The world of AR15 pistols, like that of AR-style builds in general, is quite complex. One trend that’s been growing in popularity is the adoption of AR pistols by shooting enthusiasts.
To dig a bit deeper, there is another subset of AR pistols known as micro AR pistols that are also becoming more and more popular.
But what are they, how do they differ from “regular; AR pistols, and is it worth it for you to build one? Here;s what you should know.
What Is a Micro AR Pistol
A micro AR pistol is an AR pistol, just smaller. What most people think of when they mention a micro build is an AR pistol shorter than 7.5 inches. To be truly sized, we should be looking at something like a 5 inch AR pistol.
That is, the barrel is 5 inches, which puts it on par with many handguns and smaller than some.
This improves the size and footprint by making the build both smaller and more compact, and it also makes them easier to conceal, all theoretically without adversely affecting the firepower. Many are chambered in the same rounds as their full-sized cousins, although some are chambered in pistol calibers.
Many AR15 pistol uppers are intended to be built with a short buffer tube system, just like full-sized rifles, but truly micro AR pistol builds are not just made with short buffer tubes - they forgo them altogether.
Some of the most compact micro AR pistols are bufferless and built around a blowback action, and some of these are chambered in pistol calibers, like 9mm, which makes the receiver shorter, thereby lightening and condensing the overall platform.
An AR Pistol, but Even More Compact: Why Micro Builds Are So Popular
If you’re considering building an AR15 pistol and want to know if you should make it a micro AR pistol, here are some advantages to doing so.
- Micro AR pistols are smaller and lighter. The benefits conferred here should be obvious, but since they are smaller and lighter, they can be easier to handle longer without fatigue and they can be better in close-quarters engagements. While this is true it should also be stated that they produce more recoil for the same reasons so that is something you should be aware of.
- They’re easier to conceal. Because they are even shorter than other AR15 pistol uppers, micro AR pistols are much easier to conceal in a trunk locker or pack, making them perfect for defensive applications.
- They can be better in close-quarters engagements. Smaller and lighter, micro AR pistols can be ideal for defensive engagements, especially in cramped, close quarters wherein a rifle, or even a carbine would be inefficient and impractical.
- Micro AR pistols can give you access to unfettered, full-sized firepower. While there are pistol-caliber micro builds, if you want you can still build around cartridges like 5.56 NATO, 7.62 Soviet or .300 BLK, giving you full–sized firepower in a much more compact package.
- They usually perform well suppressed. If you’re into suppression, the short barrels of micro builds generally respond well to suppression, which also makes them smoother-shooting and produces a little more firepower. One note is that a suppressor will counteract the shortness of the AR15 pistol upper, though, so it’s a bit of a catch-22.
- Its a workaround to a short-barreled rifle. If you want to build a short-barreled rifle, that’s going to require some extra red tape, literally, since SBRs are NFA items. AR-15 pistols, since they are designed to be fired one-handed, are not NFA items and can be built or assembled with far fewer restrictions.
How Low Can You Go: Achieving the Smallest Possible Micro AR Pistol
If you want to make your micro AR pistol even more compact, here are some notes:
- Build with the shortest AR15 pistol upper you can find. If you really want to build a micro AR pistol, skip the 7.5 and 10 inch uppers and go straight for a 5 inch AR pistol upper or build kit.
- Skip the muzzle device. Even though we stated that AR pistol build kits lend themselves to suppression, if you really want to go short, take off the AR15 muzzle brake. Skip the muzzle device entirely and just install thread protectors.
- Choose a bufferless build. Your last option for making the thing as small as possible is twofold. One is to build with a short buffer tube, but the better option if you want to make it really compact is to build bufferless.
Here for Micro AR Pistol Kits or Parts?
Whether you landed here looking for a micro AR pistol kit or need parts for an AR15 pistol upper, we have what you need. Shop our collections and get in touch with us at Sales@MCSGearup.com if you have any questions.