Pistol to Rifle Rifle to Pistol Confusion

Maybe I am wrong and stupid, but I thought from reading various posts on AR lowers, that you put a pistol lower on it and then swap rifle parts onto it and make it a rifle (not talking SBR here) then switch back without creating a NFA violation.

Did I understand that correctly?

The question came up on another forum about creating a carbine (not a SBR) from the CZ Scorpion pistol. Someone wrote to the ATF and got this reply below. It seems a total reversal from their position in 2011 re: Thompson Center handguns and carbines.

BigDaddy said:

Maybe I am wrong and stupid, but I thought from reading various posts on AR lowers, that you put a pistol lower on it and then swap rifle parts onto it and make it a rifle (not talking SBR here) then switch back without creating a NFA violation.

Did I understand that correctly?

The question came up on another forum about creating a carbine (not a SBR) from the CZ Scorpion pistol. Someone wrote to the ATF and got this reply below. It seems a total reversal from their position in 2011 re: Thompson Center handguns and carbines.

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It's backwards, pistol to rifle, rifle to pistol if it's the same gun. No rifle to pistol if it started as a rifle.

Cool, so I can go chop the barrels and stocks on my rifles to make them pistols now! Awesome!

Yeah, I wouldn't trust that. I think someone at atf got a little confused.

jimbobborg said:

It's backwards, pistol to rifle, rifle to pistol if it's the same gun. No rifle to pistol if it started as a rifle.

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That's what I thought but has Agent Howell lost his mind?

That's got to be one of the strangest ATF letters ever. Completely backwards.

Pistol receiver can become rifle (but carefully so as to not make an SBR without the stamp). And then pistol again if you want.

Rifle receiver stays a rifle.

Government bureaucracy at its finest. Obviously the hiring practices of the "Firearms Industry Programs Branch" needs some tweaking.

This sh!t is reckless on the part of the ATF and should not be tolerated by the community.

Please responded to that letter and tell him he has it backwards, then watch him tell you how you're wrong. Then post the email chain here again. The sharks will do the rest.

Stop writing letters to the ATF...............

Wayne1one said:

Stop writing letters to the ATF...............

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^^^This^^^

Wayne1one said:

Stop writing letters to the ATF...............

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It's not my letter.

BigDaddy said:

It's not my letter.

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We all know that.

it really doesn't matter... one its not enforced, and two the ATF allows pistols to be turned into rifles everyday when the sign off on form1's.

Wayne1one said:

Stop writing letters to the ATF...............

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How can we bring up deficiencies in the law and get them to rule against us regarding everything guns if we stop writing letters?

They need us to point out where all of the gun loopholes are. Cuzz the Dems don't know crap about guns and gun laws.

No, what we need is rational legislation. NFA '34 is an 81-year-old antique that was overtaken by events about 30 years ago.

Mike OTDP said:

No, what we need is rational legislation. NFA '34 is an 81-year-old antique that was overtaken by events about 30 years ago.

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That sounds crazy to me. "Rational" legislation was given long before 1934. The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. Done! Ever since then we have had irrational legislation. For example the back ground check... we don't want people who did bad stuff being able to buy guns. Rational legislation is not to do background checks... rational people would execute those who have done things bad enough that they could no longer be trusted with a gun! I am pretty much convinced that all gun legislation is to cover up deficiencies in other parts of society! For example the 1934 legislation is a direct result of the Gang wars over the sale of Alcohol! Had we not made a huge black market, you would have never had people with Tommy guns blasting away. Today, the illegal drug market is clearly a modern version with what 90-95% of the crime in our Cities related directly or for obtaining money for illegal drugs. Stop creating black markets for things a significant portion of the populations wants and you will end the "gun" crime. However rational never factors in.

So I have to disagree, the NFA is about rational law. Its reason is to disarm the US population of military firearms and its been extremely effective! Lucky for us they did it at the same time they started stealing our money with inflation (after they confiscated the gold) and so we were able in the 70s and 80s to again have some freedom as the $200 lost value. Also we thankfully still had some exposure in the foreign wars with people who did not fear the federal government. Had it not been for those two factors we would not have nearly the amount of NFA guns that we do. However today they are less and less able to fulfill they 2A role as they age and become outdated and antiques. My Watercooled Cloth belt fed Maxims are little thread on todays battle field. Today they are well into the second phase where they come after the neutered Military looking firearms like AR15s.

To me, the idea of rational NFA legislation today would take on the idea of a total ban and confiscation. Hell even if they adjusted for inflation... Average US household income was $1,368 in 1934 and is 53,657 in 2015. That would mean the $200 NFA stamp should be about $7,850.00 today! Given todays environment, we are probably better letting the issue stay dead. No use starting a fight you can't win.

IMBLITZVT said:

I am pretty much convinced that all gun legislation is to cover up deficiencies in other parts of society! For example the 1934 legislation is a direct result of the Gang wars over the sale of Alcohol! Had we not made a huge black market, you would have never had people with Tommy guns blasting away. Today, the illegal drug market is clearly a modern version with what 90-95% of the crime in our Cities related directly or for obtaining money for illegal drugs. Stop creating black markets for things a significant portion of the populations wants and you will end the "gun" crime. However rational never factors in.

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Yup. Most of society's worst problems stem from well-intentioned federal regulations—that lie completely outside the federal government's 10th Amendment restrictions—that run counter to the most basic understanding of human nature and, therefore, the likely consequences of those regulations.