If you’re looking for a gun that’s small, easily maneuverable, and lightweight for a good home defense, bugout, or close-quarters fighting gun, you should consider an AR pistol. 

An AR pistol is nothing more than a handgun based on the popular modern sporting rifle platform (aka an AR-15), but with a much shorter barrel and no traditional stock. Currently, one is considered an AR pistol if the barrel length is shorter than 16 inches – the minimum legal length for a rifle barrel. 

Because of their smaller size, AR pistols are lighter and more maneuverable than their rifle cousins, making them handy for a range of uses. Here are some of our favorite AR pistols.