How long is an AR pistol? A typical AR pistol with a 10.5-inch barrel is 25 to 28 inches long (63.5 to 71.1 cm) with its pistol brace fitted. The exact length depends on the brace: about 25.3 inches (64.26 cm) with the brace collapsed and up to about 28.25 inches (71.75 cm) with the brace fully extended. It weighs about 5.5 to 6.5 pounds (2.49 to 2.95 kg) unloaded.
An AR pistol is an AR-15 pattern firearm with a barrel shorter than 16 inches and no rifle stock. Instead of a stock, it has a stabilizing brace on the buffer tube at the rear. That is the whole size story: a shorter barrel up front and a brace instead of a stock at the back. The most common barrel lengths are 7.5 inches, 10.5 inches and 11.5 inches, and each one changes the overall length by roughly the same amount as the barrel difference.
AR Pistol Length at a Glance
| Measurement | Inches | Centimeters | Millimeters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barrel length, 7.5-inch model | 7.5 in | 19.05 cm | 190.5 mm |
| Barrel length, 10.5-inch model | 10.5 in | 26.67 cm | 266.7 mm |
| Barrel length, 11.5-inch model | 11.5 in | 29.21 cm | 292.1 mm |
| Overall length, 7.5-inch barrel | 22–25 in | 55.88–63.5 cm | 558.8–635 mm |
| Overall length, 10.5-inch barrel | 25–28.25 in | 63.5–71.75 cm | 635–717.5 mm |
| Overall length, 11.5-inch barrel | 27–30.4 in | 68.58–77.22 cm | 685.8–772.2 mm |
| Weight, typical (unloaded) | — | 5–6.5 lb (2.27–2.95 kg) | — |
| Cartridge overall length (5.56 NATO) | 2.26 in | 5.74 cm | 57.4 mm |
| Cartridge case length (5.56 NATO) | 1.76 in | 4.47 cm | 44.7 mm |
| Bullet diameter (5.56 NATO) | 0.224 in | 0.57 cm | 5.7 mm |
Quick tip: overall length changes with the brace and the muzzle device. Two pistols with the same 10.5-inch barrel can differ by about 3 inches, so always check the manufacturer’s listed overall length for the exact model.
How Long Is an AR Pistol with a 10.5-Inch Barrel?
An AR pistol with a 10.5-inch barrel is 25 to 28.25 inches long. That is 63.5 to 71.75 centimeters, or 2.08 to 2.35 feet. The 10.5-inch barrel itself is 26.67 centimeters (266.7 mm) long, which is 0.88 feet.
The 10.5-inch barrel is the most popular AR pistol length, so there are plenty of real examples. The Ruger AR-556 Pistol measures 25.30 to 27.90 inches (64.26 to 70.87 cm) with its adjustable SB Tactical SBA3 brace, the Rock River Arms RRAGE pistol measures 28.25 inches (71.75 cm), the POF P415 pistol measures 28 inches (71.12 cm), the Radical Firearms pistol with a Maxim CQB brace measures 27.5 inches (69.85 cm), and the Black Rain Ordnance Spec15 pistol measures 26.25 inches (66.68 cm). The Anderson AM-15 pistol is listed at about 26 to 30 inches (66.04 to 76.2 cm) from collapsed to extended.
The spread is about 3 inches, and almost all of it comes from the brace. An adjustable brace like the SBA3 slides along the buffer tube through several positions, adding roughly 2.5 to 3 inches when fully extended. The barrel, the receiver and the handguard are the same size on all of these pistols, so the brace position is what moves the total length.
AR Pistol Barrel Lengths: 7.5 Inches, 10.5 Inches and 11.5 Inches
The barrel is the first thing that sets an AR pistol’s size. These are the three barrel lengths you will see most often, and each one has a clear trade-off between size and velocity.
- 7.5-inch barrel: the ultra-compact option. A 7.5-inch barrel is 19.05 cm (190.5 mm) long, and a pistol built around it is about 22 to 25 inches long overall (55.88 to 63.5 cm). The ATI Alpha Maxx pistol with a 7.5-inch barrel measures 24.5 inches (62.23 cm) overall and weighs about 5.5 pounds (2.49 kg). A 55-grain 5.56 round leaves a 7.5-inch barrel at roughly 2,380 feet per second (725 m/s), which is the slowest of the three lengths, and the short barrel makes the loudest blast and the biggest muzzle flash.
- 10.5-inch barrel: the most popular AR pistol length. A 10.5-inch barrel is 26.67 cm (266.7 mm) long, and a pistol built around it is 25 to 28.25 inches long overall (63.5 to 71.75 cm). This is the classic Mk18-style length, and it is the balance point: short enough to move easily in tight spaces, long enough to keep the gas system reliable. A 55-grain round runs at roughly 2,650 feet per second (808 m/s) from a 10.5-inch barrel.
- 11.5-inch barrel: the longest of the three common pistol lengths, and the one many shooters pick for a duty or home-defense pistol. An 11.5-inch barrel is 29.21 cm (292.1 mm) long, and a pistol built around it is 27 to 30.4 inches long overall (68.58 to 77.22 cm). The BCM RECCE-11 KMR-A measures 27 inches (68.58 cm) and weighs 5.1 pounds (2.31 kg), the BCM RECCE-11 MCMR measures 27 inches collapsed and 29.9 inches extended (68.58 to 75.95 cm) and weighs 5.6 pounds (2.54 kg), and the Geissele Super Duty 11.5-inch pistol measures 27.75 to 30.4 inches (70.48 to 77.22 cm) and weighs about 6 pounds (2.72 kg). The extra inch over a 10.5-inch barrel adds roughly 70 feet per second, to about 2,720 feet per second (829 m/s), and the mid-length gas system on most 11.5-inch barrels runs softer than the carbine gas on shorter barrels.
Velocity figures are approximate real-world averages from chronograph testing, and the exact number depends on the ammunition, the barrel and the temperature. The pattern is what matters: every inch of barrel you remove costs velocity, and the loss gets steeper below 14 inches, at roughly 80 to 105 feet per second per inch.
What Is a Pistol Brace, and Why Does It Change the Length?
An AR pistol uses a stabilizing brace instead of a rifle stock. The brace mounts on the buffer tube at the rear of the receiver and is designed to wrap around or rest against the shooter’s forearm. It is shorter and lighter than a stock, and most braces are adjustable, sliding through several positions on the buffer tube.
That adjustment is why one pistol can have two different overall lengths. A pistol listed at 25.3 to 27.9 inches, like the Ruger AR-556, is 25.3 inches with the brace pushed all the way in and 27.9 inches with the brace pulled all the way out, a difference of 2.6 inches. The fixed parts of the gun never change. Only the brace moves.
One short note on the rules: an AR pistol is not a rifle, and the rules about braces, overall length and accessories vary by country and by state, and they have changed over time. In the United States, a rifle must have a barrel of at least 16 inches and an overall length of at least 26 inches (66.04 cm), which is why many AR pistols sit just above or just below that 26-inch line. Check the current rules where you live before buying or building one. This article is about sizes, not legal advice.
How Much Does an AR Pistol Weigh?
A typical AR pistol weighs about 5 to 6.5 pounds (2.27 to 2.95 kg) unloaded. The exact weight depends on the barrel profile, the handguard and the brace. The BCM RECCE-11 at 11.5 inches weighs 5.1 pounds (2.31 kg), the BCM RECCE-11 MCMR weighs 5.6 pounds (2.54 kg), the Geissele Super Duty 11.5-inch pistol weighs about 6 pounds (2.72 kg), the Radical Firearms 10.5-inch pistol weighs 5.5 pounds (2.49 kg), and the POF P415 pistol in .300 Blackout weighs 6.42 pounds (2.91 kg). The ATI Alpha Maxx 7.5-inch pistol weighs about 5.5 pounds (2.49 kg), so the shortest barrel does not always mean the lightest pistol.
That weight is about the same as a 16-inch AR-15 rifle, which runs about 6.1 to 6.6 pounds. The pistol saves length, not much weight, because the receiver, the bolt carrier group and the magazine are the same. A loaded 30-round magazine adds roughly 1 pound, so a ready-to-shoot AR pistol is about 6 to 7.5 pounds.
How Big Is the 5.56 Cartridge?
Most AR pistols are chambered in 5.56 NATO, the same cartridge as the AR-15 rifle. It is a small, fast rifle round, and its size explains why the AR pistol and the AR-15 rifle share magazines and bolts.
- Bullet diameter: 0.224 inches (5.7 mm)
- Case length: 1.76 inches (44.7 mm)
- Overall cartridge length: 2.26 inches maximum (57.4 mm)
- Maximum pressure: about 62,000 psi
- Common bullet weights: 55 to 77 grains (55 and 62 grains are the most common)
Some AR pistols are chambered in .300 Blackout instead. That cartridge uses the same 2.26-inch overall length, so it feeds from the same magazines, but its case is shorter at 1.368 inches (34.7 mm) and its bullet is bigger at 0.308 inches (7.8 mm). A .300 Blackout pistol with a 10.5-inch barrel is about the same length as a 5.56 pistol with the same barrel, because the cartridge does not change the size of the gun.
AR Pistol vs AR-15 Rifle: Same Parts, Different Size
An AR pistol and an AR-15 rifle are built from the same parts. The lower receiver, the bolt carrier group, the trigger and the 30-round magazine are identical. Only two things change: the barrel is shorter than 16 inches, and the stock is replaced by a brace.
The size difference is easy to see in the numbers. The M4 carbine in 5.56 is 33 inches long with the stock extended (83.82 cm) and 29.75 inches with the stock retracted (75.57 cm), with a 14.5-inch barrel (36.83 cm) and a weight of 6.43 pounds empty (2.92 kg). A 16-inch AR-15 rifle is 32.5 to 35.75 inches long (82.55 to 90.81 cm). A 10.5-inch AR pistol at 25 to 28.25 inches is about 5 to 8 inches shorter than the rifle, and an 11.5-inch pistol at 27 to 30.4 inches is about 2 to 6 inches shorter.
The shorter barrel costs velocity. A 55-grain round leaves a 16-inch barrel at roughly 3,050 feet per second (930 m/s), a 10.5-inch barrel at roughly 2,650 feet per second (808 m/s), and an 11.5-inch barrel at roughly 2,720 feet per second (829 m/s). That is a loss of about 400 feet per second going from a 16-inch rifle to a 10.5-inch pistol, and about 330 feet per second going to an 11.5-inch pistol. The pistol wins on size and handling, and the rifle wins on velocity and range.
Everyday Size Comparisons: How Long Is an AR Pistol Really?
A number like 28.25 inches is hard to picture on its own. Here is how an AR pistol, at 25 to 30.4 inches long depending on the barrel, compares with things you already know.
Tennis Racket
A standard adult tennis racket is 27 inches long (68.58 cm). A 10.5-inch AR pistol at 25.3 to 28.25 inches is almost exactly the same length as a tennis racket: 1.7 inches shorter at the collapsed end and 1.25 inches longer at the extended end. If you stand the pistol next to a racket, the two end within an inch of each other.
Skateboard
A standard street skateboard is about 31 inches long (78.74 cm). A 10.5-inch AR pistol is 2.75 to 5.7 inches shorter than a skateboard, and an 11.5-inch pistol at 27 to 30.4 inches is 0.6 to 4 inches shorter. The pistol is close to a skateboard in length, but the skateboard still wins by a few inches.
Baseball Bat
An adult baseball bat is 34 inches long (86.36 cm). A 10.5-inch AR pistol is 5.75 to 8.7 inches shorter than a bat, and even the longest 11.5-inch pistol at 30.4 inches is 3.6 inches shorter. The bat is longer than every common AR pistol.
Umbrella
A large stick umbrella is about 36 inches long when closed (91.44 cm). A 10.5-inch AR pistol is 7.75 to 10.7 inches shorter than a closed umbrella, and an 11.5-inch pistol is 5.6 to 9 inches shorter. The umbrella is longer than any AR pistol in this article.
Acoustic Guitar
A standard full-size acoustic guitar is about 40 inches long (101.6 cm). A 10.5-inch AR pistol is 11.75 to 14.7 inches shorter than a guitar, and an 11.5-inch pistol is 9.6 to 13 inches shorter. The guitar is roughly a foot longer than the pistol.
Hockey Stick
A senior hockey stick is about 60 inches long (152.4 cm). An 11.5-inch AR pistol at 30.4 inches is about half as long as a hockey stick, or 29.6 inches shorter. Two pistols end to end would be about 60.8 inches, just about an inch longer than one hockey stick.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is an AR pistol?
A typical AR pistol with a 10.5-inch barrel is 25 to 28.25 inches long (63.5 to 71.75 cm) with its brace fitted, depending on the brace position, and weighs about 5.5 to 6.5 pounds (2.49 to 2.95 kg). A 7.5-inch barrel pistol is about 22 to 25 inches long, and an 11.5-inch barrel pistol is 27 to 30.4 inches long.
Is an AR pistol shorter than an AR-15 rifle?
Yes. A 10.5-inch AR pistol at 25 to 28.25 inches is about 5 to 8 inches shorter than a 16-inch AR-15 rifle, which is 32.5 to 35.75 inches long. The pistol saves its length from the shorter barrel and the brace, which is shorter than a rifle stock.
How long is a 10.5-inch AR pistol?
A 10.5-inch AR pistol is 25 to 28.25 inches long overall (63.5 to 71.75 cm). The Ruger AR-556 Pistol measures 25.30 to 27.90 inches, the Rock River Arms RRAGE measures 28.25 inches, and the POF P415 measures 28 inches. The range comes from the brace position.
What is the shortest common AR pistol barrel?
The shortest common AR pistol barrel is 7.5 inches (19.05 cm). A pistol built around it is about 22 to 25 inches long overall. The ATI Alpha Maxx pistol with a 7.5-inch barrel measures 24.5 inches (62.23 cm) and weighs about 5.5 pounds (2.49 kg). Shorter barrels exist, but 7.5 inches is the shortest length sold by major makers as a complete pistol.
Does the brace change the overall length?
Yes. An adjustable brace slides along the buffer tube through several positions, and moving it from fully collapsed to fully extended adds about 2.5 to 3 inches. That is why one pistol can be listed with two lengths, for example 25.30 to 27.90 inches for the Ruger AR-556 Pistol.
Conclusion
An AR pistol with a 10.5-inch barrel is 25 to 28.25 inches long (63.5 to 71.75 cm) and weighs about 5.5 to 6.5 pounds (2.49 to 2.95 kg). That makes it almost exactly the same length as a tennis racket, a few inches shorter than a skateboard, and about 5 to 8 inches shorter than a 16-inch AR-15 rifle. The 7.5-inch version is the most compact at about 22 to 25 inches, and the 11.5-inch version is the longest pistol length at 27 to 30.4 inches, with a little more velocity to show for it. The brace sets the final number, so check the manufacturer’s listed overall length for the exact model you are looking at.
Related Guides
- How Long Is an AR-15? Length & Dimensions Guide (2026)
- How Long Is a 300 Blackout Rifle? Length, Barrel & Size Guide
- How Long Is an M4 Carbine Rifle?
- How Long Is an HK416 Rifle?
- How Long Is an FN SCAR Rifle?
Hi, I’m Michael Carter, I write simple, everyday size guides so you can picture any measurement in seconds.