- Feb 4, 2013
- 28,175
So this thread actually clears up a lot of questions I actually had as well... with the exception of one. So in MD you can't have an AR-15 type rifle chb in 5.56 with a 16" barrel unless its an HBAR, and has an OAL of 29" with the muzzle pinned/welded. However, you CAN have an SBR with a barrel >16, chb in 5.56, no pin or weld required as long as you properly register it. You can also have the same SBR, and call it a pistol by putting on an arm brace and it doesn't require any type of registration. I'm confused as the differences between the ballistic capability of each.. What's the point of the HBAR and Pistol brace?
1) You cannot buy a lower out of state. The law requires the transaction to be legal in the state you are purchasing, PLUS your state of residence. Since MD treats the lower like a pistol (77R) you have to buy or transfer through a MD FFL.
2) If you start with a pistol, when you bought it, it would be on a 77R and registered. If you bought just a lower, it would be on a 77R and registered.
Also, if you buy a lower and make it into a rifle, you may never make it into a pistol.
If you build it as a pistol, then you can change it to a rifle and back.
These are Federal laws, not MD (except the 77R and registration).