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I've been researching AR pistols. I love the operation platform of the AR. But im not sure the .556 is the best cartridge to fuel it with in my situation. In my perfect world I could build a .40 S&W on a AR frame with a 10" barrel and it wouldn't be classified as a SBR.

IMO, the AR platform is a poor choice for a pistol. Especially when you consider pistol calibers. They are popular because people can put a short barrel on an AR and avoid going the NFA route (or have a pistol receiver for their SBR when traveling to and from shooting). They are becoming even more popular now with the sig arm brace. A suppressed SBR would be fun and somewhat practical. I just can't think of a void I have that a AR pistol would fit.

I have not seen many pistols in that format.

Especially in a pistol caliber.

If I want a 40 smith, I'd buy a handgun. Not butcher an AR into a make believe bulky one.

I can see some uses, depending on ones job or future thoughts, of a pistol caliber carbine, but not a pistol off an AR for that.

I have fired a Colt 635(9mm SMG) and a 14.5" 5.56mm with pencil barrel AR carbine(same N type butts and basic external layout, only major difference was caliber and internals to get there) I perceived more muzzle flip from the 9mm version than the 5.56(obviously nothing major from either, but more from the 9mm never the less), although the 5.56 was much louder.

9mm is also supposed to be somewhat harder on certain AR parts than 5.56 guns. Colt 9mm hammer pins are stainless instead of using their standard pin from the 5.56 guns as an example. I would assume any of those traits could be enhanced by way of the .40(although Olympic Arms uppers are typically described as "plug & play") but may be some points want to research while making your decision.

The Sig brace allows you to skip the $200 tax on the SBR lower and still have a six-inch barrel and a can. 9mm 147gr XTP's out of such a rig would make the ULTIMATE house/car gun

I was never overly impressed with an AR pistol i always figured they were just noise makers, and have no real purpose.

That changed yesterday. I was at our local range and there was 5 guys and a bunch of AR type rifles and pistols. Those guys were ringing 2 yard steel with 10 inch barreled AR pistols. I had to give them props.

I wouldn't mond having one with a 10-12 inch barrel and one of those Sig arm braces

I used to think they were silly before I had a chance to use on on a Roger's Range. Stages that I struggled to hit 75% of the plates were easily cleaned with the pistol carbine. Four points of contact make like a LOT simpler.

AR 'pistols' are a joke, and nothing more.

In my state (Alabama) one can hunt turkey with any centerfire mushrooming ammo from a pistol. Now, and AR pistol shooting a 223 can knock out a turkey at 100 yards. Can't do that with a shotgun.

I bet They probably wouldn't make a bad house gun if they were set up properly

40 carbines have a history of sucking major ass.




Travis

Yeah, but where is the fun/challenge in that?

If you're replying to me, I wasn't thinking a .40 carbine. I was thinking 5.56 in a handgun, specifically with that sig arm brace on it

No. Just stating in general that the .40 carbines have had lots of trouble.

I know RR is making one now, but I have no idea if it's worry free or not.

Either way, make my AR anything a 5.56.



Travis

Gotcha. Yea i'm typically a 5.56 guy. A buddy has one in 6.8 that he built that is lots of fun, but no practical use to
Me. A .40 carbine of any flavor does'n interests me, but to each there own

I spent a lot of time with an 11.5" 5.56 SBR and wouldn't want to again without a can.

With a can I'd do an 11.5" house gun as an SBR or with the Sig brace.

Yea, the can would definitey be a neccesity

I've shot a sig AR pistol in.556. They're to loud and the muzzle flash in 7 inch will sunburn you in 30 rounds. Looking for an alternative.

9mm or.30 blackout seems to be it. An AR pistol properly accessorized (EO Tech & a light) in the right cal. 556 isn't it for my application. I have a halo site mounted on a ruger 44 carbine and its a deer killing machine.

Looking for the 100 yard PDW.

Thanks for the opinions.

I carried one all over Iraq. It served me well. 100% reliable. That is, IMO, the MINIMUM length for 5.56. If I wanted something shorter, I'd go 9mm/147gr.

Unless you're using it for some special purpose like where pistols are legal and rifles aren't all an AR pistol is is a stop gap measure for not having an SBR.

Can't imagine shooting an AR pistol w/o a supreessor, and once you hang a can off the end you loose the compactness and have a really nose heavy gun.

If you want a really, really loud 22 hornet, go for it.

The whole point of AR pistols is to be able to have a 10.5in AR without a $200 fee.

The idea of a pistol round in a carbine these days for any serious use is laughable. No matter the platform or barrel length 9mm, 40 S&W, 45ACP, etc. are just pistol rounds and as such suck.... at pretty much everything.

I have used 10.5in barreled 5.56's with good effects out to just shy of 400m qith proper ammo. With Greentip good terminal effects are shy of 75m. With 77gr SMK's it's not hard to keep them on a 12in plate at 600, but it acts like an ice pick short of 150m. Some of the bonded/barrier blind rounds designed specifically for terminal effects will show good performance out past 300m with shorty's.

Short (i.e. under 14.5in M4's) fill very specific niches. As far muzzle blast and noise? BFD. You have to wear ear pro with ANY gun. They have some limitations but you deal with them. Pick good bonded ammo designed to upset at low velocities and move on. I've seen and produced both and I would rather have the wounding effects of a 10.5in barreled 5.56 with good ammo at 300m than the effects of good 40S&W at 3m.



Don't go below 10.5in on 5.56 M4's. 11.5's are easier to get and keep running. Everything becomes more critical as you shorten the barrel but anything less than 10.5in barrels is just about useless.

If you need/want shorter than a 10in barrel, get a 300BO or 6.8SPC. These days the Blackout makes more sense. In an 8in barrel, Barnes Blacktip 110gr TTSX upsets completely past 300m.

For a SD gun in the house I have Pro Ears Gold next to the 16 inch 5.56 Carbine with light and aim point which seems to make the most sense to me than 18 inch 12 gauge or Glock 9mm. The SIG pistol would make some sense shorter and all, just don't trust SIG quality anymore.

If AR pistols are jokes then I guess the SBR' s are also. The AR pistol ergonomically fits me like a glove. Has more than enough rail space to mount any extras I may want. Easy to maneuver from a vehicle and fast to get on target. This is a 100 yard pdw so the 556 isn't needed and the muzzel flash is worthless for night fire. The 9mm will work for this application.

Go 10mm, and don't look back.

What is the intended application? Play toy or killing tool?

If you're a Glock guy, Lone Wolf is making lowers and uppers in 9mm that take Glock magazines. Folks are already making them over into .40s and .357 Sigs. To me the 22-round G 22 mag and a 10.5 bbl. & 124-gr. Gold Dot .357s smoking out at 1,700 or so plus would be a giggle.

Be Maux Betta if they made them in .45 and 10mm!

P.S. They also make a 5.7 FN upper that takes the 50-round mag if that's a boat floater.

LWD G9 page

As someone else says- don't be in a hurry to make a bad decision.

What's the application?

Ask the guy who wants one. I'm putting together a pistol w an LMT 10.5-in. upper in 5.56 mm, because I want to.

Reckon the guy who wants one in 9mm or other calibers still has that right.

Must folks run that by you for approval? Are you the application monitor?

Shooting is supposed to be fun, and in my experience, many play toys we mull on this site can kill things with alacrity.

He doesn't want it for a toy, he wants it for a self defense platform. If he's punching paper, sure, it doesn't matter, but he's considering this for applications where things are trying to kill him. In this regards, there are probably better options.

I am liking the idea of an ar pistol with arm brace in 300BO for a close range device.