AR pistol picture thread

**domestique** · 01-20-15, 09:25

Originally Posted by Voodoo_Man

I may just sbr my pistol and keep the brace on it to circumvent the ccw implications of an sbr and for the specific reason of not becoming a felon if I decide to shoulder it.

Is that even legal?

Putting a non SBR upper on an SBR'd lower is ok in that it is now a regular AR, but I never heard of a ruling or situation where you can take an SBR lower and turn it into a pistol, and also maintain it's SBR benefits. IF you can make a SBR a pistol, I doubt you get to use both benefits (SBR upper, VFG.....bypassing the ATF's out of state notification).

I love the idea, but would like others to chime in.

I'm personally still going to use my SBRs at the range, HD, classes etc. but will still be building a pistol (using the Thordsen cheek rest) for CCW & out of state purpose.

**GO_ALLOUT** · 01-20-15, 09:34

Once you "SBR" your "PISTOL" I would think it is an SBR for good and therefore regardless of what "stock" or brace you are running you will need to abide by the SBR rules and regs.

Use at a public range and competitions is where I'd be most concerned while shouldering the brace and as I'd like to actually shoot this thing and not have to worry about the potential issues associated, I'm gonna go the route of SBR.

To each their own though and it's a shame because I do really like the brace and freedom that was associated with it.

For a HD gun or "Truck Gun" I can still see the benefits but I also think something like a Glock 17 and a few mags would be a better option.

**domestique** · 01-20-15, 09:44

Originally Posted by GO_ALLOUT

Once you "SBR" your "PISTOL" I would think it is an SBR for good and therefore regardless of what "stock" or brace you are running you will need to abide by the SBR rules and regs.

Use at a public range and competitions is where I'd be most concerned while shouldering the brace and as I'd like to actually shoot this thing and not have to worry about the potential issues associated, I'm gonna go the route of SBR.

To each their own though and it's a shame because I do really like the brace and freedom that was associated with it.

For a HD gun or "Truck Gun" I can still see the benefits but I also think something like a Glock 17 and a few mags would be a better option.

I totally agree, and that's why I have a couple SBR lowers. An AR pistol for me (as a truck gun) is purely in addition to my handgun(s) and would only be for the worst situations (broken down vehicle in the backwoods, urban unrest, out of state travel).

In those situations, IF the AR pistol would "slip" and make contact with my shoulder the only way people would see it is if things have already gone sideways in which case a shooting would have occured.

That's the real beauty in the Thordsen setup, it's already resting on your cheek, only a couple inches from your shoulder.

**GO_ALLOUT** · 01-20-15, 09:56

Great points! Agreed on the truck gun thing and scenarios that it would be useful. My biggest concern there is leaving it in my truck when I go into stores or other places...

**Talon167** · 01-20-15, 12:58

I'm no lawyer, but I'm 99.999999999% sure once you make a pistol a rifle, you can't go back and make it a pistol again. It's a rifle for life.

Just go buy a complete pistol lower to swap the SBR upper to... then you're set.

**DWood** · 01-20-15, 15:09

Originally Posted by Talon167

I'm no lawyer, but I'm 99.999999999% sure once you make a pistol a rifle, you can't go back and make it a pistol again. It's a rifle for life.

Just go buy a complete pistol lower to swap the SBR upper to... then you're set.

I am 100% certain that a lower built first as pistol can be reconfigured as a rifle and back any time you want to. This was decided by SCOTUS in the Thompson Contender suit. The question here is can a pistol that has been SBRd be reconfigured as a pistol. I have never seen a definitive answer. If it can be restored to a Title I gun by installing a 16" upper (which it can), then logic would say that it can be a pistol again, just like a regular lower that was built first as a pistol. Unfortunately, logic doesn't enter into ATF decisions.