Extar EXP 556 Pistol?

[gun toting monkeyboy]

I just found out about these, and thing they look very cool Rifle Gear has them listed for under $500. What can you guys tell me about them? Is it just a custom upper on a standard NFA lower receiver? Do they sell kits to build these pistols on your own pistol lower? Do they offer any other barrel lengths? I don't need yet another AR pistol, but I would happily convert one of mine to this set-up. Especially if they had a 10.5-11.5 barreled version. Does anybody have any information one way or another?

-Mb

[1911su16b870]

At essence it is a very modified AR15 pistol. They work really well, supplied sights are gtg out to 25 yards (farthest I have tested so far). Fun to shoot. Relatively inexpensive.

They have come up with a modified action spring system, small coil spring with no buffer housed in a modified polymer upper receiver and slightly modified lower receiver. The bolt carrier is modified for the action. The black tube on top is a support, the gas tube/block sits in the front plastic guard.

Mine throws brass so well that you can see small case marks on the polymer upper.

I've played with AR style pistols and the Extar really got rid of that receiver extension. I've run mini-extensions with no buffer and adjustable gas blocks, but they still have a small extension.

[gun toting monkeyboy]

How much did they modify the lower receiver? Can it be swapped somehow onto another pistol lower? How hard would it be to change the barrel on it? I like the concept, but I really dislike barrels that short.

-Mb

[NewFrontierArmory]

Swapping crucial parts like the barrel would void your warranty from EXTAR.

Here's another review that got posted by GUN UP magazine today and it has some videos attached:

CLICK HERE FOR REVIEW

[Eastbayguy]

I wonder if there are plans to make it in 5.45x39 caliber?

[gun toting monkeyboy]

Meh. For the price it is selling for, it is worth getting just to play with. Do you know if they plan to make any longer barreled ones in the near future, or is this all they plan to make?

- Mb

[1911su16b870]

How much did they modify the lower receiver? Can it be swapped somehow onto another pistol lower? How hard would it be to change the barrel on it? I like the concept, but I really dislike barrels that short.

-Mb

The lower has dovetail on top to accept the recoil system. If you made an endplate that interfaced the receiver lug and then went up to accept the recoil system, and locked in place with something that threads into receiver extension tapped area, it could fit on any lower. You still need the highly modified upper/action/recoil setup.

I guess Extar is part of Frontier...and those guys have successfully "glock-ified" ARs.

[gun toting monkeyboy]

It would certainly be nifty if they came out with a folding stock rifle version to play with. I mean, I know we would have to pin them here in California, but elsewhere it would make a dandy trunk gun.