ar-15 pistol build

[Lazylaser]

still not totally understanding the law on the subject of the build I want to do

http://www.ar15.com/forums/f_3/122_.html

Surf around here for a bit.

[bdriller]

checked out ar15.com but could not find anything on Pa. state law on ar15 pistol build

[nateebobo]

pa law doesnt really apply to this, its what the atf says that matters. its my understanding that if it was sold as a reciever only and says caliber-"multi" on it, its whatever you first barrel it as or in this case "reciever extension it in". so if its built as a pistol- its a pistol, which you can stock and rebarrel into a rifle and back as yo wish. if its put together first as a rifle then it stays a rifle for good. although with the pa "database" not having it run through at the ffl as a pistol purchase may wind up being a major hassle if the cops for some raeson get ahold of it and "run the numbers". ianal and not positive but this is the way im understanding it.

[CrazyWhiteGuy]

pa law doesnt really apply to this, its what the atf says that matters. its my understanding that if it was sold as a reciever only and says caliber-"multi" on it, its whatever you first barrel it as or in this case "reciever extension it in". so if its built as a pistol- its a pistol, which you can stock and rebarrel into a rifle and back as yo wish. if its put together first as a rifle then it stays a rifle for good. although with the pa "database" not having it run through at the ffl as a pistol purchase may wind up being a major hassle if the cops for some raeson get ahold of it and "run the numbers". ianal and not positive but this is the way im understanding it.

Not really sure about that. I think that you can take the receiver and make it into a pistol with no issues. Down the road, if you want to make it into a rifle, you can, but I dont think you can go back to a pistol after that. Like others have said, IANAL.

[bdriller]

thanks for the info. anyone with more info. on the law? would be much appreciated

[Gun]

pa law doesnt really apply to this, its what the atf says that matters.

As long as the state does not prohibit such firearms, then atf rules should apply.

ARs are not prohibited in PA. SBRs are not prohibited in PA. AR pistols are not prohibited in PA.

My AR pistol, I could put a CTR stock on it, WITH an upper having a 16.1'' barrel and be legal. I could not keep the 10.5'' upper on it, with the stock, unless I have that special tax stamp. IANAL.

[CrazyWhiteGuy]

http://www.atf.gov/regulations-rulin...ing-2011-4.pdf

[CrazyWhiteGuy]

HA, this guy is a lawer! Maybe you should PM him and ask him to add to this thread?

http://forum.pafoa.org/general-2/175...tml#post976386

This thread was linked to from another thread, so I'm reviving it to correct a point:

Federal law prohibits making a pistol from a rifle. It doesn't matter who made the rifle, or what the history was before it became a rifle. If you make a pistol from a rifle, you have to pay a $200 making tax and get it approved in advance, otherwise you have an illegal Short Barreled Rifle under the NFA. That's a major crime.

Here's the definition of an SBR in Federal law:

(8) The term "short-barreled rifle" means a rifle having one or
more barrels less than sixteen inches in length and any weapon made
from a rifle (whether by alteration, modification, or otherwise) if
such weapon, as modified, has an overall length of less than twenty-
six inches.

If you buy a virgin lower, you can make it into a rifle, OR you can make it into a pistol.

ONCE IT'S A RIFLE, it has to STAY a rifle.

Your pistol can be made into a rifle, there's no law against making a rifle from a pistol. But if it's made into a pistol again, that's a felony.

There is no exemption for making a pistol from a rifle that you made yourself. Pistol to rifle is a one-way conversion, you can't swap back and forth.

People mostly don't know this because it's a hard crime to prove. But if you post your "how I made my rifle into a pistol again" project in your blog, or you mention it to your buddy who got busted last month and is looking around for someone to dime out for a plea, you're toast.

[bdriller]

I think this might be getting off track,in pa. can I build a ar15 pistol with a virgin receiver with out any pistol paper work?

[Gun]

HA, this guy is a lawer! Maybe you should PM him and ask him to add to this thread?

http://forum.pafoa.org/general-2/175...tml#post976386

Originally Posted by GunLawyer001

Your pistol can be made into a rifle, there's no law against making a rifle from a pistol. But if it's made into a pistol again, that's a felony.

This part I'm not sure of, IANAL, but the Thompson Gun Co. won some sort of lawsuit, and it concerned their rifle-pistol kits. Those ATF letters are posted at AR15.com.