Over the years, I have changed my opinion on AR-15 pistols. At one time, I believed these short little AR-15s were useless fun-time range toys, but then I started shooting high-end AR-15 pistol builds, and my mind was swayed. The Law Tactical AR-15 Folding Stock Adapter transforms that short, higher-performing AR-15 pistol into something ever shorter that can easily be slipped into most backpacks.
The Law Tactical AR-15 Folding Stock Adapter effectively allows that pesky buffer tube to be folded out of the way when not in use. Although I have yet to install one on a rifle, the Folding Stock Adapter can be used on any AR-15 or AR-10 rifle to reduce overall transport length.
Short Does Not Mean Inaccurate
The reality is, a short AR-15 barrel is structurally stiffer than a 16- or 18-inch barrel, and thus can actually be more accurate—in theory. Anyone believing the myth that only long barrels can be accurate, should talk to some of the Thompson Center Contender shooters who can regularly shoot ½-inch 100-yard groups from a 10-inch single-shot pistol. Being one of those Contender owners who has pulled off that feat, I took a different approach to what most people think of as a blasting, plinking, and bullet-spraying AR-15 pistol. I now believe the AR-15 pistol can be one of the best and lightest firearm tools for personal defense, hunting, sporting, and survival.
Accuracy Can Be Amazing With Magnification
Testing both a Barnes Precision Machine SBR, and one of my custom, AR-15 pistol builds, I was able to achieve regular sub-MOA 100-yard groups with magnified optics. So the accuracy potential is there. Unfortunately, in most cases, just a red-dot is mounted to most AR-15 pistols. Even with a just a red-dot sight, an AR-15 with FMJ rounds is a workable solution for taking small game in a survival situation. Many rounds designed for mid-sized game or with ballistic tipped or hollow point defensive rounds, the AR-15 can deliver a lot of utility is many situations.
Consider a prismatic 1X optic from Burris or Vortex that can substantially upgrade waning and aging vision. Low power 1-4 magnification optics are also excellent options for AR-15 pistols to deliver a surprising level of precision from a short, compact, and light AR-15 format. Magnified optics can be easily used via check welds on the buffer tube. Allegedly, AR-15 pistols without stabilizing braces equipped—only buffer tubes—can be shouldered and deliver very little recoil. However, this concept of shouldering an AR-15 pistol is still up for debate. The cheek weld is a workable solution for shooting with magnified optics.
If You Have a CCW License, You Are Probably Cool to Pack One
Obviously, you should check to assure your locale does not have any extra stipulations, but an AR-15 pistol is classified as… well “a pistol.” If you have a CCW license, it should therefore be legal to stuff a loaded AR-15 pistol into a backpack and have this on your person or in your car. In many locales, it is not OK to have a loaded rifle in your vehicle. However, it is generally OK to have a loaded pistol (any pistol, even an AR-15 pistol) in your vehicle if you have a CCW license. When it happens, it happens fast and the ability to respond is critical—an AR-15 pistol in a backpack can deploy in under a second. Notably, backpacks can hold body armor plates, which could come in handy.
A Lot of Firepower and Accuracy Right Freaking Now
Although the vast majority of deadly encounters happen under seven yards, there are plenty of situations where an AR-15 pistol, with the ability to deliver headshot accuracy out to 300-yards, could be the difference between life and death. Can you imagine being stranded with just your trusty Glock for small-game hunting for survival or to defend yourself in an active terrorist attack situation? My bet is that at that moment, you would want an AR-15 pistol to accurately take those shots or to protect you while getting to safety.
They Are Easy to Shoot & Great for Home Defense
The recoil impulse of the .223/5.56 round is far less in an AR-15 pistol than the felt recoil of a 9mm in your average handgun. Almost everyone finds them fun, fast, and accurate to shoot—fast and very accurately. Knowing that, would you rather have a handgun or an AR-15 pistol with 30 or 40 rounds of some nasty Liberty or Hornady ammo on tap if faced a home invasion situation? The overall compact size makes the AR-15 pistol the perfect tool for home defense and delivers a formidable weapon.
Concealable Firepower
In most cases, a typical AR-15 pistol build will be less than 26 inches in length. With a LAW Tactical Folding stock adapter, the folded length can be 18 inches. With a DOLOS Quick Detachable Barrel adapter, the barrel can be pulled to deliver an AR-15 pistol package with the barrel removed that can be less than 9 inches but can still be brought into action in under 3-5 seconds. With the variety of ammo, calibers, and magazine capacity available for the AR-15 format, a little AR-15 pistol tucked into a messenger bag or backpack can equalize many very bad situations.
Even a larger 10- to 12-inch barreled AR-15 pistol can fit into a standard daypack by just removing the upper. With a magazine still left in the lower, the upper can be remounted to the lower and brought into action just a few seconds delivering very accurate firepower.
Just Try It
A buddy of mine said, “Just try it once and you will be hooked.” He was correct. Even my always-skeptical wife fell in love with the custom AR-15 pistol I delivered to her. After only one magazine, she was sold on the idea that it was great for home defense and far less wieldy than a rifle.
The Ultimate Trunk Gun
Whether most of the gun folks will admit it, at one time or another, we have all thought that it would be a really good idea to have a trunk gun AR-15. Based on several AR-15 rifle and pistol builds, my opinion is that a 10-inch barrel AR-15 pistol delivers nearly everything needed for 90% of foreseeable situations. With the idea that you are just attempting to survive long enough to get home, the 10-inch barreled AR-15 pistol drastically reduces the deafening crack of shorter barreled AR-15 pistols to a tolerable level. Outdoors all that is needed are simple earplugs for comfortable shooting. The 10-inch barrel delivers a lot of accuracy, preserves much of the energy of the .223/5.56 round, and still provides for a size which is easily stowable inside a standard looking backpack. I have several 10-inch AR-15 pistols set up into kits based on pedestrian looking Eddie Bauer backpacks.
Within this Eddie Bauer pack is a 10-inch AR-15 pistol and three coupled magazines—in total over 200 rounds of ammo. The coupled magazines are loaded in tandem with Fiocchi 50-grain AMAX ballistic tip hollow points. The second magazine has standard green tips, which can handle engaging hard targets or dropping small game without significant damage to meat.
Do, or would, you carry an AR-15 pistol? What configuration and setup? Do you have a folding stock with a Law Tactical adapter? Share your answers in the comment section.
Major Pandemic is an editor at large who loves everything about shooting, hunting, the outdoors, and all those lifesaving little survival related products. His goal is simple, tell a good story in the form of a truthful review all while having fun. He contributes content to a wide variety of print and digital magazines and newsletters for companies and manufacturers throughout the industry with content exposure to over 2M readers monthly. www.MajorPandemic.com
Thank you!!!
What’s the protocol for a single point sling on a Law folding device. I’m looking at a Tactical Link single point sling. Is this doable on a 7.5″ diamondback pistol or will I need to find another sling. Thanks and very insightful article????????
Chris
I have a Law folding stock on my AR15 carbine, which I use with a single point sling. The Law device has a socket in it to accept a quick disconnect sling swivel, and it works well.
In your article above you mention ” check weld”. What is a check weld? Or are you trying to say “cheek weld”? In the future, Please use “Spell Check”, before you put an article to print. Thank you P.S. If I am wrong, Please forgive me for my arrogance.
Even the editor misses one once in awhile. Thanks for the sharp-eyed catch. It is fixed. BTW, spell check will not flag “check.” It is a properly spelled word. ~Dave Dolbee
I have the Deadfoot Arms folding stock adapter which allows the rifle to be fired with the stock folded. It is a little more proprietary, but it does have a lot of benefits that I feel outweigh the disadvantages. Also, they are a 100% veteran owned company. Anytime I can support those who have fought for me and my family, I will.
Very interesting. I didn’t know about this, when I made my last AR build.
As you mentioned in your article “an AR-15 pistol in a backpack can deploy in under a second.” I’ll have to call BS, I’d bet my house & contents on that one. I’d also bet you probably couldn’t draw an open carry pistol on your hip or where ever you carry in under a second….with sights on the perp!
Now if you meant 10 sec that’s a whole different story.
What happens if the gun is fired in the folded configuration? What safety and/or “bolt eat my face” mitigation is built in, how does it work, and what is the efficacy?
So…. What happens if the firearm is fired while the buffer tube is folded? Does the bolt group go flying out the back or is there a disconnector to keep it from firing? You now some fool will try it
The LT Folding stock adapter can be fired from the folded position. It is not “recommended” from LT, but it can be done and has been done. The bolt and bolt extension do not fly back. When you fold the stock, the button disengages causing a metal tab to protrude from the left side of the adapter into the center of the adapter essentially holding the bcg from moving. When and if you fire the rifle or pistol, the round will not eject from the chamber, rather the bullet will leave the gun and the bcg will not move. To fire again though, you would need to fold the stock back into standard position, pull back on the charging handle which will eject the spent casing and pull a new round in, and then the rifle or pistol will act just like a standard ar-15, ejecting spent casings and picking up a fresh round after each shot.
Yes, the firearm may fire once, but remember you are porting high pressure gas through a tube or piston against the BCG, which doesn’t know it won’t cycle until the gas hits it. I think there is a lot of potential for damage to the gas system.
That is a possibility but very unlikely especially since it’s only being shot once at a time in that manner. The AR platform is made to take a beating. On the other hand, I would not shoot with the stock folded if you are running a piston system instead of standard direct impingement system, the piston physically pushes on the bcg which could deteriorate or break the piston system if the energy has nowhere to go.
I HAVE A FOLDING ADAPTER ON MY ARMALITE AR-180 AND IT IS VERY SOLID AND NO WOBBLE WHETHER OPEN OR FOLDED… AND YES, IT DOES WORK BOTH WAYS ……
The article has a link to everything you could imagine…EXCEPT for the product being reviewed.
Good job as always, CTD!
While The Shooter’s Log does support Cheaper Than Dirt!‘s e-commerce platform, we often choose to review products we do not sell simply because we believe they are cool and beneficial to the reader. ~Dave Dolbee
A great idea, but at $250 a pop, I’ll pass.
KOWABUNGA! That certainly IS pretty pricey for a couple of small hunks of small metal, isn’t it?
Outside of that, the ability to continue to minimize an AR platform pistol could be a HUGE boon to those who wish to CCW that kind of weapon in a small pack or, say, gym bag, and not arouse suspicion.
If I wore to be working in an office setting where a suit is the corning requirement and hidden pistols frowned upon (if not downright disapproved of!) but a stylish small pack seen as the preppy accoutrement (is “preppy” still a thing?!? LOL) and goes essentially unnoticed, this COULD be a real game changer. Especially in an office setting and an active shooter situation.
Another possibility is a truck driver who delivers, say, liquor into seedy parts of town for his employer. Given today’s political climate and propensity for BLM or whatever miscreant group who is disenchanted, disenfranchised, “Man Bun,” Logger Beard wearing, Birkenstock loving A-Holes who want to knock off your truck and get intoxicated while burning down the local Starfux, er Starbucks, well, again having a small AR platform pistol with minimal hidden footprint available to allow escape COULD be a real game-changer and life saver.
So I’m torn. I don’t have the cashola to put out for one at the moment, but I’m thinking that completing my AR pistol buildup with one of these would be a GREAT little tool to put in my truck for those SHTF moments you happen to be enveloped by through no fault of your own.
Like when you run out of mustache wax and just MUST buy some before settling down with a pitcher of Sangria and a bowl of Nacho’s! LMAO
Very cool.
So where do I buy the adapter and foe how much?
I got mine. It was $269, which is a bit pricey. However, I can’t fit an AR in the trunk of my car without folding the stock.
I recently had seen these at the USASOCsniper compition at ft bragg and loved the idea.
Purchased mine for around 200. Per unit, bought 4.
I did put on a sbr, makes it very quick and easy to get into action.
The plug (bolt extension can come out when disassembling, which you will want to when cleaning bolt carrier.
It is not for everyone, but it does a great job of reducing length when needed.
My reply originally contained the name of the company from which I purchased the Folding Stock Adaptor. Apparently CTD doesn’t want to include that in the post, even though they do not sell this item themselves.
Google is your friend.
We have bosses. Mine pays the bills and makes this all possible. His sandbox and his rules.
What buffer tube are you using? And what/how did you get that cord wrap on the pistol grip backstrap….and why?
Thanks.
I have a Law Folding Stock Adaptor on my last AR carbine build. I did this to get the firearm to fit in the trunk of my sports car. It was relatively straight forward to install, it is solidly constructed, and it is easy to deploy and fold.
I did have one problem during a tactical carbine course in that one of the locking screws loosened up and introduced some wobble into the stock. This was easily fixed and could be mitigated by some Loktite Blue
Aside from that, the presence of the “plug” in the BCG somewhat complicates the removal of the upper from the lower, in that they can not be pivoted apart by removal of the rear pin. Both pins must be removed and the upper moved forward and tilted up to clear the plug from the adapter.
Another interesting article. As I am about to embark on my first ground up AR build,. I might be interested in the folding stock option. But it might be a little while before I go to a pistol type. Another question I have is what about the Fed regulations regarding short barrel rifles? I haven’t kept up with the current laws.
SBR’s are covered under the NFA, just like fully automatic weapons and (for now) suppressors. You will need to apply, register, be photographed, fingerprinted, and pay a $200 fee.
That’s why people build pistols – they are not NFA controlled, and they can be fitted with a stabilizer that goes over your arm to assist with holding the firearm. Recent information from BATF (I am not a lawyer, yada yada yada) indicates that they may occasionally be used to obtain a cheek weld, which makes them the equivalent of a butt stock. But if you add a butt stock to an AR pistol, it becomes an SBR and needs to be registered. In fact, there may be a rule against such a conversion in the first place.