Originally Posted by
ColtJ
Hey,
Got a few questions in regards to AR Pistols.
What is the legality in regards to a pistol, does the lower have to say pistol? IE: a designated pistol lower? There is no legal requirement for a lower to have "pistol" on it. The ATF has specified that a lower, even if it has had a stock on it, can be used as a pistol as long as the lower never had a stock and a barreled upper on it at the same time. Just purchase a stripped lower of your choice and build away.
Or does it just need to have a pistol buffer tube with no stock?
The ATF has also said that a normal carbine buffer tube is acceptable as long as there is no way to attach a stock to it. I filled the channel full of epoxy for mine, I also used a commercial receiver extension as all the stocks I have in my house are Milspec and will not fit. I also put a foam cover over it. When you pickup a buffer tube for half the price of a normal "pistol" tube and it's had more machining done to it you wonder why manufacturers would charge more for something they do less work to...
I'd like to clear somethings up.
IE: I can buy a 10.5" upper and put it on a pistol lower with no paperwork, correct? The only paperwork you have to do, unless there is a specific legal requirement for your city/state is a 4473 background form. After that, you can purchase whatever upper you want for this gun. I received a 12" 6.8 barrel from Wilson Combat in the mail. It was $150 shipped a while ago and am glad I made the purchase. You can order barrels or complete uppers ad inifitum and have multiple uppers for your pistol lower.
I ask because I noticed a few posts of people who installed a pistol buffer tube while waiting on their paperwork but I assume they are not using a "pistol" marked lower as it seems that rifle is intended to be an SBR. Is this correct? Not necessarily---again lowers have no legal requirement to be marked pistol. The ATF has said that a lower must be a virgin lower---meaning no barreled action attached while a stock is present on the lower. Just use a virgin lower. Also some states do not allow SBRs, so a pistol is the only way to proceed with a weapon if they want a legal method of having a shorter than 16" barreled weapon. I built my pistol lower as a legal means to build uppers upon prior to getting a SBR stamp. I am glad I made a pistol too because I've had fun building uppers for myself and I can transfer the parts kit to another lower as a function testing means before SBRing another lower, which I will do as soon as my F1 returns. Until then, I like my pistol lower with my shorty uppers.
Other than having a stock, what are the benefits of an SBR over a Pistol? I have never shot a pistol so i do not know of how much you are losing from not having a stock. The pistol itself can benefit you when you cannot have a loaded rifle in your vehicle per state law but can have a loaded pistol. Also without the ability to have a Short Barreled Rifle you have a legal means of making the barrel as short as reliability will allow. The SBR method will grant you a stock which will undoubtedly give you a better point of contact and CDI factor. You can also add a VFG to the weapon where on a pistol you cannot.
Thanks for reading.
Good luck on your build. Hope all of this helps. Pics when completed.
30 caliber junkie.
God Bless America.
Bookmarks