AR PISTOL RANGE REPORT and Video

[GUNS-R-US]

Glad you guys enjoyed it.

Now I just have to find the right defense round for a 7.5" barrel...and I'm not sure which way to go.

When dealing with a short barrel 5.56 weapon it appears there are two schools of though on this.

1. Use a light fast bullet to get as much velocity out of the short barrel a possible.(53gr DPX)

2. Since your never going to get anywhere near rifle length barrel velocity, use the heaviest bullet you can shoot (75gr TAPS).   

Of course both schools agree that the bullet must be able to expand at lower velocities but I'll have to do some testing to see how different brands perform.

These are the velocities you can expect with a 7.5" barrel: 

55gr XM193   2450fps

75gr TAP       2100fps

Any suggestions on good defensive loads for a short barrel?

Of the two you listed I like the 55gr, but if it could be found I think I would like a 40gr even better. Horndy was making a TAP round but I'm not sure they still are now. Most 5.56 bullets don't expand they disintegrate.

[kilopaparomeo]

Good report.   What is the overall length of the 7.5" barreled AR pistol?  

I haven't been a fan of the AR pistols because of 3 reasons...no stock to steady the rifle, loss of velocity and muzzle blast.  You've addressed #1 and #3.  #2 you can't get around, but with better bullets maybe lessen the issues.  That said, if the compactness is significantly better, it might be worth consideration.

Here's the reason I ask...I never used to be a fan of bullpups because of all the commonly held beliefs about them...crappy trigger pull, slow mag changes, difficult to clear a malf, left-hand unfriendly.  That said, I am a curious person by nature and bought an MSAR AUG-clone.

While there is some truth in the "truths", many of the disadvantages are overblown.  In fact, I've really come to like the AUG because of one fact...it is very compact and handy.  I get a 16" barreled rifle in a package that is shorter than a 10" SBR AR.

Here's a picture comparing several 16" barreled rfles.

[steel4u]

For compactness, the AUG is a great weapon.  My pistol comes in at 24" but of course you have the issue of velocity loss that the bullpup overcomes.   

Unfortunately with a 7.5" barrel its almost impossible to reach fragmentation velocities with standard military ammo.  The only real options for frag are with varmint bullets and those have shallow penetration and not recommended so everyone tends to point to expanding hollowpoints or softpoints. 

Seems like the 62gr TSX could be the hot ticket in this setup with reliable expansion to 200 yards:

Great discussion on 7.5" 5.56 ballistics:
http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=122&t=486625

"55gr factory .223 is about 2,300fps while 5.56x45 will be about 2,450fps. That's more or less a 4" to 5" tube to 200 yards. Javelina are toast with most any soft point to that distance. I load 62gr Barnes TSX to around 2,200 fps but I've pushed them to 2,300 fps (Wylde chamber). They fully expand at less than 1,900 fps and partially expand at lower velocities. "

 

 

[kilopaparomeo]

Cool...great info.  You've put a bug in my brain about AR pistols...have to mull this over.

For a point of reference, the AUG is around 27".

[twyacht]

I guess I could take the rear stock off my Sig 556, and try it, although it has a 16" barrel.

However, Barrett,Sig, Bushmaster, and DPMS, all offer an 8.5-10" barrel in an AR platform, that have merit.

IMHO, I would get heavier rounds, at least if the muzzle velocity is slower, the impact is harder.

Thank you for the report, pics, and vid.

[Sponsor]

[steel4u]

Went to the range Saturday and pushed the limits a bit trying to make hits at 400 yards and it was surprisingly easy with this darn pistol .  Even connected on a few at 500 with the help of a spotter, but after 400 that little 55 grain pill is dropping like a rock.  Not that it would be very effective at those ranges (at 500 yards its just slightly more powerful than a 22LR at the muzzle) )but it was still a lot of fun.  

[Big Frank]

Nice flamethrower.    I want one. I've been thinking about getting a carbon-15 but keep putting it off. I don't shoot the guns I have now.

[ericire12]

Forgive my ignorance, but wouldnt one of those AR pistols benefit greatly from a vertical grip of some kind?

[steel4u]

Forgive my ignorance, but wouldnt one of those AR pistols benefit greatly from a vertical grip of some kind?

A VFG would make it an ANY OTHER WEAPON by ATF standards and require a tax stamp.  Not going to happen in my state but honestly, I don't think it would make a huge difference.  The thumb break method makes for a very stable firing grip.  However, I would love a Magpul AFG on there  .  There is still a debate on if it would be legal, but I would never risk it without a firm ruling from the ATF. Heck, I'm not even going to put a handstop on the forend, just not worth the risk even though most people would say its perfectly legal.