Building an AR-15 Pistol vs. Short Barreled Rifle (SBR)

The Advantages of a Rifle

I recently completed my second AR-15.  My first was a rifle, but this time around I decided to build an AR pistol instead of a rifle or a short barreled rifle (SBR).  The AR pistol is several inches shorter than my AR rifle, but not a whole lot.  My Sig 556 Patrol carbine (which uses AR magazines and has a very reliable gas piston system) with a 16” barrel plus flash hider is shorter (when folded) despite having a six inch longer barrel.  Pistols have lower velocities, shorter sight radii, and tend to have more perceived recoil (including barrel rise).  A true AR pistol is also more difficult to shoot accurately because of the lack of a stock – a third point of contact (against a shoulder) makes a world of difference compared to holding the gun at arm’s length.

So Why Build a Pistol

So why would I build a pistol if a rifle is better in almost every facet and can be had in an even shorter form by using a folding stock?  The answer is implicit in the question: I built a pistol precisely because it is a pistol.  With wise design choices the physical limitations of the pistol are minimized while all the legal advantages remain.

A Pistol Can Be Legally Concealed

In Mississippi, the concealed carry statute applies to “concealed pistols or revolvers.”  Mississippi Code § 45-9-101.  While Mississippi also has so-called “constitutional carry” which permits both open and concealed carry without a license, unlicensed concealed carry is limited to “a loaded or unloaded pistol or revolver.” Mississippi Code § 45-9-101(24). In other words, to carry concealed in Mississippi you have to carry a pistol.  I am not sure when I might have the occasion to carry a concealed AR pistol on my person, but I like having options.  ‘Murica.  The definition of “concealed” also includes carriage in a bag, so having a pistol in a nondescript case such as tennis racquet bag is not a legal problem but a rifle might be.

The Advantages of a Pistol Over a SBR

Why not make a short-barreled rifle (SBR)?  First, see above about the legal advantages regarding concealing a pistol versus a rifle. A SBR is still a rifle. Second, my pistol has almost no physical limitations compared to a SBR.  I used a ten inch barrel.  That is not a huge loss compared to a rifle with a 14.5” barrel and comes in just above the minimum 2,500 feet per second needed for an acceptable wound cavity.  See here. By using a KAK Shockwave Blade “brace,” I essentially have a stock that provides similar ergonomics to a fixed or adjustable length stock.  Third, I was able to build a pistol immediately without the wait or cost of a tax stamp needed for a SBR.  Last, but not least, a pistol can be carried out of state without pre-approval from the ATF.  The same cannot be said about a SBR.

Conclusion

In my view an AR pistol has practically all the physical advantages of a SBR without any of the legal disadvantages.  An AR pistol with a barrel of 10″ or more has enough velocity for the 5.56 round but is still short enough to maneuver, with or without a suppressor.  With a Sig brace or Shockwave Blade (unmodified) it can be fired from the shoulder or with a cheekweld and still be legally concealed in a bag.  Besides that, no paperwork has to be submitted to the ATF before traveling out of state and you save significant cost and time by avoiding a tax stamp.

Because this article is worthless without pictures, see below for my completed pistol and a parts list.