, I purchased 5 lowers at once all having them marked as others. But all were stripped/featureless.)
Or is that limited to stripped lowers?
My biggest concern would be an FFL not wanting to list it as a pistol while utilizing rifle furniture.
I figure it wouldn’t fly in MN due to our regulations about collapsible stocks and pistol grips. MN would require marked as rifle.
IIRC, a other can be made into a pistol or rifle. A pistol can be made into a rifle and back. But a rifle cannot be made into a pistol.
I guess I dunno of this is even something to even care about.
For the record though: the build you laid out sounds amazing… Truly.
I bought an “assembled” lower, minus tube and stock, and it was sold to me as a “receiver”.
Lower receivers are categorized as "Other Firearm (Frame, Receiver, etc.) in box 16 of section B on the 4473 and should be listed as “receiver” in box 27 of section D. This is true regardless of if they are stripped, partially assembled, or assembled with either a pistol, carbine, or rifle buffer tube. The presence or absence of a buffer tube of any type does not change the classification of a lower.
This is the reason you must be 21 to buy an assembled “rifle lower” from an FFL but may buy a complete rifle at the age of 18.
It is required that a lower, with or without rifle stock, be listed as OTHER on the Form 4473 unless local ordinances require otherwise. If Minnesota requires a lower with a rifle stock to be listed as a rifle, then that’s how it’s done. If that is so, you could call Brownell’s and ask them if they’ll ship the Colt lower without the rifle stock.
However, it would be best to find out exactly what the law in your state requires.
Thanks, everyone, for the clarification.
Makes a lot of sense; you can certainly see how our local laws have an impact.
I, honestly, don’t know if an FFL would force the classification of Rifle, even in Minnesota, I just didn’t know if they could come assembled and still be listed as Other. However, like all things, I imagine some FFLs will have preferences and it would be best discussed with them before purchase.
Very cool, and makes me happy other states can, even if Minnesota is picky about the silly stuff.
It doesn’t matter what the FFL wants to list it as. Without it being complete, it’s an other.
Thanks for educating.
After researching this a bit more yesterday, I understand a lot more.
I always appreciate you guys taking the time to educate on a misconception.
