AR15 Lower / Pistol

[Ghost40]

Pretty sure I know the answer...

If I have a lower receiver that was registered as "other", and a 16" upper was installed on it. Can that ever be (legally) switched to a pistol? Like back and fourth kind of thing?

 

[mopar92]

If the upper AND a buttstock where installed at the same time, no.

 

[Hollywood Ball]

Pistol first and it can be anything anytime till the end of time.

Rifle first and it's rifle only forever.

That's my understanding.

 

[outrider58]

No

As the rest of the world knows now...

 

[Pinecone]

Pistol first and it can be anything anytime till the end of time.

Rifle first and it's rifle only forever.

That's my understanding.

This ^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Barrel length is not the determining factor, whether it has a buttstock on it first or a pistol buffer tube.

 

[GolfR]

Pretty sure I know the answer...

If I have a lower receiver that was registered as "other", and a 16" upper was installed on it. Can that ever be (legally) switched to a pistol? Like back and fourth kind of thing?

I'm going to contradict what others have said. My understanding is that if the lower is registered as "other" it can be switched back and forth between pistol and rifle as you desire. If the lower is registered as a "rifle" it cannot be made into a "pistol" but a registered "pistol" can be made into a "rifle".

 

[Pinecone]

I'm going to contradict what others have said. My understanding is that if the lower is registered as "other" it can be switched back and forth between pistol and rifle as you desire. If the lower is registered as a "rifle" it cannot be made into a "pistol" but a registered "pistol" can be made into a "rifle".

Not exactly.

Federal law says if it is a rifle, to make it a pistol, requires a tax stamp.

You can make a rifle out of a pistol any time.

By a quirk of the law, if a pistol is made into a rifle, it can go back to being a pistol.

 

[dtmeyers]

All lowers should be marked as 'other' on the 4473. And as far as I know Maryland has no limit on pistol barrel length. So long as it never had a stock on it, it was not a rifle - is was also never a pistol w/o a pistol buffer tube.

Throw a pistol tube on it for one second. Tada it is a pistol. Now you can go back and forth

 

[outrider58]

All lowers should be marked as 'other' on the 4473. And as far as I know Maryland has no limit on pistol barrel length. So long as it never had a stock on it, it was not a rifle - is was also never a pistol w/o a pistol buffer tube.

Throw a pistol tube on it for one second. Tada it is a pistol. Now you can go back and forth

It's butt simple. Like dtmyers said, throw a pistol(doesn't really need to be a pistol buffer, but...) buffer and snap a pic showing your serial # and you will be GTG.

 

[Ghost40]

So I just want to make sure I am reading this correctly .

Registered as "other" AND built as a pistol first, I can change back and fourth between rifle and pistol all I want.

Built as a rifle first, always a rifle unless I put in for the stamp.

 

[ras_oscar]

So I just want to make sure I am reading this correctly .

Registered as "other" AND built as a pistol first, I can change back and fourth between rifle and pistol all I want.

Built as a rifle first, always a rifle unless I put in for the stamp.

Because..... pistols are more closely regulated than rifles.

Point of curiosity; Is there any limitation on how long a pistol barrel can be? Could I build a "pistol" with, say, a 22 inch barrel and a buttstock? If so, would the barrel need to be HBAR?

 

[outrider58]

Because..... pistols are more closely regulated than rifles.

Point of curiosity; Is there any limitation on how long a pistol barrel can be? Could I build a "pistol" with, say, a 22 inch barrel and a buttstock? If so, would the barrel need to be HBAR?

Anything with a barrel 16'' or longer with a buttstock, is a rifle.

 

[Pinecone]

Actually, a shoulder stock makes it a rifle. If the barrel is less than 16" it is a short barreled rifle, and not legal without a stamp.

You could build a pistol with a 22" barrel, but no shoulder stock.

IIRC, if the firearm is INTENDED to be fired by hand only, then it is a pistol.

 

[Sticky]

Actually, a shoulder stock makes it a rifle. If the barrel is less than 16" it is a short barreled rifle, and not legal without a stamp.

You could build a pistol with a 22" barrel, but no shoulder stock.

IIRC, if the firearm is INTENDED to be fired by hand only, then it is a pistol.

I think, technically, 'fired by one hand' makes it a pistol, thus the VFG on a pistol config over 26"oal, becomes then a 'firearm'...

 

[John from MD]

Meh, build a Polymer 80 lower and make your pistol.

 

[Pinecone]

I think, technically, 'fired by one hand' makes it a pistol, thus the VFG on a pistol config over 26"oal, becomes then a 'firearm'...

Yes, thanks for the catch.