Building an AR15 pistol?

[dralarms]

Well after searching high and low for a "pistol" receiver (to no avail), I finally found out why and thought I'd post what I found out for the next person wanting to build an Ar15 pistol.

According to the ATF you can take a virgin receiver (one that has NOT been built into a rifle) and build your pistol as long as the buffer tube is "permantally" attached. I figure a small spot weld will work.

Anyone wanting a copy of the letter for your records can pm me your email addy. and I'll make a copy of it and email it to you.

What I'm going to do is take pictures of my receiver before I start on it and attach it to a copy of the letter.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

Is this letter of recent vintage? I was under the impression and have seen letters to the effect saying nothing about the buffer tube, just that you can never put a stock on it.

If this is a letter addressed to you, and you don't mind, I'd like a copy. PM'ing ya:D

[railfancwb]

Do you want a sure-nough AR-15 pistol, or do you want a pistol to shoot 223/5.56 and use AR-15 magazines? If the latter, consider the Kel-Tec PLR16

Kel Tec

[Guest 6.8 AR]

I've built three pistols, so far, and this is news to me. You never know when something might change, though. The ATF has thrown curve balls in the past.

That Kel-tec is a slick little toy:D

Edited May 23, 2010 by 6.8 AR
add

[Kevo]

I purchased an AR virgin lower in Georgia and had to transfer it to Tennessee like a pistol. To be honest I had already paid for it and was windowshopping some holsters in the store, when the store received the word that it had to be handled like a pistol. That was news to both the store and myself as we had treated it like a rifle. BUT it could be built as a pistol so it had to be transferred. It ended up as a rifle, But I could have built it into a pistol. Would've been cheaper to buy an assembled lower, but the store "is good people" so I didn't mind. I was informed that the second I put a stock on it, it would forever be a rifle. They didn't mention permanently attaching the buffer tube. Does it have to be permanently attached only if you use a standard "rifle" buffer tube capable of accepting a stock, or can you just permanently modify the "rifle" buffer tube so that it can't accept a stock, or does EVEN a "pistol" buffer tube still have to be attached???

Edited May 23, 2010 by Kevo
Typoo

[Guest Lester Weevils]

I've built three pistols, so far, and this is news to me. You never know when something might change, though. The ATF has thrown curve balls in the past.

That Kel-tec is a slick little toy:D

I have a PLR-16, only taken it to the range about three times. Haven't got good practice with it, but last time, at 10 yards or so, was shooting it offhand only slightly larger groups than with the trusty old Mark II slabside pistol.

Not that I'm awfully good at shooting, but the Mark II in my hands makes much smaller groups than the higher-caliber pistols. So it is somewhat encouraging that a big ole heavy .223 seems POTENTIALLY about as accurately shootable as a .22 target pistol.

[dralarms]

Do you want a sure-nough AR-15 pistol, or do you want a pistol to shoot 223/5.56 and use AR-15 magazines? If the latter, consider the Kel-Tec PLR16

Kel Tec

Got one of those. Wanted to build an AR pistol

Is this letter of recent vintage? I was under the impression and have seen letters to the effect saying nothing about the buffer tube, just that you can never put a stock on it.

If this is a letter addressed to you, and you don't mind, I'd like a copy. PM'ing ya:D

Jan 2009

Actually addressed to someone else but I was given it by a gun store.

a copy will be headed your way.

[leroy]

Do you want a sure-nough AR-15 pistol, or do you want a pistol to shoot 223/5.56 and use AR-15 magazines? If the latter, consider the Kel-Tec PLR16

Kel Tec

Interesting little bugger aint it.

Thanks for posting it.

Kind regards,

Leroy

[Guest 6.8 AR]

Some of the NFA guys on here might know better, but the

only requirement that was a big deal was that it was a

virgin lower, and should be transferred as "other",

can never have a buttstock and no vertical foregrip.

Thanks for sending it

[Guest 6.8 AR]

Thanks for the letter.

I don't think it is necessary to permanently attach the buffer

tube. Just get a pistol buffer tube with the foam cushion.

There are other types, also. I remember one guy using

a mil-spec buffer tube and using a thick layer of epoxy

to use as his. As long as you can't attach a buttstock to

the tube it should be okay. Don' worry about soldering

the tube to the receiver.

[dralarms]

Thanks for the letter.

I don't think it is necessary to permanently attach the buffer

tube. Just get a pistol buffer tube with the foam cushion.

There are other types, also. I remember one guy using

a mil-spec buffer tube and using a thick layer of epoxy

to use as his. As long as you can't attach a buttstock to

the tube it should be okay. Don' worry about soldering

the tube to the receiver.

Thanks, I just don't want any problems with the alphabet police.

[Guest mac_05evo]

I got the letter and it says "Further, care must be taken in manufacturing to ensure that the completed pistol will not readily accept and AR-15/M16 shoulder stock. This will require modification of the receiver extension"

Welding it in place is not required. All that is required is it must have a receiver extension installed that will not allow a rifle stock to used. There are specific receiver extension for pistols and those are not required to be welded in place. There are some that are short, there are others that are full length receiver extensions. All are legal so ong as a rifle stock can not be installed onto them, no need to weld the receiver extensions.

Pistol receivers can and are converted to rifles all the time. It is legal to do so. It is legal to remove a pistol receiver extension and install a rifle stock receiver extension as long as the barrel is longer than 16".

Dolomite

Good info. Should note that once it has been made into a rifle it can never go back into a pistol again. A lot of people will assemble a stripped virgin lower as a pistol with a short barrel and then send off for their SBR paperwork. That way you can still be shooting and using the gun then when you get your form back you just have to have your engraving on and throw a stock/extension tube on it.

[dralarms]

I got the letter and it says "Further, care must be taken in manufacturing to ensure that the completed pistol will not readily accept and AR-15/M16 shoulder stock. This will require modification of the receiver extension"

Welding it in place is not required. All that is required is it must have a receiver extension installed that will not allow a rifle stock to used. There are specific receiver extension for pistols and those are not required to be welded in place. There are some that are short, there are others that are full length receiver extensions. All are legal so ong as a rifle stock can not be installed onto them, no need to weld the receiver extensions.

Pistol receivers can and are converted to rifles all the time. It is legal to do so. It is legal to remove a pistol receiver extension and install a rifle stock receiver extension as long as the barrel is longer than 16".

Dolomite

Never said he welded anything, that was just one suggestion to make it permanate.