AR stripped lower Pistol or Rifle

[grube555]

My wife is going to get me started on an AR pistol for my b-day. I am looking at lower, but I am not sure the fine line between a SBR and pistol. I know you can never put a stock on a lower w/o a stamp, but how do you get started? I have heard some lowers are marked as rifle so they can never be a pistol. Is this true? Can I walk into any gun store and buy a stripped lower and build my own pistol as long as I tell the gun shop when I am buying it? What exactly do I have to ask or tell when buying a stripped lower to build a pistol.

Thanks for any information

 

[moosehead]

Following this one because I'm starting down the same path you are on.
I'm still early in the research stage, but it's my understanding that a pistol requires a pistol buffer tube. With my level of experience I'm pretty sure my interpretation is worth less than 0.

 

[__Doc_]

Stripped lowers are OTHER unless it was previously purchased as pistol/rifle

once you buy it as an OTHER you can make it whatever you want as long as you follow rules once you make it

 

[Shootin'IN]

Stripped lowers are OTHER unless it was previously purchased as pistol/rifle

once you buy it as an OTHER you can make it whatever you want as long as you follow rules once you make it

I agree with the OTHER as above, you can build the lower to a pistol then change it to a rifle w/16" barrel, but you can't change it back to a pistol unless you SBR it first.

 

[mvician]

Stripped virgin lower built as a pistol FIRST can be then built into a rifle and then BACK to a pistol for a few years now. I posted the ATF link in a thread about a week ago. When buying your lower the FFL should be marking it as an "other" on the 4473. Make sure they do.

 

[mvician]

Read this thread


https://www.indianagunowners.com/forums/handguns/302365-question-about-ar15-pistols.html

 

[N_K_1984]

When buying your lower the FFL should be marking it as an "other" on the 4473. Make sure they do.

I am in the process of building an AR pistol myself. mvician hit the nail square on the head here. Be sure that your lower was marked as "Other" on your 4473. Indiana does not require AR15 pistol receivers to be marked "Pistol Only." Just don't build a pistol out of that which used to be a rifle; again, looking back at your 4473 as reference...

 

[w_ADAM_d88]

What if I'm not the original owner of the lower, or I bought it used in a pistol platform? Is there a way to find out what the lower was marked/bought as?

 

[sig1473]

What if I'm not the original owner of the lower, or I bought it used in a pistol platform? Is there a way to find out what the lower was marked/bought as?

My thoughts exactly.

 

[N_K_1984]

What if I'm not the original owner of the lower, or I bought it used in a pistol platform? Is there a way to find out what the lower was marked/bought as?

In my opinion:

Safe: Call the manufacturer of the lower and have them run the serial number. Have them tell you if it was sold as a stripped lower or as a completed rifle.

Safer: Contact your local BATFE office and voice your concerns to them. Get all questions & answers in writing.

Safest: Order a new, stripped lower and be sure your FFL marks your Form 4473 as "other." I know this defeats the purpose of the OP, but it is the safest way to know that you aren't breaking any laws by assembling your new AR15 pistol.

 

[__Doc_]

What if I'm not the original owner of the lower, or I bought it used in a pistol platform? Is there a way to find out what the lower was marked/bought as?

Ask the person you bought it from?

 

[N_K_1984]

Ask the person you bought it from?

Not that it would ever, ever, ever happen, but if you let's say you have an AR pistol built from a lower that was originally sold as a rifle. Let's say the guy you bought the lower from told you it was never a rifle. Now, let's say you run into BATFE one day at a public range, and let's say they decide pick on you. The answer, "Well the guy that I bought the lower from said it was never sold as a rifle!" (even though in reality it WAS) is probably not a legit answer. But like I said, it will probably never, ever, ever happen. Just like someone being audited for 922R compliance of their SKS....

Take the time to do things legally. Especially since you're asking questions on the interwebz. (Obllama is prob watching...)