The AR-556 Pistol family expands with a .300 Blackout offering.
A latecomer to the AR-15 market, Ruger still continues at a somewhat moderated pace in this niche. Example, it took until this spring for the behemoth to offer an AR-15 pistol, which has been a pretty standard selection among most other makers for a while now. Though, the company has picked up the pace since, recently introducing its AR-556 Pistol in a new chambering.
One guess what it eats. If you answered .300 Blackout, not only are you correct but have paid at least passing attention to how AR rollouts usually go.
All joking aside, the eminently suppressible round is a solid choice for the abbreviated platform. If not in the least, you can take mercy on your earholes opting for the vast array of sub-sonic ammunition now available. Even better, originally developed to perform well out of shorter barrels, the .300 Blackout is a natural choice for an AR pistol. At the very least, it doesn’t face the reliability issues the 5.56 sometimes encounters in the platform.
So, what do you get with Ruger’s .300 BLK AR-556 Pistol? About the same as the 5.56, which includes:
- SB Tactical SBA3 Pistol brace
- 10.5-inch hammer-forged 4140 chrome-moly barrel
- 7075-T6 aluminum receivers (flattop upper with forward assist)
- 9-inch long handguard, Picatinny rail up top and ample M-Lok slots
- 5/8″-24 threaded barrel with factory-install thread protector
- Shot peened and proof tested 9310 alloy steel bolt
- M4 feed ramp
The major difference between the AR-556 Pistol variations are the gas systems. The .300 BLK has a pistol-length system and the 5.56 is carbine-length. Also price. You’ll pay a bit more for the .30-caliber – around $50 more – with the new pistol’s MSRP $949.
More from Ruger:
Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. (NYSE-RGR) is pleased to announce a new AR-556 Pistol chambered in .300 Blackout. The second addition to the Ruger AR-556 Pistol line features a 10.50” cold hammer-forged barrel with a 1:7” twist and pistol-length gas system to reliably function with both the lightest supersonic hunting rounds and heavy, subsonic rounds.
This new .300 Blackout model is equipped with an adjustable SB Tactical SBA3 Pistol Stabilizing Brace that features a minimalist design and integral QD sling sockets. The pistol also boasts a 9” aluminum free-float handguard with Magpul M-LOK accessory attachment slots for easy user customization.
The dust cover and metal magazine are marked with the caliber for easy identification of both the pistol and ammunition. The pistol-length gas system is tuned to run with a wide variety of ammunition, with or without a silencer. The 5/8”-24 muzzle threads are capped with a thread protector.
For more information on the AR-556 Pistol, or to learn more about the extensive line of award-winning Ruger firearms, visit Ruger.com or Facebook.com/Ruger. To find accessories for the AR-556 Pistol and other Ruger firearms, visit ShopRuger.com or your local independent retailer of Ruger firearms.
AR-556 Pistol In .300 BLK Specs
Brace: Tactical SBA3 Pistol Stabilizing Brace
Handguard: Free-Float with M-LOK Attachment Slots
Sights: None
Barrel Length: 10.50″
Thread Pattern: 5/8″-24
Twist: 1:7″ RH
Capacity: 30
Finish: Type III Hard Coat Anodized
Height: 7.20″
Weight: 5.8 lb.
Overall Length: 25″ – 27.60″
Grooves: 5
MSRP: $949
Need More AR Knowledge:
- 7 Affordable 9mm Carbine Options
- Top Options In AR Pistols From Daniel Defense
- Properly Using A Defensive AR-15 From Cover
- Should You Own A Pistol Caliber Carbine?
For more information on the AR-556 Pistol, please visit www.ruger.com.
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