AR Pistol Project
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I found myself bitten by the AR pistol bug recently, and decided to put one together using parts left over from my previous AR rifle builds. The only new parts that I had to order were the pistol-length barrel (in this case, 10.5 inches), buffer tube and adjustable gas block. The results:
I would have completed the build earlier, but the gas block was on backorder for quite a while, and it arrived just yesteday. If the weather cooperates tomorrow morning, I'll be taking it to the gun club's outdoor range for its initial firing.
Hope the bloody thing doesn't blow up!
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Does it uses the 5.56 as well? Seems that the butt is gonna be a little problem to shoulder.Doesn't look all that comfortable. Hope you have fun with it though.
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Yes, it is chambered for the 223/5.56 cartridge.Originally posted by SpecOps87:Does it uses the 5.56 as well? Seems that the butt is gonna be a little problem to shoulder.Doesn't look all that comfortable. Hope you have fun with it though.
The "buttstock" (actually the buffer tube) is not intended to be shouldered. From what I have seen, an AR15 pistol is usually held like a handgun with both palms wrapped around the grip (extremely awkward, as the gun is very front-heavy), or somewhat like a rifle, with the support hand holding the handguards and the cheek against the side of the buffer tube (also very awkward as the tube doesn't extend far enough back to rest on the shoulder).
As you can see, the AR15 pistol is a thoroughly impractical concept: it is too large and unwieldy as a handgun. However, it is a blast to shoot, as a rifle cartridge shot out of a short barrel does not give the powder enough time to burn completely within the barrel, resulting in a HUGE fireball when the projectile exits the barrel!
I shall see how it performs at the range later this morning. If, for whatever reason, I do not like it, I can always convert it to a conventional rifle.
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holding the grip in 2 hands might work if u have strong arms and hands. But the recoil will definitely cause the "pistol" to jump tremendously.
a normal recoil on the M16 is enough to give my right cheek a slight bruise. i wouldn't want to imagine the aftereffects of the recoil for this "pistol"
either u are gonna be shooting the birds or maybe some sheep/cow off in the distance on a hill.. -
I think this is a very dangerous-looking assault weapon. It is along the lines of sawn-off shotguns. Very cool...
PS you sure it's not gonna blow up?
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gl man..i seriously think it's a safety hazard
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erm looks like toy gun to me
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I took the AR pistol to the range this morning for its initial firing and break-in. Good news! It did not blow up, so I guess I did put it together correctly.
It was a bit of a non-event, as the pistol functioned perfectly. As expected from the short barrel, the muzzle report was quite loud, though recoil was extremely controllable. I had handloaded a batch of reduced power cartridges specifically for this pistol to help control the recoil, but found that they were unecessary as the pistol handled my regular handloads comfortably. Accuracy at 50 yards was surprisingly good, given that I was using a plain old unmagnified red-dot sight; I was averaging sub-3-inch groups with my handloads.
The biggest problem was finding a way to comfortably hold the pistol off-hand. It's waaay too front-heavy to be gripped like a regular handgun, so the support hand has to hold the handguards. This ends up being much like how you would hold a rifle, except that now you don't have the benefit of a buttstock to jam against your shoulder. The whole contraption basically just 'floats' in front of your right cheek as you aim and fire it.
I still do not see a practical purpose for a pistol derivative of an AR rifle. You don't get rifle velocities from the short barrel, and it's too large to be handled as a pistol. So, yes, it is a toy for now. -
to be honest, i saw something like this as early as... mid 90s?
Watch "Clear and Present Danger". John Clark storms the drug cartel base at the climax with one of these. -
Originally posted by Meia Gisborn:
for once i wondered why was the barrel pointing backwards then i realised that was the silly butt springs(i prefer to call it this)
I took the AR pistol to the range this morning for its initial firing and break-in. Good news! It did not blow up, so I guess I did put it together correctly.
It was a bit of a non-event, as the pistol functioned perfectly. As expected from the short barrel, the muzzle report was quite loud, though recoil was extremely controllable. I had handloaded a batch of reduced power cartridges specifically for this pistol to help control the recoil, but found that they were unecessary as the pistol handled my regular handloads comfortably. Accuracy at 50 yards was surprisingly good, given that I was using a plain old unmagnified red-dot sight; I was averaging sub-3-inch groups with my handloads.
The biggest problem was finding a way to comfortably hold the pistol off-hand. It's waaay too front-heavy to be gripped like a regular handgun, so the support hand has to hold the handguards. This ends up being much like how you would hold a rifle, except that now you don't have the benefit of a buttstock to jam against your shoulder. The whole contraption basically just 'floats' in front of your right cheek as you aim and fire it.
I still do not see a practical purpose for a pistol derivative of an AR rifle. You don't get rifle velocities from the short barrel, and it's too large to be handled as a pistol. So, yes, it [b]is a toy for now.[/b]
looks like i havent stripped a m16 for a while
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Originally posted by Meia Gisborn:
Well, I was thinking the same thing when I first saw your new "toy". That you can calling it a "pistol" will soon change when you find you have to hold it like a rifle.
The biggest problem was finding a way to comfortably hold the pistol off-hand. It's waaay too front-heavy to be gripped like a regular handgun, so the support hand has to hold the handguards. This ends up being much like how you would hold a rifle, except that now you don't have the benefit of a buttstock to jam against your shoulder. The whole contraption basically just 'floats' in front of your right cheek as you aim and fire it.
I still do not see a practical purpose for a pistol derivative of an AR rifle. You don't get rifle velocities from the short barrel, and it's too large to be handled as a pistol. So, yes, it [b]is a toy for now.[/b]
I would definitely recommend you add on a extendable buttstock like that on the M-4 so it is "goodbye pistol, hello carbine".
BTW is this baby full auto?
EDIT: Just checked it had only 2 positions: SAFE/FIRE so I guess it is semi only. -
Hmmm,how about adding a hand grip on the handguard for better shooting?Though it will look more like an SMG.LOL!
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Unfortunately, putting a buttstock on a firearm with a barrel of less than 16" qualifies it as a short-barreled rifle under BATFE regulations, the possession of which is illegal unless it is registered with the BATFE and the appropriate fees ($200) paid.Originally posted by moca:I would definitely recommend you add on a extendable buttstock like that on the M-4 so it is "goodbye pistol, hello carbine".
That's a route I'd rather not take. -
What a strange country... AmericaOriginally posted by Meia Gisborn:Unfortunately, putting a buttstock on a firearm with a barrel of less than 16" qualifies it as a short-barreled rifle under BATFE regulations, the possession of which is illegal unless it is registered with the BATFE and the appropriate fees ($200) paid.
That's a route I'd rather not take.
Then maybe the foregrip addition idea is better. -
while we're on the subject of pistols, i believe this guy's just killed the slide of his glock.
http://media2.compfused.com/comp/28xuqvi/glocknroll_238.wmv -
nice setup Meia ...Maybe a good forward grip and a nice short sling would help shoot the rilfe! 10.5" is a good choice ! STay away from anything shorter than that!
I did not have as much good expereince with short barreled M16. Mine always tear up the bolt after a 1 to 2 thousand rounds! the bolt just crack!....
GO the SBR on the rifle ! it would be better if it comes with a collapsable stock
DaveC -
Actually, with the exception of the somewhat longer (for a pistol, that is) barrel, I wanted to keep it as compact and light as possible. A good forward grip would require some sort of free-floating handguard for a solid mount, and that would just add weight.Originally posted by davechng:nice setup Meia ...Maybe a good forward grip and a nice short sling would help shoot the rilfe! 10.5" is a good choice ! STay away from anything shorter than that!
I did not have as much good expereince with short barreled M16. Mine always tear up the bolt after a 1 to 2 thousand rounds! the bolt just crack!....
GO the SBR on the rifle ! it would be better if it comes with a collapsable stock
DaveC
Did you by any chance get your short-barreled AR from an outfit called Model 1 Sales? They're notorious for using non-milspec parts in their builds, and almost everyone who has purchases a pistol upper from them eventually reports a broken bolt.
I put an extra-strength buffer spring in it to help deal with the higher bolt carrier velocities inherent in a pistol setup; I'm also shooting reduced-power handloads (55 gr. projectiles, with a measured muzzle velocity of around 1900 fps) to mitigate the battering. That seems to be working so far as I have not noticed any unusual wear in any of the parts. -
Yes, I use MOdel 1 .. they usually show up in our Mkt Hall gunshow in Dallas.. ( atcually we have one this weekend)... Yeah! download your loads would be a good idea ! i had to use a pictail gas to make my gun do better..YEah! I have had a few broken bolt from their rifle! especially those 10.5" upper or 7"
I also use another outfit call M&A parts ( they use to call Nersard in IL)! they're not as good!
Anyway! good luck with your kool toys....
USually for bolt I stick with Bushmaster, ROck Rivers or DPMS! they seem to work out better for me.
DaveC