ATF coming after AR/AK/PCC pistols

[Grayfox54]

Ok, I'm confused. Never been a real AR guy anyway. My "pistol" is an Extar EP9. Its a AR lower with a blowback upper. 6" barrel in 9mm. I does have a brace. So it looks like an AR, but really isn't. Is ATF only targeting rifle caliber pistols? Am I safe or not? 

[Omega]

1 hour ago, Grayfox54 said:

Ok, I'm confused. Never been a real AR guy anyway. My "pistol" is an Extar EP9. Its a AR lower with a blowback upper. 6" barrel in 9mm. I does have a brace. So it looks like an AR, but really isn't. Is ATF only targeting rifle caliber pistols? Am I safe or not? 

My guess is no, they don't do surgical precision but shotgun blasts.  

[Grayfox54]

i kinda figured that. What if I take the brace off and just go with the bare buffer tube? 

[Capbyrd]

2 hours ago, Grayfox54 said:

i kinda figured that. What if I take the brace off and just go with the bare buffer tube? 

Right now this is about imports.   And none of it is about braces.  

[monkeylizard]

16 hours ago, Capbyrd said:

Right now this is about imports.   And none of it is about braces.  

According to the letter posted in the OP, that's only 1/2 the story. Existing AR/AK pattern pistols could be classified as AOWs, requiring a $200 stamp.

In some of the new letters, ATF has begun listing the following “objective design features” when making its evaluations:

• Incorporation of rifle sights;
• Utilization of "rifle caliber ammunition" (both 5.56mm and 7.62mm have been considered as such);
• Incorporation of “rifle-length barrel;”¹
• The “weapon’s heavy weight;”
• Ability to accept magazines that range in capacity from 20 rounds to 100 rounds, “which will contribute to the overall weight of the firearm”; and
• Overall length of the weapon which “creates a front-heavy imbalance when held in one hand.”

[Capbyrd]

6 minutes ago, monkeylizard said:

According to the letter posted in the OP, that's only 1/2 the story. Existing AR/AK pattern pistols could be classified as AOWs, requiring a $200 stamp.

 

 

 

As I said, RIGHT NOW, it only applies to imports.  But that isn't to say that they aren't going to extend these.  Also, AS OF RIGHT NOW, they aren't making any determinations generally, only on specific firearms SENT TO THEM for review.   

[Chucktshoes]

14 minutes ago, Capbyrd said:

 

As I said, RIGHT NOW, it only applies to imports.  But that isn't to say that they aren't going to extend these.  Also, AS OF RIGHT NOW, they aren't making any determinations generally, only on specific firearms SENT TO THEM for review.   

As I’ve followed this story, this is the correct reading of things at the moment. It’s a fluid situation and one that we have a rare heads up for. Normally we don’t find out about this sort of thing until after the fact. 

[Magiccarpetrides]

Best way to counter that front heavy imbalance is to put a forward grip on it...am i right?  am i right?