Ruger’s AR-556 Pistol Now Chambered in .300 Blackout
Quick Answer
The Ruger AR-556 Pistol in .300 Blackout is an AR-platform pistol built around a 10.5-inch barrel with a 1:7 twist and pistol-length gas system — a length that lets .300 BLK burn efficiently. It wears a 9-inch M-LOK free-float handguard and an adjustable SB Tactical SBA3 brace, weighs about 5.8 pounds, and ships with a 30-round magazine.
Ruger AR-556 Pistol in .300 Blackout: quick facts
What barrel length is the Ruger AR-556 .300 Blackout pistol?
10.5 inches with a 1:7 twist and a pistol-length gas system, which suits both supersonic and subsonic .300 Blackout loads.
How much does it weigh?
About 5.8 pounds, with an overall length between roughly 25 and 27.6 inches depending on the brace position.
Why .300 Blackout in a short barrel?
.300 BLK was designed to deliver strong performance from short barrels and to run well suppressed, making it a natural fit for a compact AR pistol.
Does it come with a brace?
Yes — an adjustable SB Tactical SBA3 stabilizing brace, plus a 9-inch M-LOK handguard and a 30-round magazine.
Don’t know why they didn’t call it the AR-300…
The mad geniuses who do the marketing at Ruger have managed it again: They’ve made me decide that I absolutely do not have enough rifle-caliber pistols (to offset my collection of pistol-caliber carbines, naturally) with the introduction of their new AR-556 Pistol chambered in .300 Blackout. This suppressor-ready handgun features an adjustable SB Tactical SBA3 Pistol Stabilizing Brace, making it perfect for folks with limited strength or mobility in their upper bodies.
This new chambering is actually the second addition to the Ruger AR-556 Pistol line, with a 10.50-inch cold hammer-forged barrel with a 1:7-inch twist and pistol-length gas system to reliably function with both the lightest supersonic hunting rounds and heavy, subsonic rounds. That means that whether you’re doing some casual target shooting with friends or doing some handgun hunting, the AR-556 won’t let you down. Add a can and the .300 Blackout ammunition will turn the experience more hearing-friendly than you ever imagined.
The Pistol Stabilizing Brace features a minimalist design and integral QD sling sockets. The 5.56 Blackout pistol also boasts a 9-inch aluminum free-float handguard with Magpul M-LOK accessory attachment slots so you can mount a light, an optic…whatever you like. The MSRP appears to be $899, although chances are quite good that you’ll be able to find it for less at dealers.
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.
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IF IT’S NOT CHAMBERED FOR 5.56 CAN YOU GET THE 300 IN PISTOL FORM:?
I ALWAYS THOUGHT THE 300 WAS STRICTLY RIFLE: I HAVEN’T SEEN THE 300
IN PISTOL FORM AROUND HERE WHERE I LIVE:
Ha! If they would have come out with this a month ago, it would have saved me from buying the 5.56 version, and then purchasing a PSA 300 Blk Out upper.