Rifle or Pistol Lower for Form 1/SBR: Does it matter?

**JiminAZ** · 04-12-21, 20:03

So, I'm getting ready to Form 1/SBR a couple of lowers. I have both rifle and pistol lowers that are good candidates.

My question is whether or not choosing a lower that was initially manufactured and purchased as part of a factory pistol or a factory rifle has advantages/disadvantages/implications once I Form 1 the lower and build my SBR.

When I tried to research this one I found a number of confusing threads. Hoping someone here has "the answer".

**Wake27** · 04-12-21, 21:38

Legally, no. However, the pistol lower gives you more flexibility than a rifle lower so it seems logically to SBR rifle lowers IMO.

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**Bret** · 04-13-21, 20:01

Originally Posted by Wake27

the pistol lower gives you more flexibility than a rifle lower so it seems logically to SBR rifle lowers IMO.

Please elaborate regarding what you mean.

**Wake27** · 04-13-21, 21:01

Originally Posted by Bret

Please elaborate regarding what you mean.

Legally, you can use a pistol lower with a 10.3" upper or an 18" upper. You can't do that with a rifle lower.

**utahjeepr** · 04-13-21, 22:08

Originally Posted by Wake27

Legally, you can use a pistol lower with a 10.3" upper or an 18" upper. You can't do that with a rifle lower.

^^^This

Also, if you ever remove it from the registry (yeah, who does that?) I don't think you can ever use it as pistol again.

**Bret** · 04-14-21, 08:40

Thanks for the clarification. I have never made a SBR'ing decision based on whether starting with a pistol or rifle lower would be better. There have always been other factors that push me in one direction or the other. Sometimes starting with a rifle is better and sometimes starting with a pistol is better. For example, I just received back the Form 1 for my Sig 552P. Only pistols were available because they were easier to import. Adding a stock is super easy. On the other hand, when I SBR'd my Arsenal SLR-104UR, starting with a rifle was better because the barrel just had to be chopped. If I had started with a pistol, it would have required significant work on the receiver.

**CPM** · 04-15-21, 16:08

Honestly dude, I wouldn’t even do it. I have several and a trust and all that jazz and I wish I didn’t. It just put my name on a list and literally no one in a free state gives a shit.

I strongly encourage you to live your life as though the constitution still matters and not pay a second tax on the products you already own.

This resistance is the most effective long term solution, not the NRA/GOA.

**okie** · 04-15-21, 16:38

Originally Posted by CPM

Honestly dude, I wouldn’t even do it. I have several and a trust and all that jazz and I wish I didn’t. It just put my name on a list and literally no one in a free state gives a shit.

I strongly encourage you to live your life as though the constitution still matters and not pay a second tax on the products you already own.

This resistance is the most effective long term solution, not the NRA/GOA.

Screw that. $200 is a small price to pay to be sure you're not going to federal prison for ten years.