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AR-15 build questions (in regards to the law)

Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2018 11:53 pm
by ProCroation
If I purchased a multi-caliber lower, will the serial number on it designate that it has to be built as a pistol or a rifle?

I'm asking because I want to be clear about what's legal and what's not. So can you build either/or (rifle or pistol) with a multi caliber lower or can someone break it down to me, any important things to note when doing so?

Re: AR-15 build questions (in regards to the law)

Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2018 12:23 am
by Dustin
No you can build a 223 marked lower into 300 or 6.8 or what ever you want. If your an ffl or it’s an nfa item that’s different. But can be done.


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Re: AR-15 build questions (in regards to the law)

Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2018 12:34 am
by iron369
ProCroation wrote:If I purchased a multi-caliber lower, will the serial number on it designate that it has to be built as a pistol or a rifle?

I'm asking because I want to be clear about what's legal and what's not. So can you build either/or (rifle or pistol) with a multi caliber lower or can someone break it down to me, any important things to note when doing so?
[img]//uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201804 ... 1c41b8.jpg[/img]

Re: AR-15 build questions (in regards to the law)

Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2018 12:59 am
by ProCroation
Dustin wrote:No you can build a 223 marked lower into 300 or 6.8 or what ever you want. If your an ffl or it’s an nfa item that’s different. But can be done.


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So any length upper in any caliber is legal? I just don't want to accidentally cross the line of definitions between pistol and rifle and cause trouble

Re: AR-15 build questions (in regards to the law)

Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2018 1:28 am
by ssracer
iron369 wrote:
ProCroation wrote:If I purchased a multi-caliber lower, will the serial number on it designate that it has to be built as a pistol or a rifle?

I'm asking because I want to be clear about what's legal and what's not. So can you build either/or (rifle or pistol) with a multi caliber lower or can someone break it down to me, any important things to note when doing so?
[img]//uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201804 ... 1c41b8.jpg[/img]
Not to hijack the thread, but I always wondered...

Since we don’t have to register anything here in KY (other than NFA) if you bought a stripped virgin lower and built it into a rifle, then a year later changed it to a pistol....technically you would have just broken the law but how the hell would anyone other than you know...


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Re: AR-15 build questions (in regards to the law)

Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2018 2:50 am
by samb.
A stripped lower can be built into any legal configuration you wish. Pistol, rifle, weapon. If your 4473 you submitted says rifle or pistol or a caliber your FFL screwed up. If you go rifle first legally you can not later change it to a pistol. But as ssracer said who would know unless you had some sort of proof out there on the internet. If it were me I would build it whatever "pistol" caliber I had IE a 5.56 10" gun with no buttstock (carbine buffers without a stock are a grey area, I'd go pistol tube to be safe) and get a sweet picture to show it off.

Re: AR-15 build questions (in regards to the law)

Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2018 7:33 am
by guncrank1
No buttstock -no rifle
All else considered ATF guidelines.

Re: AR-15 build questions (in regards to the law)

Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2018 7:36 am
by Dave1965
I have specifically designated Pistol on some 4473 for lowers I purchased. The lower will always be a pistol. Otherwise the form usually says other and not rifle or pistol. That is one thing to know before you build I would say. I did it on purpose, it was not a screw up per what SAMB says.

Re: AR-15 build questions (in regards to the law)

Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2018 7:37 am
by guncrank1
samb. wrote:A stripped lower can be built into any legal configuration you wish. Pistol, rifle, weapon. If your 4473 you submitted says rifle or pistol or a caliber your FFL screwed up. If you go rifle first legally you can not later change it to a pistol. But as ssracer said who would know unless you had some sort of proof out there on the internet. If it were me I would build it whatever "pistol" caliber I had IE a 5.56 10" gun with no buttstock (carbine buffers without a stock are a grey area, I'd go pistol tube to be safe) and get a sweet picture to show it off.
Does not matter what is put on 4473 , that does not change the lower intoanythingexcept what it is.

The matters is what it is build into the first time as a firearm.

Re: AR-15 build questions (in regards to the law)

Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2018 7:46 am
by guncrank1
SSracer to answer your question
A firearms trace from the recovered firearm

Re: AR-15 build questions (in regards to the law)

Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2018 7:47 am
by guncrank1
If you not sure what you want with the lower
Assemble a handgun first , then you can flip flop with it.

Re: AR-15 build questions (in regards to the law)

Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2018 9:14 am
by Toddstang
I built a transgender lower.

Re: AR-15 build questions (in regards to the law)

Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2018 9:16 am
by WLJ
Why don't you ask the lower what it identifies as?

Funny how a chunk of aluminum causes so much confusion

Re: AR-15 build questions (in regards to the law)

Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2018 9:26 am
by guncrank1
Or magnesium

Re: AR-15 build questions (in regards to the law)

Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2018 9:43 am
by Niceguy
Dave1965 wrote:I have specifically designated Pistol on some 4473 for lowers I purchased. The lower will always be a pistol. Otherwise the form usually says other and not rifle or pistol. That is one thing to know before you build I would say. I did it on purpose, it was not a screw up per what SAMB says.
Yep. PSA was selling lowers marked "pistol" a while back. I remember seeing that and thinking how stupid it was of them to do it like that.

Re: AR-15 build questions (in regards to the law)

Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2018 10:47 am
by guncrank1
Niceguy wrote:
Dave1965 wrote:I have specifically designated Pistol on some 4473 for lowers I purchased. The lower will always be a pistol. Otherwise the form usually says other and not rifle or pistol. That is one thing to know before you build I would say. I did it on purpose, it was not a screw up per what SAMB says.
Yep. PSA was selling lowers marked "pistol" a while back. I remember seeing that and thinking how stupid it was of them to do it like that.

That is of some states that require the pistol marking , again really does not make the lower pistol only.

Re: AR-15 build questions (in regards to the law)

Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2018 2:43 pm
by Dave1965
guncrank1 wrote:
Niceguy wrote:
Dave1965 wrote:I have specifically designated Pistol on some 4473 for lowers I purchased. The lower will always be a pistol. Otherwise the form usually says other and not rifle or pistol. That is one thing to know before you build I would say. I did it on purpose, it was not a screw up per what SAMB says.
Yep. PSA was selling lowers marked "pistol" a while back. I remember seeing that and thinking how stupid it was of them to do it like that.

That is of some states that require the pistol marking , again really does not make the lower pistol only.

if it is on the 4473 like that, then yes it is a pistol.

Re: AR-15 build questions (in regards to the law)

Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2018 5:54 pm
by guncrank1
Dave1965 wrote:
guncrank1 wrote:
Niceguy wrote:
Dave1965 wrote:I have specifically designated Pistol on some 4473 for lowers I purchased. The lower will always be a pistol. Otherwise the form usually says other and not rifle or pistol. That is one thing to know before you build I would say. I did it on purpose, it was not a screw up per what SAMB says.
Yep. PSA was selling lowers marked "pistol" a while back. I remember seeing that and thinking how stupid it was of them to do it like that.

That is of some states that require the pistol marking , again really does not make the lower pistol only.

if it is on the 4473 like that, then yes it is a pistol.
Nope , still a other , and a receiver for KY , only a pistol in those state that requires it to be marked.

Re: AR-15 build questions (in regards to the law)

Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2018 7:42 pm
by Dave1965
guncrank1 wrote:
Dave1965 wrote:
guncrank1 wrote:
Niceguy wrote:
Dave1965 wrote:I have specifically designated Pistol on some 4473 for lowers I purchased. The lower will always be a pistol. Otherwise the form usually says other and not rifle or pistol. That is one thing to know before you build I would say. I did it on purpose, it was not a screw up per what SAMB says.
Yep. PSA was selling lowers marked "pistol" a while back. I remember seeing that and thinking how stupid it was of them to do it like that.

That is of some states that require the pistol marking , again really does not make the lower pistol only.

if it is on the 4473 like that, then yes it is a pistol.
Nope , still a other , and a receiver for KY , only a pistol in those state that requires it to be marked.


nope because the form /atf won't know it was a pistol when it was transferred. AKA someone built into pistol and then sold to me.