Over the past few years, AR Pistols have been a topic of much conversation. Are they a Gimmick or a Game Changer? I built my first AR Pistol in the mid 1990’s and have revisited their viability several times over the past two decades. The BATFE has recently stated that they do not currently believe that incidental shouldering of an AR Pistol that is equipped with an unmodified stabilization brace is an automatic may felonious circumvention of NFA Law. To some people this is irrelevant, as it creates yet another grey area of gun law (at best). To others, this position statement is the beginning of the end of NFA and the entire concept of a Short Barreled Rifle.
Legal arguments aside, why would anyone want an AR Pistol? I built my first AR Pistol about 20 years ago. I think that I’ve always wanted them to be a good idea, but between reliability issues and legal gray areas, they haven’t been a viable option to recommend to the average person for home defense use. Recently, the BATFE re-re-established their position on both the use and installation of Stabilizing Braces on AR Pistols and the shouldering of them like one would shoot a traditional AR Rifle. In this video, I offer a thorough overview of my thoughts on the topic of AR Pistols in general and the potential ramifications of the BATFE’s latest letter re-clarifying their position.
We actually recorded an entire DVD on AR Pistols for Defensive use at PDN. Currently available at www.icestore.us
by Rob Pincus
Teacher, Author & Entrepreneur. Rob Pincus is the owner of I.C.E. Training Company, developer of the Combat Focus® Shooting Program, Executive Director of the Personal Defense Network and Vice President of Design at Avidity Arms. He has been a full time instructor for well over a decade and part of the firearms industry since 1997. He has taught various defensive topics around the world to military, law enforcement, & security personnel and those interested in personal defense. He has written 6 books, countless articles and produced over 100 Training DVDs. He has been featured as an expert in personal defense on dozens of TV and Radio programs and been a host or featured instructor in several seasons of shows including The Best Defense, S.W.A.T. Magazine TV and Trigger Time.
