The biggest selling point of ARPs, or AR pistols, is that they are regulated as pistols and not as SBRs, or short barrel rifles. As a result, you can build one and shoot it with minimal involvement with red tape.
And, for those of you that are looking at that avenue, a 7.5 inch AR pistol upper represents a great avenue.
Here are some of the things you’ll appreciate about an AR 15 pistol upper of 7.5 inches.
They’re Light
First, though this is not exclusive to 7.5 inch AR pistol uppers, they’re lightweight. This makes it easier to handle and shoot them, especially under duress. It also makes them potentially better for lighter-framed shooters, especially if you couple one with recoil-reducing measures like a muzzle brake. That said, adding a muzzle device will add weight and change the handling and profile. Either way, an ARP with a 7.5 inch upper will be very light compared to a carbine or even an SBR.
They’re Compact
In tandem with the lighter weight of an ARP with a 7.5 inch upper is that naturally the whole thing will be much more compact than an ARP with a longer barrel, or than a carbine or an SBR.
This makes them much easier to conceal and more convenient to store in tight spaces, such as for use as a truck gun.
The compact footprint of an ARP, in general, also makes it more suitable for use in close quarters and defensive engagements, as ARPs lack long, cumbersome barrels that obstruct movement in tight spaces.
They Handle Well
Light and nimble, an ARP, whether it has a 7.5 inch barrel or not, will handle very favorably, especially in tight quarters. They point quickly and are light and quick in the hand, unlike larger, heavier platforms, and in fact, more so even than some handguns.
Rifle Firepower Without the Footprint
While you don’t need to chamber your ARP in a rifle caliber, that is often what shooters do, and some of the more common chamberings including 5.56 NATO, 7.62 Soviet, and .223 Remington, though there are others. This gives you the flexibility to leverage rifle firepower in an engagement, without the rifle footprint or weight.
Of course, there are also handgun-caliber ARPs that will give you even greater flexibility in what you build, but all the same, you will have the option to take advantage of rifle firepower without the extra size and weight.
The Sight Radius Is Short, but an RDS Solves That Issue
One argument regarding ARPs is that the sight radius is short, which can make it hard to shoot one accurately. There is truth to this, but there is also a lot you can do about it.
One of the simplest things you can do is mount an RDS over the receiver. Because a red dot sight only involves one point of aim, once you have it sighted in, you won’t even need to think about the potential issue of sight radius.
They’re More Accurate Than You Think
There are some who would claim that ARPs are inherently less accurate than rifles which have longer barrels. With some calibers this may be the case, but the shorter the barrel, generally the better the harmonics are, and the less likelihood there is of barrel whip.
Therefore, even ARPs with short barrels will shoot accurately, though muzzle velocity will be lower so the bullet will drop faster. But that is not necessarily an issue of accuracy proper.
The other thing to keep in mind is that the shorter barrel may not let all powder deflagrate in the bore, so an ARP will be loud and shoot dirty, but that shouldn’t create problems for accuracy.
Making a 7.5 Inch AR Pistol Build Shorter with a Short Buffer Tube
If your goal is to make the shortest possible ARPs, one of the best things you can do is build with a short buffer tube.
A short buffer tube will shave a few inches off the build, and you can skip the pistol brace if you choose, too. Explore our collection of short buffer tubes here and get in touch with us if you have any questions.
Looking to Go Shorter? We Have Options
If you want a short AR pistol upper, 7.5 inches is not your only option. We also carry micro ARP uppers and 4.5 inch AR uppers, as well as 5 inch AR pistol uppers.
These will enable you to build a micro AR pistol, or micro ARP, and we even carry bufferless AR uppers that will let you skip the short buffer tube entirely, creating an even lighter and more compact platform.
Explore 7.5 Inch AR Pistol Uppers, Parts, Accessories and More Here
In the market for a new AR pistol upper or parts for the build? Check out our full collection of micro ARP uppers, AR pistol parts, and optics, shooting attachments and accessories here, then get in touch with us at Sales@MCSGearup.com if you have any questions.