15 of the Best AR Pistols – Sep’ 2023

Last Updated September 18th 2023

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Winners at a Glance

Image	Product	Detail	Price
	Sig Sauer Spear	Overall Winner	Best Price
	Palmetto State Armory JAKL	Best Value AR Pistol	Best Price
	Rock River Arms LAR-15	Best AR pistol with buffer	Best Price
	Radical Firearms FCR	Cheapest pistol	Best Price
	ATI Omni Hybrid	Best polymer pistol	Best Price
	FN SCAR 15P	Best battle pistol	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.

Now they are some of the best-selling guns in America and Joe Biden doesn’t like that one bit. So for 2023 we have new rules and we are already seeing the market react with a new wave of monolithic AR15 pistol that might be even better.

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 brace.

Here are the best AR pistols for sale in 2023.

1. Sig Sauer MCX Spear LT

• Special Price: $2499.99
• Caliber: 5.56
• Barrel: 9 inches
• Total Length: 31 inch.
• Weight: 5.8lb
• Capacity: 30+1 Rounds

The Sig Sauer 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 MCX and more or less the only limit to the ocnfiguration is your imagination.

You can order 5.56 NATO, 300BLK or 7.62x39mm AR15 pistols.

Then you can keep it clean and simple and use one hand on the lightened handguard to combat muzzle rise. An 11.5 inch barrel is actually heading towards rifle levels of stability and long range accuracy, and you can see how to achieve balance on this pistol without a brace.

Or you can do the tax stamp and SBR process and go for the proprietary parts bin and lightweight brace.

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 just a little further down…

2. Palmetto State Armory JAKL

• Regular Price: $999.99
• Caliber: 5.56 NATO
• Barrel: 7.5 inch
• Total: 5.5lb

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 is compatible with any Mil-spec lower.

A short and fully contained buffer, 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 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 and lots of other goodies. Crucially the PSA AR-15 pistol is one of the cheapest monolithic pistols you can buy. In these weird legal times, that counts.

3. Rock River Arms LAR-15

• Regular Price: $918.99
• Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
• Barrel: 7 inch
• Total: 24.75 inch.
• Weight: 4.8lb
• Capacity: 25+1

The company supplies firearms to the DEA and FBI, among others. The AR15 rifles star in pretty much every price band and the semi-auto pistol is a great choice in this price bracket and beyond.

4. Radical Firearms FCR

• Special Price: $520.99
• Caliber: 5.56 NATO
• Barrel: 8.5 inch
• Total: 26 inch
• Total: 5.6lb

This relatively small company has built a fearsome reputation with low-budget long guns that punch well above their weight. This new Radical RF-15 looks set to do the same.

A full-length Picatinny rail sits atop Mil-spec aluminum receivers. The Melonite coated CMV pipe work and hard coat anodized finish show solid attention to detail.

If you want all-metal and money is tight, the Radical might be the one for you.

5. CMMG Dissent Mk4

• Special Price: $1,899.99
• Caliber: 5.56 NATO
• Barrel: 6.5 inch
• Pistol length: 14.7 inch
• Total: 4.8lb

It looks like the pistol brace regulations and ATF shenanigans is a cloud with a silver lining if the CMMG Dissent Mk4 is anything to go by.

Monolithic pistols with no buffer tubes are a clear solution to the stabilizing brace ‘ban and the Dissent Mk4 ditches the buffer tube altogether in this AR15 pistol for the patented CMMG Compact Action’. Well if this is the future, sign us up…

The Dissent comes as a 5.56 NATO AR-15 pistol, or you can order armor piercing MK57 5.7x28mm, AAC Blackout. You can also get a Dissent Pistol Caliber Carbine chambered in 9mm.

The Cerakote finish means you can get a range of colors, too, including Midnight bronze, charcoal, green and straightforward Armor Black. Generally the Armor Black is a few bucks cheaper and Midnight Bronze looks a lot like Flat Dark Earth.

The CMMG Banshee Mk4 is still for sale and like half the price, but it comes with a buffer. If the Dissent is too rich for your blood though, the CMMG Banshee is an option.

Get more info on the action here.

6. Maxim Defense SPS

• Regular Price: $2,065.99
• Caliber: 5.56 NATO
• Barrel: 5.5 inch
• Total Length: 18.75
• Weight: 5.9lb

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?

7. American Tactical Imports Omni Hybrid Maxx P4

• Special Price: $539.99
• Caliber: 5.56 NATO Pistol
• Barrel length: 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 ATI Omni Hybrid Max plastic AR-15 is cheap, lightweight and seemingly durable. As much as we wanted to, we can’t find anything wrong with it.

So it has made a big deal of 2,000 round torture tests and running over it with an 800lb forklift to prove the strength of the new age plastics. Truthfully, we’re more interested in the owner reviews.

And they’re outstanding. This is a good gun, with some innovative thinking that results in a super lightweight AR pistol.

Get some red dot sights up top and this is a serious weapon.

8. FN SCAR 15P

• Regular Price: 3,3311.99
• Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
• Barr: 7.5 inch
• Weight: 5.65lb
• Capacity: 30+1

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 pistol.

It is an amazing 5.56 NATO AR-15 pistol, though, and some of the gun reviews are calling it the best on the market.

Custom features include a picatinny rail on the rear with a sling mount, as well as a full length rail on the monolithic receiver and under the barrel. Reversible charging handles are part of the package too.

You get a two position adjustable gas regulator, too, for running with a suppressor.

.

9. Diamondback Firearms DB15

• Price: $710.99
• Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
• Barr: 7 inch
• Weight: 5.1lb
• Capacity: 30+1

The Diamondback DB15 is a mid range pistol that does everything right and nothign particularly wrong.

If you want a mid-length barrel profile, don’t want an enclosed monolith and are planning to make an SBA3 pistol with a license, for instance, then the Diamondback DB15 semi automatic pistol is a great option.

Diamondback Firearms have found a place on most of our budget rifles list. We really like the Diamondback Firearms DB10, chambered in 308 Win Mag and the Diamondback Firearms DB15 rifle.

10. Palmetto State Armory Carbine Length

• Price: $519.99
• Caliber: 5.56 NATO
• Barr: 7.5 inch
• Pistol length: 26.25 inch

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 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, charging handles and pistol braces.

Organize the price low to high and you can pick up bargains too.

11. Bravo Company Manufacturing Recce

• Price: $1,630.99
• Caliber: 5.56
• Barrels:11.5 inch
• Weight: 6.5lb
• Capacity: 30+1

BCM Recce pistols are made by ex soldiers and aimed squarely at reliability and excellence in the field.

These are theoretically the guns the founders themselves wish they had when shit went sideways. And the company has such a good reputation it still does special builds for elite fighting teams to this day, as well as selling a bolt carrier group, stocks, parts kits and more.

The BCM Recce has an almighty reputation in the rifles sector and you already know the 5.56 NATO semi-auto pistol is just as good.

12. Century Arms Micro Draco AK-47

• Price: $828.99
• Caliber: 7.62 x 39mm
• Barrels: 6.25 inch
• Total: 14.5 inch.
• Weight: 4.85lb
• Capacity: 30+1/50+1 drum. 

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.

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…

13. Daniel Defense DDM4 V7P

• Price: $1,774.99
• Caliber: 5.56 NATO
• Barrel length: 10.3 inch
• Overall Length: 28.4 inch
• Capacity: 30 Rounds
• Weight: 5.44lb

The Daniel Defense is basically the best AR-15 for sale. This is more of the same creamy goodness, in a semi-auto pistol.

Now, it has taken the top spot with a shorter version of that award-winning full-size rifle that is is, to all intents and purposes, a Short Barrel Rifle. Fit a rifle stock and red dot sights and you’ve got a service weapon. And, without the right paperwork, also a felony with this short barrel rifles shenanigans in congress…

Check out the Daniel Defense MK18 SBR, too, because that is serious fun. But if you see the DDM4 PDW, get one before they sell out…

14. Smith & Wesson M&P Sport

• Price: $899.99
• Caliber: 5.45x45mm NATO
• Barrel: 7.5 inch barrel
• Weight: 5.5lb

Availability is the only reason the Smith & Wesson M&P15 Sport pistol is so far down. It’s a pretty rare sight on the open market.

If you see one, then it’s a great choice for a budget pistol that does all the things the best-selling S&W M&P Sport rifle does, but in a smaller package.

We also like how the pistol grip looks like the M&P Shield on these new products.

15. Battle Arms Development Workhorse Defense

• Price: $999.99
• Cal: 5.56 NATO
• Barrel: 10.5 inch barrel
• Weight: 5.8lb

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 really good.

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.

Gun Parts & Accessories

If you want spotting scopes or other handgun parts, 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 adjustable gas system, you might just want a new armorer’s wrench. we can help.

Of course at some point you might need new upper receivers, parts, upper parts kits, lower parts, magazines, muzzle devices and more.

Get a Pistol Caliber Carbine Instead?

9mm Luger Pistol Caliber Carbines are increasingly popular 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.

So the likes of the short barrel Angstadt Arms UDP-9, Sig Copperhead, Foxtrot Mike and the burnt bronze Christensen Arms CA-9 pistols are growing in popularity, despite the brace ban.

You can also get the CMMG Banshee MK57 5.7×28, which is expensive to run but pretty awesome if you don’t want the 9mm or AAC blackout AR pistol for whatever reason.

If you can make do ith blackout ammo, the Sig Sauer 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 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, 45 ACP ammo, gun cleaning kits, pistol cleaning tools, cleaning supplies and more.

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.

• Sportsman’s Guide – Great ammo deals, rifle calibers, rifle ammunition, Rimfire ammo, shotgun ammunition 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.

They are versatile tools that can form part of your defensive kit, as well as taking care of pest control and hunting duties.

Single shot bolt action rifles & pistols can be fun, too, and they tend to be cheaper. You get choices of optics & scopes with a long rifle too.

Get that before you get rifles & lever action rifles in your gun safes. Obviously do get a lever action rifle too though, in the end. Because lever action rifles are fun..

Legal Stuff

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