Some people will already be racing towards the comments to let me know these aren’t real sub-machine guns.
So, let’s get one thing clear…
These aren’t real sub machine guns.
But we still don’t really have a name that does justice to these little weapons of mass destruction.
- Semi Automatic High Capacity Pistol? Nah…
- Long Pistols? Really?
- Pistol with tactical brace? Well, yes, but it’s kind of boring.
- SBRs – Yeah, but no.
- Assault Pistols – I love this, but it’s controversial with the gun control people.
- AR Pistols – The best we have got, apart from civilian SMG.
Semi-Automatic Weapons Aren’t SMGs by Definition
By definition, anyway, an SMG is automatic and these are common or garden pistols, for want of a better word. But the world at large knows this shape and is looking for Sub Machine Guns for sale on Google, trust us on this, and they are kind of the civilian version.
So if you’re feeling righteous indignation right now. That’s why we did it…
They’re the cool little assault pistols we like to look at in quiet awe, anyway, and they’re works of art in their own right. Put a solid red dot on any of these guns and a great pistol stabilizing brace and they’ll work like gangbusters when it comes to home security.
They are all just a few tweaks away from military grade firearms, to borrow a Leftist phrase.
The US Marines, NAVY SEALs, British SAS, Russian Spetsnaz and more call an SBR their regular duty weapon.
The only difference between theirs and yours, apart from the full auto function, is that your ‘stock’ can theoretically wrap around your arm and be used as a one-handed shooting solution.
Nobody actually does that, though.
So, now let’s look at some of the best AR-15 pistols you can get in terms of bang for your buck. If you’re DIY building an AR pistol then you might just want the inspiration, but the pistol parts & accessory supplier links are in here too so knock yourselves out with high-grade parts for your AR-15 pistols.
Check out the sales before you commit to some of our great prices, too. We check prices constantly, but you might spot a bargain we haven’t found yet with these simple links.
- Awesome AR-15 rifle and pistol selection at Sportsman’s Warehouse.
- Brownells – Special edition Daniel Defense rifles and pistols, plus the standard fare. Big selection in stock.
- Rainier Arms – The best AR-15 rifles, SBRs
and pistols online. Designer firearms here.
The Best AR Pistols for sale in 2019
1. Daniel Defense DDM4 V7P
- Price: $1,359
- Caliber: 5.56 NATO
- Barrel length: 10.3 inch
- Overall Length: 28.4 inch
- Capacity: 30 Rounds
- Weight: 5.44lb
Update: Yes that price is correct. Euro Optic won’t even show the price until you put the pistol in the cart. And yes we know it’s $350 off retail. Finding the best prices for guns is what we do, it’s our thing. We don’t know how long it will last, though, so get yours while you can…
The NRA members voted the Daniel Defense DDM4 V7 the Rifle of the Year and the best AR-15 for sale.
Basically everything the company touches turns to gold. That’s not an accident, they do great work and have carved out a market share by taking it from the established stars of the AR-15 pistols industry.
Now, it has taken
If you have this and one of the best concealed carry guns in the world, you are covered…
It isn’t cheap, but this AR-15 pistol still massively undercuts some of the more expensive options and it isn’t ridiculous money.
Daniel Defense has made this weapon just about attainable, although there’s no doubt it’s a premium pistol. Is it worth the money? We think so yes.
It is quality ingredients all the way.
The mid-length gas block system has also been tuned to a soft and gentle thump from a silk sheet. Or something…
The obvious difference you can feel compared to the rifle is the folding tactical brace, it’s threaded for a suppressor and it’s got the tactical rail and mounting points you need to create the ultimate defensive pistol.
The parts are all basically Mil-spec, it’s a gun that has won the critics over and it’s hella accurate.
Is it the best assault pistol for sale in 2018? Yes is the basic answer. If you’re looking for one gun to rule them all, you’re looking at it…
We have said elsewhere it gets subjective at this level and the top 10 AR pistols for sale are probably better than you and me. That means any one of the top three will serve you well. Plenty of the others too that have found themselves down the list for a variety of reasons.
Right now, the DDM4 feels like the ultimate AR pistol for sale you can buy off the shelf, without spending insane money anyway.
2. Patriot Ordnance Factory Renegade Plus
- Price: $2009.99
- Caliber: 5.56 NATO
- Barrel: 10.5 inches
- Total Length: 31 inch.
- Weight: 5.8lb
- Capacity: 30+1 Rounds
Update: The epic price difference right now means the pontificating about this being a close race looks ridiculous. But we don’t expect that price gap to last.
On another day, if the wind had blown the other direction, the POF Renegade+ AR-15 pistol might just have won this outright. It still might in the future, it’s that close and the top three are separated by a hair’s breadth and philosophy.
With the POF Renegade Plus, Patriot Ordnance Factory decided to refine the classic Eugene Stoner direct impingement AR-15 concept, rather than fit a gas piston alternative.
When firearms get this good, it comes down to minute differences like a fraction of a pound on the weight, or even stupid shit like the color. Really it comes down to how much you dig the brand’s personal story. And what the dude at the gun club says.
We keep hearing that stuff about storytelling in sales and this is where the rubber meets the road. These AR-15 pistols are all ridiculously capable.
Most of them are engineered with better men and women than us in mind and when it gets to this level then the weak spot in the weapon is almost certainly the person holding it.
So then it comes down to the connection with the brand’s story and we have got to say that POF is doing a standout job with this, together with Daniel Defense.
With the POF Renegade+, the company took the direct impingement AR-15 pistol to the logical end. It took all the weak points in the traditional long pistol and re-engineered them, plain over-engineered them, and created what it believes is the ultimate incarnation of the AR-15. Well, not quite, but we’ll get to POF’s other offering shortly.
It’s a billet lower receiver, you get the POF Ultimate Bolt Carrier Group, which is every bit as impressive as it sounds with a high phosphate Nickel coating.
You also get, a flat 3.5lb match grade trigger from POF’s own inventory, the M-Lok Renegade rail and nestled inside that free-floating set-up is a Nitride-treated 10.5 inch barrel.
It comes with one of POF’s proprietary muzzle devices and the finishing touches, from the perfect pistol grips through to the AR-15 pistol buffer tube and compact pistol brace that either
Those are the kind of things that separate the two AR-15 pistols that are both really short barrel rifles without a tax stamp. Add full auto and any special forces team in the world would take them into battle.
The POF Renegade Plus is Mil-spec plus a lot and this is a totally over-engineered AR-15 pistol that should last you a lifetime.
This semi-automatic pistol looks amazing, it comes with the brand cache and if you dig POF more than the competition then screw the order on this sort of irrelevant list.,
You’re an adult, you can make your own decisions and this might be your new firearm.
Enjoy it, it’s amazing…
Where to buy Patriot Ordnance Factory Parts & Accessories?
If you are building an AR pistol or just want to upgrade your rifle, then POF do a very serious line of parts & accessories. We have found some of the best muzzle devices, gas blocks, triggers, charging handles and lots more.
Check out what’s available now. You’ll also find some Glock parts, which might be the start of a custom Glock empire. Agency Arms, Taran Tactical Innovations and Salient Arms won’t be happy to see this artisanal rifle manufacturer turn up in their space…
3. Sig Sauer MCX Rattler
- Price: $2,299.99 (ON SALE)
- Caliber: 300 BLK
- Barrel: 5.5 inches
- Total Length: 20
inch . - Weight: 5.8lb
- Capacity: 30+1 Rounds
The Sig MCX Rattler is a beast that was designed specifically for the SAS to take into battle.
It’s a more versatile, harder hitting and simply better replacement for the HK MP5. Really, it’s that good and the snub-nosed sub machine gun frame with full auto fire…. Yeah, we could learn to love that gun..
It was my original winner, but the truth is the compact size means it’s a real specialist tool. it feels like a racing car, which is good in the right circumstances. It’s just those circumstances don’t actually crop up too often.
The simpler DDM4 is a more forgiving sportscar for the public road and it’s still as fast as you could ever dare to go. The slightly longer barrel makes it easier to master, in terms of accuracy and just plain old weapons handling.
The Sig Rattler is basically a concealed carry SMG. For crack military units, that’s a lifesaver. For most of us, it might be a touch much…
Still, if you collect guns, you appreciate the back story or you just want the most vicious compact AR-15 pistol that money can buy, then you are pretty much looking at it.
The ammunition, too, is a real winner.
300 Blackout is an AR-15 gamechanger in my humble opinion and the AAC 300 Blackout still hasn’t really reached its potential.
It kind of renders the average AR-15 redundant, as you can fit a suppressor and turn it into a small, relatively silent and definitely deadly rifle using subsonic rounds that offer low recoil and controlled impact. Or you can take the can off and go supersonic with the ammo.
Then you’ve got a totally different weapon in your hands that can nail targets at 150 yards if you use the red dot and the PDW brace.
Here’s where the Sig’s short barrel does work against it slightly, as you’ll probably get tighter groups out of the POF or Daniel Defense at long distances. That’s the trade-off, and why this pistol might sit alongside one of the others here in a collection. For personal defense, this Close Quarters Combat weapon is pretty much unbeatable, but it’s a little intense for casual plinking.
AAC 300 Blackout is an intriguing round that will become an even bigger deal as the economies of scale drive home and the ammunition comes down in price. Could it be a replacement for the venerable 5.,56 NATO in the end?
Honestly yes, it plays nicer with the suppressor, it hits harder and it’s more accurate. It’s easy to see why the Sig Rattler is turning into a favorite home security gadget, because it’s a gun that packs a hjell of a punch and yet packs away int a small space too.
The barrel is just 5.5” long and the whole weapon is just 19.3 inches long. It’s a masterpiece in compact destruction and you get the 30+1 rounds of this devastating ammunition.
The MCX Rattler is expensive, but owners love theirs and if you want one monster of a sub machine gun style weapon, then this could be the one to go for. It’s a modern-day savage and you’ll be glad it’s on your side when the chips are down.
You have to get in close, is the only criticism. That shoulder brace is small and there are much bigger options that mean you get your face a little further from the gun.
With the Rattler, you’re basically nuzzling against it as you fire. That’s an interesting experience.
The Sig Rattler is Small, Really Small…
It’s also small enough to form part of a two-gun kit, so you can still take a mag-fed shotgun and an ammo bag if you’ve got something really badass in mind.
If you don’t go for John Wick style missions, that might not be a dealbreaker or maker.
There’s a military grade version with a fully automatic switch and burst fire, but the Sig Sauer MCX Rattler in 300 Blackout might just be the best civilian sub-machine gun in the world.
It’s expensive, is the problem, but then all good things tend to be. With the Sig Virtus offering almost the same thrills for less money, you might have to do some comedy math to justify the purchase. On an emotional level, you’ll be glad you did.
This dude shows just what it can do, with a suppressor attached.
4. Ruger AR-556 Pistol
- Price: $789.99
- Caliber: .223 Rem/5.56mm NATO
- Barrel Length: 10.5 inch
- Total Length: 23.5-27.9 inch
- Weight: 6.2lb
The Ruger AR-556 is the best AR-15 pistol by a mile if you’re on a budget.
Yes you can argue for some of the smaller brands and we’ll make a case for one or two of those shortly. But if you are looking for an honest, great value AR-15 pistol then you will struggle to beat the Ruger AR-556 pistol.
The direct impingement modern sporting rifle variant is so good that it features on two of our recent lists of the best AR-15s for sale for both $500 and $1000 . See for yourself:
It’s fair to say that we love this little Ruger that embodies the brand values of value, rugged and basic engineering and a straight shooting long pistol.
At this price point, a Wylde chamber is a seriously impressive accomplishment and that simply comes down to the economies of scale. Ruger makes a buttload of these receiver kits and that drives the price down. That means you get a premium AR-15 pistol for starter firearm money. That is a compelling recipe.
That 10.5 inch barrel is good for accuracy at the range, as well as comfort. The full length Picatinny rail means there’s plenty of room to mount a red dot or scope of your choice.
The user reviews and gun review sites absolutely love the Ruger AR-556 10.5 inch barrel pistol, because it’s a durable and rugged workhorse with a solid SB Tactical brace.
If you are really price-shopping 5.56 NATO AR pistols and you want a great gun for not too much money, then the Ruger AR-556 is the gun you want to buy right now. It’s really that simple. You can get a Palmetto State Armory or Diamondback slightly cheaper. But don’t. This is the real deal, at a discount price.
6. ATI Omni Hybrid Maxx
- Price: $379.99
- Barrel: 7.5 inch
- Total: 25 inch
- Weight: 5.11lb
- Capacity: 30+1
We sneered at the polymer receiver concept too, briefly. But the truth is that this plastic AR-15 pistol is cheap, lightweight and seemingly durable. As much as we wanted to, we cant find anything wrong with it.
ATI knows it faces an uphill struggle to convince the world that we’re ready for advanced polymer receivers, so it has made a big deal of 2,000 round torture tests and running over the gun with an 800lb
And they’re outstanding.
The ATI Omni Hybrid Maxx is a five-star gun pretty much everywhere. It’s a Wylde Chamber, it’s accurate and it’s reliable.
Ignore the fact that the load-bearing parts are plastic and you’ve got a weapon that goes bang every time you want it to and weighs the same as guns costing orders of magnitude more.
The ATI Omni Hybrid Max is new technology, but we already have plastic sidearms and it’s a matter of time before plastic rifles are a thing. ATI says that time is now, and at this price it might be worth a try.
7. Sig Sauer MPX Copperhead
- Price: $1,579.99
- Caliber: 9mm Luger
- Barrel: 3.5 inch
- Total Length: 14.5 inch
- Weight: 4.5lb
The Sig Sauer Copperhead might be a relatively simple variation of the MPX platform, but this might just be the ultimate Close Quarters Combat weapon.
The
The patented Sig PCB brace (Pivoting Contour Brace) offers PDW levels of rigidity in a compact and more flexible system.
There is a monolithic upper receiver and handguard to save space and weight. The gas-piston system is about as lightweight as they get and it is more advanced and technically cleaner than a blowback alternative.
8. Primary Weapons Systems MK111 Pro
- Price: $949.99
- Caliber: .223 Rem/5.56x45mm NATO
- Barrel: 11.85 inch
- Total: 31.5 inch
- Weight: 6.5lb
Primary Weapons Systems has created an SBR, basically semi-auto military hardware, and just about turned it into a pistol in the eyes of the law.
The 11.85 inch barrel means this isn’t a compact AR pistol by any means, although it does tip the scales at a lightweight 6.5lb. That’s some achievement, looking at the layout.
It’s basically an SBR, a Short Barrel Rifle that is the preferred service weapon of just about every military unit in the world.
This firearm is pretty much the best of the best, in every department. That starts with the action, which is a
Bravo Company Manufacturing provided the pistol grip, though. The charging handle is an Ambi Raptor and all the parts & accessories are as good as they can get.
That includes that awesome enhanced buffer tube, another PWS proprietary AR-15 component, and the bolted on endplate. That’s it, but this improvised buttstock to beat gun control laws also works an absolute treat.
This is a relatively new weapon with an outsized reputation. It’s a specialist, rather than a compact all-rounder, but you could still make a case for putting it way higher on this list.
If you want an AR-15 pistol for hunting, or long range shooting , then this kicks the collective asses of most guns here.
9. Nemo Arms Battle Light Pistol
- Price: $2,422.50
- Caliber: 300 Blackout
- Barrel: 8
- Total Length: 26.5 inch
- Weight: 5.6lb
- Capacity: 30+1
There is an angry kid on the internet somewhere who could build exactly the same pistol for like $700, but he has yet to appear in real life.
I know this pistol is expensive, but I also know it’s a limited edition with military pedigree and it’s the absolute limit of engineering pretty much everywhere.
It was never going to be cheap.
The level of detail to the engineering is insane, right down to the ATF letter of approval you get specifically addressing the KAK Shockwave pistol brace. With current events, that could pay for the price of the gun ion its own in the end…
The upper receiver, and the lower one, are billet 7076-T6 Aluminum that is Cerakote finished when the hard work is done.
It’s a 4150 Chrome Moly Vanadium Steel barrel, the Bolt Carrier Group is 8620 steel that is Nickel Boron coated and the Carpenter 158 bolt is shot peened, particle inspected and then MPI Nickel Boron coated.
It’s a CMC Flat Bow trigger with a 3.5lb pull and a Magpul handguard and mag. Even Nemo Arms describes the muzzle device as a can, and it’s hard to argue…
It’s top drawer shiz the whole way and this is a gun that you can’t help but want a little on a visceral level. You know it too…
It’s basically perfect as an assault weapon, it looks the absolute tits and with a red dot up top it would be lethal to hundreds of metres with the 300 Blackout ammo.
This is a precision tool, which Nemo Arms say is the preferred choice of some of the world’s most elite fighting teams. It might be true, might not be and they’d probably have to kill me if they told me.
It’s best not to ask too much. Just know that you’re getting the best of the best, which may possibly have been carried by the best of the best.
Get yours now!
There is a video that shows you can take your Nemo Arms into the wilderness hunting, to do cowboy stuff and other generic outdoor activities. Truthfully the gun is much better than the video, but here we are…
10. HK SP5K
- Price: $2,700
- Caliber: 9mm Luger
- Barrel: 4.5 inch
- Total Length: 18.9 inch
- Weight:
Stocks are hard to predict when it comes to the HK SP5K, as demand always seeems to outstrip supply. Rainier Arms is a pretty solid bet, but if they’re out of stock then try here.
- Sportsman’s Warehouse – Sometimes they have a Heckler & Koch SP5K in stock.
- Brownells: HK SP5K For sale. Huge HK stockist and worth a look.
- Guns.com – Access a number of dealers for great general HK deals and find HK SP5K pistols for sale.
It’s the civilian version of the almighty MP5K that has featured in German military hands since the 1960s, as well as law enforcement and military units from all round the world.
This was a smash hit of a weapon that is still used in fully automatic form in urban warfare in the Middle East, Africa and Central America.
This design has evolved over decades, but you can still see the tubular, boxy origins story at its core. It’s unashamedly retro, solid and an absolute legend of a sub machine gun with its teeth filed down for public consumption.
You will never regret owning one of these. It’s really that simple.
11. ZEV Technologies Core Pistol AR-15
- Price: $899.99
- Caliber: 5.56 NATO/300 BLK
- Barrel: 10.5/8.6 inch
- Total Length: 27/25 inch
- Weight: 5.7lb
- Capacity: 30+1
This is our insider pick, as ZEV Tech has simply taken a solid receiver set and added
If you have big money to spend, then look at the company’s billet receiver set, which effectively gives you access to a whole new level of build quality and peripheral components. But the forged pistol, the ZEV Tech Core pistol, is a great balance of bang for buck.
With the 5.56 NATO Pistol, that price just got better, because it’s on sale. When you get to the page you will see a discouraging $1,163.99 staring back at you.
But if you’re quick enough, select the 5.56mm AR pistol and you’ll see the sale price of $899.99. Sweeeeeet.
ZEV Tech has made a real name for itself with aftermarket Glock parts and now it has produced its own AR-style pistol chambered for 5.56 NATO or 300 Blackout.
In essence ZEV merged with MEGA rifles and can now take its niche brand based on engineering perfection to the mass market.
The company’s short-barrel AR-15 pistol is certainly interesting and it’s one of the few affordable firearms ZEV Tech makes.
You can choose an
There’s a full-length Picatinny rail for lasers and weapons lights.
It looks the business, it’s 25 inches in total in 300 Blackout trim it weighs just 5.49lb. I’ve got to be honest, I’m intrigued by this gun. It’s the dark horse here, no fanfare and a shit ton of pedigree doing everything that makes an AR-15 work well.
If you’re looking for a civilian sub machine gun for sale, this could be the one for you. Fit a suppressor and red dot to go full tactical, or keep your AR pistol clean and super light. Either way, this is a great gun for any money, let alone this amount.
ZEV Tech AR-15 Parts & Accessories
Get complete uppers, upper receivers, charging handles, drop-in triggers and more from ZEV TECH for your DIY pistol build. Most of ZEV Technologies parts & accessories are for the Glock, but you’ll find some things for your AR-15 too.
- ZEV Technologies Upgrades and Parts at Rainier Arms.
- ZEV Parts, accessories and complete firearms on sale at Brownells.
11. CZ Scorpion Evo 3
- Price: $849.00
- Caliber: 9mm Luger
- Barrel: 7.72 inch
- Total Length: 16 inch
- Weight: 5lb
- Capacity: 20+1
At this price, we think this might be legit the best bang for buck SMG-style weapon you can buy.
The CZ’s price tag is part of the appeal, although it has crept up in the last year. At one point this was a $710 firearm Even at this price, it’s a brilliant AR9 pistol. It’s
That’s good, simple design. Ornate and fussy is for household ornaments, not guns.
It’s a real workhorse of a weapon, then, and it’s almost perfect for defensive
It’s exactly the gun you want by your side if you hear a noise downstairs.
It’s probably not the first gun you’d get a lot of hunting braces and furniture for, although it does look wicked bad with a folding brace.
One of the big benefits of this gun is that kept clean, it’s pretty much a concealed carry. If you ever need or want to take an AR pistol incognito, and you know you can legally, then this could be one to consider.
You just use it as it is and shoot from the hip, but if you’ve turned yours into an ornate work of art then please feel free to prove me wrong. It happens, a lot…
12. Arsenal SAM7K-01R
- Price: $1119.99
- Caliber: 7.62x39mm AK-47
- Barrel: 10.5
- Total Length: 20″
- Weight: 8lb (Without Magazine)
- Capacity: 30+1
This is the modern day AK-47 pistol, which means it’s just about the most effective semi-automatic pistol you’re likely to meet in life.
Refined and smooth? They are different things, but this gun should always go bang.
It doesn’t have the heirs and graces of the Rattler or ZEV Tech, it never did. But it is a gun you could drag through a freezing swamp and still be fairly confident it will fire at the other end.
It takes a number of cues from the AK-74 and keeps some of the original gun. So you get a Krinkov flash suppressor mashed up with the squared off buffer tube and the classic caliber.
It isn’t a true AK-47, it isn’t a true AK-74. It’s basically a tribute band semi-automatic pistol that somehow captures the original magic.
You can get a toned down, workhorse version of the SAM7K, but the 01R is the true war dog. It comes with a Picatinny Quad Rail so you can accessorise the crap out of it if you want. Again, don’t, but you can.
The parts on this modern-day AK-47 are stunning, from the hammer-forged Steyr barrel through to the solid double hook trigger that is the stuff of legend. It takes any AK-47 mag you can find, too, and that includes 50 round drums.
It’s loud, it’s proud and it’s not exactly the most controlled weapon here. If that’s what you’re looking for, then this is your new semi-automatic pistol.
13. Freedom Ordnance FX-9
- Price: $703.45
- Caliber: 9mm Luger
- Barrel: 4.5 inch
- Weight: 4.5lb
The Freedom Ordnance FX-9 is a breakout star in the AR pistols world and now the shorter version is here it might give the best of these guns a run for their money.
The Freedom Ordnance FX9 has gained an outsized following thanks to the fact it uses Glock-style magazines. So basically yeah, it’s a 9mm AR pistol powered by Glock magazines.
How exciting is that? it depends on the size of your tinfoil hat. And if you’re into Glocks. If you are, then this is your AR pistol and the folding Shockwave brace is just the cherry on the cake.
The muzzle device is actually a 3 inch faux suppressor, and most of the other major controls are designed to ape a typical AR-15 pistol. So you get a rear charging handle, an AR15 style mag release and other touches that have gone down a storm with the buying public.
We are a sucker for Shockwave Blade brace anyway, especially in a compact and lightweight package like tis, and we love the look of this gun.
14. KRISS Vector Gen 2 SDP Enhanced
- Price: $1,799.00
- Caliber: 10mm auto
- Barrel: 6.5 inch
- Total Length: 18.5 inch
- Weight: 7.28lb
At first glance, this looks to be the ultimate civilian SMG. It’s small, it looks violent and it’s lightweight, ish, so why isn’t the KRISS Vector Gen II higher on the list?
Well the KRISS Super V Recoil Mitigation System wasn’t quite as good as we all wanted it to be in the first generation gun. But it’s getting better. Much better.
This pistol caliber Close Quarters Combat weapon is starting to live up to its potential. It used to be a movie gun and nothing more, with a starring role in Deadpool 2 among its many on screen hits. But it’s turning into a damned good gun.
Decide which one is most important for you and then see if there’s another gun on the list that will do the same job and more. If value for money is even a thing in your life, then the CZ Scorpion 3 in 9mm is pretty tough to beat, but if you have cash to burn and you want a wild looking gun? Yeah, maybe you need a KRISS in your firearms collection..
The 10mm is just interesting, from an impact point of view, but the ammo will be way cheaper for the 45 ACP and the 9mm versions of the KRISS Vector Gen 2 SDP Enhanced pistol.
You can buy KRISS Vector caliber conversion kits, too, which has helped this gun achieve cult like status with the Prepper community. Well that and the fact it takes standard Glock magazines.
The theory goes that when the world finally comes crashing down and we’re eating each other to stay alive, the KRISS Vector Gen 2 will be a badass gun to have. Now the anti-recoil is getting better and the longer barrel on the SDP Enhanced version means it’s actually a fun gun to own right now, too, and we weren’t saying that so long ago.
15. Sig MPX
- Price: $1699
- Caliber: 9mm
- Barrel: 4.5 inch
- Total length: 13.5
inch . - Weight: 4.6lb
- Capacity: 25+1
This gun comes with a 4.5″ barrel and it’s a seriously compact little beast. You can dress it up with braces and tactical gear, but you can also keep it stripped to the bone.
Then you can have a monster sleeping underneath your bed. It’s controllable, especially with two hands or a brace, and it’s just about the easiest 9mm you could ever imagine.
The MPX was designed from the outset to be modular. So you can technically turn it into a half decent hunting gun, a skirmish gun and a decent paramilitary option with the right parts and a little time.
A simple tactical brace turns this into an epic weapon for the money, or you can fit a folding Shockwave Blade and basically have a 9mm concealed carry SMG.
The whole black finish gun is a Picatinny rail, M-Lok rail or mounting point, but it is also drilled out to perfection and as light as the gun can reasonably be. It weighs in at 4.6lb, it’s just North of 13 inches in total, so you can use this one-handed at a pinch. That’s
In a warzone, which is where you really need a gun like this, these are all positive qualities.
Technically you could have two of these at once, but realistically one is enough for almost any altercation. One with a tactical brace is the military way, two is Hollywood bad guy…
16. Diamondback DB15
17. Brugger & Thomet APC223
- Price: $2,999
- Caliber: .223/5.56 NATO
- Barrel: 8.75 inch.
- Total Length: 21 inch
- Weight: 7lb
- Capacity: 30+1
Regulars will know we have a huge soft spot for Swiss maestros B&T. This is basically a designer label gun. I know it, you know it, and yet it has true military applications, it looks amazing and we all want it..
This is a civilian sub-machine gun based on the APC554 SBR that is in active service with military teams, special forces and private security details all round the world.
This is one step removed, with the semi-automatic option, but apart from that this is pure military functionality. And that makes for a beautiful AR-15 for sale.
Yes, B&T firearms are never cheap. This one is eye-wateringly expensive and yet, and yet we all want it.
It’s perfectly proportioned, minimalist Swiss engineering, with an 8.75” barrel and a 30+1 round mag feeding into the pared down body.
It weighs in at 7lb in total, but the whole gun is 21 inches and it is seriously accurate, despite the additional kick. You can turn this into a potent SBR and it will blow you away with its accuracy at the range.
This weapon comes with rails everywhere for optics, like an RMR, or even lasers and tactical lamps. You can turn this into an SBR assault rifle, if you want, or add a simple Shockwave brace and keep it tight and nimble.. The gas system is a work of art and it just fires clean.
As a
This video is the military version, with the fully automatic option. You won’t get that selective fire, but the rest of the gun can be yours right now…
18. Century Arms Micro Draco AK-47
- Price: 715.00
- Caliber: 7.62 x 39mm
- Barrel: 6.25 inch
- Total Length: 14.5 inch.
- Weight: 4.85lb
- Capacity: 30+1/50+1 drum.
We have said it before and we’ll say it again, the Draco Gun is an absolute bargain. That’s the version with the 12” barrel that provides two easy hand holds.
The 6.25-inch barrel version? That looks like an absolute laugh riot and a seriously devastating weapon up close. It just feels like it belongs here in this world of pure gangbangers.
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, and there aren’t too many of them around.
If you know and don’t care about 300 Blackout ammo, then you can find a selection of AK-47s here. We like to cater to everybody…
It’s also a really cheap and potentially interesting SBR build, as the ammo hits hard and the core unit is tiny. It’s a cheap way to get started with modding and working on your guns in any case.
This is a homage to the AK-47 pistol, rather than a religious recreation. Still, as a skirmish gun, a truck gun, any kind of shit has gone horribly wrong gun, this is right up there with the best of them.
It’s a 30+1 round close quarters spray and pray of the highest order.
It isn’t pretty, but there are whole sites devoted to Draco Gun furniture, pistol braces, rails and tactical gear. You can change it if you want, but I like the purity of the AK-47 pistol and the old-worlde Russian controls.
You can, though, turn it into one of these. This is an SB Tactical brace that turns it into a pretty respectable firearm.
You can do something even wilder with the smaller gun.
Turn it into a modern tactical beast that could give the B&T TP9 a run for its money with serious mods or run it as it is. It’s your gun now and you can turn it into a great AK74-style SBR with time and cheap parts. The Draco Mini gun, which is the slightly bigger one, confusingly I know, also works well for this.
Read more about this AK-47 Draco pistol for sale here, including where to buy a Draco Gun and the different barrel sizes that change the character completely..
You can find cheap parts for AK-47 rifles and pistols just about everywhere and the Draco Gun for sale is designed to take more or less anything. It’s not fussy, and you can do what you like with her. Not a bad deal for this money!
19. Battle Arms Development Tanker
- Price: $3,499
- Caliber: .223 Rem/ 5.56 NATO
- Barrel: 7.5
- Total Length: 26 inch
- Weight: 5.8lb
- Capacity: 30+1
This is art, as much as a firearm for sale, and you seriously could mount one of these on the wall and turn your office into a tactical war room.
It’s never going to be an objective decision about money, this is a heart string purchase for the person that can take the sticker shock and wants something truly unique.
It’s not a beater gun, either, this is really something you buy to appreciate, rather than take to war. Get the stock black finish if your gun is for shooting.
It’s a niche market, we’re not going to lie. But we love the fact that guns like this are out there. It’s why we got into this….
Now yes, it is a dressed up Limited Edition version of the BAD556 family, which look pretty special in base form and can be yours for $1839.95.
The Limited Edition, though, is like a coachbuilt Italian special, using a solid base car, with no real functional benefit but a whole world of beauty.
It’s the best of the best, a delight as much as a gun, and nice things sometimes cost money.
That handguard and pistol grip are seriously hand-turned Grade A French Walnut and the Cerakote finish has an aged patina that you have to see to believe. Even the buffer tube belongs on a movie gun and costs $219.99 to buy for your pistol.
It’s pretty, everywhere.
Seriously, this is Flat Dark Earth and furniture-grade wood. I don’t even know where to go with that. It’s the same colorscheme as the Wagon Queen Family Truckster, or 1979 Ford Ltd Country Squire in the real world, that Clark Griswold took across the States in the heinous Vacation.
Here, it works.
This isn’t the most practical solution for an AR-15 pistol, of course it isn’t. But just look at it.
You know the really good news? The beauty is more than skin deep.
The 223 Wylde chamber is known for its accuracy and versatility. The pistol will eat .223 Remington and 5.56 NATO all day long and that versatility and the slight improvement in accuracy, is enough to make a case for this high-end AR pistol on its own.
Well, not really, but we’re justifying stuff here…
That’s a billet 7075 T6 aluminum upper and lower receiver that are CNC machined for the last word in tolerances. The 7.5 inch barrel is 4150 Chrome Moly steel, lined and finished with Nitride coating.
It’s threaded, too, and fitted with a 22 Cal A2 compensator and a Mil-spec M-Lok Quad rail with a Picatinny rail running down its spine.
The gas block is Titanium, there’s an enhanced Bolt Carrier Group that the company sells as an aftermarket part. The same goes for the two-stage trigger with frictionless roller sear.
Nothing is standard, everything has that little flourish of class. If you’re not price shopping your guns and you just want the best, you’ll never stop smiling when you look at this one.
You could spend all day drinking in the details. It’s that kind of gun.
Battle Arms Development has forged a formidable reputation for AR-15 parts and accessories, including Mil-spec and match grade components.
Now it has stepped up its game and is making full, unique and beautiful firearms to help promote the business.
Most of the parts are the best in its locker, which you can actually buy for your own AR pistol or rifle. Other suppliers include Bravo Company
If the company keeps turning out the best guns for sale, and the most interesting and colorful, we’re going to support their oddball efforts, as well as the gun parts & accessories business.
Battle Arms Development AR-15 Parts & Accessories
Get Battle Arms Developments parts and accessories for your AR-15 here. You can get new triggers, receivers, barrels and more from one of the best names in the business.
Click here for the full range of AR-15 and Glock parts from BAD.
20. B&T TP9
- Price: $1,999.00
- Caliber: 9mm
- Barrel: 5 inch
- Total Length: 11.9 inch
- Weight: 5lb
- Capacity: 30+1
Design wise, too, in a tight skirmish, could you ask for anything better than this modern day Uzi?
It’s the Civilian version of the MP9 SMG and it really is a big blocky pistol. It’s the ultimate tactical pistol that comes with a longer barrel, it’s ready for a full range of muzzle devices and it’s got a simple brace rather than a buffer tube thanks to the low recoil of the caliber.
It’s like a modern-day Tec-9, which became a gang legend. In truth, though, this gun owes more to the old-school Uzi.
Now you can buy one of those from IWI for less money, but this is a better finished gun and the long-distance accuracy is much-improved. If those are non-negotiables, this is the upper class Uzi you want.
Obviously this one is a semi-auto, but you can still spit lead at quite the rate thanks to the compact frame and Swiss engineering under the hood.
This is the gun the Tec-9 could never quite be. It’s largely polymer on the outside, but that’s a good thing as it protects against the elements and leaves you to get on with reliable service.
B&T has established a fearsome reputation for guns in this sector and it has brought military tech to the people. The end result are elegant, compact weapons with at least a strong military flavor.
The TP9 really is a homage to the Tec-9 and Uzi-type weapons. This 9mm pistol is an urban war machine and in a certain set of
It is also a seriously accurate gun at the range and with the stock in place you can comfortably take aim at 100 yards. For a 9mm pistol, that’s pretty badass.
This little Swiss beast is 11.9 inches long, it’s a 5 inch barrel and you really could spray and pray with one hand. You could also be a little more precise with two hands, but it’s just in that size bracket where you could rock two of them.
But just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.
You get 30+1 rounds, it’s an awesome weapon that covers a lot of very different bases. It’s accurate enough for small game hunting and tactical enough to deal with almost anything that crops up. It’s a Swiss army knife of a gun, then, that changes to suit your mood and needs.
You can fit your own side folding stock or any manner of sights, lasers and lamps. This is basically the ultimate tactical pistol and you can even get a specific Robocop style retention holster.
It’s a pretty damned cool option, although you have to wonder how often you’d actually get to open carry this thing. Or when you’d want to…
Still, you get one of the finest and quirkiest street legal sub machine guns in the world. If you want to call it that. Whatever it is, it’s unique and we love it.
This guy knows the truth, too, B&T guns are some of the best in the world. They’re not cheap, but they’re always spectacular and if you haven’t seen the line-up and you’re prepared to spend big on unusual guns for the connoisseur, then check them out here.
Cheap B&T Guns on Sale at Brownells
21. Springfield Armory Saint Pistol
- Price: $929.99
- Caliber: 5.56 NATO
- Barrel: 9″
This one doesn’t have any great military connection. It’s just Springfield Armory doing what it does best and producing a consumer-grade gun that fits the profile of the machine Special Forces use each and every day.
The company has now launched the Springfield Saint Edge, which is a cut above this basic model and it is bound to make its way on to this list soon enough.
You can get the Springfield Armory Saint NATO pistol chambered in 5.56 NATO, too, and a
This is a great price for such a solid weapon and it’s relatively new, so we’ll have to see how it matches up to the established masters. We heard some guns had issues on the forums and Springfield Armory has chopped and changed the Springfield Saint Rifle line-up in recent times. The gun has plenty of
The 9″ barrel and compact, lightweight frame all makes sense to me and
It’s a beast of an SBR that skirts the regs perfectly and functions like a dream in the field.
The Springfield Saint is a 30+1 round weapon, it’s 26.5″ in total and it weighs in at 5.8lb.
This is mil-spec hardware at a consumer price point and we honestly can’t pick a single flaw in the Springfield Saint Pistol.
22. CZ Bren
- Price: $1,379.99
- Caliber: 5.56 NATO
The CZ Bren is a serious weapon that’s a step up from the more commonly seen Scorpion 9mm. That is here too, but the Bren is a proper weapon in 5.56 NATO or even 300 Blackout.
That’s a lot of punch from an 11 inch barrel and a NATO pistol.
This has 30+1 rounds of NATO in a compact package. The CZ Bren is one of the best civilian
The military versions also find their way into the hands of serious special forces units, and not just in Eastern Europe. It’s a gun that has been tested on battlefields I hope you never see.
Owners have all talked up the CZ Bren and the main pistol features in the user reviews online too, and that’s an encouraging sign. It’s a great gun and you should have one in your life if funds allow. It’s an AR-15 for sale that you will learn to love.
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23. Q Honey Badger 300 BLK
- Price: $2,149 (Back Order)
- Barrel: 7 inch
- Total Length: 20-25 inches
- Capacity: 30+1
- Weight: 4.8lb
We have been burned by the Honey Badger
If you can actually order and get a Q Honeybadger, we’ll be surprised. But it would be awesome…
The Q Honeybadger has been in the works since 2013, when it was developed for the Special Forces.
It starred in video games including Call of Duty and Black Ops. Those kids are now old enough to own firearms and they want the civilian version of that special ops gun for sale, they wanted it years ago. Now, we think it’s here and 5.56 NATO should be on the way, we guess…
Inevitably there was a redesign in this AR15 pistol, but there were management issues and some weird shiz behind the scenes that probably didn’t help either. No matter, these revolutionary firearms are for sale. The vaporware is finally going to be a reality. Maybe. It’s just a backorder, and we’re not sure to be honest.
This
300 Blackout is an awersome round, we love it and we think it’s that duality that people really need to understand a little better. The additional thump over the 5.56 NATO is nice, but it’s the option to fit the silencer and spit whispers that is so appealing about the AAC Blackout cartridge.
It’s a Sig Rattler type brace and one of the most compact 300 Blackout pistols you can buy. It’s not quite concealed carry, but it’s close, and it’s an almighty gun that is going to be popular.
It’s just 20 inches in length with that perfect pistol brace collapsed. That means security professionals and range operators alike will be packing the
You get a Mil-spec Anodized hard coat covered Aluminum lower and upper receiver. You get an adjustable low-profile gas block, a two-stage match trigger, a free floating MLOK handguard and one of the sexiest mix and match colorschemes we have seen for a while.
This gun just works visually, from the lightweight shoulder brace right down to that Cherry Bomb muzzle brake. We reckon it’s going to sell out in a hurry and you might be waiting for yours if you don’t get in early.
It’s a military SBR, no tax stamp required. That is pretty cool.
So if you’re thinking about buying a Honey Badger, get your back order in and be prepared to wait a little for one of the sexiest looking guns we’ve seen in a while.
24. Sig Sauer MCX Virtus
- Price: $1979
- Caliber: 5.56 NATO
- Barrel: 11.5 inches
- Total Length: 31 inch.
- Weight: 7.4lb
- Capacity: 30+1 Rounds
The Sig MCX Virtus is just an amazing piece of kit. The smaller Rattler is aimed at the military, even though it has been adopted by seriously well-heeled hobby shooters.
The Virtus is the consumer AR pistol with some of the edges filed down. It’s a more chilled, more forgiving, easier to handle gun.
It’s ever so slightly less operator. It’s heavier, the bolt carrier group isn’t coated with space dust, but these are things you’re unlikely to notice
It is now on active duty all round the world as an SBR for military and private security forces in various forms and the shorter Rattler layout, but this might be a better AR pistol for the average consumer.
Again, it’s a short-barrel rifle in all but name and without a tax stamp requirement. These pistol braces really are something.
This is one of the best SHTF gun, or whatever it is you’re likely to be doing where a Special Forces type weapon is the one for you. If it’s good enough for the best of the best, in any form, it’s probably good enough for us.
You will learn to love the Cerakote finish, the Mil-spec parts
Order yours in 5.56 NATO or 300 Blackout. You will have an absolute beast of a gun either way.
25. Fightlite
- Price: $865.99
- Barrel: 7.25 inch
- Total Length: 20.25 inch
- Capacity: 10+1
- Weight: 3.9lb
Yes, really, it’s an AR-15 with a bird’s head grip.
Why? Cuz America! That’s why…
It looks cool and it’s clever. I don’t think for one second that firearms historians will look back one day at the time that Fightlite Industries fitted a bird’s head grip to the most popular type of AR pistol and everything changed. I really don’t believe that will happen, at all. But it doesn’t need to.
This is a different kind of gun that presents a different kind of challenge. It will be tough to shoot, which could be enough of a USP on its own. It also has a Mad Max vibe about it that I like. It’s a crazy, steampunk AR-15 that will put a smile on your face every time you pick it up.
Objectively, it’s probably not better than much on this list. But it’s different, and that can be enough.
26. IWI Galil Ace
- Price: $1,749.99
- Caliber: .308 Win
- Barrrel Length (inches): 8.3
- Overall Length (inches): 26.75
The IWI Galil Ace is a modular weapon that goes into active service each and every day with the Israeli military. here you can get a pistol chambered for .308 Win and that is surprisingly close to an AK pistol. Why aren’t there more of them? It’s a valid question.
It weighs in at just 6lb with the side-folding stock produced by SB Tactical and it’s a potent little gun that spits out agricultural .308 bullets all day. Yes it’s loud and yes there’s a kick, but that’s why you choose the .308 Win. There are more civilized guns on this list.
It features a rotating bolt and long-stroke gas operating system. There’s a full length rail along the top, the polymer handguard offers a place for your lead hand and it’s a cohesive design that just works.
IWI has a pretty broad selection of Galil ACE models on offer, from 16″ barrel rifles right down to these assault pistols. They’re as tactical as all Hell, the rail on top gives you room for a Red Dot, or an optic, depending on the job at hand.
It’s an accurate range weapon and it’s got enough of a kick to be your nightstand pistol from Hell.
27. Zenith Z-43
- Price: $1,890
- Caliber: 5.56 NATO
- Barrel: 12
This is tribute to the great H&K 93, and a development of that basic design. It’s a modern gun, with its roots very firmly in the past.
Zenith make some of the more convincing clones out there and this is one of its best.
This is actually a pretty long barrel, 12″ and that is almost up there in rifle territory when you compare it to a few on this list. That can pay off in terms of accuracy, although we know that isn’t always the case.
It certainly looks different, a gun collector could justify it as a natural evolution of the H&K 93 that the US Special Forces, as well as teams around thee world, chose to take into action.
As a home defense weapon? It should do the trick as this is basically the street-legal version of a classic military SBR with a stabilizing brace and without a tax stamp. .
28. IWI Uzi Pro
- Price: $999 (Sale Price)
- Caliber: 9mm
- Barrel: 4.5″
This really is an old-school Uzi 9mm pistol, manufactured by those mildly crazy folks at IWI.
They’re seriously on a roll at the moment with the Tavor TS-12 shotgun, the Galil Ace and the Jericho handgun lines finally coming overseas in numbers.
They are better guns and the Uzi is a relic of a bygone age when it comes to the consumer version and it’s more of a nostalgic toy than a serious weapon. It is cool though and that can be enough to get one in your collection.
It has a 4.5″ barrel, a 25-round capacity and its chambered for 9mm in deference to modern times.
This is an evolution of the simple weapon that sold more than 2 million copies since its inception in 1963. It’s mostly polymer, for a start, and you get a grip safety and some other modern niceties. They include a Picatinny rail down the full length, and another at the front and underneath.
So, you can tacti-cool a modern IWI Uzi to oblivion. But don’t, keep things tasteful and leave this as a raw and functional gun. In a skirmish, this Israeli legend is right up there. There’s no getting round the fact, too, that it’s one of the cheaper options here.
You can get the folding pistol braces and IWI supplies SBR versions to military units all round the world, including the crack Israeli special forces. They use pistol braces, which you can order separately. Or you can keep your Uzi for a very specific purpose, close quarters combat, and leave the extras alone.
This consumer version is a nod to the legend, rather than the ultra tactical version that the Israeli marines carry by their side. But it’s still cool as hell…
29. CMMG MK47
- Price: $1,319
- Caliber: 7.62x39mm
- Barrel Length (inches): 8
This is the modern, AR-style AK-47 pistol. Or it was until the Maxim Defense PDX came and swept it down the order.
The Mutant MK47, as it’s known, is well loved in AK circles for bringing AR-style convenience and simplicity to the bigger round.
Is it worth this much more money than a Draco gun? Yes, honestly, as this pistol could easily be the start of an SBR build and the centerpiece of an AK modular collection that covers everything from defense through to hunting in the fields.
CMMG is an American company, so your SK will be 100% Made in the USA. It’s kinda cheap, too, for a gun in this class, and you we hear good things about them reliability wise. Just like the AK, it tends to chew through ammo and just keep trucking.
It’s ready for muzzle devices and with that round you might want to invest in a decent flash suppressor to start with.
30. Maxim Defense MDX 505 PDX
- Price: $1,995
- Caliber: 5.56 NATO/7.62x39mm
- Barrel Length: 5.5 inch
- Total Length: 18.75
- Weight: 5.9lb
Maxim Defense made its name with pistol stabilizing braces, 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?
One of the highlights of Shot Show 2019, the Maxim Defense MDX 505 is billed as a sub-compact AR-15 pistol that is designed around the new Maxim SCW PDW brace.
This lightweight brace is patent pending and could well turn into a star of the AR-15 aftermarket parts & accessories sector in its own right.
The PDW brace is 4 inches shorter, s well as lighter, which opens up the door to a new world of sub-compact AR pistols and it should fit any existing AR-15 platform.
The HateBrake muzzle device is a feat of engineering in itself and is designed to send noise and pressure away from the shooter.
The company itself has been on the move of late, buying smaller companies and doing deals to grow its aftermarket parts business for the AR-15. This is going to help its cause no end, as it’s a great semi-automatic pistol.
As for the caliber choice, it’s a little controversial and yet it makes perfect sense from a military perspective. The AK-47 vs AR-15 debate will rage on forever, and even the special forces will probably leave that to the keyboard warriors.
In a military
AR-15 Pistol Parts & Accessories
You can get complete uppers, charging handles, gas blocks, upper receivers, drop-in triggers, muzzle devices and barrels for the best AR-15 pistols, as well as basic stock black finish guns. here.
Spare parts and upgrades for Assault Pistols at Brownells.
Serious parts for your AR-15. Charging handles, complete uppers, lower receivers and more.
The Saint barrel length in 300 BLK is 9″. The 5.56 is the 7.5″
Good catch sir! I’ll correct that.