Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles AK Pistol or 300 Blackout pistol?

I am new here, but have read the forum for a long time. I don't know a lot about guns, I do have a Colt ar15 and a 9mm glock but want to get a gun that I can keep in my car trunk for emergencies. I would not keep bullets in it, but want to keep magazines in the trunk that are easy to put in. I think the 300 black out is better but not cheap to practice with. The AK pistols look very crude to me compared to my AR, but the bullets don't cost as much. I don't believe the AK pistol will be as accurate but should be better than a glock at ranges up to 100 yards. Are there any good AK pistols that don't cost over $800? Are they really even worth that much money they look really crude to me. I believe the Black out pistol would be better but it is just expensive to practice with. If someone made a good AR pistol in the f7.62x39 that you could rely on this would be the best. I don't think I want a pistol in the 223 caliber.

I'd try to steer you toward the AR in 5.56 NATO. I really like my 11.5". It gets around 2500 fps with 77gr BTHP.



If you are going 7.62x39, I'd suggest the AK platform.

I have a few AR uppers in 7.62x39 (10.5", 16", and 20"). They are fun and economical, but have light-strike issues about 1-2 rounds out of 100, even with the 'enhanced' firing pins. That is with Russian ammo. Maybe USA ammo with softer primers would be a different story.

I wouldn't bet my life on Russian 7.62x39 ammo in an AR-15 rig.

5.56 would still be my choice and I’ll take a good AR platform over the AK. Good AK’s run fine, but they are getting expensive. The AK controls still suck

Thank you, does anyone make an ar15 pistol that is reliable under $800? For the 556 whats the best barrel length?

OTD, your inquiry has me scratchin' my noggin a bit. What is it you hope to accomplish with such an 8ball contraption? More accurate than a Glock at 100 yards? Guessing most things are. You got any Dirty Harry left in your old bones?

OTD,

As with everything gun related, "best" is relative. In general 11.5" seems to be the sweet spot for good function with a carbine length gas system, and trade off between velocity and barrel length.

In general, I second MM's suggestion of an 11.5 inch 5.56. When it comes to balancing costs with capabilities, 5.56 is a great place to be.

Here's a kit from PSA, which I believe is similar to what he's posted above. He can correct me where I'm wrong.

https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa...-classic-shockwave-pistol-kit-black.html

The kit is $329. Add your own lower and a few tools for your first build and you will still be around half your budget.

When you say prepare for "emergencies" what kind are we talking about, and how does this influence your preference for something in .30 caliber. Does this have to do with game laws in your state, or some other consideration?

As for not having "bullets" in it, I would hope you don't load it with just "bullets". Bullets require powder, primer and a case to form a complete cartridge in order for properly function in a firearm. I'd hope you would keep it loaded with "Ammunitions", or "rounds" or "cartridges" in the magazine, but with an empty chamber, providing of course this is legal in your state.

Yes my uppers are PSA.

I bought the upper alone with BCG for $229. Put together a new stripped lower as pistol with the SBA3.

All in, around $450 for the complete upper, stripped lower, lower parts kit, and the SBA3.

PSA has a fair selection of complete pistols at very competitive prices as well,

https://palmettostatearmory.com/ar-15/pa-15-rifles/complete-ar-15-pistols.html

In my mind, what sets the AR pistol in 5.56 apart from most traditional handguns, is the ability (velocity) to punch through soft body armor. More and more criminals are using body armor these days.

Of course the extended effective range and accuracy are also significant.

Dan, I don't think I can still hold a 44 magnum. On the 30 caliber, I was thinking the bigger heavier bullet would hit harder. Thank you.

10-4, good luck with your quest.

OTD,

The .300 Blackout's really designed for subsonic use with a suppressor. If this is included in your plans then the blackouts a good option. If not, and you are primarily looking for something that "hits harder", well, we have a thread for that, complete with video's.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/13430275/300-hamr#Post13430275

If you like the 7.62x39 and want something more elegant than the AK, PSA has you covered there as well:

https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa...-lok-moe-ept-sba3-pistol-5165450182.html

If I was building a .30 cal AR on a standard AR frame today, I'd build a .300 Ham'r.

For a pistol I'd use this barrel:
https://shopwilsoncombat.com/Match-...tainless/productinfo/TR-300HSBRCG11RT15/

If I was building a hunting rig, I'd use their 20" barrel.

People often say that, so it gets repeated as truth (including in magazine and online articles), but that's not the case.

The 300 Blackout design (acknowledging that it came from the 300 Whisper and others before that) as pushed by Silvers and AAC, was for a compact short barreled weapon with more effective capability within intermediate range than the 5.56. That was based on supersonic loadings of 110-125 grain bullets. Because the Whisper had previously proven to be good for subsonic loads, the 300 Blackout in the compact AR15 package was also developed for dual purpose use with subsonic suppressed capability.

The part that people often miss is that the 300 Blackout is essentially a 7.62x39 that works well in the AR15 with minimal changes to the weapon and better bullets. In reality, that is it's best use, and the subsonic stuff is more of a niche application than most of the late adopters realize.

And sure, there are more powerful 30 caliber options commonly available now. When the 300 Blk was developed, there were not, and the supersonic full power loads to very closely approximate 7.62x39 were the main purpose for it.

I wonder if the BO might be better in a pistol than the Ham'r?

Actually, IF the blackout was designed around 110-125gr bullets (as opposed to subs), they sure cut off a lot of case and left a lot of performance on the table, compared to say a 7.62x40 or HAMR, which were also designed around 30 cal 110-125gr supers on a 5.56-223 case. Not saying, just saying.

That aside, the 300 is certainly meant to be more efficient in short barrels than a 7.62x39, at least as far as over the counter AMMO offerings are concerned. If you’re gonna load for them, they’ll both work with the same powders, unless I’ve missed something.

Yondering,

I appreciate the clarification.