AR Pistol Build - Can you use any stripped lower?

[rabbitdave]

I keep reading about AR pistol builds people are doing on multi-caliber stripped AR lowers. I have a few lowers floating around and would like to make them into pistols, but I thought since I did not designate them as pistols when I picked them up from the FFL, and they were not marked as pistol lowers, that I could not use them for a pistol lower. If I wanted to use them, I would have to get a tax stamp and SBR it because there is no way to change a rifle to a pistol.

Am I wrong?

 

[THE BIG SITT]

As far as I know, you buy the stripped lower, have the FFL classify it under the "Other" category, and then you're good to go.

 

[Bluejeeper]

Stripped lowers should be sold as "other", not pistol or long gun. If it has never had a stock on it, you can use it for a pistol build. I think you are overthinking this. It has never been a rifle, ergo it can be built as a pistol.

I'm sure someone will correct me if I am wrong, but this is how I understand it to work.

 

[tatic05]

I believe as long as it has never had a stock (not a pistol buffer) on it you are good to go and you dont need to worry about the FFL doing anything. Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

 

[rabbitdave]

Cool. Good to know about "other". How can you check and make sure it was filed as Other?

 

[throttletony]

Cool. Good to know about "other". How can you check and make sure it was filed as Other?

talk to your FFL I guess.
... if you remember where you got the lower

 

[dwain]

My FFL designates all the stripped lowers as pistols. This way it can go pistol or long gun.

 

[djhuckle]

My FFL designates all the stripped lowers as pistols. This way it can go pistol or long gun.

To be clear, I believe that if it's designated as "other" or "pistol" it is ok - if "long gun", it cannot. You can build a long gun out of a lower that is designated as any of these, but if you build a pistol (with a "pistol" or "other" lower) then take the same lower and make a long gun (16" barrel and stock) - you can re-make it a pistol by removing the stock first apparently, but some people say you can't turn it back into a pistol.

http://www.atf.gov/files/regulations-rulings/rulings/atf-rulings/atf-ruling-2011-4.pdf

It's a logic problem

 

[stephen87]

Per the ATF opinion, a rifle is always a rifle. UNLESS it starts a pistol.

You can go pistol to rifle back to pistol, as far as I'm understanding the opinion. However, you may not build a rifle, then convert it to a pistol. Some people say this only applies to guns sold as a kit, however if I remember correctly it mentions AR style rifles in there.


As for building the pistol, as long as it's never had a rifle/carbine BUFFER TUBE it can be a pistol. The stock is not what defines the rifle, it's the ability to accept a stock.

This is NOT legal advice. If you want legal advice, contact a lawyer who deals with NFA and firearms laws.