AR-15 Pistol...

[hillmillenia]

Anybody have any experience with the .223 AR-15 pistols?..Is it legal to build and where would you find the specialized parts? I'm familiar with the rifle components but have seen only pictures of the pistols and thought it might be a fun undertaking.I appreciate any info you all may have to contribute.

[Circuits]

they look neat, but can have functioning problems due to short gas tube and short dwell time, and are essentially useless ballistically, due to low velocities from the very short barrels. Just a big .22...

You can buy pistol parts kits from a couple suppliers like DPMS or Model 1 Sales or Olympic Arms.

They're legal to build, provided you comply with the AW ban in respect to pistol configurations - if they're semi auto and the magazine is removable, then they can only have ONE of the following:

(i) an ammunition magazine that attaches to the pistol outside of the pistol grip;
(ii) a threaded barrel capable of accepting a barrel extender, flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer;
(iii) a shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles, the barrel and that permits the shooter to hold the firearm with the nontrigger hand without being burned;
(iv) a manufactured weight of 50 ounces or more when the pistol is unloaded ; and
(v) a semiautomatic version of an automatic firearm

[RJ Shooter]

As you can see in this Carbon 15 pistol, there's nothing to hold onto when firing. If forward pistol grips or handguards were available, it would be relatively "fun" if it were reliable. But with current laws, I agree with Circuits about it being basically useless...

http://www.bushmaster.com/images/westernbfi_05.jpg
http://www.bushmaster.com/images/westernbfi_06.jpg
http://www.bushmaster.com/images/westernbfi_07.jpg