NRA member, new rifle builder

[shipwreckrem]

HI, this is my first post on calguns, I think.

Quick bio on me: I have formal training through the Military Sealift Command and have been required to keep up my certifications as required by the US Coastguard. I also go to the range as a hobby.

I have subscribed to the NRA for many years off and on just because I’ve always liked looking at cool guns and knives and sometimes I get a free bag or something cool. I realize I sound like a teenager as I read this back to myself... I digress..

Now that I’m in my mid 30’s and a resident of Sonoma County, I’m glad to have a few new gun. I’ve also recently peaked an interest in building rifles!

Many of the local sporting goods stores have been kind and helpful with all of my inquiries over the last year or so.

A new venture for me is learning the legality of AR pistols. Relative to a complete rifle built such as a California compliant Colt M4A1 SOCOM 5.56, I can put a 16” Tromix .458 SOCOM complete upper on it. But I can NOT put a barrel shorter than 16” as that would be creating a SBR. This I understand.

I know Franklin armory has three AR Pistols on the California roster and that’s all well and good but what I’m NOT clear on is if, for instance, I buy a CA7 pistol, can I then go and buy a separate upper like an aero precision 11” and put it on the pistol lower? It’s still less than 16”

Furthermore. If I just have tons of spare parts lying around, do I even need to bother buying a complete (less than 16”) upper or can I just buy an 8” barrel and install all the upper parts and put it on my registered complete Franklin armory pistol lower?

[Garv]

Welcome wreck.

I suggest you post your questions in the “california handguns” forum to get more people looking.
This is a lightly used forum.

[Oldmandan]

The only way to acquire a semi-auto pistol in CA, is to buy a lower receiver that was DROS’ed as a pistol via ppt. Which is why you see them in the marketplace for for $$$$.

The CA7 is DROS’d as a bolt action, so it doesn’t apply. The overseers have determined you can’t modify your property in that manner.

Welcome aboard