What's an AR15 pistol lower receiver?

[freewheeling]

Is this a matter of the parts kit or the lower receiver itself? I saw an M4 upper with a 14.7" barrel and it said that it would only work with a "designated AR15 pistol lower receiver."

It occurs to me that this has nothing to do with hardware, and everything to do with legal restrictions on barrel length, but I don't really know.

 

[MaterDei]

It's just a legal distinction. A 14.7" upper on a pistol lower receiver is legal. That same upper on a rifle lower is an SBR and must follow NFA regulations.

 

[Zoogster]

A lot, and it gets confusing.


A pistol can be legally converted into a rifle format (over 26" with 16"+ barrel), and then legally converted back into a pistol format (no vertical forward grip or butt stock, with no minimum overall or barrel length.)
A decision going back to the Thompson case, and which the ATF finally made official more recently.
A rifle can not be converted into a pistol format, even in legal pistol dimensions and with no stock it is a SBR and requires an NFA stamp.
What that means is that a pistol has the freedom to be both, and a rifle must remain a rifle.



So you could not legally use the lower from an AR-15 you purchased as a rifle.
That would be an unregistered SBR.
You could legally use the lower of an AR pistol, and you could also use just a plain lower of course then without the legal protection of being paperworked as a pistol (so what is it really then? Do you need to make it a pistol first to then make it a rifle that can legally go back to a pistol, or does it start legal to do both having been sold as a receiver?)

It still could not have a buttstock in a legal configuration as a pistol.
Now a 'permanently' attached muzzle break or flash hider that brought it over 16" could allow it to be used on a rifle.

 

[freewheeling]

Now a 'permanently' attached muzzle break or flash hider that brought it over 16" could allow it to be used on a rifle.

Thanks for all the clarification of a murky topic. So I could presumably purchase a 14.5" upper and permanently attach a flash hider myself? Is that hard or expensive? Would it have to be welded? Would the flash hider have to be permanently attached before I took possession?

Update: Actually, I'm now thinking that the flash hider thing is nonsense unless I actually have a need for a flash hider. A 16" barrel, all else being equal, would be better and more accurate. The only reason I can think of for going with a flash hider is that there aren't any 16" uppers available.

 

[tahunua001]

a pistol lower is a receiver that has no buttstock on it, otherwise it becomes a short barreled rifle and needs a tax stamp from the ATF.

 

[DRYHUMOR]

You can buy and build up a stripped lower and build one. A pistol buffer assy/tube must be installed. Once complete, it is a "paperless" pistol. If resold and passes through an FFL, as complete, it would then be a documented pistol.

 

[freewheeling]

You can buy and build up a stripped lower and build one. A pistol buffer assy/tube must be installed. Once complete, it is a "paperless" pistol. If resold and passes through an FFL, as complete, it would then be a documented pistol.

How interesting. I was wondering how something like the Beretta Neo Carbine Kit got past all the barrel restrictions. Because it's a converted pistol. So all I'd need to do is get a pistol buffer assist tube and run it through an FFL. I noticed that one of the questions they asked on the FFL form was whether I intended to build a rifle, and I said "yes." I wonder if that restricts me? They're supposed to throw all that info away, but it's a little hard for me to believe that they actually do so with the temptation right in front of them.

 

[TrickyDick]

When I bought an AR stripped lower, I just filled out a standard 4473, now i'm not sure if they sold it as a rifle or pistol, but as of now it was built as a rifle. however, I have no use for an AR pistol right right now.

 

[MachIVshooter]

So all I'd need to do is get a pistol buffer assist tube and run it through an FFL.

The buffer tube is not a serialized part, and installing a pistol buffer tube on a rifle receiver does not make it legal to turn said rifle receiver into a handgun.

I noticed that one of the questions they asked on the FFL form was whether I intended to build a rifle, and I said "yes." I wonder if that restricts me? They're supposed to throw all that info away, but it's a little hard for me to believe that they actually do so with the temptation right in front of them.

Huh? There is no such question on the 4473. Dealer checks the box for "Handgun", "Long gun" or "Other firearm". A stripped new lower receiver is transferred as an "Other firearm", which is why you must be 21 to buy a stripped lower, since it can be legally made into a handgun. The only legal way to turn a receiver transferred as a rifle into a handgun is to fill out a form 1, pay the $200 and wait 7+ months for you SBR tax stamp.

 

[TrickyDick]

A stripped new lower receiver is transferred as an "Other firearm", which is why you must be 21 to buy a stripped lower

LOL, I was just thinking about this dilemma the other day. I thought it might have been a loophole for an 18 Y/O to build a handgun. But I'm glad I know otherwise now. people always come to me for firearm advice concerning laws and everything else. I learn something new everyday. My In-laws call me a "the expert", but I am by no means an expert. I am just very knowledgable in this area, but I guarantee there are many whom are above my knowledge in this area.