Need education on differences between AR pistol and rifle reciever

Status
Not open for further replies.
sean m

sean m

Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2007
Messages
576
Pardon my ignorance on this but I am thinking about building a AR pistol and was thinking about starting with a stripped reciever. What is the difference between the pistol or rifle reciever? Is it just how it is documented on the 4473 or is there something that the manufacturer has recorded during the initial build.
 
If you buy a receiver it is marked in as a receiver or "other". It gets designated when you build it. So. There you go. Stock or no stock basically.
 
There isn't a difference in regards to its dimensions or function. The receiver that works in a rifle also works in a pistol.

Legally though there's a difference. Whatever the manufacturer (or you if it's a stripped receiver) builds it as the first time is what it is. Pretty dumb.
 
Yes, if you start with a stripped receiver, the FFL should log it through as "receiver/other", not rifle or pistol. Build it as a pistol. Then, if you change your mind later, switch back and forth at will, taking care to never have the short barrel and stock on at the same time.
 
That's one of the reasons that I've avoided getting an AR pistol. I strongly suspect that the time will come that the possession of long barrels, short barrels, rifle stocks and arm braces under the same roof will suddenly become a felony.
Stuff like this has happened before.
 
If you buy a AR receiver as an "other firearm" you are subject to the same federal restrictions (minimum age. etc.) as buying a handgun.
May as well finish it first as a pistol, then convert it to a rifle (less restricted category) later on.

It is well established that you can convert a legally owned pistol to a rifle and back again, as long as you do not have the shoulder stock and short barrel attached at the same time. The point of the federal short barreled rifle thing was supposed to block people who could not legally own a handgun from evading federal or state handgun statutes by sawing off a rifle. If you start with a legally owned pistol, you are not evading the handgun statues by converting from legal rifle back to legal pistol. But the way the law is written and interpreted, you cannot convert between Title I pistol to Title I rifle and stop at Title II short barrel rifle at any step.
 
Like the others said. It is listed as “other” on the 4473. Make sure your FFL marks that way. Some have no idea what they are doing.
 
Carl N. Brown said:
as long as you do not have the shoulder stock and short barrel attached at the same time
Click to expand...

Which brings up a gray area in current law.

Sig MCX Rattler PSB, et al.

rattler-psb.jpg

There are copious examples of short barreled firearms with stocks/telescoping stocks simply renamed "braces."
 
It doesn’t matter what your FFL marks it, although they should mark it other/receiver. An FFL could mark a pistol a rifle and it wouldn’t change that you have a pistol. Many FFLs are idiots.

The manufacturer designates what it is when they make it. The 4473 doesn’t make it something.
 
SunnySlopes said:
Which brings up a gray area in current law.

Sig MCX Rattler PSB, et al.

There are copious examples of short barreled firearms with stocks/telescoping stocks simply renamed "braces."
Click to expand...
The above post is incorrect and does nothing but sow confusion, fear and discontent.

If arm braces should ever be declared to be rifle stocks by law, remaining in compliance is simple. Either A) Treat it as a stock and never install it on a pistol. Or B) Dispose of the arm brace altogether.

Until such time, you are at liberty to exercise your right to enjoy your arm brace.
 
sean m said:
Pardon my ignorance on this but I am thinking about building a AR pistol and was thinking about starting with a stripped reciever. What is the difference between the pistol or rifle reciever? Is it just how it is documented on the 4473 or is there something that the manufacturer has recorded during the initial build.
Click to expand...
The only time the manufacturer determines if a receiver is either a handgun or long arm is when they build the receiver into a complete firearm.

Whether an AR lower receiver is offered as stripped, complete with trigger control group and stock installed, or something in between, it is just a receiver and may be configured as either a handgun or rifle, so long as it's never assembled in such a fashion that it is in a prohibited configuration.
 
SunnySlopes said:
Is that what it does? Look on the bright side, it gave a drama queen like you a venue to perform. :)
Click to expand...
You don't think "..gray area..." and "...copious examples of short barreled firearms with stocks/telescoping stocks simply renamed 'braces.'" is in of itself being dramatic?

Your words are incorrect. There is no gray area. The BATF recognizes that arm braces are not stocks. They are legal to install on a pistol. They are legal to shoulder. Arm braces cannot be modified so they can only be used against the shoulder.

What you wrote is confusing. Adjustable arm braces are not simply "renamed stocks". If they were they would be illegal to install on a pistol. To what purpose does confusion serve other than to sow fear and contention?

If clarifying the facts is being a "drama queen", as a special guest, you have Our personal invitation to the coronation.
 
I think ATF kinda recognizes that people buying an AR pistol (or assembling an AR pistol from a stripped lower), said pistol with an arm brace, have complied with federal and state handgun laws and are not trying to saw off a rifle to make a concealable weapon in violation of federal and state handgun regulations. It's half-way complying with the intent of Congress.
 
A lower built as a pistol for the first time can be switched between pistol and rifle configurations freely unless you have a state law prohibiting it. A lower built as a rifle first will always be a rifle.

Until built into a gun the first time it is legally a “receiver” and should be recorded on the 4473 as such. There’s a checkbox just for that.
 
theotherwaldo said:
That's one of the reasons that I've avoided getting an AR pistol. I strongly suspect that the time will come that the possession of long barrels, short barrels, rifle stocks and arm braces under the same roof will suddenly become a felony.
Stuff like this has happened before.
Click to expand...

So why even own an AR or any other semi-auto rifle for that matter?

Not doing something enjoyable because of "what if" is depressing way to live life.
 
Elkins45 said:
A lower built as a pistol for the first time can be switched between pistol and rifle configurations freely unless you have a state law prohibiting it. A lower built as a rifle first will always be a rifle.

Until built into a gun the first time it is legally a “receiver” and should be recorded on the 4473 as such. There’s a checkbox just for that.
Click to expand...
This pretty much covers it
 
^^^^^ That is an established rule and was recently clarified for Thompson Contender/G2 etc. receivers by the BATFE IIRC. The AR follows along nicely. I have built my pistol AR's with a pistol buffer (larger diameter) and matched size shoulder brace so there could be NO confusion and inadvertently attach a stock when using the short barrel by mistake. YMMV
 
I never did understand how they can say it’s ok to switch from a pistol to a rifle then back to a pistol. Yet how is it that we are not in violation for constructive possession.
 
OARNGESI said:
I never did understand how they can say it’s ok to switch from a pistol to a rifle then back to a pistol.
Click to expand...
Thompson Center vs U.S. was the court case.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_v._Thompson-Center_Arms_Co.
It then took ATF nineteen years to issue this ruling: https://www.atf.gov/firearms/docs/r...red-rifles-rifles-configured-pistols/download


Yet how is it that we are not in violation for constructive possession.
Click to expand...
As long as you have a legal configuration its not constructive possession.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

M
  • Locked
Lower reciever for pistol build?
Replies
8
Views
391
Hokie_PhD
Hokie_PhD
S
  • Locked
AR lower reciever
Replies
16
Views
2K
Harley Quinn
H
lobo9er
  • Locked
80% AR reciever
Replies
2
Views
429
White Horseradish
W
L
  • Locked
Does the brand of lower (stripped) make a big difference in an AR?
2
Replies
25
Views
2K
rob_s
R
C
  • Locked
Where to start on pistol to sbr AR-15 build
Replies
17
Views
1K
Landric
Landric
Back
Top