can a registered AR/AK be made into a pistol?

[ghettoshecky]

I understand that when even registered AR/AKs cannot be made into a pistol like formation because of the CA handgun safety test, but I am still confused as to would make an AR or AK into a pistol. Does not having a butt stock simply make a rifle into a pistol??? or is it length or a combination of both?

[socalguns]

Why doesn't the title reflect your actual question?

[EBWhite]

Basically-
If a receiver was never made into a rifle, the maker can change their logbook to pistol and thus you have a pistol receiver. However, CA has the safe laws and unless it was brought into the state and got through a PPT, you cannot get one. You can have a single shot though.
One solution is having a rec. listed as a pistol in the makers logbook, used as a rifle in CA but as you step in the free state, you can remove the stock and put your pistol upper on.

Remember- a rifle can only be a rifle...a pistol can be both...

[snobordr]

Basically-
If a receiver was never made into a rifle, the maker can change their logbook to pistol and thus you have a pistol receiver. However, CA has the safe laws and unless it was brought into the state and got through a PPT, you cannot get one. You can have a single shot though.
One solution is having a rec. listed as a pistol in the makers logbook, used as a rifle in CA but as you step in the free state, you can remove the stock and put your pistol upper on.

Remember- a rifle can only be a rifle...a pistol can be both...


In order for him to use said receiver, he would have to purchase, and DROS it. CA will not DROS the receiver as a pistol and thus, once a rifle, always a rifle.

It doesn't matter where the DROS and use occur, this is a federal issue.


In simple terms to answer your question, No.

Re-reading your post, you can remove the stock I believe, as long as OAL remains over 30" (or is it 26" federally?) Once you put a pistol upper on it you have created an SBR and are in violation.

ETA: BAD ADVICE from EBWhite. You follow his advice at your own peril.

[EBWhite]

In order for him to use said receiver, he would have to purchase, and DROS it. CA will not DROS the receiver as a pistol and thus, once a rifle, always a rifle.

It doesn't matter where the DROS and use occur, this is a federal issue.


In simple terms to answer your question, No.

Re-reading your post, you can remove the stock I believe, as long as OAL remains over 30" (or is it 26" federally?) Once you put a pistol upper on it you have created an SBR and are in violation.

ETA: BAD ADVICE from EBWhite. You follow his advice at your own peril.

It does not matter how the thing was DROS'd.
It only matters to the state of CA. If it was sold as a bare rifle receiver, according to the ATF- the config can be changed in the maker's logbook if they cert. that it was never build into a rifle. Once you put a stock on it- then it can never be anything but a rifle. If it is a pistol in the makers book, it can be a pistol or a rifle. Keeping anything other than a single shot pistol in the CA is illegal. However, leaving the state and converting into a pistol would be legal as long as the logbook said pistol.
Thompson's lawsuit was over the whole being both a pistol/rifle....

Still, your best bet is finding one on PPT.

[snobordr]

It does not matter how the thing was DROS'd.


I am sure that this is the reason that, in documents from the ATF, they specifically state that the receiver must never have been DROS'd as a rifle then hmmm?

Again, follow advice from EBWhite at your own peril.

[snobordr]

I am sure that this is the reason that, in documents from the ATF, they specifically state that the receiver must never have been DROS'd as a rifle then hmmm?

Again, follow advice from EBWhite at your own peril.


Because I can't insert an image when editing a post



1276

[EBWhite]

Once again, the guns configuration can be changed to a pistol if the maker gives a cert and changes the logbook (this is only legal if it was never built into a gun-EVER)

Also, the 4473 could be filled out stating the firearm purchased is a , "bare receiver"

[bwiese]

Also, the 4473 could be filled out stating the firearm purchased is a , "bare receiver"

Yes but CA DROS paperwork will likely list 'rifle'. If the gun moved into CA before it was declared/regd as AW in 2000 you might have the chance.

Also, the CA AW reg paperwork should say pistol too. I think any paperwork saying rifle would screw the pooch.

So, for all practical purposes, the answer is NO. The subset of eligible receivers is likely small, and the subset of folks who had foresight to register lowers as pistol AWs in 2000 (given the Fed AW ban at the time) is quite small.