A Potent PDW: Palmetto State Armory’s 10.5in Pistol

AR pistols make a lot of sense for a lot of reasons- they’re light, compact, handy, and flat out badass to shoot. There’s always been something about running a short barreled weapon that just feels cool. But feelings aside, short barreled weapons have a bunch of utility especially if your aim is in keeping a lower profile or operating in and out of vehicles. For a less-permissive environment, such as an urban area, keeping a compact weapon like an AR pistol or CZ Scorpion is a better option than a full-blown carbine. You can stow it easily behind a seat or inside a bailout bag for superior firepower over a pistol when a low profile or remaining clandestine is necessary.

The pistol is light and fast when paired with the Primary Arms 1x Cyclops.

I’ve been running a 10.5in AR pistol from Palmetto State since May of last year. Unlike a lot of reviews out there, I’d rather run something for a long period of time to give true thoughts on it. Bottom line up front, this is a weapon that I think presents a great option for anyone fitting the categories above. Its accurate, has been 100% reliable, and the 5.56, while losing a bit out of a shorter barrel, still carries plenty of energy to get the job done within 200m.

The bolt face and lugs show no signs of premature wear or damage.

This pistol has been with me for a handful of field-based classes since May, including a Scout Course and two Carbine courses, where it was run by myself and other students. In all it has approximately 2k rounds, which is not a high round count, but over that time the pistol has been purposefully neglected in cleaning and proper lubrication simply to induce failure. I can say that no failures have been observed- from the initial break-in to the present- running the same USGI aluminum magazines and for the most part, the same 55gr range ammo. The reason for this is consistency over time and to isolate any possible variables causing malfunctions should any occur. I’m surprised to report zero malfunctions, which was unexpected, even when run by students in class.

100m accuracy is perfectly acceptable with 55gr Norma range ammo.

Accuracy has also been impressive. Many think short barrels equate reduced accuracy, and this is not necessarily true when used inside its own parameters. I think of this weapon the same way I do the Mk18- a short personal defense weapon tailor-made for running in tight environments by personnel occupied by other primary tasks- and this pistol fulfills its role within 200m effectively especially when paired with Primary Arms’ 1x Cyclops optic. Its not a precision weapon and should not be thought of as one, but putting up a five round group (including one flyer that was completely on me) inside a couple inches with cheap ammo and a 1x optic is excellent. I cannot find fault with it.

So far this weapon has checked all my boxes to give it a go. The MLOK handguard makes adding any accessories quick, simple and secure, and my battered old Surefire G2 sits very snugly in its Odin Works mount. If I have one criticism of this weapon, I’d say the handguard is just a bit short for my taste; then again, its the same complaint most have with the standard M4 rail interface system. I’m just used to running rifle-length tubes, and going shorter makes my support hand feel a bit cramped. Going from my 14.5in PSA or 16in BCM to this always forces me to think a bit more about hand placement. That said, if you’re primarily running a shorter AR all the time, its not an issue.

I’m happy. And at the price point PSA is putting this little gem out at, just over $500, I think its a no-brainer.

Spread the love
                

Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!

About the Author: NC Scout

NC Scout is the nom de guerre of a former Infantry Scout and Sergeant in one of the Army’s best Reconnaissance Units. He has combat tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He teaches a series of courses focusing on small unit skills rarely if ever taught anywhere else in the prepping and survival field, including his RTO Course which focuses on small unit communications. In his free time he is an avid hunter, bushcrafter, writer, long range shooter, prepper, amateur radio operator and Libertarian activist. He can be contacted at [email protected] or via his blog at brushbeater.wordpress.com .

17 Comments

  1. GT January 29, 2020 at 10:13

    Yep, the shorter hand guard makes hand placement an issue. This can become particularly obvious when adding a light. I’ve found that mounting the light on the opposite side of the rifle as normal works. I use a thumb over bore grip to activate the light when it’s needed. The light mount I went with is a little different, with some offset to it that moves it closer to 45 degrees without interfering with a folding front sight, and it just so happens to fit a G2 in it with the larger insert that it comes with. The smaller insert should fit a Streamlight 1L-1AA, which is a great light too that a lot of people seem to have on hand.

    https://www.amazon.com/Feyachi-M-Lok-Offset-Flashlight-System/dp/B07R9W7X11/ (not any kind of affiliate link)

    I also mounted a hand stop at 6 o’clock to keep my hand from disappearing should I get excited when using a short hand guard. Just to be safe I kept the length over 26 inches, but since it’s not a VFG I’m not sure it matters. Better to be safe than sorry tho- ATF doesn’t have a sense of humor.

  2. Hawkeye January 29, 2020 at 11:15

    4.5

  3. Atlas Shrug January 29, 2020 at 16:33

    Another key point that adds to the utility of AR pistols – they are covered in many states by the existing concealed handgun permits. Thus in states like mine (NC), or even the better option of Constitutional Carry states, one may have their AR pistol concealed. If you add in something like the LAW folding device, your AR can now be put into a medium sized backpack or gym bag. That, folks IMHO is a game changer.

    The net result is you can often legally have and conceal an AR pistol in an area where the AR rifle would not only be unwieldy, but may actually be illegally concealed or possessed.

    Yeah the goofy laws are the problem, but for now we need to stay inside of them….

    Keep your powder dry (and your AR short),
    Atlas Shrug

    • NC Scout January 29, 2020 at 17:39

      Exactly!

  4. Anonymous January 29, 2020 at 16:40

    3.5

  5. Matt Bracken January 30, 2020 at 15:01

    Better have your ear pro ready to go if you fire them from inside cars, or even outside. They are LOUD. (Another reason to consider suppressors SOP gear.)

  6. Berglander January 30, 2020 at 15:37

    I’m a fan of the pistol braces that use a standard carbine buffer. That way you can uh…cannibalize the buffer tube for something else if you need to do that. At some point. Or something.

  7. Berglander January 30, 2020 at 16:09

    Also, the Hornady BLACK 75 gr Interlok SBR rounds significantly reduce the miniature sun that occurs when you shoot these short barrels. I didn’t see it with the original A2 flash hider; when I switched to a brake/suppressor mount it was blinding. The SBR rounds give up some velocity in exchange for a non-existent nuclear flash.

  8. fitzsimmonscreek January 30, 2020 at 19:01

    These people can make you an AR barrel ( AR15 or AR10) in any barrel length and any gas system length to fit your present AR They shoot too. http://www.x-caliber.net/ar-barrels

  9. SemperFi, 0321 January 30, 2020 at 19:28

    And don’t have anything flammable in vicinity of face, shaving is optional. Noise aside, the blast can distract you.

  10. Johnny Paratrooper January 30, 2020 at 20:44

    I rock this same setup. But with an Eotech. The vertical, and horizontal markers, can be used to “Square Up” and “Level” your gun on target. You can use a building, door frame, or window as a reference because those are square, plumb, and level. Anyway, back to my point, the hash marks, and the outer ring in the Eotech Reticle, can be used to adjust fire with greater accuracy.

  11. Walter Zoomie January 31, 2020 at 06:07

    Looks sexy.

    https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-10-5-carbine-length-5-56-nato-1-7-nitride-12-slant-m-lok-upper-w-bcg-ch-mbus-sight-set-sparc-ii.html

    Any reason I couldn’t put this on a standard carbine lower…I mean…besides any pesky laws? It’s got backup irons, BCG and CH, and a red-dot.

    You gots me to thinkin’…

  12. Lawless January 31, 2020 at 07:20

    Have 4 10.5s myself and wrote about them a while back.

    Latest have old SWFA1-4HD LPVOs on them and are good to a fair piece.

  13. Anonymous January 31, 2020 at 09:18

    4.5

  14. thesouthwasrght January 31, 2020 at 09:51

    Absolutely no thanks to that in 556. Hell to the no. Now an ar pistol in 300AAC is the tits.

    Outside of the caliber choice I agree with the article regarding AR pistols.

  15. Him February 1, 2020 at 10:37

    Working out of cars? Or commandeered dump trucks!

  16. Anonymous February 1, 2020 at 22:41

    5

Comments are closed.

GUNS N GEAR

Categories

Archives

Spread the love