Pistol Build

I am about to start my AR pistol build. I am going to be using a palmetto lower, a palmetto magpul pistol kit, and I haven't decided on what type of upper to get.
I am torn between a M&A non chromed 11 1/2" upper and the Palmetto 10 1/2" upper. I haven't heard much about M&A so I am kind of leery of them. But everything from Palmetto has been top notch.
The only reason I am thinking about the 11.5" upper is due to the fact that you can have a VFG on it because the overall length is more than 26.5" long and it is considered an "other" gun.
So what do you guys think?
I will be making this an SBR this next summer after I get my paperwork done. Also this thread is kind of my build thread to show progress.

 

As someone who thinks AR pistols are worthless to shoot - I'd say get that stamp done ASAP, and go 10.5"

I borrowed my friends pistol lower while I was waiting just to function test my upper. Took it out, shot less than a mag through it, put it back in the safe and waited.

I have no idea how to shoot those damn things.

 

I don't get it either, but whatever.

As far as shortys go, I prefer 11.5". I've run them as short as 7.5" and you don't give up any manuverability with an 11.5" and you avoid some of the tuning issues you get with shorter guns.

 

Plus, no suppressor mfgr warrenties their suppressor if you run them on a sub-12 barrel.

Inconel or not, that much unburned powder and pressure really fucks cans up quick.

 

Well I went with a 10.5" from Palmetto State. I am going to use this mainly for racoons, coyotes, and snakes. I will update as parts start flowing in.

 

Got the stripped lower and built it with a palmetto LPK


Put the pistol tube on it


Got the 10.5" upper in from Palmetto


Put it all together and compared to my 16" mid length with MOE hand guards


As It currently is configured, cant decide if I like the aluminum, moe, or the basic hand guards.

 

Remember not to put the vfg on there unless you stamp it AOW. A afg however is ok.


Cool build. Its begging for a tax stamp.

 

So how do you shoot a pistol AR? You just shoulder the tube?

 

Some people do. I usually hold them like a pistol grip shotgun.

The pistol AR is one of those things that come from silly gun laws. Its not the most effective solution out there.

 

how true. exact same gun, minus the stock...Makes total sense...


for the stamp

 

I went and shot this on Saturday, it ran well put 300 rounds of wolf and brown bear through it. No problems at all, except the front sight is canted to the left, not out of spec but still canted. I will use a rubber mallet to straighten it up.
I got about a 3" group of 10 @ 25yds on a bench with irons.

As for how you shoot it, just shoulder it. With 5.56/223 there isn't much recoil so it wasn't really uncomfortable. Some people do not like the short length of pull but I am used to it as all of my AK's are Warsaw length butt stocks and I run my AR in the shortest configuration.

 

I've seen people rest their check bone on the tube.

 

Well the canted left front sight bugged me too much. I sent it back out to Palmetto for them to fix it. I was scared that if I moved the front sight over too much I would do one of two things or both:
1. screw up the pins holding the FSB on
2. obstruct the hole for the gas
Well in a couple of weeks I will know how good PSA's customer service is. I will keep everyone updated.

 

How did you determine the FSB was canted?

 

yep, it takes a lil to get used to but just rest your cheek on the buffer tube not really in your shoulder unless your shorter. But its not to difficult to place accurate shoots

 

When zeroing it my rear sight was notched all the way to the left. I tried 2 different rear sights, a magpul and a troy. Also the front FSB is visibly canted to the left.

 

Sometimes folks say they have a canted FSP when it's a funny eye dominance trick. But if your sight is all the way over, I'd have it checked out. The best way to do that is to fit the key on top of the barrel to the upper receiver. it doesn't take much of a twist of the barrel to straighten it up. Sometimes the notch is a little off...

 

Sent it back, no need to mess with it and possibly screw it up when it should be done right in the first place.

 

You're misinformed There are several suppressor manufacturers that rate their cans for less than 12" - Thunderbeast (223A - rated to 7"), Surefire (556RC - designed specifically for the MK18), etc. I was recently at a site with Ray "Dog" Sanchez from Thunderbeast and he brought a bunch of demo 223A cans and we were all running them on MK18's with M262 MOD1 ammo with no problems.

I run Surefire and Thunderbeast suppressors on all my SBR's and have never had an issue. Unburned power is more a result of either using incorrect powder and / or too much powder, etc. A short barrel rifle or 7" AR pistol both have enough "length" to burn powder...however, you are going to have more noise and flash since there is less barrel for peak chamber pressures to fall off. Chamber and barrel pressure is a direct result of barrel length and thus...suppressor manufacturers have taken that into account.

You shoot an AR pistol exactly like you would shoot a H&K PDW (UMP45, MP5K, or MP7) without a stock or without the stock extended. The best method is to use a single point sling attached to the end plate (think Noveske's QD end plate) or a 2 point sling and extend (push) the pistol out away from the body until there is tension on the sling. You use the sling tension and the weak hand to control the pistol...it's best not to "tuck" the pistol buffer tube into your shoulder. It's really not that hard to get a hang of. You're basically aiming to achieve the same strong triangle with the sling being the 3rd point of contact instead of a stock.

The AR pistols have several purposes outside of a SBR...it's a lot easier to conceal a 7" AR pistol on a bungee single point sling under a jacket or shirt for PSD work...than say trying to conceal a MK18 in the same manner. An AR pistol is much like a H&K PDW or H&K MP7...they have their time and place.

If you just want to shoot one for fun...use a sling and practice pushing the pistol away and achieving enough tension to help control the pistol.

- Mark

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS4wJqKUmQ4