Update: Covid 19 and the mad world we now live in has wrecked stock levels across the United States gun stores. We’re updating constantly, but some guns are just sold out.
If you’re not as fussy about the brand, you just want a gun, we got you. So the best thing we can do is give you live links to what’s in stock at our favorite dealers. If you can see it, you can buy it…
- Guns.com – New arrivals all the time, high prices right now.
- Palmetto State Armory – Great range in stock now.
- Euro Optic – Awesome weapons in stock.
- Sportsman’s Warehouse – Huge range in all calibers.
- Primary Arms – AR pistol: 5.56 NATO semi and 300 Blackout.
- Brownells – Selection of AR-9, 5.56 and AAC 300 Blackout.
Now on with the show and back to the feature post…
What are the Best AR-15 Pistols in 2021?
Some people will already be racing towards the comments to let me know the best AR pistols aren’t real SMGs.
So, let’s get one thing clear…
These aren’t real sub machine guns.
A Semi-Automatic Pistol Isn’t an SMG by Definition
By definition, an SMG is fully automatic and these are, well, not. 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 SMG.
So if you’re feeling righteous indignation right now. That’s why we did it. The magic Google machine…
Almost Military Grade Guns…
They’re the cool little gems we like to look at in quiet awe, anyway, and they’re works of art in their own right.
They are all just a few tweaks away from military grade firearms, to borrow a Leftist phrase. This is almost a Short Barreled rifle, without the paperwork.
Inspiration and Parts for DIY Builds
So, now let’s look at some of the best AR-15 pistols in the United States. If you’re DIY building then you might just want the inspiration. But the parts & accessory supplier links are in here too so knock yourselves out with high-grade parts.
The Best AR-15 Pistols in 2021
1. Daniel Defense DDM4 V7P
- Price: $1,899
- Caliber: 5.56 NATO
- Barrel: 10.3 inch
- Overall Length: 28.4 inch
- Capacity: 30 Rounds
- Weight: 5.44lb
The NRA members voted the Daniel Defense DDM4 V7 the Rifle of the Year and the best AR-15 for sale. This is more of the same creamy goodness, with a choice of pistol brace and customization options.
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 industry.
An SBR Without a Tax Stamp
Now, it has taken
If you have the short-bareled Daniel Defense DDM4 V7P and one of the best concealed carry guns in the world, you are covered…
DDM4 isn’t a Cheap AR-15
It isn’t cheap, but this still massively undercuts some of the more expensive options and it isn’t ridiculous money.
These are 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 People’s Champion, and the Industry’s
Is it the best? Yes is the basic answer. If you’re looking for one to rule them all, you’re looking at it.
We have said elsewhere it gets subjective at this level and the top 10 ARs are probably better than you and me. Especially with a red dot. That means any one of the leaders will serve you well.
Right now, though, the DDM4 feels like the best you can buy off the shelf. Without spending insane money anyway.
2. CZ Bren 2
- Price: $1,922.99
- Caliber: 5.56 NATO
- Barrel: 14 inch
- Total: 25.8 inch
- Weight: 5.86lb
Under normal circumstances, the CZ Bren 2 might not be this high up. But it has one big thing going for it right now. At the time of writing, we can sell you one…
The CZ Bren 2 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 7.62x39mm.
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 has been tested on battlefields I hope you never see.
Owners have all talked up the CZ Bren in the user reviews online, and that’s an encouraging sign. Customization options are also pretty solid. You should have this semi-auto pistol in your life if funds allow.
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3. Barrett REC7 DI
- Price: $1,699.00
- Cal: 5.56 NATO
- Barrel: 10.5 inch
- Weight: 5.8lb
Barrett is famous for making some of the most devastating 50 BMG sniper rifles in the world. Now it is making a play for the lucrative duty weapon contracts around the world with Law Enforcement and the military.
The company has the right connections. On this evidence, the products should be pretty damned good too and these are some of the best AR15 pistols right now. Also, availability helps its cause.
Of course we get the toned down semi-automatic pistol. But there’s no mistaking its roots as a minimalist weapon of war.
Quality Construction From a Military Leader
The receivers are machined aluminum, not forged, and the BCG is designed to be field stripped and repaired under duress. We like the tailhook brace, too, which shaves a few pounds and gives a purposeful look.
You get a free floated match grade barrel and you can opt for the bigger Blackout and 6.8 SPC calibers if you really want proper protection. Or something…
Barrett absolutely makes weapons of war. But in a concession to the modern world you can order your gun in midnight bronze, Tungsten grey, and a variety of other shades. Black Cerakote finish and FDE Cerakote finish, which you might call Bronza cerakote finish.
4. Sig Sauer MCX Rattler
- Price: $2,499.99
- Caliber: 300BLK
- 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. That’s why, in these uncertain times, stock is hard to find.
It’s a more versatile, harder hitting and simply better replacement for the HK MP5. Really, it’s that good and the snub-nosed frame with full auto fire…. Yeah, we could learn to love that.
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.
Special Forces Thoroughbred vs Simpler Defensive Tools
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. It is easier to master, when it comes to accuracy and just plain old weapons handling.
Still, if you appreciate the back story or you just want the most vicious, compact option money can buy, then you are pretty much looking at it.
Consider the AAC 300 Blackout Rattler
The Rattler was really designed for AAC 300 Blackout. That is the next gen AR-15 round that could render 5.56 NATO redundant.
You can fit a suppressor, go full operator and you have the definitive close quarters combat weapon for urban warfare or special ops. Whatever you’re doing that day…
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 PDW pistol brace. That’s long range genius.
For personal defense, this Close Quarters Combat weapon is pretty much unbeatable, but it’s a little intense for casual plinking.
Pure, Compact Destruction
This is a 5.5 inch barrel and the whole weapon is just 19.3 inches long. It’s a masterpiece in compact destruction and you get 30+1 rounds in basically a carry pistol.
The MCX Rattler is expensive, but owners love theirs and if you want one monster of a weapon, then this could be the one. It’s a modern-day savage and you’ll be glad it’s on your side when the chips are down.
This dude shows just what it can do, with a suppressor attached, in 300BLK.
5. Radical Firearms FCR
- Price: $654.99
- Caliber: .223 Rem/5.56 NATO
- Barrel: 10.5 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 AR-15 looks set to do the same.
The American manufacturer makes most of its own parts, which helps it set its own prices. They are always low, despite unique design touches like the proprietary FGS free float rail system. Radical says this reduced heat build-up, and boosts accuracy.
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. Especially as it’s one of the few budget pistols you can actually consistently buy thanks to the combined efforts of Primary Arms and Brownells.
6. Geissele Automatics LLC Super Duty
- Price: $1,900
- Barrel: 11.5″
- Weight: 6lb
Geissele make some of the best trigger sets on the AR-15 market. So it was never going to make a complete pistol and rifle line that sucks.
The most remarkable thing about this near custom firearm, though, is that it has remained readily available through 2021. That counts for a lot at the moment.
Now the core of this pistol is not the world famous triggers. Instead it’s the Geissele Automatics Reliability Enhanced Bolt Carrier Group. This is patented nanotechnology coatings on machined mil-spec steel that they call Geissele Nanoweapon.
Advanced medical grade steel is apparently purer, stronger and less liable to fatigue. I mean it sounds true.
The pistol is a shop window for the aftermarket parts and accessories Geissele sells for your own DIY AR build. Put them together with top of the line matched receivers. An SB Tactical SBA3 brace completes the look.
It’s a great gun, and it’s available in Flat Dark Earth, green and plain matte black. We really like this gun. It emerged during the great guns & ammo shortage. But we think it’s here to stay.
7. Heckler & Koch HK SP5
- Price: $2,799.99
- Caliber: 9mm Luger
- Barrel: 8 inch
- Total: 14 inch
- Weight: 4.4lb
- Capacity: 30+1
Finally, HK has revealed an official civilian version of the iconic HK MP5. The HK SP5K is here.
Getting one can be an issue, so check these links if you get a sold out notice up top.
- Sportsman’s Warehouse – Sometimes they have a HK SP5K in stock.
- Primary Arms – Great company.
- 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 for sale.
Why did it take this long? That’s a question for HK, which limited the public to the equally awesome HK SP5K. It was great, but it wasn’t the Military grade firearm we all wanted.
That created a void that was filled by clones that trod the fine line between inspiration and imitation. Now, it has finally given us the 9mm pistol caliber carbine we always wanted to buy.
You get the roller-delayed blowback system that HK perfected on the G3 rifle. Also, a threaded tri-lug adaptor, a fluted chamber and chrome lined bore and internals.
Expensive, But Great…
Now this is about as expensive as civilian 9mm SMGs get. There are plenty of options for much less money that will serve you just as well. But this is the civilian version of the HK MP5. That matters…
You can argue that this is a modern-day tribute. But also military history.
So if you’re looking for the best AR-9, or simply one of the best Close Quarters Combat weapons on the planet, this would be a good place to start.
8. Battle Arms Development Workhorse Defense Pistol
- Price: $1,499.00
- Cal: 5.56 NATO
- Barrel: 10.5 inch
- 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, a pistol with SB Tactical SBA3 Brace, RACK ambidextrous charging handle and other assorted goodies. Basically it’s everything you would expect 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.
Buy AR-15 Accessories
Get AR-15 parts here. You can get new triggers, gas blocks, receivers and more from one of the best names in the business.
9. Wilson Combat AR-15 Protector Pistol
- Price: $1,995
- Capacity: AAC 300 Blackout
- Barrel: 11.3 inch
- Total: 27.5 inch
- Weight: 5.8lb
Wilson Combat has become a regular winner of our AR-15 competitions and this could easily have taken the top spot here.
Now you can go for the Wilson Combat HAM’R, round, which is impressive in its own special way. proprietary ammo makes us nervous, though, and we’d opt for either the 5.56 NATO semi or, better yet, the AAC 300 Blackout pistol.
This works for hunting, personal defense and just about everything else.
It is a compact AR-15 Plus, with the legendary starburst grip that is actually a BCM part. The TTU two-stage trigger is famous in its own right and the Tailhook semi-auto pistol braces give you more options than most.
10. Ruger AR-556 Pistol
- Price: $829.99
- Caliber: .223 Rem/5.56mm NATO
- Barrel: 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 and want a big name you can rely on.
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 honest value, 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:
- 12 Best AR-15s for sale for $500 or less.
- 21 Best AR-15 rifles on sale under $1000.
- 20 Custom AR-15s in 2021. Big Price Tags.
The Best Value For Money?
It’s fair to say that we love this little Ruger that embodies the brand values of value and basic engineering.
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 10.5″ up front is good for accuracy at the range, as well as comfort. The full length Picatinny rail means there’s plenty of room to mount the reflex or scope of your choice.
Awesome Reviews For Ruger AR-556
The user reviews and gun review sites absolutely love the Ruger AR-556 10.5 inch, because it’s a durable and rugged workhorse.
If you are really price-shopping, then the Ruger AR-556 is the one you want. It’s really that simple. You can get a Palmetto State Armory. But don’t. This is the real deal, the most popular American rifle, at a discount price.
11. Foxtrot Mike Products Ultralight FM9-5
- Price: $679.99
- Caliber: 9mm Luger
- Barrel: 5 inch
- Total Length: 27
- Weight: 6.4lb
Foxtrot Mike Products have got great reviews and you can buy the FM9 in a range of sizes. From a 3″ concealed carry to a 7″ sniper, and this 5″ version, the one that might be juuuust right.
If you see this FM9-5, grab it. Because this gun is an absolute peach.
The receivers are machined from billet aluminum. Standard AR-15 triggers, pistol grip and safety selector slot straight in. There’s an M-LOK rail for your gear. And yet you use Glock mags and 9mm ammunition.
It’s a good combo for a home defense weapon where overpenetration is a real thing. We like this gun a lot and we’re starting to like the brand.
12. Christensen Arms CA9
- Price: $1,499.99
- Caliber: 9mm
- Barrel: 7.5 inch
- Weight: 5.5lb
- Capacity: 30+1
Christensen Arms has worked wonders shaving the grams off larger custom AR-15s with the likes of Carbon-fiber barrels. This is advanced material science, all the way.
You get a carbon fiber wrapped steel tube for a barrel here, too, mated to forged aluminum receivers. A hybrid CF-aluminum handguard cuts a little extra fat. Not much, but it all counts and comes at a price.
Price is becoming less of an obstacle, though. The company is starting to get known for seriously high end custom AR-15s, bolt action rifles and 1911s. People are ready to pay for these guns, and for good reason.
This AR9 is lightweight, easy to conceal and a real difference maker when it comes to your home kit. It also looks amazing in burnt bronze, with contrasting CF.
9mm ARs are winning the lucrative home war, thanks to the round becoming increasingly specialized for defensive distances.
You have to worry less about a stray 9mm bursting through the wall and killing your neighbor too. That matters.
13. ZEV Tech Core Elite
- Price: $2,299.99
- Caliber: 5.56 NATO
- Barrel: 10.5 inch
- Pistol Length: 27
- Weight: 5.7lb
- Capacity: 30+1
Update: This gun is about $600 too expensive right now, but that’s supply and demand. In Covid 2021, either pay the premium or opt for one of the other guns. If the price dips back to $1,600, it’s a contender.
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 aluminum is a great balance of bang for buck.
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 semi-auto.
In essence, ZEV merged with MEGA rifles and now offers long guns and this short-barrel AR-15.
The basic formula is the same, overspeccing with competition parts to turn them into an entirely different animal. If you get the chance, pick one up and feel the difference. It is subtle, but it’s there.
ZEV Tech AR-15 Parts
Get complete uppers, upper receivers, charging handles, drop-in triggers and more from ZEV TECH for your DIY build. Most of ZEV Technologies accessories are for the Glock, but you’ll find some things for your AR too.
- ZEV Parts, accessories and complete firearms on sale at Brownells.
- ZEV Tech firearms, complete handguns, pistols, rifles and more at Guns.com
- Rainier Arms – Great ZEV selection of guns & parts.
14. American Tactical Imports Omni Hybrid Maxx P4
- Price: $379.99
- Caliber: .223 Rem/5.56 NATO
- 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 plastic AR-15 is cheap, lightweight and seemingly durable. As much as we wanted to, we cant find anything wrong with it.
Americal Tactical Imports 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 it with an 800lb f
And they’re outstanding.
A Sub-$400 Wylde Chamber
The American Tactical Imports ATI Omni Hybrid Maxx gets five stars pretty much everywhere.
Ignore the fact that the load-bearing parts are plastic. You’ve got a weapon that goes bang every time you want it to and weighs the same as titanium shiz 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. American Tactical Imports says that time is now, and at this price it might be worth a try.
15. Sig Sauer MPX Copperhead
- Price: $1,579.99
- Caliber: 9mm Luger
- Barrel: 3.5 inch
- Total Length: 14.5 inch
- Weight: 4.5lb
The best-selling Sig Copperhead might be a relatively simple variation of the MPX platform, but this new arrival might just be the ultimate Close Quarters Combat weapon.
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 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.
Of course it’s the short barrel and integral muzzle device that define the Copperhead. It’s basically easy to conceal, literally you could use this as a conceal carry AR pistol. That’s wild, and it’s the new reality. Get this to your local FFL dealer now.
16. 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 detuned military hardware. And it was our winner here for a while. Could be again…
The 11.85″ out front means this isn’t compact, although it does tip the scales at a lightweight 6.5lb.
This is a
BCM Parts Show True Quality
Bravo Company Manufacturing provided the pistol grip, and Bravo Company is a sure sign of quality. The charging handle is an Ambi Raptor, you get an M-Lok rail and all the parts 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. It really does look like a Short Barrel Rifle, but it isn’t.
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 higher on this list.
17. Angstadt Arms UDP-9
- Price: $1,325.99
- Caliber: 9mm Luger
- Barrel: 6 inch
- Total: 22 inch
- Weight: 5lb
The Angstadt Arms UDP-9 is one of the best 9mms. Increasingly people are turning to the smaller caliber format thanks to its versatility and controlled mayhem.
9mm is arguably the best self-defense ammo, all things considered. It won’t overpenetrate, and the best 9mm bullets are designed to make an almighty wound cavity in the human body. 9mm Luger is freely available, too, which makes this an attractive SHTF gun for preppers.
Glock style magazines slot straight home, so you can have 100-round drum magazines on there if it floats your boat.
The build quality on this Angstadt Arms UDP-9 is up there too. We are talking billet receivers, a flared magwell, ambidextrous controls and more on this 9m AR pistol.
Angstadt Arms UDP-9 vs HK MP5K vs CZ Scorpion
It is is ready for a 9mm suppressor and can easily mix it with the mighty HK and CZ options. Dare we say it, the Angstadt Arms might even be better.
The option to use Glock style magazines is a bit of a biggy. We like it. It means you can streamline your gun safe and have options front and center.
You can buy integrally suppressed upper receivers and assemblies. Angstadt Arms also offers several different configurations.
18. Patriot Ordnance Factory Renegade Plus
- Price: $1879.99
- Caliber: 5.56 NATO
- Barrel: 10.5 inches
- Total Length: 31 inch.
- Weight: 5.8lb
- Capacity: 30+1 Rounds
The POF Renegade+ has been a consistent best-selling contender, until availability proved a real issue in the Covid craziness.
With the POF Renegade Plus, it decided to refine the classic Eugene Stoner direct impingement AR-15 concept, rather than fit a gas piston alternative.
Most of us will never push a direct impingement so far into the hot zone that we actually need that piston. But you already know that. Knowledge, need and want are entirely compartmentalized things here.
Military Grade Firearms For Amateur Enthusiasts
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 the Daniel Defense DDM4.
With the POF Renegade+, the company took direct impingement to the logical end. It took all the weak points and re-engineered them, plain over-engineered them, and created what it believes is the ultimate incarnation of the best AR-15. Well, not quite, but we’ll get to POF’s other offering shortly.
POF Billet Receivers and Top AR-15 Parts
It’s a billet lower receiver. You also get the POF Ultimate Bolt Carrier Group, which is every bit as impressive as it sounds with a high phosphate Nickel coating.
A flat 3.5lb match grade trigger comes from POF’s own inventory, as well as the Renegade M-Lok handguard. Nestled inside that free-floating set-up is are 10.5 inches in length of Nitride-treated steel.
POF AR-15 Parts
It comes with one of POF’s proprietary finishing touches. Those include the pistol grips through to the buffer tube and pistol stabilizing brace that either
This is really a 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 that should last you a lifetime. It’s a long range semi-automatic pistol and you can get more distance with a vertical foregrip up front.
You can also get a matching 22LR in the POF Rebel, for training purposes.
Heritage, Class and Pure Performance
This 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 POF Parts?
POF do a very serious line of upgrade and 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…
- Primary Arms – Great selection of Patriot Ordnance Factory rifles, pistols, parts and rifle upgrades.
19. CZ Scorpion Evo 3
- Price: $1,399.00 (Crazy Covid price)
- Caliber: 9mm Luger
- Barrel: 7.72 inch
- Total Length: 16 inch
- Weight: 5lb
- Capacity: 20+1
At it’s normal 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. Even at this price, it’s a brilliant AR9. It’s
That’s good, simple design. Ornate and fussy is for household ornaments…
It’s a real workhorse of a weapon, then, and it’s almost perfect for defensive
Almighty Truck Gun
This is exactly what you want by your side if you hear a noise downstairs, or for stashing in the car.
Now it is probably not one for big pistol braces and furniture. It’s simple, defensive, and pure. We like that.
20. Arsenal SAM7K-01R
- Price: $899.99
- 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, which means it’s pretty damned effective as a truck gun, or for outdoor defensive duties. Indoors? Brave, quite brave…
Refined, controlled and smooth are different things. This is not those things. But it should always go bang.
It doesn’t have the heirs and graces of the Rattler or ZEV Tech, it never did. But you could drag it 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. So you get a Krinkov flash suppressor mashed up with the squared off buffer tube.
Hybrid of AK-47 and 74 That Kinda Works
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. But we’re not real military history sticklers here. It’s fine.
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 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.
Period Furniture Makes the Difference
It also includes some pretty cool minimalist underhook pistol brace options that give stability without adding too much weight. They also look the part.
It’s loud, it’s proud and it’s not exactly the most controlled weapon here. If that’s what you’re looking for, go for it.
21. Black Rain Ordnance FalloutCQB
- Price: $1,499.99
- Caliber: 9mm Luger
- Barrel: 8.75
- Weight: 5.94lb
- Capacity: 30+1
The Black Rain Ordnance Fallout CQB is another potent 9mm SMG without full auto and it’s another gun that’s compatible with Glock mags.
That makes it a preppers favorite, and a very logical addition to your gun safes. The Shockwave brace works great and keeps the weight down. Chromoly up front and a Black Nitride Coated BCG show a commitment to quality.
Is this better than all the other 9mms on the list? Probably not, but it’s certainly a match for most of them.
Black Rain Ordnance produce quality components for the AR-15 aftermarket industry and their own signature lines. Gun owners are pretty much ecstatic, and we’re sure you will be too.
22. 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. But it’s getting much better and this is turning into a best-selling market leader.
This Close Quarters Combat used to be a movie prop and nothing more, with a starring role in Deadpool 2 among its many on screen hits. But it’s turning into something now.
Decide which one is most important for you and then see if there’s something else on the list that will do the same job and more. But if you have cash to burn and you want wild looking? This works.
Other Calibers are Cheaper
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.
You can buy caliber conversion kits, too, which has helped 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 will be a badass.
Now the anti-recoil is getting better and the SDP Enhanced version is actually fun to shoot right now.
So yeah, get one. But maybe go for the 9mm version. There’s an SBA3 pistol if the Vector tactical stabilizing brace is a little operator for your tastes too.
23. Freedom Ordnance FX-9
- Price: $849.99
- Caliber: 9mm Luger
- Barrel: 4.5 inch
- Weight: 4.5lb
The best-selling Freedom Ordnance FX-9 is a breakout star and now the shorter version is here it might give the winners a run for their money.
The FX9 has gained an outsized following thanks to the fact it uses Glock-style magazines. So basically yeah, this is another one powered by Glock magazines.
How exciting is that? it depends on the size of your tinfoil hat. And if you’re into Glocks.
The muzzle device is actually a 3 inch faux suppressor. You also 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 this. Add red dot sights and this thing is a beast.
24. Sig Sauer MPX
- Price: $1699
- Caliber: 9mm
- Barrel: 4.5 inch
- Total length: 13.5
inch . - Weight: 4.6lb
- Capacity: 25+1
This is a seriously compact little beast. You can dress it up with pistol braces and weapon lights, 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 the best pistol stabilizing brace. Honestly, it’s just about the easiest 9mm you could ever imagine.
The MPX was designed from the outset to be modular. So you can change its mood completely with a few parts, new pistol braces and gunsmithing tools.
The Perfect CCW SMG?
The whole black finish gun is a Picatinny rail, M-Lok handguard or mounting point. It is also as light as it 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 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 is the military way, two is Hollywood bad guy…
25. Rock River Arms RRage
- Price: $771
- Caliber: 5.56mm
- Barrel: 7 inch
- Total: 24.75 inch.
- Weight: 4.8lb
- Capacity: 25+1
Rock River Arms supplies firearms to the DEA and FBI, among others. The AR15 rifles star in pretty much every price band and the semi-auto pistol would be further up this list if availability wasn’t so limited right now.
When you can get this long-range semi-auto pistol, then Rock River Arms will probably hit the top 10. This video covers the rifle, but it’s still pretty relevant.
26. Diamondback Firearms DB15
- Price: $519.99+
- Caliber: .223 Remington/5.56×45 NATO
- Barrel: 10.5 inch
- Total: 26.5 inch
- Weight: 6.6lb
The Diamondback DB15 is another bargain with an outsized reputation.
You get a Wylde chamber, which is nice. A quad rail, free float handguard and that single stage trigger is well beyond Mil-Spec.
The Diamondback DB15 faces stiff opposition and brave styling is just one of the ways it stands out from the crowd.
Others won’t buy anything else and will tell you their Diamondback holds up well against anything. Read the reviews and see for yourself.
27. CMMG Banshee 300 MK57 5.7x28mm
- Price: $1,399
- Caliber: 5.7x28mm
- Barrel: 5 inch
- Total: 18.9 inch
- Weight: 4.6lb
Too many experts are naming the CMMG Banshee 300 Mk57 5.7x28mm semi-automatic pistol as the best PCC in 2021 for us to ignore completely. And we love this extreme AR that fires armor piercing rounds.
The CMMG Banshee 300 MKGS in 9mm is a great option for general plinking, too, as well as competition shooting. You can get a version for 45 ACP ammo, 10mm and more.
Now this is a different league. The CMMG Banshee 300 MK57 5.7x28mm semi-automatic pistol is designed to puncture body armor. This is some hardcore shiz and I’m not sure who really needs this level of penetration. And yes I do know how that sounds.
Special Ops Needs Armor Piercing Round
FN created this high-velocity bullet for the legendary P80 machine gun, then the blowbaack FN5.7 sidearm that operatives around the world have adopted.
But they are Black Ops types, taking down drug lords and probably nicer people than that in murky government games. That’s the kind of person who needs a CMMG Banshee 300 Mk57 5.7x28mm semi-automatic pistol.
Now the CMMG Banshee 300 MK57 5.7x28mm semi-automatic pistol has turned it into a high capacity merchant of Death. It’s also something totally different at the range.
John Wick Could Have Used This
Basically if John Wick had access to a FDE CMMG Banshee 300 Mk57 5.7x28mm, then the final war in The Continental Hotel would have been much shorter.
The only problem is it’s an expensive bullet and most of us just don’t need that specific armor-piercing skillset. So spraying and praying with this is just an expensive hobby.
There’s nothing wrong with that, though, and lots of people love theirs!
Now the CQB Micro brace makes this basically a concealed carry. And if you just want to have the best, well the CMMG certainly could stake a claim to the title.
It’s a specialist tool, but it’s also properly cool.
28. Brugger & Thomet APC223
- Price: $3,152
- Caliber: .223/5.56 NATO
- Barrels: 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. 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 pistol, but apart from that this is pure military functionality. And that makes for a beautiful AR-15 for sale.
Yes, B&T 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 inch barrel and a 30+1 round mag feeding into the pared down body.
An Awesome SBR With a Simple Buttstock
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, sights etc like an RMR, or even lasers. 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…
29. Century Arms Micro Draco AK-47
- Price: $699.99
- Caliber: 7.62 x 39mm
- Barrels: 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.
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…
Make an SBR From a Draco Gun
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, 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, rails, range gear etc. You can change it if you want, but I like the purity of the AK-47 and the old-worlde Russian controls.
You can, though, turn it into one of these.
30. PSA 10.5″ Carbine
- Price: $819.99
- Caliber: 5.56 NATO
- Barr: 10.5 inch
- 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 its full-size rifles for a reason. Palmetto State Armory produce basics that tend to work. This also comes with an M-LOK Handguard and a Shockwave, so you got quality peripherals.
Now this the Palmetto State Armory semi-auto pistol is quite the long range special, and you can’t fault the accuracy on this chopped down American rifle.
The Palmetto State Armory isn’t the best centerfire pistol here with the fit & finish. But it is reliable and comes with a great tactical brace out the box. People like that.
31. B&T TP9
- Price: $1,995.00
- Caliber: 9mm
- Barr: 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?
This is the Civilian version of the MP9 SMG.
It’s like a modern-day Tec-9, which became a gang legend. But we like that Uzi comparison more. It feels fairer. The Tec-9 was a feral street thug. This is better.
A Swiss Tribute to the Urban Warriors
This 9mm is an urban war machine that could make all the difference in a confined space. Swiss Law enforcement loves it as a skirmish gun.
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, that’s a pretty long range.
This little Swiss beast is 11.9 inches long, 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.
The Best 9mm?
You can fit your own side folding stock or any manner of sights, lasers and lamps. 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…
32. 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 the PDW brace, 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 MDX 505 is billed as a sub-compact AR-15 that is designed around the new Maxim SCW PDW brace.
This lightweight hardware is patent pending and could well turn into a star of the aftermarket parts market.
Lightweight, Shorter PDW
The PDW brace is 4 inches shorter, as well as lighter, which opens up the door to a new world of sub-compacts 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. This is going to help its cause no end.
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
33. Springfield Armory Saint Victor AR-15 Pistol
- Price: $1,049.99
- Caliber: 5.56 NATO
- Barr: 9″
This one doesn’t have any great military or law enforcement connection. It’s just the company doing what it does best and producing a consumer-grade gun that kinda fits the profile of Special Forces hardware.
You can get the Springfield Saint pistol chambered in 5.56 NATO. Then it runs and feels like a conventional, if short, AR-15.
Springfield Armory Saint Pistol: Solid Engineering at a Solid Price
This is a great price for such a solid weapon and it’s relatively new. We have seen a few models, including the premium Springfield Saint Edge. The price, high as it was, was an issue.
The Springfield Armory Saint Edge didn’t get traction, but the company has come back fighting with a great line of ARs at the right prices. Now we don’t miss the Springfield Saint Edge, because we have this.
The Springfield Saint Victor AR-15 pistol is a 30+1 round weapon, it’s 26.5″ in total and it weighs in at 5.8lb.
This Saint is mil-spec hardware at a consumer price point and we honestly can’t pick a single flaw in the Springfield Saint Victor. We like the full size American rifle as well.
34. Q Honey Badger
- Price: $2,599.99
- Barr: 7 inch
- Total Length: 20-25 inches
- Capacity: 30+1
- Weight: 4.8lb
Update: The ATF has issued a 60-day ban on this gun, starting in October. Don’t buy it just yet, even if you can…
If you really want to know where to buy a Q Honey Badger, then yeah, so do we.
It keeps cropping up, but we’re increasingly coming to believe it’s a mirage.
The Q Honeybadger has been in the works since 2013.
Q Honeybadger is a Gaming Legend
It starred in video games including Call of Duty and Black Ops. Those kids are now old enough. They want the civilian version of that special ops gun for sale, they wanted it years ago. Now, it’s here.
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. Q had some great designs, including a skeleton Creedmoor rifle. But they are only just getting to market.
This
You also get FDE finish, among several other colors, and a badass gun. But others have already filled the void and it has a firefight on its hands. I mean, that’s what it was built for, I guess.
35. Sig Sauer MCX Virtus
- Price: $1999
- Caliber: 5.56 NATO
- Barr: 11.5 inches
- Total Length: 31 inch.
- Weight: 7.4lb
- Capacity: 30+1 Rounds
The Sig MCX Virtus semi-automatic pistol 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.
This version is 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 better for the average consumer.
Great All-Rounder
This is one of the best all-round personal defense guns, or whatever it is you’re likely to be doing. If it’s good enough for the military, in any form, it’s probably good enough for us.
You will learn to love the Black or FDE Cerakote finish, the Mil-spec parts
36. Fightlite
- Price: $865.99
- Barr: 7.25 inch
- Total Length: 20.25 inch
- Capacity: 10+1
- Weight: 3.9lb
Yes, really, the Fightlite SCR is 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 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. But it doesn’t need to.
The Fightlite SCR presents a different kind of challenge. It will be tough to shoot compared to a semi-automatic pistol fired from the shoulder, 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, the Fightlite SCR is probably not better than most on this list. But it’s different, and that can be enough.
37. Aero Precision M4E1
- Price: $673.99
- Caliber: 5.56 NATO/300 Blackout
- Barr: 10.5 inch
- Total: 24 inch
Aero Precision has carved out its own niche with parts. But this is complete with a semi-auto pistol brace, furniture and flash hider. She’s ready to shoot.
The company makes some of the most precise parts on the open market. Of course it’s good, there’s not too much left to say.
If you want a traditional American rifle, like a Vietnam era Colt M4 clone, they can help you there as well.
38. IWI Galil Ace
- Price: $1,749.99
- Caliber: .308 Win
- Barr (inches): 8.3
- Overall (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 it chambered for .308 Win. Why aren’t there more of them? It’s a valid question.
It weighs in at just 6lb with the side-folding stock and it 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 options on this list.
It features a rotating bolt and long-stroke gas operating system. There’s a full length rail along the top, side charging handle, 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 this.
39. Zenith Z-43
- Price: $1,890
- Caliber: 5.56 NATO
- Barr: 12
This is tribute to the great H&K 93, and a development of that basic design. It’s modern, with its roots very firmly in the past.
Zenith make some of the more convincing HK clones out there and this is one of its best.
It certainly looks different, a 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 defensive weapon? It should do the trick as this is basically the street-legal version of a classic military SBR and you can fit your own optics, sights and more. That can’t really go wrong, when you think about it.
40. IWI Uzi Pro
- Price: $999 (Sale Price)
- Caliber: 9mm
- Barrel: 4.5″
This really is an old-school Uzi 9mm, 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 and the Uzi is a relic of a bygone age. Now this is more of a nostalgic toy than a serious weapon for home defense. It is cool though and that can be enough to get one in your collection.
It has a 4.5″ business end, a 25-round capacity and is chambered for 9mm. There are more in-depth buyers’ guides for Uzis going back through time.
This is an evolution of the simple weapon that sold more than 2 million copies since its inception in 1963. It has evolved and you get a grip safety and some other modern niceties.
This consumer version is a nod to the legend, rather than the real deal Israeli marines carry by their side. But it’s still cool as hell…
The Best AR-15 Pistol Parts
You can get complete uppers, charging handles, gas blocks, upper receivers, drop-in triggers, muzzle devices, red dot sights and more. As well as basic stock black finish guns, bronze cerakote finish and green cerakote, if that’s your thing.
- Spare parts and upgrades at Brownells. The best rifle parts, optics, scopes, reloading supplies and more.
- Serious parts for your AR15. Charging handles, complete uppers, vertical foregrip, lower receivers, side charging pistols and more.
We were kinda shocked to see we can
Other Fun Guns You Need in Your Life
We got air guns, black powder rifles, shotguns, single shot firearms, bolt-action rifles and lever action guns. In the end we’ll have a buyers guide for them all.
You want parts & accessories? Yup. We even have air guns that shoot arrows. Short Barreled Rifles, 50 BMG rifles, 9mm rifles, survival gear and more. New products all the time.
You can find a lot of weird shit on this website, we admit it, from Rise Armament snipers to. We like black powder, and we want to go beyond the standard firearms, handguns, shotguns and more. Single shot, lever action, we love em all.
But if you’re looking for something close, but not quite like this, check out these AAC Blackouts. 9mm AR pistol options. You want optics, scopes, range gear or magazines? We got new products all the time…
What About Shotgun Ammo, Rifle Ammo and Rimfire Ammo?
Yes we can hook you up with shotgun ammo, rifle ammo, rimfire ammo,a pistol caliber and the best bulk ammo deals. Start here. We also like the kind of sniper rifles that take bipods, tripods and truck mounts to use effectively.
Palmetto State Armory is emerging as one of the best ammo dealers in the nation. So have a look at handgun ammo for sale, and more, here. They include 45 ACP ammo and centerfire pistol ammo that is hard to find right now. Including AAC Blackout ammunition.
What about black powder ammo? Yep black powder guns are cheaper, but you still need to save money on reloading supplies, not just on handgun ammo.
All rights reserved. Privacy policy terms & conditions available on request from customer service, contact us at the main email address. But why do you want it? The site map, now that’s the one to contact us for…
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.