So I took the AR pistols out for some fun this weekend, and really wanted to evaluate what many of my peers consider a "novelty" gun. They've always just been a pair of range toys / conversation guns, but I got bored Saturday and decided to get nerdy. I have two: a diamondback and an exp-556, both with sig braces. Both have cheap-o red dots, and exp has a flash hider in lieu of the factory brake. Otherwise no modifications. Anyhow, internet knowledge generally considers AR pistols irrelevant compared to their longer brothers. Therein lies the problem- we are focused on comparing it to rifles, we should be comparing it to PISTOLS, as it is intended as a hand gun. Anytime these guns get brought up some ballistics guru chimes in to remind us how it doesn't compare to the 16" barrel. Why aren't we comparing it to a .45LC or a 9mm?
My weekend findings: My lil AR "novelties" put excellent groupings at 50 and 75 yards, and rang the plate at both 100 and 150 yards repeatedly. Now, i don't think I'd shoot a living thing at 150 yards with it, but it'll get there for paper. I CAN testify that my hornady soft tips dropped hogs with zero problems at ~70-80 yards this spring.
I don't have access to a chrono, but google-fu after I got home fetched this video. He posts an average of 1900fps, which puts it exactly between an AR rifle (2800fps) and a 9mm carbine (1200fps) in terms of velocity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2LfOdd9ibA
Expansion as posted by ART:
Load: Federal 55 grain Bonded Soft point
Barrel Length Range Penetration Avg. Expansion Retained Weight
10.5* 10 yards 14.5* .47* 56 gr
10.5* 83 yards 14.5* .45* 59 gr
7* 10 yards 18* .43* 53.3 gr
7* 83 yards 16* .45 55.1 gr
Load: Speer 55 grain Gold Dot Hollowpoint
Barrel Length Range Penetration Avg. Expansion Retained Weight
10.5* 10 yards 12.75* .56* 56 grains
10.5* 83 yards 11.5* .55* 58 grains
7* 10 yards 13.25 .50* 57.4 grains
7* 83 yards 12.5* .49* 56 grains
Load: Speer Gold Dot 64 grain Hollowpoint
Barrel Length Range Penetration Avg. Expansion Retained Weight
10.5* 10 yards 14.5* 59* 63.5 grains
10.5* 83 yards 16* .52* 63 grains
7* 10 yards 18* .46* 66 grains
I am not a ballistics expert, hell I'm not even a novice. I do own, shoot, and love 16" ARs. No, the pistols do not compare. I've also got a variety of handguns. My opinion ultimately goes back to the remark "rifle ammo is still rifle ammo". Add in a 30-rd mag and a sub $500.00 price tag and I dare say its the best bang you're ever going to get for half a grand. The only "negative" I have for these guns is gaw damb they are loud.
If i were going to fresh build an all-purpose version, I think I'd opt for an ~11" barrel for a "pistol" build in terms of maximum velocity benefit combined with it retaining pistol qualities legally. I'd probably also opt for 300blk, but that's a separate discussion entirely.
My weekend findings: My lil AR "novelties" put excellent groupings at 50 and 75 yards, and rang the plate at both 100 and 150 yards repeatedly. Now, i don't think I'd shoot a living thing at 150 yards with it, but it'll get there for paper. I CAN testify that my hornady soft tips dropped hogs with zero problems at ~70-80 yards this spring.
I don't have access to a chrono, but google-fu after I got home fetched this video. He posts an average of 1900fps, which puts it exactly between an AR rifle (2800fps) and a 9mm carbine (1200fps) in terms of velocity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2LfOdd9ibA
Expansion as posted by ART:
Load: Federal 55 grain Bonded Soft point
Barrel Length Range Penetration Avg. Expansion Retained Weight
10.5* 10 yards 14.5* .47* 56 gr
10.5* 83 yards 14.5* .45* 59 gr
7* 10 yards 18* .43* 53.3 gr
7* 83 yards 16* .45 55.1 gr
Load: Speer 55 grain Gold Dot Hollowpoint
Barrel Length Range Penetration Avg. Expansion Retained Weight
10.5* 10 yards 12.75* .56* 56 grains
10.5* 83 yards 11.5* .55* 58 grains
7* 10 yards 13.25 .50* 57.4 grains
7* 83 yards 12.5* .49* 56 grains
Load: Speer Gold Dot 64 grain Hollowpoint
Barrel Length Range Penetration Avg. Expansion Retained Weight
10.5* 10 yards 14.5* 59* 63.5 grains
10.5* 83 yards 16* .52* 63 grains
7* 10 yards 18* .46* 66 grains
I am not a ballistics expert, hell I'm not even a novice. I do own, shoot, and love 16" ARs. No, the pistols do not compare. I've also got a variety of handguns. My opinion ultimately goes back to the remark "rifle ammo is still rifle ammo". Add in a 30-rd mag and a sub $500.00 price tag and I dare say its the best bang you're ever going to get for half a grand. The only "negative" I have for these guns is gaw damb they are loud.
If i were going to fresh build an all-purpose version, I think I'd opt for an ~11" barrel for a "pistol" build in terms of maximum velocity benefit combined with it retaining pistol qualities legally. I'd probably also opt for 300blk, but that's a separate discussion entirely.
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