By R.K. Campbell | Contributing Editor
I have moved a little slowly into the AR 15 pistol world.
That said, the type has much appeal on a personal basis. I simply haven’t put much effort into the type. AR rifles do fine work and I also own 9mm carbines that offer low recoil and real economy. But effectiveness and range of the AR pistol are superior to anything in its size and weight class.
With this in the back of my mind I ran across an AR 15 upper and lower receiver in a local shop at a fair price, with all of the internals ready but no barrel. A poly unit is light, very light, and I was convinced I would build up a lightweight piece with much to recommend. My plans did not quite go as I wished but they went well overall.
Shopping for parts
Since this was to be my only AR pistol, and a keeper, I didn’t wish to go cheap. You cannot go cheap and get things done right and I flirted with unreliability using the economy lower receiver.
I ordered a Wilson Combat pistol barrel, caliber 5.56mm NATO. My choice of barrel length is 11.3 inch. This seems to run well and develop good velocity. For some the 8-inch barrel has appeal, but for myself, the 11.3-inch barrel seems ideal (Wilsoncombat.com). I also ordered a Wilson Combat bolt carrier assembly in nickel boron. I was building the pistol to last.
From Tacfireinc.com came the muzzle brake. I ordered the linear compensator- not actually a simple brake at all but a device worthy of being called a sound and concussion forwarder. Buffer springs came from my tool box and the buffer tube from Thordsencustoms.com. The trigger and safety were not modified at first, they were Mil Spec. All went together well with a liberal amount of help from my good friend Tanner.
Shots Fired
There was no hurry in assembling the pistol and work proceeded at a relaxed pace. The pistol was ready to fire. I loaded several magazines with Black Hills Ammunition .223 55-grain FMJ loads.
The firing sensation was different than that of any AR pistol I have fired before. Muzzle blast and noise was limited. The pistol compensator had much to do with this and so did the barrel, slightly longer than most AR pistol barrels. Accuracy was good to very good.
It was remarkably easy to use the pistol brace to stabilize the pistol without pressing any part of the pistol onto my shoulder. The AR pistol is well balanced although it seems it would not be. A comparison might be the Broomhandle Mauser pistol which balances much better than you would be lead to believe by appearance.
However, there was a problem. The safety lever of the ATI Omni receiver began to spin happily in the polymer receiver. Only a little discouraged, I elected to obtain another receiver. I felt that the pistol fired well and I would fire it a great deal. That didn’t bode well for a polymer hammer in the long run after the safety went south.
I went with a Meta Arms Gator lower receiver. This receiver was found new hanging on the wall in a shop at a fair price. Re-assembly went well, however, the polymer upper and aluminum receiver were tight, very tight when assembled. It was back to the range. All went well and the piece functioned well.
Details and advantages of the AR pistol
Why would anyone choose an AR pistol for home defense? Some of the advantages are the same as the AR rifle. Of course the rifle shoots better and easier and has more practical accuracy.
The pistol’s advantages are in lowered bulk and weight and fast handling in close quarters. The AR pistol’s advantages or superior handling hit probability and power compared to a conventional handgun. Like the AR rifle the pistol is affordable and parts are readily available. I may have started cheap as a lark but when I got serious I built up a pistol with the best parts- that’s Wilson Combat. The receiver is very good. The polymer upper is light and the upper receiver is a flat top type and was supplied with fold down sights in the initial firing. There are so many choices! America’s rifle is practically a Mr. Potato Head for the builder.
A ‘hand pistol’ like this one isn’t for concealed carry but for easy transport in a vehicle or fast response in a home. Each advantage of the AR 15 compliments the other. While there are other calibers available in the AR pistol the performance of the .223/5.56mm in personal defense makes it ideal for my use. Ammunition is affordable and there are many choices. The 5.56mm is relatively frangible and unlikely to over-penetrate in a home environment. The trick is to deliver the shot where it will take immediate effect.
Another advantage of the AR 15 pistol is low recoil. With a projectile weight of 36 to 77 grains there simply isn’t much recoil energy no matter what the velocity.
The AR pistol, especially a light one like mine, handles quickly and intuitively in close quarters. This little six pound powerhouse puts out some energy and shot placement is easy enough. I lay my cheek on the stubby brace and simply put fire at longer range. Depending on the problem to be solved I may push against the forend to the rear to stabilize the pistol or I may hold the magazine.
I understand and implement the principles of personal defense while modifying these tactics to the AR 15 handgun. In short human engineering is very good and the AR pistol is a formidable weapon in close quarters. The location of the controls including the cocking handle, safety, and magazine release are ergonomic, falling under the hand readily. An advantage of this pistol in common with the AR rifle is magazine capacity. I usually keep the piece at ready with a 20 round MagPul magazine. This makes for a fast-handling compact package. A 30-round magazine is simply taller.
In this day of frequent reports of gangs and takeover robberies, the AR pistol’s generous magazine capacity is welcome. If awakened in the night and only the load in the gun available this is a comforting reserve of ammunition.
I ran a number of dry fire drills in the home with this pistol. I am glad I decided upon the Wilson Combat 11.3 inch barrel. This allows the barrel to be braced against a doorjamb or other cover in the home. A braced firing position that protects the body from incoming fire is a great advantage. But then you may quickly move with the AR pistol holding it close to the chest safely rotating the barrel and engaging in tactical movement. In firing tests the compensator was an advantage directing gas and blast forward. This is the most docile pistol of the type I have fired.
For the most part I used iron sights in testing the pistol. Fast handling is its birthright. Bracing against a barricade at the range the pistol simply ate the X ring out of man sized targets to 25 yards. Double taps and hammers were easily carried out. After firing seven magazines of ammunition in the pistol—we’ll call it a Gator since that is the name on the receiver–I found it reliable and easy to use well. Performance with iron sights was adequate. The trigger was from a Mil Spec Radical I had fitted with another aftermarket trigger. Breaking at 7.0 pounds the trigger was manageable. I thought the AR pistol was worth an upgrade.
Upgrades and Versatility
To upgrade the trigger I installed the Axcess three piece trigger. While cassette type triggers are good for many applications the self-defense orientation of this firearm had me leaning toward the Axcess trigger- and so did curiosity concerning this new product.
I also added a Riton ARD red dot sight in order to put more stretch into the pistol. The result was a more tractable combination, even faster on target and more capable than before. With both eyes open and accessing the red dot quickly hits came easily. To teste absolutes of accuracy I locked into a firing position off a solid benchrest. The trigger action is a great help as well and a huge portion of my success is owed the superbly finished Wilson Combat barrel; it is precise and smooth. Sometimes you put something together and it is just another gun but with this combination I had struck gold. Groups fired at 50 yards were in the two-inch range for three shots. Groups at 100 yards were between 3 and 4 inches. That’s a lot of accuracy for a little bulk. And this is a rifle caliber pistol firing a cartridge that completely outclasses the 5.7×28 or 9mm Luger at any range.
Velocity
Black Hills Ammunition 55 grain JSP
16-inch barrel 3001 fps
11.3-inch Gator 2699 fps
8-inch barrel pistol 2370 fps
I am pleased with the various tools I have chosen to get the job done. I am not begrudging of the original polymer receiver which let me down, without its attractively low price I would not have put both feet into the AR pistol world as I have. This is a formidable firearm with much to recommend. Reliability is proven out and the bolt carrier barrel and trigger are first class with the receivers reasonable choices. I think my little gun is a big problem solver.
Gator AR 15 pistol specs
Caliber: 5.56 x 45
Weight: 5.0 pounds
Capacity: 20/30 rounds
BBL Length 11.3 inch
OAL 27.1 inch
Wilsoncombat.com
Axcesstrigger.com
Thordsen.com
Black-Hills.com
Ritonoptics.com
