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Give me the Cliff notes. I don’t have an AR handgun, but the laws where I live are favorable to concealed and loaded carry of a handgun as opposed to a rifle. That plus the compact size has me thinking about one. I was thinking 5.56 just so I didn’t have to add a new caliber, but I suppose I could be convinced otherwise.

What do I need to know about barrel length, etc?

How horrendous is the noise/blast?

How bad is a 5.56 out of that short of a barrel?

Are PSA guns ‘good enough’ of should I look elsewhere?

What’s the scoop with the BATF threatening to reclassify them as SBR’s?

Anything else I need to know?

Thanks in advance.

PSA is serviceable, go 5.56 with an 11.5" barrel.

I've put together three myself, PSA uppers in 5.56 and 7.62x39. Mine were 10.5" and 11.5".

11.5" is the sweet spot for 5.56 pistol.

Other opinions will vary.

10.5" in 7.62x39.

11.5" in 5.56

Nice little truck gun Montana Marine.

After I played with them for a while, I rebarreled back to 16".....just more practical for my uses.

I built a 5.56 chambered 11.5 about a year ago. It is fun to bang away at steel plates on the range, and the noise doesn't strike me as being a whole lot worse than a 16. In other words, pretty obnoxious but not noticeably worse to me.

I am very tempted to put together a Form 1 can, and keep on the 11.5.

Yeah, I am still kicking the idea around myself. About the only ones in stock within 3 hours of me are the Stags. The Stag has a 10 inch barrel.

I don’t really need one, but kinda want one. (Since when does need effect gun purchases)😂

I would agree on PSA - if you are experimenting with the size of a pistol for your needs, it’s place to start.

The muzzle blast is a bigger factor in the shorter barrel, but a deflector like the Flaming Pig or similar will help, especially over a straight A2 device.

Lower price point ARs tend to be overgassed, and their pistols tend to run the same.

Point being - you may need to experiment with buffers and recoil springs to get the pistol to run “right” - IMLE - especially if you go below 10.5 inches on a pistol you are parting together.

YMMV

Depends on what you want to do with it. If you aren’t hunting or planning any kind of long range I’d want a 300 bo. Just a more efficient use of the powder, as in there isn’t the blast the way there is with 5.56 out of a 10” barrel. This especially if there is even an off chance of using it without ear pro. There is still permanent hearing damage but it doesn’t huuuuurrrrtt like a 556.

I had a 9mm upper in my shopping cart just an hour ago and at the last minute took it out. Really don't know what I would use it for except to play a little and shoot cheaper ammo than a 5.56

I’m going to reiterate my thoughts every time these threads come up. I have a 7.5” Saint in my truck. Every day. Different strokes for different folks and all that, but 40 rounds of .223 on tap with reloads handy i have yet to find a better truck gun. And with the muzzle device that came on it, it’s less obnoxious than a lot of 10-16” barreled ar’s I’ve been around.

350 legend might be worth consideration given its diameter.

I may have questions later, figuring out what to do with this..........

Followed me home from an estate sale, BIL got the TWO pre-64 model 94's....

The muzzle blast is horrendous. Consider a bullpup.

Next AR Pistol I build will be in 6.5 Grendel.

For general use, and hunting and plinking, I’d have no problem using PSA parts.

Yep.

Yeah the form factor makes it handy in tight places.

Which muzzle device do you have on it?

^^^^