So I orderd a Glock fed lower pistol to replace my rifle version so I could run a Glock fed lower with my pistol uppers and be able to convert it to a rifle if I wanted later. (Hold your horses, I know, I'll get there.) It was a complete lower with just a pistol tube.
So I had it shipped to USDS. I get there and Mike is doing my paperwork and I glance in the box. The paperwork shows a pistol lower, but the lower enclosed has a standard buffer tube and Magpul stock. They shipped a rifle lower instead.
I explained what I ordered and was prepared to refuse delivered, but was assured by Mike that a while back ATF ruled that Thompson Contenders and other modular firearms can be switched back and forth with no problems as long as they are assembled to be fully compliant for the appropriate class. Turns out I didnt need to buy a pistol (or stripped) lower after all and could have just swapped the buffer tubes and been done with it.
Its here:
https://www.atf.gov/firearms/docs/r...red-rifles-rifles-configured-pistols/download
And the relevant portion here:
"Held further, a firearm, as defined by 26 U.S.C. 5845(a)(3) and (a)(4), is not made
when parts in a kit that were originally designed to be configured as both a pistol and a
rifle are assembled or re-assembled in a configuration not regulated under the NFA (e.g.,
as a pistol, or a rifle with a barrel of 16 inches or more in length)."
So everyone agree we are all good, and ATF no longer applies the "Once a rifle, always a rifle" BS to not only TCs but also ARs even though they fit the definition of "modular" but are not named specifically?
My biggest beef is this: Even if this is kosher and I can take the free stock as a bonus and convert it, what about some poor soul who doesnt truly understand NFA rules? He orders a Pistol lower, and they deliver a rifle lower with a packing slip for a pistol lower. He ordered a pistol, they shipped something that works that also says pistol on the packing list. So far everything he is reading says he has a pistol. So he just slaps a 4" upper on it and thinks he has a pistol but instead has an unregistered NFA item. Think the feds would cut him slack due to ignorance, or is he totally screwed? (I think he'll at LEAST be out lawyers fees to argue it.)
Am I thinking the latter through too much? (possibly)
So I had it shipped to USDS. I get there and Mike is doing my paperwork and I glance in the box. The paperwork shows a pistol lower, but the lower enclosed has a standard buffer tube and Magpul stock. They shipped a rifle lower instead.
I explained what I ordered and was prepared to refuse delivered, but was assured by Mike that a while back ATF ruled that Thompson Contenders and other modular firearms can be switched back and forth with no problems as long as they are assembled to be fully compliant for the appropriate class. Turns out I didnt need to buy a pistol (or stripped) lower after all and could have just swapped the buffer tubes and been done with it.
Its here:
https://www.atf.gov/firearms/docs/r...red-rifles-rifles-configured-pistols/download
And the relevant portion here:
"Held further, a firearm, as defined by 26 U.S.C. 5845(a)(3) and (a)(4), is not made
when parts in a kit that were originally designed to be configured as both a pistol and a
rifle are assembled or re-assembled in a configuration not regulated under the NFA (e.g.,
as a pistol, or a rifle with a barrel of 16 inches or more in length)."
So everyone agree we are all good, and ATF no longer applies the "Once a rifle, always a rifle" BS to not only TCs but also ARs even though they fit the definition of "modular" but are not named specifically?
My biggest beef is this: Even if this is kosher and I can take the free stock as a bonus and convert it, what about some poor soul who doesnt truly understand NFA rules? He orders a Pistol lower, and they deliver a rifle lower with a packing slip for a pistol lower. He ordered a pistol, they shipped something that works that also says pistol on the packing list. So far everything he is reading says he has a pistol. So he just slaps a 4" upper on it and thinks he has a pistol but instead has an unregistered NFA item. Think the feds would cut him slack due to ignorance, or is he totally screwed? (I think he'll at LEAST be out lawyers fees to argue it.)
Am I thinking the latter through too much? (possibly)