New to pistol ARs

**tanksoldier** · 01-02-21, 14:01

I have fairly long experience of the AR platform as a rifle, but am completely new to ARs in pistol length.

I’ve got 3 ARs in rifle configuration, 2x 5.56 and 1 .22, so I’m thinking about a pistol.

The longest range I expect to engage regularly will be 250 yards.

What am I giving up going with a 7.5 barrel vs a 10.5?

**bababoris** · 01-02-21, 14:15

https://www.ar15.com/forums/ar-15/7-...ch/122-723691/

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**Wake27** · 01-02-21, 14:47

General consensus, for good reason, is to not drop below 10.3 on a 5.56 AR. Both for terminal effectiveness of the round and function of the weapon. If you want to go under 10.3, get a 300 BLK upper. Otherwise, 10.3-12.5 is a solid range for 5.56 shorties.

**AndyLate** · 01-02-21, 15:16

From the link above: "LOUD. Even with ballistic shooting glasses, the concussion hurts my eyes."

That pretty much sums up the disadvantage of a 7.5" 5.56/.223.

Andy

**Whalstib** · 01-12-21, 12:29

Originally Posted by AndyLate

From the link above: "LOUD. Even with ballistic shooting glasses, the concussion hurts my eyes."

That pretty much sums up the disadvantage of a 7.5" 5.56/.223.

Andy

I heard being loud a lot before I got my DDM4 10.3" AR Pistol.

It has proven to be a myth. If louder than 16" barrel I can't tell and zero concussion....

**ViniVidivici** · 01-03-21, 20:24

Originally Posted by Wake27

General consensus, for good reason, is to not drop below 10.3 on a 5.56 AR. Both for terminal effectiveness of the round and function of the weapon. If you want to go under 10.3, get a 300 BLK upper. Otherwise, 10.3-12.5 is a solid range for 5.56 shorties.

This. You lose ALOT below 10". Get a really nice barrel in that 10.3-12.5" range, shoot it, carry it alot...and you'll fall in love with it. I did, 11.5".....it can still do most of what a longer barreled gun can do, and ridiculously light and handy.

**AndyLate** · 01-03-21, 23:42

No kidding about the weight - my 11.3" pistol has a BA Hanson .750 barrel, not a pencil profile, and weighed just under 6 lbs before I added a RDS and light.

Andy

**opngrnd** · 01-04-21, 05:07

I think 11.5 is a sweet spot for many.

**tanksoldier** · 01-04-21, 23:09

Thanks to all for the suggestions. I went with the 7.5 because that was all they had in stock at my price point.

I didn’t see any point in paying 2.5x the price, for an admittedly higher tier gun, which was the next closest option. They may have been better yin’s in some respects, but not 2.5x better... I could buy two more uppers for that price.

...and I didn’t see any point in waiting to see what they got in.

I’ll play with the 7.5 and possibly buy a 10.5 upper when prices are more reasonable... if they ever are.