AR15 pistol lower??

[benny]

I bought a lower that is registered as a pistol, the guy said it can be used as a rifle or pistol if I want to make a rifle. Is this true? From what I read at the ATF sight is that this subject is very grey. It looks like I can make it a rifle if I use a 16 inch long barrel and a rifle but stock. But if I use a shorter barrel and a rifle stock it has to be registered as a SBR.

Any one know the law on this?

Benny

[Holland&Holland]

I will let others smarter than I give you full direction but, yes, if you install a stock and a shorter than 16 inch barrel, you better have a tax stamp in possession as you just built an SBR regardless of what it was recorded as in its first sale.

[benny]

Just to clarify, I DO NOT INTEND TO PUT A SHORT BARREL ON IT!! I know this sight well so I thought I better make it clear!! I intend to build a rifle with 16 inch or longer barrel.
But if I can only build a pistol with this receiver it will be up for sale soon.

Benny

[Randygmn]

Just to clarify, I DO NOT INTEND TO PUT A SHORT BARREL ON IT!! I know this sight well so I thought I better make it clear!! I intend to build a rifle with 16 inch or longer barrel.
But if I can only build a pistol with this receiver it will be up for sale soon.

Benny

You're good to go. Can't make a rifle in to a pistol, but you can turn a pistol into a rifle. As stated, must be 16" with a stock for it not to require an SBR tax stamp. If it has a pistol buffer tube, you'll have to replace that for a mil spec stock to fit.

[photogpat]

A legally manufactured and transferred handgun (1 hand operation, no stock, <16" long barrel) can be turned into a legal rifle (2 hand operation, stock, 16" or > barrel) and back again...but not the reverse...once it's manufactured and transferred as a rifle, its always a rifle.

[Randygmn]

A legally manufactured and transferred handgun (1 hand operation, no stock, <16" long barrel) can be turned into a legal rifle (2 hand operation, stock, 16" or > barrel) and back again...but not the reverse...once it's manufactured and transferred as a rifle, its always a rifle.

This^

[benny]

Thanks everyone for the input, it is refreshing to not get tore apart just because I wanted to find out if I understood the law correctly. I will let you all know how my first AR build progresses.

Benny

[Uffdaphil]

Correcr me if I am wrong, but this is my understanding: There is know such thing as a "registered pistol" lower. It is only a description on the form. Just as a lower engraved M4 Carbine 5.56, it can be used for any caliber or configuration. Only the construction, mounting a stock, limits it's future use.

[Ghost]

Correcr me if I am wrong, but this is my understanding: There is know such thing as a "registered pistol" lower. It is only a description on the form. Just as a lower engraved M4 Carbine 5.56, it can be used for any caliber or configuration. Only the construction, mounting a stock, limits it's future use.

My understanding agrees with yours as a current transfer stripped lower, no pistol option, should be "other". Please correct me if I'm wrong. I've also asked the question of how would anybody know what order they've been assembled in as long as you have the necessary parts to assemble it as a pistol at any time? What you can't do is buy an assembled rifle and turn it into a pistol as that's too easy to figure out. I don't see anybody saying "that guy has a pistol, where'd you buy it?" And then going and checking the log at whomever transferred it to see if it was a rifle or an other.

[benny]

Well I can't answer that question accurately, but I believe that as long as the receiver stayed registered to the same person and not transferred to another no one would ever know for sure.
All I know is that the guy I bought the receiver from said it can be used as a pistol or a rifle but not an SBR unless I changed the registration on it to a SBR.
I intend to build a rifle with it but would be nice to convert it to a pistol if I ever did want to.

Benny

[Holland&Holland]

Well I can't answer that question accurately, but I believe that as long as the receiver stayed registered to the same person and not transferred to another no one would ever know for sure.
All I know is that the guy I bought the receiver from said it can be used as a pistol or a rifle but not an SBR unless I changed the registration on it to a SBR.
I intend to build a rifle with it but would be nice to convert it to a pistol if I ever did want to.

Benny

There is no registration.

[Ghost]

Well I can't answer that question accurately, but I believe that as long as the receiver stayed registered to the same person and not transferred to another no one would ever know for sure.
All I know is that the guy I bought the receiver from said it can be used as a pistol or a rifle but not an SBR unless I changed the registration on it to a SBR.
I intend to build a rifle with it but would be nice to convert it to a pistol if I ever did want to.

Benny

There is no registration.

Not for a pistol or >16" rifle but it would need to be added to the NFA registry to be an SBR.

[george]

They can backtrack the serial number from the manufacturer to the last person who filled out a 4473 I've had to track before and then they will find out or ask how it's been purchased as a long gun handgun or other as far as an SBR goes when you do your form you have to fill out what the engraving will be on a Form 1 you would be then the manufacturer and that lower would have to be engraved doesn't matter what the lower started as, as I understand it.

[Holland&Holland]

Well I can't answer that question accurately, but I believe that as long as the receiver stayed registered to the same person and not transferred to another no one would ever know for sure.
All I know is that the guy I bought the receiver from said it can be used as a pistol or a rifle but not an SBR unless I changed the registration on it to a SBR.
I intend to build a rifle with it but would be nice to convert it to a pistol if I ever did want to.

Benny

There is no registration.

Not for a pistol or >16" rifle but it would need to be added to the NFA registry to be an SBR.

He stated very clearly he has no intention of SBR so unless his virgin lower is not as represented then it is not registered, there is no registration currently.

[Bearcatrp]

I will let others smarter than I give you full direction but, yes, if you install a stock and a shorter than 16 inch barrel, you better have a tax stamp in possession as you just built an SBR regardless of what it was recorded as in its first sale.

Or install a shockwave blade or sig brace. Just don't get caught shouldering it.