Can you make an AR Pistol featureless?

[Bly52]

Question, I have a 80%, that a want to make into a pistol. I build it out and put a mag lock on it, so I don't have to register it as AW, but let's say I want to register as a pistol, how do I do that??

[bubbapug1]

I don't think you can build one out as a semi auto any longer because the SSE exemption days are long gone.

Someone correct me if I am mistaken.

[Cokebottle]

Won't this make it featureless?
Just get an afg instead of a vertical grip. It has no stock. Take off flash hider. Boom gtg.

AFG is not recommended for a featureless rifle build. Does not create an AOW on a featured build, however, a VFG on an AR pistol *IS* an AOW and is a federal NFA violation.

Even at that, there are other issues:

(A) A threaded barrel, capable of accepting a flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer.

Need a thread protector pinned and welded. Don't count on what is today defined as a "compensator" not to some day become a flash hider.

(B) A second handgrip.

While a VFG would create an AOW, the AFG would be okay for a featured pistol, but not a featureless.
However....

Even without an AFG, it could be argued that the fore-end is a 2nd hand grip, and it certainly is a barrel shroud.

(D) The capacity to accept a detachable magazine at some location outside of the pistol grip.

And of course, getting around this would require a redesign placing the trigger ahead of the magwell and removing the pistol grip.
At this point, you really would not have an AR/AK pattern pistol anymore.


Fixed magazine is the only way to go for an AR/AK pattern pistol.
Either the Franklin DFM or BB 2.0, but keep in mind that neither has been tested in California courts.
The Franklin DFM has been found to be acceptable on the east coast, where the original bullet button was never acceptable.

[fmunk]

I don't think you can build one out as a semi auto any longer because the SSE exemption days are long gone.

Someone correct me if I am mistaken.

I believe you are correct. Strange why anyone would assume rifle rules apply to pistols, or the other way around.

[Cokebottle]

I believe you are correct. Strange why anyone would assume rifle rules apply to pistols, or the other way around.

Because the freaking laws change every couple of years and there is no factual information distributed to the public by the government or media.

What was perfectly legal 36 months ago is a felony today.
What is perfectly legal today will be a felony in less than two months.

[fmunk]

Because the freaking laws change every couple of years and there is no factual information distributed to the public by the government or media.

What was perfectly legal 36 months ago is a felony today.
What is perfectly legal today will be a felony in less than two months.

That was not my point. There are laws for pistols and there are laws for rifles. When we speak of "featureless", that pertains to rifle builds. There never was a featureless loophole for pistols as pistols are not banned by feature (but through the roster)... not yet anyway.

[Cokebottle]

That was not my point. There are laws for pistols and there are laws for rifles. When we speak of "featureless", that pertains to rifle builds. There never was a featureless loophole for pistols as pistols are not banned by feature (but through the roster)... not yet anyway.

Pistols are indeed banned by feature (see list above), but the AR and AK platforms are somewhat unique in that there is no practical way to make them featureless.

There are other "evil" pistols that carry the magazine within the pistol grip that can be made featureless such as the Masterpiece Arms MPA series.
Put a threaded barrel on a Glock and it is now banned by feature.

[DrjonesUSA]

How do the newly passed laws affect AR pistols?



.

[Quiet]

How do the newly passed laws affect AR pistols?

Starting 01-01-2017, in order for it to be considered a fixed magazine, the magazine can not be removed without disassembling the firearm's action.

If a AR style pistol is semi-auto and utilizes a "bullet button" style maglock, then it will be considered an assault weapon.

In order to keep it legal, one of the following options must be done before 01-01-2018:
A. Register it as an assault weapon.
B. Replace the "bullet button" maglock with a maglock that does not allow the magazine to be removed without disassembling the firearm's action. (example... ARMagLock & BB Reloaded/Patriot Mag Release)
C. Install a fixed 10 round magazine that can not be removed without disassembling the firearm's action. (example... Franklin Armory DFM)
D. Take it out-of-state for storage or to be transferred through an out-of-state FFL dealer.
E. Make it permanently inoperable (destroy it).
F. Surrendered to law enforcement for destruction.

[bubbapug1]

Thanks for the great answers guys.

Is there anything we need to do with our MPA MAC 10s? The mag is in the grip. Can't see how it's an AW.

[saki302]

Here, I made one for you

[Cokebottle]

Thanks for the great answers guys.

Is there anything we need to do with our MPA MAC 10s? The mag is in the grip. Can't see how it's an AW.

The remaining features still apply.

Threaded barrel either needs to have a pinned comp/thread protector, or the threads need to be turned down.
If a pinned muzzle device, no flash hider... that includes what might today be referred to as a compensator but may next week be considered a hider because the manufacturer made a typo on their web site update.
No barrel shroud (which the MAC does not have.)

[Cokebottle]

Here, I made one for you

Still not featureless. I see two, possibly three features

[saki302]

I was too busy being a smartass

Fixed it for you

[Cokebottle]

Dammit...

Now TruckNutz are going to be added to the list of evil features.


Oh wait... they SHOULD be banned