AR Pistol Build/Assembly?

**maille man** · June 2nd, 2021, 05:03 PM

It'll fire folded if you have a 2.5" buffer tube. Gonna cost you, though...

https://deadfootarms.com/products/pr...-stock-adaptor

Attachment 146669

**Emptymag** · June 2nd, 2021, 05:18 PM

I guess that's what I was thinking of!

**jthrelf** · June 2nd, 2021, 08:10 PM

Originally Posted by rkrcpa

I thought ATF had a problem with AR pistols with folding braces due to the length when folded. Something about the folded minimum OAL being another relevant dimension.

Don't think so. There are plenty of pistols with a small OAL

. Could add a folding brace to a Glock with no issues.

What you may be thinking of is meeting a 26" OAL to add a vertical foregrip where it then wouldn't be considered an AOW. They flip-flopped on how to measure the OAL - used to include the brace, but then it changed to just the buffer tube I think?? And then the folding adapters maybe have been impacted by that with respect to AOW status. Basically some ATF bullshit. I could be wrong, but I think you're fine with a folding adapter on an AR pistol.

**rkrcpa** · June 2nd, 2021, 10:27 PM

Originally Posted by jthrelf

Don't think so. There are plenty of pistols with a small OAL

. Could add a folding brace to a Glock with no issues.

What you may be thinking of is meeting a 26" OAL to add a vertical foregrip where it then wouldn't be considered an AOW. They flip-flopped on how to measure the OAL - used to include the brace, but then it changed to just the buffer tube I think?? And then the folding adapters maybe have been impacted by that with respect to AOW status. Basically some ATF bullshit. I could be wrong, but I think you're fine with a folding adapter on an AR pistol.

I think you are correct, I'm getting the issues mixed up. I understand the vertical grip/26" issue. I think the folding brace on a pistol issue was going the other way. Adding the adapter increases the length of pull causing the LOP to be in excess of the "magic" number.

**1911Operator** · June 3rd, 2021, 09:31 AM

To the OP, how was the stripped lower originally purchased? If purchased as a RECEIVER you are god to go to assemble it as a pistol or rifle. If the receiver was originally purchased as a rifle, then it*s my understanding that it needs to stay a rifle. If originally purchased to make a pistol, the dealer would have had (in PA) reported the sale as a pistol to the SP, on a separate form. I*m no expert, hopefully others with more knowledge will chime in here.

**Emptymag** · June 3rd, 2021, 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by 1911Operator

To the OP, how was the stripped lower originally purchased? If purchased as a RECEIVER you are god to go to assemble it as a pistol or rifle. If the receiver was originally purchased as a rifle, then it*s my understanding that it needs to stay a rifle. If originally purchased to make a pistol, the dealer would have had (in PA) reported the sale as a pistol to the SP, on a separate form. I*m no expert, hopefully others with more knowledge will chime in here.

Oh boy. Here we go again. LOL

Doesn't matter what the intention was when it was purchased - the FFL should have listed it (a stripped lower) as "other" -not "rifle", or "pistol" - it's neither of those things until such time as it is assembled as one of them.
A stripped/virgin/never assembled lower is a lower - it's not a pistol lower - it's not a rifle lower - it's just a lower.

They USED to mark them as "pistol", but that was not how it was supposed to be done, and they were told to stop doing it that way.
That was years ago.

And yes, if a lower came FROM an assembled rifle, it must always be used on a rifle.
A lower that started it's life as a pistol can later be changed to a rifle, and then later be changed back into a pistol.

It's all so perfectly clear. LOL