AR Pistol build??

[kygunnut]

I am just wondering?? I know there are a LOT of forums discussing various how-to’s about building your own AR/AK/fill in the blank here rifles. My question is this. I have just ordered a new stripped lower (AR) which I plan to build into a pistol. Is anyone out there interested in me documenting this build here or is it best left on the other forums? Since this will be built into a pistol I am posting this here. Before I do this I would like to make sure I am not stepping on any feet. Any of you senior (and not so senior) members please feel free to chime in.

[ellis4538]

Go ahead and build away and post pictures and add a range report when your project is finished.  You never know, you might inspire others.

JMHOFWIW

Richard

[PegLeg45]

Someone more learned than I can probably step in here, but I thought I'd ask.....If it is a rifle receiver, and you make it a pistol, don't you have to go through some ATFE red tape like it was a Short Barreled Rifle?
I know Kel-Tec makes a 5.56 pistol that takes AR mags, but it is sold 'as a pistol'. If you turn a rifle receiver into a pistol I think you need special paperwork....but I'm not sure. I hope someone can enlighten me/us here.

[fightingquaker13]

Someone more learned than I can probably step in here, but I thought I'd ask.....If it is a rifle receiver, and you make it a pistol, don't you have to go through some ATFE red tape like it was a Short Barreled Rifle?
I know Kel-Tec makes a 5.56 pistol that takes AR mags, but it is sold 'as a pistol'. If you turn a rifle receiver into a pistol I think you need special paperwork....but I'm not sure. I hope someone can enlighten me/us here.

Yup, you can have a long barreled pistol, just not a short barred rifle. (Anyone who can explain the logic of that get's my respect, but a bit of pity as well, I mean honestly, it makes about as much sense as "Don't ask don't tell"). Anywhoo, its the lower that is the issue. There are companies that make AR Pistol lowers. I don't know how, since stocks are interchangeable, one makes an AR "Pistol" lower, but folks do and don't go to jail. This is one those areas, just like buying a house or signing a business contract. where hiring an hour of lawyer who knows what they are talking about's time seems like money well spent, as its a stupid thing to go to jail over when the type III licence that will let you own a short barreled rifle is pretty easy to get depending on your local sheriff.
FQ13 who is paranoid about dotting I's and crossing T's when buying or selling guns. They are out to hang us, don't give the bastards an inch of rope for free. Just my .02.

[bjtraz]

Someone w/more experience/knowledge can correct me on this, but: It is my understanding that if you build it as a "pistol", I.E. no stock other than the buffer tube that is neccessary, no special paperwork is needed. But, as soon as you put a stock on it as a coplete gun, you can NEVER convert it back, or convert it to a SBR w/o the proper paperwork. There is a lot of discussion about this on another forum that I monitor. I am curious about this as I also want to build a pistol. I have 2 lowers enroute to me now, 1 for a 6.8 SPC rifle I'm building and the other for a future pistol.

A related thought  : While not condoning any such thing, how does the ATF know if I dress my gun up in pretty clothes in the privacy of my home? Only to put more politically correct items back on before going out in public. I have the same thoughts everytime I try on my wife's lingerie  !!! UH OH! Too much info!

Brian

[Sponsor]

[fightingquaker13]

A related thought  : While not condoning any such thing, how does the ATF know if I dress my gun up in pretty clothes in the privacy of my home? Only to put more politically correct items back on before going out in public. I have the same thoughts everytime I try on my wife's lingerie  !!! UH OH! Too much info!

Brian

Brian
Correct on both points. On the second, yes, TMI. We will will merely accept the fact that you work all night, sleep all day and hang about in bars. But you're a lumberjack, and that's ok.
As to your first point, will the ATF know? The answer is no, up until you have to shoot somebody or one of your shooting buddies can't keep their mouths shut and they tell a friend who tells a friend etc., etc.. The key to keeping a secret is DON'T TELL ANYONE! But what fun is that with a range toy? You built it, you want to play with it and brag about it. All bad things if you're trying to stay out of jail. Me, unless I honestly believe that the zombie invasion/alien space bats or Red Dawn part II (subtitled  "Not as cool as You Thought It Was in the '80's Is It" ) is going to be coming to my home town, I don't want a toy I will have to build in secret and shoot in the dead of night. If I want an illegal, handy and concealable weapon, I own two very nice SxSs and a hacksaw (and believe me the alien space bats will have to be down the block before I deface my Parker). Its just more trouble than its worth.  My advice, either forget it, or spend the $300 and get the permit.
FQ13

[tombogan03884]

Possession of the parts is the crime.
If you have the parts and the gun you lose even if they are never even in the same room.

[kygunnut]

Someone more learned than I can probably step in here, but I thought I'd ask.....If it is a rifle receiver, and you make it a pistol, don't you have to go through some ATFE red tape like it was a Short Barreled Rifle?

From a letter from the BATFE:

From: http://www.nfaoa.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=694&sid=6c26f06fbba6c424a0beda31d8fce98e


Oct 29 1992

Dear Mr. XXXXX:

This refers to your letter of October 1, 1992, in which you inquire
about the legality of manufacturing a handgun which utilizes a rifle
type receiver.

26 U.S.C. Chapter 53 # 5845(a)(4), the National Firearms Act (NFA),
defines the term "firearm" to include a weapon made from a rifle if
such weapon as modified has an overall length of less than 26 inches
or a barrel or barrels of less than 16 inches in length.

Utilizing the receiver of an existing rifle for the purposes of
manufacturing a handgun would constitute the making of a firearm as
defined above. Individuals desiring to make such a firearm must first
submit an ATF Form 1, Application To Make And Register a Firearm and
pay the applicable $200 making tax.

If an individual were to obtain a rifle type receiver that had not
previously been utilized in the assembly of a rifle, a handgun could be
made and not be subject to the provisions of the NFA. Verification
must be obtained from the manufacturer of the receiver to establish
its authenticity.

We trust the foregoing has been responsive to your inquiry. If we may
be of any further assistance, please contact us.
Sincerely your,

(signed)
Edward M. Owen, Jr.
Chief, Firearms Technology Branch

So as long as I maintain proof that the receiver was purchased new and was made into a pistol first I believe I should be O.K. I have keep the receipt from the distributer and dealer showing that it was purchased new and never made into a rifle and the transfer form from the dealer show it was sold as a reveiver NOT a handgun or long gun. ( Yeap, got a copy of that also.)

[Solus]

The Thompson Center Contender was designed to accept many different barrels.

They also made a rifle based on the Contender receiver.  So you could buy a Contender piston or a rifle based on the same receiver.

I don't remember hearing anything was done to make the parts non-interchangeable?


If I remember correctly it was said that you were legal as long as you didn't have both disassembled at the same time.

It doesn't have to make sense...it's just the law.




 

[Big Frank]

That letter backs up what I always thought. If it's never been assembled into a rifle you can make a pistol out of it. The weird thing about the law is that you can make a rifle out of a pistol, no problem. No paperwork or anything. But if you make a pistol out of a rifle they can fine you $500,000 and throw you in jail for 10 years, IIRC.