Ruger AR-556 5.56 NATO 10.5” Pistol -8570 Review and Buyers Guide

I have been using standard AR-style pistols for a while now, and I can ascertain that the 5.56 NATO Ruger AR-556  is one of the best you can get. It is made with premium accessories to Ruger’s precision standards to give you a great experience and serve you for a long time.

With the excellent features that this pistol possesses, not forgetting its high-performance capabilities, you can’t afford to miss getting a piece of the action with the  Ruger AR-556 5.56 pistol.

So, what’s that good thing about this gun? 

What Does This Pistol Have to Offer?

This pistol provides windage adjustability and a reliable aiming system. It’s also very comfortable to use and carry, making it one of the best AR-style pistols in the market today. 

This gun’s overall length is 25.30” when closed and about 27.90” when open and uses a 30 round Magpul PMAG making it very efficient. It’s also relatively light with a weight of 6.2 lbs, reducing strain and, as a result, improving the general ergonomics associated with the use of the gun.

Excellent Features of the Ruger AR-556 5.56 NATO 10.5” Pistol-8570

Adjustable SB Tactical® sba3™ Pistol Stabilizing Brace®

For the best accuracy, balance, and recoil management, the Ruger AR-556 pistol is fitted with an adjustable SB Tactical® SBA3™ Pistol Stabilizing Brace®. Another paramount importance of this SBA 3 is that it will give you excellent control and maneuverability of your Ruger AR-556 pistol. It also offers a base with an added ability to adjust the length so that it can fit most users.

This brace is  5-position adjustable, has an integral and ambidextrous QD sling socket, and has a minimalist design. It also includes a 7075 mil-spec carbine receiver extension and is veteran designed and proudly made in America’s united states.

Handguards

Its handguard is free-floating and has a 9-inch length; suppose you consider accuracy as a significant factor. In that case, this pistol provides you precisely what you need because the handguard is free-floating for it to enhance the much-required accuracy. Along the 3:00, 6:00, and 9:00 positions, there are Magpul M-LOK accessory attachment slots. Interestingly, there are other additional slots on the angled faces near the muzzle, which I found quite useful.

Durable Make

The Ruger AR-556 pistol is machined using the 9310 alloy steel. It is also shot-peened, and pressure-proof tested to ensure excellent strength, durability, and not forgetting the Ruger pistol’s structural integrity.

This gun is unarguably made to withstand great impact.

Bolt Lever Release

Changing magazines has never been easier. A bolt lever release function makes changing magazines much easier. With a click of a button, your old magazine slides out, and you can install your loaded magazine.

The process is easy and quick and, as a result, can prove to be of great importance to you. You will even love this function more because the carrier’s inside diameter and the gas key are chrome plated. The key is also staked for it to enhance durability.

Picatinny Rails

To get an excellent mounting platform, this pistol has Picatinny rails that act as an interface system. These rails give you a platform to mount any optical enhancers of your choice, including any types of lights, scopes, pistol grips, red dot sights, or lasers. 

These rails are precision machined with maximum strength heavy duty featuring a solid T6 aircraft-grade aluminum with four mil-spec Picatinny rails for versatile accessory applications. 

This handgun also gives a reliable locking feature, which keeps the barrel cooler by offering the most secure fit ventilation slots on the quad rail. This is possible since it allows maximum heat dissipation.

Aerospace-Grade 7075-t6 Aluminum Forging

The receiver material is made up of aerospace-grade 7075-T6 aluminum forging, and its upper receiver includes a forward assist, which is a button located near the bolt closure. 

Once you press this button, it will push the bolt carrier forward, ensuring that the bolt is locked. The upper receiver also includes a dust cover to keep dirt, dust, and other debris from dirtying your Ruger pistol.

Immediately after firing, this dust cover will open on its own, enabling the expended shell to eject from the ejection port. 

Brass Deflectors for Safe Operation

I think this happens to be one of the safest guns to use. The Ruger AR features brass deflectors to keep you and your company from getting burned. 

The empty rounds are redirected to one place to enhance easy pick-up. This is one sure way to protect your skin and clothes from the hot discharging brass.

Long Barrel Length

This pistol has a barrel length of 10.50 inches. When compared with other popular handguns, a barrel length of 10.5 inches is pretty much long and gives great accuracy. At the same time, it uses a standard carbine length buffer that is considerably cheaper than a high-cost custom short buffer system that will, in turn, raise the cost of the finished gun.

The barrel of the Ruger AR-556 features a heavy contour, cold-hammer-forged barrel with ultra-precise rifling. This, therefore, provides the much needed exceptional accuracy, longevity, and easy cleaning.

Where to Buy it?

I buy all my guns from PSA and in this case it’s quite obvious this is where you should go. They have excellent knowledge and support. So go check it out here.

My Field Test Experience With This Pistol

To acertain its great performance, I carried my Ruger AR-556 5.56 NATO 10.5” Pistol – 8570 and went out for a field test for about two hundred yards. I still kept it around one to two MOA groupings, which for a fighting style rifle is no problem because it’s well within acceptable standards.

Here are some observations that I made;

I observed some ports on the bottom that pick up some dust on shooting it pronely, probably because of the use of flash hiders on Ruger style pistols.

What made my field test more interesting was the accuracy this gun can provide. It is just but phenomenal.

I didn’t make any negative observations other than the somehow gritty nature of the trigger, possibly because it’s a 2-stage. Other than that, shooting with this pistol was fun.

Is The Ruger AR-556 Pistol Worth Purchasing?

Reasons for You to Love This Pistol

Lightweight Design

Some pistols tend to be heavy and, as a result, affect the performance and comfort when shooting. This Ruger AR-556 pistol has its weight kept down a little bit; it weighs only 6.2 lbs. It is hence proving to be an ergonomic pistol.

Easy to Accessorize

This pistol features Picatinny rails that you can use to mount some sighting devices to your specifications. Some of the common accessories you can mount to your Ruger AR-556 pistol include; flashlights, scopes, pistol grips, or even lasers.

M4 Feed Ramps

These are the cuts on the barrel and upper receiver of the Ruger AR-556 pistol. They make it easier to feed rounds into the chamber from a magazine.

Generally, these ramps are better because they provide a lower, more comprehensive, and smooth entry for any ammo round.

1:8 Twist

This pistol has a 1:8 twist rate whose primary aim is to stabilize bullets from 35-77 grains. Its 5.56 NATO chamber also allows the use of both 5.56 NATO and even.223 Rem. ammunition.

Ruger Birdcage Flash Hider

This flash hider is based on the familiar birdcage style unit and is manufactured in aluminum and black hard anodized finish. 

Flash hiders are primarily designed to reduce the flash from unburnt powder and gases once the round is fired through the barrel. This is made possible by allowing cooler surrounding air to mix with the gases at the muzzle, causing the powder and gas to disperse immediately and cool almost simultaneously.

Excellent Grip

Would you want an excellent grip on your pistol? Whether your intention is plinking, target shooting, or home defense, you want a pistol that provides a perfect grip. 

The manufacturers of the Ruger AR -556 pistol had you in mind since they designed it in a way that helps you prevent wrist fatigue.

This new two-stage trigger offers a smooth and crispy trigger pull and a lightweight hammer, enabling a 30% faster lock time over the other standard MSR triggers.

Affordable

The  Ruger AR-556 pistol is a budget-friendly option and is an economic piece given the features it offers the user. This pistol is more affordable compared to those with similar features and offering the same performance.

6 Point Adaptable Buttstock

I particularly love this pistol since it features a 6-point adjustable buttstock. This flexibility allows you to change the AR pistol’s length profile for tighter shooting conditions such as close quatre’s combat or even defensive shooting.

The buttstock can be adjusted in different ways, including levers and other releases of different kinds depending on the manufacturer. These buttstocks also include various sling attachment modes and even a platform for battery storage.

Tight Tolerances

If you are like me, then you sure do hate a loose gun. Well, the Ruger AR-556 pistol does not allow wiggling at all. Its compartments and parts are tightly held in place, which makes shooting with it fun. 

The Cons

I have been using this pistol for a while now and can’t complain much except that it has a 2-stage trigger, which makes it a little gritty. 

Ruger AR-556 Pistol vs. the Springfield Saint Pistol

It’s likely that you have come across the discussion on Ruger AR 556 vs. Springfield Saint Pistol, so which is better and why?

Accuracy

The Ruger AR -556 pistol has a 10.50-inch barrel that features a heavy contour, cold-hammer-forged barrel with ultra-precise rifling. 

On the other side, the Springfield saint pistol has a 9.6 inch CMV barrel that contains a 1:8 twist rate, which creates a comfortable, quick-handling, and balanced platform.

The longer the barrel length, the more accuracy the gun offers. I would therefore go with Ruger on this one.

Comfort

The trigger of the Ruger AR-556 pistol is a two-stage trigger making it a little bit gritty. 

On the other hand, the Springfield saint pistol trigger is made from nickel boron coated material. This helps eliminate the gritty feel found in most GI style triggers and delivers a smooth and consistent trigger pull.

These two pistols boast an uncompromising strength because their upper and lower receivers are forged.

All factors considered, the Ruger takes the win as the overall best.

Frequently Asked Questions

Would It Be Possible to Put Accessories Such as Flashlights on the Sides Without Rails? or Would You Have to Buy Rails for It?

Yes, it will be possible. You can consider mounting your flashlight to the handguards as well as other accessories. Just ensure that you do not add too much weight to your gun. This may lead to several inconveniences, including inaccuracy and an increase in the weight of the firearm. 

How Many Magazines Does the Ruger AR-556 Pistol Come With? Does It Come With Any Sights?

This pistol comes with a 30 round Magpul PMAG. The pistol also uses some other magazines, for example, The Magpul AR-15 30rd PMAG Gen M3, lancer systems- AR-15 L5awm Mag 30-RD, Surefire- AR-15 60rd magazine. I would recommend that you use the 30 round Magpul PMAG for better performance. Check out our review on the Magpul PMAG.

This pistol doesn’t come with any sights because its optics are ready.

What Is the Overall Length of the Pistol?

This Ruger pistol measures an overall length of 25.30 inches when closed and 27.90 inches when open. Its height is about 7.2 inches. The barrel length of this Ruger pistol is 10.50 inches.

Does Ruger Recommend Reloading Ammunition?

Ruger doesn’t recommend reloading ammunition. Factors such as faulty cartridge components, improper ammunition, bore obstructions, and wrong ammunition can lead to death, damage, or severe injury. 

You should always wear personal protective equipment that includes hearing protectors and shooting glasses.

How Long Is the Life Expectancy of My Ruger AR-556 Pistol?

Most Ruger firearms have an outstanding reputation for service life. If you handle it carefully and you should expect many years of service from this pistol.

Conclusion 

With an adaptable design and high tech and futuristic design, the Ruger AR-556 pistol is my favorite all-time pistol. It is built to last with premium accessories to Ruger’s precision standards.

If you are looking for a pistol with the intention of either plinking, target shooting, or for tactical and home defense, then you should for sure choose the RUGER AR-556 5.56 NATO 10.5″ PISTOL – 8570.

You are in for a great treat with this pistol!