AR pistol worth it?

[Bug Splat]

Having a really hard time deciding on what to do with an 80% lower. I wanted to build a 300blk 7.5" or 10" pistol but I'm having second thoughts. Not having a stock or using my 30rd mags is a real bummer. Shouldered one of my rifles with just the buffer tube and it was very uncomfortable.

Pros:
Short and light
No loss of performance in 300blk
SHTF/WW3 I can always slap the upper on a rifle lower
Level 10 "Cool" factor

Cons:
Have to use a bullet button
Can't use my many 30rd mags
Shouldering a buffer tube is uncomfortable

If I don't build a pistol I'll just get a 16" barrel and build a featureless rifle.

[bulletblood]

Yes worth it, closest thing to an sbr we can get.

[FireArms101]

Having a really hard time deciding on what to do with an 80% lower. I wanted to build a 300blk 7.5" or 10" pistol but I'm having second thoughts. Not having a stock or using my 30rd mags is a real bummer. Shouldered one of my rifles with just the buffer tube and it was very uncomfortable.

Pros:
Short and light
No loss of performance in 300blk
SHTF/WW3 I can always slap the upper on a rifle lower
Level 10 "Cool" factor

Cons:
Have to use a bullet button
Can't use my many 30rd mags
Shouldering a buffer tube is uncomfortable

If I don't build a pistol I'll just get a 16" barrel and build a featureless rifle.

As far as I understand the law you don't need a bullet bullet (BB) on a pistol with detachable mags only a rifle with detachable mags and "evil features" (EF) like protruding pistol grip require the BB. You can use as many 30rd mags as your heart desire on your AR pistol build not so much on the AR rifle with EF you can remove the evil features on a rifle and not have to have a BB. Buffer tube is uncomfortable but have you looked into converting to a smaller caliber like a common pistol caliber like a 9mm, .40, or .45?

[Stanze]

As far as I understand the law you don't need a bullet bullet (BB) on a pistol with detachable mags only a rifle with detachable mags and "evil features" (EF) like protruding pistol grip require the BB. You can use as many 30rd mags as your heart desire on your AR pistol build not so much on the AR rifle with EF you can remove the evil features on a rifle and not have to have a BB. Buffer tube is uncomfortable but have you looked into converting to a smaller caliber like a common pistol caliber like a 9mm, .40, or .45?

You can only use 10 round fixed (BB) mags on a post SB-23 CA Legal AR pistol because the mag well is outside of the pistol grip; this counts as a banned feature. If you have a post SB-23 CA legal Mac or UZI style auto-loading pistol you can use your detachable (without a BB) pre-ban standard cap mags provided there is no other banned features such as threaded barrel, mag well outside of pistol grip, etc.

Read the flow chart: http://www.calguns.net/caawid/hgflowchart.pdf

[jcwatchdog]

Having a really hard time deciding on what to do with an 80% lower. I wanted to build a 300blk 7.5" or 10" pistol but I'm having second thoughts. Not having a stock or using my 30rd mags is a real bummer. Shouldered one of my rifles with just the buffer tube and it was very uncomfortable.

Pros:
Short and light
No loss of performance in 300blk
SHTF/WW3 I can always slap the upper on a rifle lower
Level 10 "Cool" factor

Cons:
Have to use a bullet button
Can't use my many 30rd mags
Shouldering a buffer tube is uncomfortable

If I don't build a pistol I'll just get a 16" barrel and build a featureless rifle.

It's worth it. You can put a cane tip on the end of the buffer tube. It expands the size a little. It doesn't really help to shoulder it, but it makes it feel a little more comfortable. You can also slap a CAA stock saddle on it and this gives a little substance to the tube, albeit flimsy I attched it with velcro. I have 2 AR pistols made, and will probably eventually make a 3rd. One is 11.5", one 10.3" and the next will more than likely be 7.5".

[jcwatchdog]

As far as I understand the law you don't need a bullet bullet (BB) on a pistol with detachable mags only a rifle with detachable mags and "evil features" (EF) like protruding pistol grip require the BB. You can use as many 30rd mags as your heart desire on your AR pistol build not so much on the AR rifle with EF you can remove the evil features on a rifle and not have to have a BB. Buffer tube is uncomfortable but have you looked into converting to a smaller caliber like a common pistol caliber like a 9mm, .40, or .45?

Everything I crossed out is wrong. Anyone who looks into building an ar pistol needs to read up on the official threads on calguns. Don't go into it with "this will probably be ok..." They just look to make examples out of anyone who makes one mistake. The statements above have several...

[The Bubble]

Wow...

[tmdzhenhei]

I attched it with velcro. I have 2 AR pistols made, and will probably eventually make a 3rd. One is 11.5", one 10.3" and the next will more than likely be 7.5".

[tonyxcom]

I never thought I wanted an AR pistol either because it was expensive to get a lower DROS'd as a handgun. Well 80% lowers changed that.

My MK18 upper gets here today.

[Capybara]

I have one AR pistol. It is a fun gun, looks really cool and is a blast to shoot. That said, it is a range toy and I will probably not be building another. I think every AR person should have at least one, but I don't think the platform is useful enough to warrant having more than one, at least for me but YMMV.

[JaMail]

only way to legally own a Short barrel upper if you also own regular AR's

[Squidward]

Legalities and costs aside, I do not think that an AR pistol offers any significant advantages over an AR carbine. I liken them to pistol gripped shotguns; cool looking but not an enhancement or advantage to the original platform.

[desertjosh]

I say its worth it if you already have other battle rifles and just want a "fun" gun. I love my 7.5" but this state mandates that it be neutered so much, it isnt viable for any defensive action. I wont be retiring in this state however, so one day I will be able to convert it to a true sbr.

[tonyxcom]

Legalities and costs aside, I do not think that an AR pistol offers any significant advantages over an AR carbine. I liken them to pistol gripped shotguns; cool looking but not an enhancement or advantage to the original platform.

Half of the guns I own are for the hobby aspect of it. And if an AR pistol allows me to make a MK18ish clone minus the stock, then why the hell not.

[Fatgunman]

just put an SB15 on it