Considering an AR build kit but not sure what size and caliber you want to go with yet? Still weighing the relative virtues of both AR pistols and full-size rifles?
Before you decide on one over the other, consider the use of both stocks and AR pistol braces, which will significantly influence the handling of your eventual build. Let’s take a look at these.
What Is the Difference Between an AR Pistol Brace and a Stock?
If you’re not well-acquainted with AR pistols yet, consider that these are much shorter and more compact than full-size AR rifle platforms, but that they are often chambered around the same cartridges as their full-size counterparts.
This gives you the flexibility to conceal or fire an AR platform one-handed, often with the same firepower as the larger rifle.
This is of course a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, you get more concealability and a more compact design with greater power. On the other hand, it can be very difficult to control AR pistols when firing with one hand.
And that is, in and of itself, actually the direct cause for the development of AR pistol braces, which were created in 2012 by Alex Bosco with the intention to make it easier for shooters with disabilities to fire these platforms with one hand.
Basically, an AR pistol brace, also known as a stabilizing brace, is sort of like a fin that connects to the back of the AR pistol’s receiver (there is no difference between a pistol brace and a stabilizing brace, and they are also sometimes called SIG braces). Often, they have straps that can be secured to the shooter’s forearm, allowing for much greater control when the shooter is firing one-handed.
The thing about AR pistol braces is that they are not stocks. Not only are they not intended to be shouldered, but their very design does not offer the same level of control and handling as an actual stock does. They’re better than nothing, but they don’t go the whole distance.
Then again, we should still keep in mind that AR pistols are not intended to be fired from the shoulder anyway, so this might be something of a moot point. If you’re going to be shooting an AR pistol you should accept the fact that they’re intended to be fired with one hand.
This stands in contrast to full-sized AR rifle platforms, which are intended to be fired from the shoulder, in which case they accept a butt stock.
AR rifle stocks are intended to be mounted to the buffer tube that’s attached to the platform’s lower receiver, and are designed to be shouldered, which can improve a shooter’s control over the weapon, improving accuracy and helping to control the effects of felt recoil.
There are folding stocks and fixed stocks, as well as adjustable stocks, but in all cases they will fill basically the same function.
Now, one of the things here is that most butt stocks are fixed to the lower’s buffer tube system - which means one must be present in order to affix the stock.
There are bufferless AR build kits that are used to build AR pistols, which are without buffer tubes. That breaks up the convention of attaching a stock at the root, making these prime candidates for AR pistol braces.
This changes the dynamic when it comes to controlling a bufferless AR pistol because it’s basically a brace or nothing - and you’ll need one that doesn’t attach to a buffer tube because they don’t have them anyway.
Then, it’s back to the drawing board. Power is hardly a concern since these platforms share chamberings, so it really all comes down to accuracy, compactness, maneuverability, and concealability.
When it comes to AR pistol builds, they’re more compact and more maneuverable, but they don’t necessarily handle as well and can kick pretty hard. At the same time, they’re not usually as accurate as rifles with longer barrels.
On the flipside, AR build kits for full-sized rifles produce heavier platforms that aren’t as compact, concealable or maneuverable as AR pistols, but at the same time they are more stable, produce less felt recoil, and are far often much more accurate.
So it all comes down to what your intended purposes are for the finished rifle or pistol. What do you need from it and what will you use it for? Answer these questions and you’ll be able to decide which one is ultimately best for you.
Or you could build one of each and use them for different applications.
Which Is Right for Your AR Build Kit?
Regardless of whether you’re here looking for an AR build kit for a rifle or pistol, or for an AR pistol brace or a stock, we carry them all. Check out our collection and get in touch with us directly at Sales@MCSGearup.com if you have any questions before buying.