AR-15 type pistols

**knight0334** · November 26th, 2006, 04:11 PM

With tax returns coming up, I'm thinking of building an AR-15 type pistol from the ground up - possibly from an 80% receiver if need be. But I kinda want something other then .223/5.56mm for the cartridge.. no pistol cartridges either (9mm, 40S&W, 45acp, etc).. The .458 SOCOM looks interesting, but have only seen it in carbines and rifles. I like the idea of a stout 45cal AR-pistol.

Any input on such a beast?

I'm no newb when it comes to gunsmithing, and I have access to a full machine shop if I need it.

**knight0334** · November 26th, 2006, 04:12 PM

sorry, this should have been in the "Pistol" section.. ...thought I was in there.

**Karys** · November 27th, 2006, 10:21 AM

I built an AR pistol right after the 94 AWB sunsetted.

I used a stripped, virgin DMPS lower, a Bushmaster lower parts kit and a fully assembled 7" upper from CMMG.

It wasn't hard to put together and there's tons of info on the net. It took me about an hour to get the lower assembled. Now that I know what I'm doing, I could put a lower together in about 20 minutes.

The issue I have is with the buffer system. At first I had a Model1Sales pistol buffer on it and it was a jam-o-matic. I changed to an Ace buffer system with the same results.

I'm still undecided where to go from here. I'm doubting another buffer system will make it work but I've heard good things about the pistol buffers from Gunsmoke Industries. I'm thinking of opening the gas port a little or sending it off to someone who knows what they're doing.

They're very cool and fun guns if you can get them to run. The AR platform was not developed as a pistol and I've heard horror stories similar to mine from other guys online.

**Seventy4Blazer** · October 15th, 2008, 05:08 PM

Karys, did you ever get the GSE buffer on your AR pistol?

**Legion_Prime** · October 16th, 2008, 02:39 AM

.50 Beowulf?

**Karys** · October 16th, 2008, 10:34 AM

Originally Posted by Seventy4Blazer

Karys, did you ever get the GSE buffer on your AR pistol?

I got it running with the Ace buffer. I never bought a buffer from GSE. I changed out the lower parts kit with one from RRA and it runs like a champ. I have no idea what was wrong with my BM parts. I'm saving them for another build to see if they'll work in a rifle.

I haven't heard anything good or bad about the GSE kits. Although I'm optimistic since they use a modified bolt carrier.

Let us know how it runs when you get it together.