[SMissCCJ]

I currently don't have either type, but I see many of you do. I'd like to hear advantages/disadvantages of both, maybe even alternatives to the AR as well. It may be time to swap/sell a pistol and go down the AR trail.

All information is much appreciated.

 

[Rw]

I have several ar, and the pistols see much more use than the two rifles. The 7.5" 556 sees the most use of them all. 10.5" 556 is probably the best to start with, you do not lose as much muzzle velocity as the 7.5 and it is still much more compact than a carbine. One of the adjustable braces makes a big difference, i have a kak and a sb tactical sba3.. the sba3 is by far the better of the two but costs about twice as much. I do have one i could be traded out of, a brand new anderson based one with the kak adjustable brace.

 

[Redlick83]

Depends on what you want to do with it. HD weapon then an AR pistol is probably the right call. If you do not want to have to deal with possibility of ATF changing their minds on another “approved” item then go with a carbine. If you are looking for more of a hunting rig then I’d suggest go with the carbine especially with a very marginal caliber like 556. The few extra inches of barrel do up the performance a few hundred FPS. If you are looking for a bench rifle for target shooting and stretching out a little then a 20” might be better. For an all around rig it’s hard to beat a 16” carbine.

 

[SMissCCJ]

It would fill HD/gen purpose roll

 

[patchz]

I do not, nor have never had an AR rifle length nor pistol length. I have two carbine length. I have wanted a rifle at times, but the more I learn, the less I want it in .223/5.56. Not sure I want a pistol in that caliber either. Not 100% sure I want a pistol length at all, but if I do, it will be a 10" or 12" barrel, no less, no more.
My first Ar was a Sig piston gun. My second one is a DI in .350 Legend and I much prefer it over the Sig.

 

[Redlick83]

It would fill HD/gen purpose roll

Then I’d go 16in. It’s the most popular size and if you don’t like it you should be able to sell it easily. Or just swap out the upper.

If you are wanting more powerful round I really enjoy my 7.62x39 guns. Hits harder than 556 or 300bo and cost less.

 

[jakeg823]

Depends what you’re doing with it, caliber you want(I’ll assume 5.56), etc.

For shooting at the range, my 20” A2 is my favorite. The rifle length gas/recoil system is just nice to shoot.

Home defense? A pistol length is probably ideal for maneuvering in tight spaces, but they’re loud as hell. 11.5” is probably the way to go honestly, but I wouldn’t go shorter than a 10.5”. It gets real obnoxious real fast.

14.5-16” are more of a do all length. A mid-length gas system or VLTOR A5 buffer system in either of those lengths would make a big difference in how it shoots.

 

[SMissCCJ]

you are wanting more powerful round I really enjoy my 7.62x39 guns. Hits harder than 556 or 300bo and cost less.

Like an SKS variant? I think the carbine versions of that might work.

 

[Redlick83]

Like an SKS variant? I think the carbine versions of that might work.

Yes just be sure to get the
c-prod/duramags to run in it.

I get moa with cheap steel ammo (Wolf, Tula, Red Army, brown bear etc) in mine. Killed several deer with it as well.

 

[rigrat]

You can get a 7.62x39 upper for a AR.

If you primarily going for HD and some general shooting I would go either 10.5" or 16". I ahve both use the pistols for gettting in and out of the truck to check on things and for going through the house but out and about walking or such I prefer the extra barrel length of the 16".

Best way to go is get one of each....

 

[Rw]

762x39 can work well in an ar, the magazines are the key. I have had no issues with the c products ones i run. The current one i have is a 10.5" pistol with a ballistic advantage barrel.
This caliber works well in shorter barrels. That one is second only to my 7.5" pistol on my list of favorite ars.
Only issue this gun has had was related to its trigger, harder primers on some old wolf steel case did not all fire the first time around, the newer stuff worked 100%.

 

[Redlick83]

762x39 can work well in an ar, the magazines are the key. I have had no issues with the c products ones i run. The current one i have is a 10.5" pistol with a ballistic advantage barrel.
This caliber works well in shorter barrels. That one is second only to my 7.5" pistol on my list of favorite ars.
Only issue this gun has had was related to its trigger, harder primers on some old wolf steel case did not all fire the first time around, the newer stuff worked 100%.

Enhanced FP and a hammer spring that’s not too lite should fix that

 

[oO_Rogue_Oo]

762x39 is a good round but not sure I would go that way for a first AR. It's a judgement call. 762x39 can be tricky sometimes and can be challenging for a first time AR buyer. As far as Pistol versus carbine; again for a first AR I would say carbine. It is a jack of all trades; master of none. In other words it can serve in almost any capacity adequately while if you go pistol you start to limit things more. A carbine is better suited to "general" use. IF however you go pistol; I would tend to say 12.5 is the sweet spot for barrel length. When you get shorter than that they start to get loud; No shorter than 10.5 for sure. At that point if you use it in the house without hearing protection you WILL cause hearing damage. Remember that goes for everyone in the house not just you. Also a standard MIL spec carbine is going to be the most economical way to get into an AR to see if you like it and it is for you.

 

[onlymaroonmatters]

My favorite AR is my 11.5" Mk18mod0 clone. I went with the 11.5" so I could run a VFG. Though my second favorite is a 10.5". Both are very accurate, just as much as my 16" ARs.
If want a larger caliber then I recommend a Draco AK with adapter and SBA3, I love mine.
You're more than welcome to run any of mine to get a feel for what you think you may want.

 

[Redlick83]

Nothing too tricky with it. Just get a quality bcg and run cprod/duramag and you should be fine.

 

[onlymaroonmatters]

Unfortunately it is not the time to be getting into ARs. Components are all out of stock or inflated prices. And ammo is about 1.5 times as much if can find it in stock.

 

[Ellis93]

My opinion......start simple. Off the shelf 223 carbine,run it......see what you like about it. Don’t buy into fancy just yet. They’re like legos for grown folks. All you need to do is build another upper if you want a change in calibers/barrel lengths/gas systems.
Plus......once you find you like a particular set up upper assembly,you can build a lower for it and then you’ll have two. Yeah they multiply just like that.
Use the KISS principle on this,don’t buy into the hype of high dollar ar parts and odd ball cartridges for this platform of rifle.

 

[jakeg823]

My opinion......start simple. Off the shelf 223 carbine,run it......see what you like about it. Don’t buy into fancy just yet. They’re like legos for grown folks. All you need to do is build another upper if you want a change in calibers/barrel lengths/gas systems.
Plus......once you find you like a particular set up upper assembly,you can build a lower for it and then you’ll have two. Yeah they multiply just like that.
Use the KISS principle on this,don’t buy into the hype of high dollar ar parts and odd ball cartridges for this platform of rifle.

The law of diminishing returns definitely applies here. I like high quality, but I also like value. A quality factory rifle is all the gun most of us will ever need.

Unfortunately it is not the time to be getting into ARs. Components are all out of stock or inflated prices. And ammo is about 1.5 times as much if can find it in stock.

I’d say it’s only going to get worse until November 3, then depending how that turns out things will calm down. If he can find something that meets his needs, at a halfway decent price, this might be his last opportunity till November 4. It’s a shame a lot of the country didn’t learn anything in 2012/2013.

 

[rigrat]

Unless its 6.8, 450 bushmaster, 458 socom, 50 beowulf, 7.62x39, 277 wolverine, 6x223 or a AR9.

Just saying, LOL.

Seriously he's right build a inexpensive 223/5.56 carbine with 16" barrel and run it to see what you like and don't like about it.

 

[Rw]

Enhanced FP and a hammer spring that’s not too lite should fix that

Can’t replace the spring in this type trigger, its in a cartridge. This may be an enhanced firing pin, I can’t remember what the package said.
I saved that ammo for my ak. It eats anything.. even stuff with slight surface rust.