AR Pistol Advice?

[TriggerHippie]

Hey All,

I just completed a 80% lower with manufacturers mark, s/n engraved etc.

If I build a 11.5" upper with a Brace, Mag Lock & 10 Round Mag would that make it CA legal?

Would I have to register it by July 1, 2018?

Register as AR Pistol or Assault Weapon?

Thanks for your input

[TriggerHippie]

AR Pistol Advice?

Hey All,

I just completed a 80% lower with manufacturers mark, s/n engraved etc.

If I build a 11.5" upper with a Brace, Mag Lock & 10 Round Mag would that make it CA legal?

Would I have to register it by July 1, 2018?

Register as AR Pistol or Assault Weapon?

Pls. feel free to post any info on how you have gone about building your AR pistol

Thanks for your input

[WallySparx]

You had to have completed the build prior to 1/1/17 in order to register it as an AW.

[scotty99]

A lower you just completed can only be built into a featureless rifle. No way to do a pistol now, and no evil features that would require AW reg. Sadly, you are too late.


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[FUCA2AFTW]

Welcome...to the Hotel Commiefornia...such a lovely place....

[kel-tec-innovations]

If you built it before the deadline mentioned above a pistol you could run the locks that requires the action to be split open to drop the mag. Its pretty ridiculous but that's the way to keep the pistol since featureless is not an option.

If i'm wrong someone correct me.

[Spyder]

A lower you just completed can only be built into a featureless rifle. No way to do a pistol now, and no evil features that would require AW reg. Sadly, you are too late.


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I'm quite possibly wrong, but can't you still do a pistol with any of the new style of fixed magazines, and not trigger AW status?

[Nor*Cal]

I'm quite possibly wrong, but can't you still do a pistol with any of the new style of fixed magazines, and not trigger AW status?

The assault weapon law is not the issue. It's the possibility of manufacturing an unsafe handgun.

You will not find a definitive answer on this. Some believe that making a semi-auto pistol could be viewed as manufacturing an unsafe handgun in CA. And some do not agree and feel that it is still legal as long and you first build the handgun into a dimensionally compliant single shot pistol (from a virgin receiver/frame).

[ARgomez]

so to sum this all up it is illegal to have a AR pistol with a Bullet button.

[Some Guy]

so to sum this all up it is illegal to have a AR pistol with a Bullet button.

It is currently illegal to create a new AR pistol with a Bullet Button™ in CA. There are plenty of legally possessed AR pistols with a Bullet Button™ (the owners will be required to register them as AW in order to keep them in that configuration)

[SteveHamn]

This is the best description I can find of how to do it:

https://www.80-lower.com/blogs/80-lower-blog/how-to-legally-build-an-ar-pistol-in-ca

However, Nor*Cal is right, there seems to be a gray area when it comes to converting it from single shot to semi-auto. Is that conversion considered "manufacturing"? Or does the "manufacturing" only happen when it's originally made into a single shot? That question hasn't been decided in courts yet. To be safe I would keep it Single Shot until the issue is decided or you get better guidance (e.g. from an actual lawyer).

[mshill]

This is the best description I can find of how to do it:

https://www.80-lower.com/blogs/80-lower-blog/how-to-legally-build-an-ar-pistol-in-ca

However, Nor*Cal is right, there seems to be a gray area when it comes to converting it from single shot to semi-auto. Is that conversion considered "manufacturing"? Or does the "manufacturing" only happen when it's originally made into a single shot? That question hasn't been decided in courts yet. To be safe I would keep it Single Shot until the issue is decided or you get better guidance (e.g. from an actual lawyer).

Two issues are in play when building an AR/AK Pistol after 1/1/2017:

1) Unsafe Handgun Roster - Must be built as a dimensionally compliant break open or bold action (eg. non semi-auto) firearm. Later changing to a semi-auto is the gray area where the newest definition of manufacturing (found where?) could come into play.

2) Assault Weapon Laws CA PC30900(B) and 30515(A)(4) are the next issue. Since you cannot comply with 30900(b) you must make it fixed magazine.

[TriggerHippie]

Ok so if i build it as a breaktop, locked mag & brace it should be ok right? Assuming its already been converted from single shot to semi.

Id be in the gray area so im gonna assume its ok to build yes?

[coy80176]

Definately, yes...

The internet said its ok

[SteveHamn]

Ok so if i build it as a breaktop, locked mag & brace it should be ok right? Assuming its already been converted from single shot to semi.

Id be in the gray area so im gonna assume its ok to build yes?

The conversion from Single Shot to Semi is the gray area. Gray means gray, if you want to live in the gray area that means we can't say its okay or not. We're not laywers so if you want a solid answer I suggest you talk with one or read the laws for yourself

http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PEN&sectionNum=32100