80% Lowers and FFLs

[Praxidike]

If I were to buy an 80% AR15 receiver and mills it out myself, could I legally send it off to a FFL to cerakote it even though it does not have a serial number? Do both in and out of state FFL HAVE to log some type on serial number in their books before preforming and customisation services?

 

[pdsmith505]

Ask yourself this question:

If you sent a pre-1968, commercially produced rifle with no serial number to an FFL for cerakote, could he do it? Keep in mind, serial numbers were only required by law for non-NFA items following the 1968 Gun Control Act.

The trick is just to find one who is willing to enter "no serial number" into their book when you send them a lower you made yourself.

 

[444]

I wondered the same thing. And I don't know the answer.

But one way around it would be to put a serial number on it. You manufactured it, so I can't see why you can't number it as well. But again, I am not a lawyer.

I built my 80% receivers just because I thought it would be a cool project. I didn't do it to try to save money or to produce a gun nobody knows about. Obviously if you send it to somebody, then a record of it would exist. For me, I don't care, but some people would.

 

[larry_minn]

I understand that if you make it you can put a personal serial # on it. (letters allowed)
So its PRAX 001. There is a serial # to use. Just use something that is not common.

 

[barnbwt]

Just be aware, that if you ever want to use your self-made items to Form 1 an NFA item, the ATF is reviewing entries to make sure serials aren't getting duped (a form was pinged back, because I'd used '001' for both an SBR and would-be-numbers-matched silencer --the Bureau is apparently cross-checking past submissions). I'm not aware of any law that would prevent a non-manufacturer from marking all their privately made guns '001,' since no marking of any kind is required, let alone book-keeping, but it would doubtless throw a wrench into the works if you were trying to Form 1 several AR lowers with the same serial number (I assume you'd end up having to add a secondary serial for the SBR, but I cannot speak from experience)

Probably easiest for a private maker to simply use a six-digit date code as the serial, since it's unlikely two will be completed on the same day, and even less likely you'll live to see the odometer roll over & have to add digits . It is a real point of contention, though, since it's not exactly easy to do a decent job serializing parts without expensive automation, or a practiced hand & quality stamp set (or a very skilled hand & expensive engraver)

TCB

 

[pdsmith505]

Whaddaya mean you need expensive automation? Alls you need is a battery charger and some vinyl masks:

Prior to cerakote:

With cerakote and color fill in the etchings.

To stay on topic of this thread... the guy who does cerakote for me here in the tidewater region of VA has no issues taking in completed 80% lowers with no markings. He also happens to be my preferred SOT/Class 3.

 

[Arizona_Mike]

Logging a gun in a NSN or Pre-GCA '68 is pretty standard.

Mike

 

[Ellsnjel]

Pdsmith, would your cerakote FFL accept firearms mailed to him without serials if some form of ID was also present?

 

[pdsmith505]

Look up J&L gunsmithing in Chesapeake VA and give him a call