If you like shooting AR15 style rifles, and love short barrels, then you’ll enjoy this list of the best budget AR pistols. In this article I’m going to review a wide variety of AR style pistols. You’ll find many different variations including: calibers, barrel length, and of course, price. Not to worry, you can purchase all these AR-15 platform pistols for less than one thousands dollars. Keep reading for full details.
AR pistols have some distinct advantages, compared to short-barreled rifles. The first, and most obvious is no tax stamp is needed to own one of these guns. A secondary benefit is that it can be easier to transport and use, depending on your local laws. I would encourage you to become familiar with them because this is one area where gun laws are convoluted, and they don’t follow common sense.
Another reason to like budget AR15 style pistols is that they won’t break the bank. Because this style of firearm is very popular there is a lot more emphasis put on producing these guns. Most large manufacturers are in the AR pistol market. As a result, they actually end up using the same processes as they do for their more expensive offerings, to produce these guns. That means you can get a great budget pistol with high quality parts. Check out the full list of the pistols below.
7 Best Budget AR Pistols Full List
- PSA 11.5-Inch Barrel Carbine Length Pistol
- Anderson AM15 300 Blackout Pistol
- DPMS DP-15 Classic Pistol
- Smith and Wesson M&P 15 Pistol
- PSA Gen 4 9mm AR Pistol
- Diamondback DB10 .308 Pistol
- PSA Sabre 10.5 Pistol
This list of the best budget AR pistols includes options starting in the $400 dollar range, going all the way up to $1000. I do want to point out that this is the best price I can find for sale currently. We’re also an affiliate with PSA, and Buds Guns, which means we earn a commission if you purchase from them after clicking on the link. It costs you nothing extra and helps keep the lights on here. Thanks for the support.
Before we get to the list of these guns with shorter barrels, we need to quickly go over some key features you might want to consider when examining this list. I would also ask you to put your email below. We’ll send the articles directly to you, once they’re released.
Key Features for AR Pistols
Quite often we spend a lot of money on fancy guns, because marketing works. There are many features, and options that we purchase, that really don’t contribute to a better functioning gun. I’m not here to say you’re wrong for buying them, I just want to point out a few features that cost more, and are actually worth it.
The biggest budget saver is to find a gun with the accessories that you want from the factory. If you like a certain style brace, or pistol grip, then I would look at the options that included them already. Adding them later will probably cost you more.
Secondly, I think it’s a good idea to make sure the steel in the barrel, and the bolt / bolt carrier group is quality. Most military rifles use carpenter steel for BCGs, and CMV steel variants in their barrels. The best guns, will have chrome lined barrels for longer barrel life. That is commonly what you’ll find in machine guns.
Thirdly, the other thing I like to see is magnetic particle inspection (MPI) of the bolt carrier group. This technique makes sure that there are no critical flaws in the parts that experience very high pressures. As you might imagine, this inspection process slows manufacturing, and adds cost. In the next section we’ll discuss which options commonly appear on high end guns, that you don’t really need.
Which Options Can You Live Without on These Best Budget AR Pistols?
I wouldn’t forgo quality steel in those parts mentioned above. In fact, most of the rifles on this list are mil spec or better, so you don’t have to worry there. These are also common specs for law enforcement rifles. If you just want a fun little shooter, then you don’t need an MP inspected rifle. Most of these manufacturers have warranties, and will fix broken parts. If you aren’t using it for home defense, then I think you can save some money there.
One of the most common features, that most shooters don’t need, are ambidextrous controls. They add a lot of machining time, and parts to a build. The also make safety manipulation a little more cumbersome during rifle presentations. Even lefties can use a normal rifle fairly easily.
I also don’t think you need an adjustable gas block. The caveat here is that it does make shooting suppressed easier. This is especially true if you don’t have a front venting suppressor.
Lastly, I think you can forgo iron sights. I know, some of you are yelling at your phone now, but hear me out. These rifles aren’t likely to be used as a home defense gun. Even if they are, red dot’s are very reliable these days. They’re good enough sighting systems in my opinion to stand alone. If you want back up irons, that’s your personal preference, but I don’t think they’re mandatory.
Later on in this article I’ll link to some good budget accessories, like rifle lights, and red dots, so you can get something that won’t break the bank. Now let’s get to the list.
Top 7 Best Budget AR Pistols (Ultimate Build Guide)
In this section we’ll review the details of each gun. I’ve tried to include the specs I find to be relevant, but if you want to find the overall weight, or length, or something more specific, you can find that by following the links.
I’ve also tried to include reviews from real users. I find that they can be good sources of info that you won’t find elsewhere. Now, let’s get to the list.
1. PSA 11.5in Carbine Length Pistol
The PSA 11.5 Carbine Length Pistol is by far the best AR-15 pistol in terms of value. This gun comes in what many shooters consider the perfect barrel length, 11.5 inches. It’s a better option for those looking to maintain decent muzzle velocity, but don’t want an excessively long gun.
This gun features a standard anodized aluminum lower, with a mil spec trigger. It has a 10.5 inch M-LOK handguard, in flat dark earth, which is free floated. The pistol grip and brace come in FDE as well. Check out this full video review below.
Even though this is a budget AR pistol, it does have some important features that will make it more durable. This version of the gun has a carpenter steel 158 bolt, which is known for hard use. Similarly the barrel steel is 4150V which is standard for military applications. It’s not chrome lined which means it can still last a long time, under normal use.
This pistol is best for someone who is focused on price point, and intends to shoot it reasonably hard. I would not classify this as a hard use gun, as some of the crucial parts lack the quality control procedures the more expensive options on this list use to ensure durability.
As of this writing you can buy the PSA 11.5 inch pistol for an amazing $430. I don’t think that price will last too long, which is a shame. Next lets talk about a great 300 Blackout pistol.
2. Anderson Manufacturing AM15 300 Blackout Pistol
The AM15 is a compact 300 Blackout pistol with some upgrades built in. This is an incredibly compact AR platform pistol, chambered in one of the best calibers for a rifle of this size, 300 Blackout. If you read my POF Pistol review, you know just how much energy a 300 Blackout round can carry out of a rifle this size. Using some napkin math, you’re getting roughly 1000 ft/lbs of energy with a 150 grain bullet.
This particular pistol has a Magpul brace, as well as a Magpul pistol grip. It’s a direct impingement gun, with a pistol length gas system and an A2 birdcage muzzle device. It has a short free floated MLOK handguard with slots every 45 degrees.
The bolt is made of 9310 which is reasonably tough steel, but not quite as good as carpenter steel, in my opinion. This rifle also comes with an ambidextrous charging handle, which another nice upgrade that you don’t have to do further down the line.
This AR pistol is a great budget option, in a high powered caliber. As of this writing it can be purchased for under $620. Next we’re going to look at a really cool classic AR pistol from DPMS.
3. DPMS DP-15 Classic 10.5 Pistol
The DP-15 from DPMS is an awesome retro option that doesn’t break the bank. I’m not going to lie. I’m an older millenial, and I’ve seen tons of these rifles in many of the action movies I grew up with. There is a certain nostalgia factor for this rifle, and I’m here for it.
As far as the specs go, it has some decent parts. The brace is reasonably constructed to be comfortable for non braced shooting. The handguards are plastic with built in heat shields. These actually do a fairly good job of keeping the barrel heat away from your hands. That and the lightweight barrel make this gun a breeze to carry around.
It has a fixed front sight post, but a removable carry handle. I’m going to be honest, that’s a good thing for those that want to run a red dot. You can either mount it to the upper picatinny rail, or high mount it to the carry handle. There’s also nothing wrong with keeping the carry handle on the gun. It makes it very handy for moving around.
The bolt is carpenter steel, and the barrel is CMV. This pistol is basically mil-spec and plenty durable enough for most use cases. This pistol is probably the coolest retro option on the list. Right now you can purchase it for right around $655. Next we’ll talk about a neat, very short 5.56mm option from Smith and Wesson.
4. Smith and Wesson M&P 15 7.75 in 5.56 Pistol
The Smith and Wesson M&P 7.75 in pistol is a great value, compact pistol option. It comes with some interesting features you won’t find on other pistols on this list. First, and most obvious, is the Smith and Wesson pistol grip.
This grip looks like its lifted straight from their handguns. It features an aggressive texture, and it moves your hand further from the flat faced trigger. It also has different palm swell inserts to customize the grip to your hand size. Check out the video review below.
It is worth noting that this is a very short barrel, for the 5.56mm round. This is really more of a over powered sub gun, than a rifle. The good news is that they included a blast diverter, to keep most of the fire and concussion going forward, away from the shooter.
This DI gun does come with a PMAG and pistol brace out of the box. It also includes an integrated trigger guard with the lower receiver. This makes it a little more comfortable to hold one handed. Mil spec trigger guards can chew up your finger.
As of this writing you can purchase this pistol with a Smith and Wessons lifetime service policy, for right around $850. I think this is a great quality, compact gun with some interesting features you won’t find elsewhere on this list. It doesn’t hurt that Smith and Wesson has a solid long term reputation for good firearms. Next, lets talk about the only pistol caliber carbine on this list of best budget AR pistols.
5. PSA Gen 4 9mm AR Pistol
The PSA Gen 4 9mm AR Pistol is a great pistol for those looking for a pistol caliber AR firearm. This AR9 style pistol runs off of Glock magazines, and features a 4 inch barrel, with a blast can. The hand guard is 5in, leaving a small amount of MLOK space with a quick detach (QD) mount.
Pistol caliber carbines are great options for those looking for something fun to shoot, that isn’t super expensive. If you check out this 9mm training ammo article, you’ll see that most of those plinking rounds are about 23 cents per round. You can see in this 5.56mm ammo article that training ammo is about double that.
I think it also makes sense for those that already have a decent amount of Glock magazines. Often times we forget the cost to purchase more magazines, which can be significant over time.
The reviewer noted one failure to extract, and no other issues. I think this gun works well for those that want a cheap option that allows for a lot of training. As of this writing you can purchase this pistol caliber carbine, from Palmetto State Armory, for around $650. Be fast, they go out of stock quickly. Now let’s get to the most powerful pistol on this list of best budget AR pistols.
6. Diamondback DB10 308 Pistol
The Diamondback DB10 308 pistol packs a lot of punch in a compact package. This AR10 style pistol has a 12.5 inch barrel, and free-floated handguard. Depending on the round you’re using, this pistol can generate roughly 1600 ft/lbs of energy at the muzzle. This is roughly double a 5.56mm round from some of the shorter pistols on this list.
This pistol comes without a brace, and is hard anodized, and then cerakoted in FDE. It comes with a mid length gas system, and a gen 3 Magpul PMAG. Here’s some great info on a very similar rifle from Diamondback.
One of the best quality control features is that the bolt carrier group is magnetic particle inspected. This ensures that you aren’t getting a poor quality carrier, with defects in the steel. It costs manufacturers decent coin to do this, but all high quality rifles have this done.
This would be a great gun for those that needed a heavier round that is less affected by wind over longer distances. Even though this is a short overall length for .308, it can still compete with a long-range rifle. The DB10 can deliver high energy shots out to 500 yards or so. Next, we’ll finish this list of best budget AR pistols with the fanciest pistol.
7. PSA Sabre 10.5 in Pistol
The PSA Sabre 10.5 in pistol is your best bet for a hard use budget gun, with a caveat. This gun is designed with many premium parts. By far the coolest part is the barrel. This AR-15 barrel is a FN manufacturering cold hammer forged barrel that is chrome lined. This is the same type of barrel that lasts for hundreds of thousands of rounds in FNH machine guns, so you know it’s durable.
It has an enhanced bolt carrier group, made of carpenter steel, and MP inspected for cracks, or defects. It also comes with a match, two stage trigger, with a trigger weight of 3.5 – 4 pounds. This is much better than a typical mil-spec trigger. Check out the video below for a great real world test.
I think this is a very honest review. This rifle is over gassed, like certain HK rifles, to enhance reliability. More gas in the system means it can overcome crud in the chamber, BCG, and upper receiver. It does not have an adjustable gas block, which means any traditional suppressor will over gas the system further.
The reviewer noted that it ran very perfectly without a suppressor. If you really want to shoot this suppressed I think you should get a flow through can, like the HUXWRX, or certain Deadair cans. These are designed to keep less gas in the system, and move it away from your face.
This rifle has a lot of extras that would probably cost more if you built this rifle from scratch. As of this writing you can pick it up for right under $1000. This is a nice option for someone that wants a premium gun at a reasonable price. Now that we’ve covered the full list of best budget AR pistols, we can get to the accessories.
Accessories for Your Best Budget AR Pistol
For non duty rifles, I like to keep them fairly simple. At a minimum you need a sighting system. I think most users can do well with one of these red dot optics. They are reliable, and will last for many months before needing a battery change.
If you plan on using this in periods of darkness, or for defensive purposes, I think you also need a budget rifle light that’s good quality. In my opinion, it’s negligent to have a defensive rifle without a light. How are you going to see your target if it’s dark? Believe me, you wouldn’t want to explain to a jury that you were just shooting blindly in the dark!
Lastly, I think you need some good training ammo. There’s no point in having a nice pistol, and never actually using it. Check out this article for some cheaper training ammo options. I would also recommend getting some self defense round if you plan on using your gun for this purpose. You can find a break down of good defensive rounds here. Now let’s finish this article up.
Final Thoughts
If I were to buy any of these best budget AR pistols, I think it would be a tie between the DPMS Classic, and the 12.5 inch .308 from Diamondback. Those guns just do it for me. They aren’t something you see everyday, and they can fulfill a wide variety of roles.
I would also remind you that most of these manufacturers produce variants of these guns. Don’t be afraid to look around to see if there is a different color, or version of a gun you’re interested in.
If you have any comments or questions about these best budget AR pistols, put them below, and I’ll get you an answer. Now get out there and get shooting! Don’t forget to join the email list below.
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