Anyone out there running AR pistols? Putting one together in 300 Blackout and curious if anyone else has experience with these suckers. Specifically, wondering about optics and range. I have a rifle scope kicking around but wondering if a pistol scope would be better. I hope to get a Sig arm brace that may or may not be used up on the shoulder occasionally. Also wondering about accuracy and energy past 100 yards. Looking at running 110 gr VMax or Barnes TSX bullets over H110 powder (IIRC).

Thinking of this primarily as a tree stand gun but wondering i 200 yards shots will be ill-conceived. Barrel is 8.5".

Hadn't really considered anything in 223 for a pistol since can't use that round on deer here, but wondering now if an upper in 10.5-12" would work on yotes out to 200 or if just isn't gonna do the trick.

I would say 200 yds is out of the question, you may be able to hit your target but not reliably and not with any energy. I would personally go red dot or pistol scope.

I agree. Personally I would say 100 yard max for a .300 BLK pistol. I would use Barnes LRX projectiles because they are designed to expand at long ranges after the projectile has lost much of it's energy. Perfect for a short barreled .300 BLK at longer distances.

Hmmm......well, if you can find a Barnes projectile that is light enough. After a quick search 175 grains is the lightest I found.

I thought the Vmax was designed to open up pretty quick as well, no? Ballistics tests at short distance indicate ot would blow a hole through the middlenof a deer. I'm hoping it would be a decent bullet out to at least 100. 16" barrel, it's running around 2300 fps. I know the powder is all burned up within 8" of barrel. How many fps is an 8.5" losing to a 16"?

I've got no problem limiting this to a 100 yard or under gun if needed--in a tree most will be 80 or less. If there's anything I can do to push the bounds a bit, it would be nice

IIRC, you need AT LEAST 800 foot pounds of energy to humanely harvest a deer.

here is a good ballistics chart as always your millage may vary.

I run a 7.5 barrel. I wished I had gone with a 10.5. The 7 is fun but it is loud and no way will I risk a suppressor on that one. It would be Okay on a 300 BLK.

Is there a barrel lenght restriction on pistols?

Nice chart. So I figure with an 8.5 barrel, I'd be looking at about 1050 foot pounds out of the muzzle and about 100 ft pounds of energy at 100 yards--at least according to the Barnes website.

You can't have an AOL of 26" or more. Otherwise it becomes an "Other" gun that's subject to AFT stamp requirements.

Ok I was digging a 11.5in barrel.