Last Updated June 17th 2025
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Best AR Pistols at a Glance
| Image | Product | Detail | Price |
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Sig Sauer Spear |
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Best Price |
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Palmetto State Armory JAKL |
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Best Price |
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Rock River Arms LAR-15 |
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Best Price |
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ATI Omni Hybrid |
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Best Price |
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FN SCAR 15P |
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Best Price |
Intro
AR pistols have been a revolution for the home defense weapon industry, as well as the military and law enforcement.
Military sub machine guns have spawned semi-automatic weapons of war that have proven a complete gamechanger.
It’s an exciting time in the pistol industry, and we’re betting on bufferless, squared off 5.56 NATO pistols that simply don’t need a pistol brace. And now braces are back, thanks to the Trump administration, so we’ve got choices.
Here are the best AR pistols for sale in 2025.
1. Daniel Defense DDM4 V7
- Special Price: $1,799.99
- Caliber: 5.56
- Barrel Length: 10.3 inches
- Total Length: 28.4 inch.
- Weight: 5.44lb
- Capacity: 30+1 Rounds
| Price | Accuracy | Reliability | Concealability | Prestige |
| 3/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 2/5 | 5/5 |
The Daniel Defense DDM4 V7P is the shorter version of the legendary V7 platform that has won our best AR-15, best custom AR-15 and just about every other AR-related competition in recent times. So it’s no big shock that the Daniel Defense DDM4 V7P is our favorite pistol.
Now this one comes with a 10.3 inch cold hammer-forged barrel and the Daniel Defense MFR9.0 M-Lok rail. That’s a great compromise of performance, manouevrability and pretty long range precision. Add an ambidextrous Daniel Defense Grip-N-Rip charging handle, phosphate coated bolt carrier groupm a Daniel Defense soft touch pistol grip with integrated trigger guard and the chrome-lined barrel and you’ve got a ton of premium touches that help it stand out from the crowd.
This Daniel Defense AR pistol comes with a 7075‑T6 aluminum upper and lower, Type III hard‑coat anodized, paired with a chrome‑lined, M4 feed‑ramp barrel and parts you can bet your life on. It’s a seriously premium package for home defense or sport shooting, and yet the Daniel Defense is kind of reasonably priced.
You can opt for the 300 Blackout pistol, too, with the PDW grip and 7 inch barrel. We really like that one. The Daniel Defense Mk18 is another one to look for, which is about as close as you’re going to get to the full military short barreled rifle without committing a felony, too. Any of them is comfortably one of the best AR-15 pistols on sale in 2025, and the middle of the road pistol is our top pick.
2. Sig Sauer MCX Spear LT
- Special Price: $2,499.99
- Caliber: 5.56
- Barrel Length: 9 inches
- Total Length: 31 inch.
- Weight: 5.8lb
- Capacity: 30+1 Rounds
| Price | Accuracy | Reliability | Concealability | Prestige |
| 1/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 3/5 | 5/5 |
The Sig LT Spear is military gear, more or less, and the longer barrel, fully enclosed design means it fits the current rules to perfection.
This is the next gen Sig Sauer MCX AR15 pistol and more or less the only limit to the configuration is your imagination.
You can order 5.56 NATO, 300BLK or 7.62x39mm AR15 pistols and it’s a short stroke gas system with a two position adjustable gas block to help you run suppressed. Switch out the muzzle device on the end of that cold hammer forged barrel and you have a proper weapon on your hands, and possibly no ear protection on your head.
Then you can keep it clean and simple and use one hand on the lightened free float handguard to combat muzzle rise. An 11.5 inch barrel is actually heading towards rifle levels of stability and long range accuracy with a semi automatic pistol. The Sig-branded pistol grip is brilliant, the Bolt Carrier Group is a proprietary long stroke design and you also get a Mil Spec trigger group.
Or you can do add a lightweight stabilizing brace for greater stability now that Trump is back in charge.
Either way, this might be the best AR pistol on the market right now, if you have the dollars to spend. If not, there are cheaper alternatives on this list that are great AR pistols for home defense.
3. Palmetto State Armory JAKL
- Regular Price: $999.99
- Caliber: 5.56 NATO
- Barrel Length: 7.5 inch
- Total: 5.5lb
| Price | Accuracy | Reliability | Concealability | Prestige |
| 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | 3/5 |
This is another company to react to the changing landscape with a monolithic truck gun that you can run without a stabilizing brace.
Now the Palmetto State Armory Jakl is more expensive than the usual PSA fare you can find down below. But this is new tech and the monolithic upper with the long stroke gas system is compatible with any Mil-spec lower.
A short and fully contained pistol buffer tube, a long stroke piston and a tool less 4 position gas block are among the key features. You can strip the whole pistol without tools, too, which is cool.
Essentially this AR15 pistol borrows from the AK-47 as well as a variety of others. It just works in matte black or flat dark earth.
There’s an ambidextrous side charging handle, chrome-lined barrel and lots of other goodies. Crucially the PSA AR-15 pistol is one of the cheapest monolithic pistols you can buy. It’s also one of the best AR pistols you’re likely to find for anywhere near this money.
4. Rock River Arms RRage
- Regular Price: $989.99
- Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
- Barrel Length: 10.5 inch
- Total: 24.75 inch.
- Weight: 5.7lb
- Capacity: 20+1
| Price | Accuracy | Reliability | Concealability | Prestige |
| 5/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 3.5/5 | 4/5 |
The company supplies firearms to the DEA and FBI, among others. The AR15 rifles star in pretty much every price band and this stripped down and lightweight pistol with a longer barrel is a great choice.
Now this semi-automatic pistol has an old-school brace and buffer tube, but those are fine again now. You get a standard A2 pistol grip and a Mil Spec single stage trigger, lower receiver and Bolt Carrier Group.
5. Maxim Defense SPS
- Regular Price: $2,065.99
- Caliber: 5.56 NATO
- Barrel Length: 5.5 inch
- Pistol Length: 18.75
- Weight: 5.9lb
| Price | Accuracy | Reliability | Concealability | Prestige |
| 1/5 | 3/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 |
Maxim Defense made its name with the PDW, but now it has worked with SOCOM to create military hardware that the world’s best fighting team believes is an improvement on the vast collection of weapons they already had.
Who are we to argue with that kind of endorsement?
It comes with a direct impingement gas system that isn’t quite a carbine or mid-length gas system. It’s a custom set-up that’s somewhere in between. The Maxim Hatebrake muzzle device is a cool add-on that reduces blowback and overpressure. There’s an ambi charging handle, the Maxim MDX pistol grip and the company’s enhanced Bolt Carrier Group.
This semi-automatic pistol was designed to take the Maxim CQB or SCW pistol braces, which give you some options and a great looking gun whichever way you go. The shorter barrel fits the concealed carry vibe without a brace, too, and this deserves its place among the best AR-15 pistols.
6. Bravo Company Manufacturing BCM Recce
- Regular Price: $1,693.99
- Caliber: 5.56 NATO
- Barrel Length: 10.5 inch
- Pistol Length: 27.75
- Weight: 5.9lb
| Price | Accuracy | Reliability | Concealability | Prestige |
| 4/5 | 3/5 | 5/5 | 2/5 | 5/5 |
Tell anybody you’re running a Bravo Company Manufacturing BCM Recce and you’ll get the quiet nod of approval. Law Enforcement love them, and military specialists and security professionals around the world bet their life on these top tier semi-automatic pistols.
The Bravo Company Recce is a proper duty gun. It’s simple home defense gun with a direct impingement carbine-length gas system, free float handguard, high-quality parts and top tier engineering. It’s one of our top picks in the real world, even though it gets outshone by some of the brighter stars here.
6. American Tactical Imports Omni Hybrid
- Special Price: $467.99
- Caliber: 5.56 NATO Pistol
- Barrel length: 7.5 inch
- Pistol Length: 25 inch
- Weight: 5.11lb
- Capacity: 60+1
| Price | Accuracy | Reliability | Concealability | Prestige |
| 5/5 | 3/5 | 3.5/5 | 3.5/5 | 3.5/5 |
This ATI Omni Hybrid plastic AR-15 is cheap, lightweight and seemingly durable.
We love this plastic pistol, and we think you will too. Really the receivers are polymer, which makes this left-field choice basically the Glock of the AR pistol world.
So it has made a big deal of 2,000 round torture tests and running over it with an 800lb f
And they’re outstanding. This is a good gun, with some innovative thinking that results in a super lightweight AR pistol. You normally have to pay proper money for the best home defense guns that are this light and made with unobtanium. But plastic is kind of an obvious solution, if it holds up. And it seems to.
Get some red dot sights up top and this is a serious weapon. And if weight is the critical factor, you could argue these are the best AR pistols for that specific job.
7. FN SCAR 15P
- Regular Price: 3,299.99
- Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
- Barrel Length: 7.5 inch
- Total Length: 20 inch
- Weight: 5.65lb
- Capacity: 30+1
| Price | Accuracy | Reliability | Concealability | Prestige |
| 0.5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 |
The FN SCAR is a legendary rifle that almost made it into mainstream military use, and now we have the FN SCAR 15P pistol.
OK this piston driven pistol is ludicrously expensive, but you always knew that was going to be the case with this high price, high spec, high quality pistol.
It is an amazing 5.56 NATO AR-15 pistol, though, and some of the gun reviews are calling it the best AR-15 pistol on the market.
Custom features include a picatinny rail on the rear for a brace and sling mount, as well as a full length rail on the monolithic receiver for red dot sights, and under the barrel. Reversible charging handles are part of the package, and you get a cold hammer forged barrel in this monolithic pistol. It goes without saying the build quality is other worldly.
You get a two position adjustable gas regulator, too, for running with a suppressor. If you can stomach the bill, and love FN rifles, then it will be worth every cent and these are some of the best AR pistols if you’re chasing that top tier Short Barrel Rifle with a tax stamp vibe.
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8. Palmetto State Armory Carbine Length
- Price: $499.99
- Caliber: 5.56 NATO
- Barrel Length: 7.5 inch
- Pistol length: 26.25 inch
| Price | Accuracy | Reliability | Concealability | Prestige |
| 5/5 | 3/5 | 3.5/5 | 3.5/5 | 3/5 |
Palmetto State Armory is just its own thing. So if you’re sneering right now, you’re just not one of the PSA crowd. That’s fine, they’ve got along just fine without you and will continue to do so.
This budget manufacturer has a devoted following for a reason. Palmetto State Armory produces basics that tend to work and super cheap parts kits and pistol build kits.
This Palmetto State Armory staple also comes with a carbine length M-LOK Handguard, accessories and a Shockwave, so you got quality peripherals. You even get a choice of muzzle devices, buffer tube, charging handles and pistol braces.
Organize the price low to high and you can pick up bargains and variants on the free float handguard and other parts & accessories. You can get a 10.5 inch barrel as well, and mix and match about four different guns for the price of one of the bigger name semi-automatic pistols here.
Palmetto State Armory has turned into one of the most complete firearms sales outlets on the internet, and that has helped the company design its core line of rifles and pistols that are now the go-to budget option for AR-15s, AR pistols and Glock clones. They have achieved that by overdelivering on the value, and sacrificing a little on the fit and finish.
9. Bear Creek Arsenal BC-15 300BLK
- Price: $349.99
- Caliber: 5.56 NATO
- Barrel: 10.5 inch
- Pistol length: 26. inch
| Price | Accuracy | Reliability | Concealability | Prestige |
| 5/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 3.5/5 | 1.5/5 |
Bear Creek Arsenal is a relatively new addition to the budget sector, and it is doing a lot of things right. The price is seductively cheap, you can get cute features like a side charging AR pistol and a number of different set-ups.
These aren’t the best AR pistols on the market, but they are a cheap entry-level option to get you started. There’s a rail for red dot sights, you can fit your own shoulder brace of choice on the buffer tube and this is a perfectly respectable AR pistol if you’re on a budget. If you can spend a little more, the Palmetto State Armory would be our first choice at the cheap end.
10. Century Arms Micro Draco AK-47
- Price: $799.99
- Caliber: 7.62 x 39mm
- Barrel: 6.25 inch
- Pistol length: 14.5 inch.
- Weight: 4.85lb
- Capacity: 30+1/50+1 drum.
| Price | Accuracy | Reliability | Concealability | Prestige |
| 3/5 | 2.5/5 | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | 3/5 |
We have said it before and we’ll say it again, the Century Arms Draco Gun is an absolute gem for your home firearms collection.
It’s a weapon of mass destruction that could easily form part of a budget defense kit if you prefer the black finish AK to an AR-15. It’s your life and I get the arguments, although 300BLK is there too you know?
This could be a concealed carry AR pistol, kind of, or a hidden truck gun. And the 6.25 inch barrel is one of several lengths on offer. We like the shorter barrel version, because if you’re going for mayhem then maybe just embrace it. It will be loud and bright, but that’s part of the appeal.
And you can strap drum magazines to this Centuiry Arms pistol and have 50 rounds of AK ammo, which is a potent force.
You can find a selection of AK-47s here. We like to cater to everybody…
10. Smith & Wesson M&P15
- Price: $882.99
- Cal: 5.56 NATO
- Barrel: 7.5 inch barrel
- Weight: 5.5lb
| Price | Accuracy | Reliability | Concealability | Prestige |
| 4/5 | 3/5 | 4/5 | 3.5/5 | 3/5 |
Smith & Wesson is the meat and potatoes of the firearms world and this blue collar semi-automatic pistol pretty much follows the basic recipe.
It’s a carbine-length gas system with a low profile gas block and a standard carbine buffer tube and spring set-up. The 7.5 inch barrel is 4140 Chrome Moly Vanadium with a 1:7 tiwst rate that is great for stabilizing heavier ammo. The Smith & Wesson gets the brand favorite Melonite finish, too,
These aren’t rated among the best AR pistols on the civilian market, but a lot of military and law enforcement use the pro grade gear.
11. Battle Arms Development Workhorse Defense
- Price: $1,132.99
- Cal: 5.56 NATO
- Barrel: 10.5 inch barrel
- Weight: 5.8lb
| Price | Accuracy | Reliability | Concealability | Prestige |
| 3/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 2.5/5 | 4/5 |
Battle Arms Development makes some of our favorite custom rifles and lightweight AR-15s. The Workhorse is their volume seller, like BMW’s 3 Series, but it’s still a really good Short Barrel Rifle with a tax stamp.
You get a pistol length gas system, RACK ambidextrous charging handle and other assorted goodies. Basically it’s everything you would expect from a semi-auto pistol at this price point. Not much more, not much less.
There are plenty of options in this price bracket, but the BAD Workhorse Defense is right up there with the best of them. And we wouldn’t be surprised if it outperformed more expensive guns.
You get a free float handguard, 9130 tool-grade bolt and 8620 Bolt Carrier Group, the proprietary Battle Arms Enhanced Modular Pistol Grip and an enhanced Nickel-Teflon single stage trigger that goes beyond Mil Spec.
Honorable Mentions
Radical Firearms and Smith & Wesson could both be on the list, but we can never actually find the S&W M&P for sale. And we’re notg 100% convinced by the Radical.
The Kel Tec PLR-16 isn’t quite an AR pistol, but it fires the same ammo and more or less fits the same form.
It is compact, avoids all the pistol brace shenanigans and is a lot of fun.
We loved the Springfield Armory Saint battle rifle, and the shorter version. But Springfield Armory seems to have reacted to the new regs by pulling them from the shelves.
So they might come back, but for now the Springfield Armory pistol remains a footnote.
Can You Buy a California Legal AR15 Pistol?
Most these pistols are classed as an assault weapon under Draconian California laws and you just can’t buy them.
You can buy a Franklin Armory single shot AR pistol, which is on the approved California roster thanks to the lack of a gas tube that technically makes it a bolt action. Then modify it with a new upper to make a sort of California legal pistol.
Legally, that’s a minefield and you must magazine lock the firearm, remove the pistol brace and you can only have a vertical foregrip if the finished pistol exceeds 26 inches overall length and becomes an NFA item.
Also, you can create a single shot AR from parts to get the legal dimensions and a DROS registration. Then modify it Honestly, this California legal firearms legislation is a mess and it’s likely to change again before the metaphorical ink is dry on this page.
You can also private transfer older weapons, manufactured before the nightmarish labyrinth of laws and your pistol is California legal that way.
New York legal requires a fixed mag and other regs. Even buying a concealed carry handgun is kind of an ordeal in NY now, though, so a New York legal AR pistol is going to be a quest.
Maybe just move to Texas or Florida?
Gun Parts & Accessories
If you want spotting scopes or other handgun parts &accessories, muzzle brakes, lights, lasers, slings, swivels, eye protection, gun cleaning stuff, knives & tools, we can probably help you with partners and top picks from around the United States.
You might need to fix your mid-length gas system, you might just want a new armorer’s wrench or Mil Spec trigger. We can help.
Of course at some point you might need new upper receivers, parts, upper parts kits, lower parts & accessories, magazines, muzzle devices and more.
Get a Pistol Caliber Carbine Instead?
9mm Luger Pistol Caliber Carbines are increasingly popular guns & handguns as defensive weapons in the modern world.
Overpenetration is less of an issue and with 9mm Luger taking over as the personal defense round and more of us living in apartments, it makes sense to use the best 9mm ammo for self defense in the best AR-15 pistols.
If you can make do with blackout ammo, the Sig MCX Rattler is the classic military AR pistol and a much-loved veteran round these parts. In these new times of the short barreled rifle SBR, it’s still a great choice.
Check the best 9mm pistol options here.
Where to Buy Ammo
We have a fair bit of experience when it comes to price shopping ammo, 9mm ammo, 223 ammo, handgun ammo, rifle ammo, 40 S&W ammo, 45 ACP ammo, gun cleaning kits, pistol cleaning tools, cleaning supplies and more for you guns, handguns and AR15 pistol.
So if you want to feed your best 9mm pistol, you’re looking for ammo, 300 Blackout ammo, shotgun ammo, rifle ammo. handgun ammo or you just want to 45 ACP ammo shop, try these stores.
- Firearms Depot – Great ammo deals, rifle calibers, rifle ammunition, Rimfire ammo, shotgun ammo, cleaning kits etc.
- PSA – bulk deals when you buy ammo online and daily discounts on handgun ammunition, rimfire ammunition, shotgun ammunition, rifle calibers.
Other Firearms We Can Sell You
An AR is the lynchpin of your defensive set-up, but it’s not meant to do everything. You need a few extra things for a full firearms kit, and obviously gun cases for everything.
Start with a 308 bolt action rifle with some budget rifle scopes. Then there are pump action shotguns, semi auto shotguns, side by side shotguns, shotgun parts, red dots, and more.
For the Terms and Conditions, Shipping policy, return policy etc, please refer to the specific vendor who handles your sale.
The Saint barrel length in 300 BLK is 9″. The 5.56 is the 7.5″
Good catch sir! I’ll correct that.
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Thank you very much! Glad you enjoyed it.
So many awesome guns.. so little time. (and funds?) Not sure why you always leave out the Grand Power Stribog!? I love mine, built like a tank and accurate to 100 yards. The A1 Gen II is proven. Just don’t forgo a little dry lube in the mags. You need to include this 9mm wonder.