what's the difference?

[narcolepticsniper]

what's the difference, structurally, between a rifle AR-15 lower and a pistol lower? Curious, because "In accordance with federal firearm laws, Pistol Kits are for use only with lower receivers originally manufactured and recorded as pistol receivers. Do not use with 'Rifle' receivers!" was on the Model 1 sales website.

 

[mikec]

AFAIK, the only difference is how the receiver is marked and logged into the dealers books and how it is written up on the paperwork.

ATF has some stupid rules, you can't take a rifle and make a pistol, that type of stuff. If the receiver is logged as being meant for a pistol, then it SHALL ONLY be a handgun from that point on!!!

Use a "rifle" receiver with a pistol kit and you have an illegal SBR or AOW.

 

[Bigpapa]

Stupid rules is right! Is my 15-22P any different in it's function if I attach a vertical grip, but I cannot! Go figure!

 

[narcolepticsniper]

In the hypothetical event that SHTF and I have an ar pistol kit less receiver, and a rifle lower receiver, us it safe? I know it would be illegal, but if it comes down to it, the lower recievers are structurally identical, right?

 

[narcolepticsniper]

IIs there a way to change a lower from rifle to pistol?

 

[mikec]

Stupid rules is right! Is my 15-22P any different in it's function if I attach a vertical grip, but I cannot! Go figure!

Don't you know that if you put that vertical grip on the gun it now can sink a ship from 22,000 meters and the new muzzle blast will kill seagulls at 1,110 miles and children will go running in Spain!!!

IIs there a way to change a lower from rifle to pistol?

I assume you have a spare lower and you want to make a pistol out of it, but it was processed as a rifle? I do not know the answer, but I think not, at least not without involving NFA rules and a $200 fee.

 

[narcolepticsniper]

I assume you have a spare lower and you want to make a pistol out of it, but it was processed as a rifle? I do not know the answer, but I think not, at least not without involving NFA rules and a $200 fee.

Nope, just wondering. I wouldn't knowingly violate any firearms laws - I don't need to have all my guns confiscated. Well, the ones left after the boating accident anyway...

 

[jimbobborg]

There is no difference anymore. If you have a virgin, stripped receiver, you can build a pistol out of it. However, if you've ever put a rifle stock on it, you can not make it a pistol again. RRA and Spike's used to mark some of their lowers "Pistol Only" just for this reason. ATF changed the rules last year.

Jim

 

[04RWon]

In the hypothetical event that SHTF and I have an ar pistol kit less receiver, and a rifle lower receiver, us it safe? I know it would be illegal, but if it comes down to it, the lower recievers are structurally identical, right?

Yeah from what ive seen

 

[Ab_Normal]

There is no difference anymore. If you have a virgin, stripped receiver, you can build a pistol out of it. However, if you've ever put a rifle stock on it, you can not make it a pistol again. RRA and Spike's used to mark some of their lowers "Pistol Only" just for this reason. ATF changed the rules last year.

Jim

That isn't technically 100% accurate - federally (maybe state).

If you buy a new lower with a stock and no upper you could make it into a pistol by removing the stock first and then putting on the upper with a >16" barrel.

However it is probably not something you want to try because you may have a hard time proving it was never a rifle by definition should the need arrise.

 

[jimbobborg]

That isn't technically 100% accurate - federally (maybe state).

If you buy a new lower with a stock and no upper you could make it into a pistol by removing the stock first and then putting on the upper with a >16" barrel.

However it is probably not something you want to try because you may have a hard time proving it was never a rifle by definition should the need arrise.

Nope, once it has a rifle stock on it, it's a rifle. Physically, yes, you can do what you describe. But legally, no.

Jim

 

[Ab_Normal]

Nope, once it has a rifle stock on it, it's a rifle. Physically, yes, you can do what you describe. But legally, no.

Jim

No is isn't. Look up the definition of rifle. It has something about being able to fire a projectile through a rifled bore. If it has no barrel it CANNOT be a rifle. That is why I said 'technically'.

ETA - it should have been (less than) <16" barrel.

 

[kfrede86]

I've been researching this carefully and have looked on the recent forms from my two lowers from the April group buy. I cannot find anything stating whether these lowers are rifles, pistols, or others for that matter. So from what i understand, it would be legal for me to turn one of these lowers into an AR pistol, no stock and no vertical fore grip, without having go through the ATF and register it as a SBR? If i wanted to add a vertical fore grip i would have to make it an AOW, correct? But if i were to put an AFG on it, it would still be considered a pistol in the ATF's eyes. Please correct me if any of this information is wrong.

 

[NHaze]

I would be careful having a pistol upper and no pistol lowers. If you have regular(non sbr) AR's, I believe batfe could charge you with intent to construct an sbr or some such nonsense. Not 100% on this, I'm sure someone can confirm or reject.

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

 

[kfrede86]

From what I've read. Now, all "virgin" stripped receivers are neither classified as a pistol or a rifle. They're just classified as only receivers, therefore the owner may build a pistol with no vertical fore grip and/or butt stock, a SBR with NFA regs, or a rifle with a barrel >16". This is only what I have read in several threads on here. Hopefully someone with more knowledge and experience with this will chime in shortly.