AR-15–style pistol

An AR-15–style pistol is a handgun assembled using an AR-15–style receiver with suitable parts to create a pistol held and fired with one hand.

History
Colt's Manufacturing Company began marketing the Colt AR-15 self-loading rifle in 1964. These rifles were assembled from interchangeable parts designed to allow replacement of malfunctioning parts without the gunsmith skills and tools required for most firearms. Other manufacturers produced similar parts with features not found on production rifles. Some of these parts can be assembled to create firearms with overall length or barrel-length shorter than rifle dimensions specified by law. These small firearms may be defined as pistols by local laws.

Disadvantages

 * The AR-15–style receiver is larger and heavier than most handgun actions.
 * Many AR-15 cartridges produce lower velocity with distracting muzzle flash and muzzle blast when fired from pistol barrels.

Publicity
AR-15–style pistols have been publicized by Hollywood films including Clear and Present Danger, Bad Boys, and Spawn.

They have been used in mass shootings in Boulder, Colorado, and Dayton, Ohio.