AR15 pistol question

[BBC632]

Hello, new to calguns and need help. I wish to build a AR15 pistol myself and hopefully save some money and have fun doing it. I do have the 80% lower receiver and can machine it. From what I have read and the questions I have asked, local FFL dealer and others online, I believe I can complete the 80% lower, add a 11.5 upper, pistol buffer tube, bullet button, configure the weapon as a single shot (take pics at this point) convert to use 5-10 round magazines and as long as I don't add any evil "illegal" parts, I should be good to go. I can build a firearm myself at home without any help from outside sources, i.e. machining, finishing, engraving, gunsmithing services, etc and it's legal. No serial numbers are needed unless the weapon is to be sold and my 80% lower does not need to be DROSed as it is not a firearm. The completed build will have the necessary features to be California legal as a homebuilt weapon as listed above. This is the short version of what I am doing, but hopefully it's correct. Any help/advice would be appreciated!!

I do have a number of firearms (all legal) and if the pistol build is potentially a arrest waiting to happen I would rather know now. Thanks for the help!!

[Sicilian]

I do not believe it needs to be converted to single-shot, since the lower is not a firearm.

As far as possession of the pistol being cause for concern, as long as you do not have other AR rifles you are GTG. If you do have AR's I would suggest that you build up the lower before ordering the short barreled upper. This way you won't be charged with assembling an SBR. There is a good ratio that I have heard as far as pistol to rifle AR's that someone else will be sure to inform you of.

[Joe]

I do not believe it needs to be converted to single-shot, since the lower is not a firearm.

As far as possession of the pistol being cause for concern, as long as you do not have other AR rifles you are GTG. If you do have AR's I would suggest that you build up the lower before ordering the short barreled upper. This way you won't be charged with assembling an SBR. There is a good ratio that I have heard as far as pistol to rifle AR's that someone else will be sure to inform you of.

I'm pretty sure you're wrong. I've seen in other threads that people manufacture the 80% lowers and then convert them to single shot and take a photo of it for proof.

[huntercf]

From what I understand, you can have the "evil features" if you have a bullet button, just no stock on it. As far as converting to single shot I believe that is only when an off list pistol is shipped into CA to be sold. Someone correct me if I am wrong but that is what I understood. I would recommend putting a serial number on it and stamping the lower with "pistol" just in case a LEO wants to check it out. Sicilian is correct, do not buy a pistol upper without having the finished lower ready for it, if you somehow have already done that then store the upper at a family member or friend's house who do not have any AR's until you have the lower ready.

[Anchors]

You must convert to single shot first and then you may convert to semi-auto. No pictures are required, but it can't hurt to take them (though a picture won't really prove it was single shot as single shot is simply a 0 round mag, bullet buttoned/locked into the firearm).

You can have *most* "evil features" with an AR pistol.
Stocks and vertical forward grips are not among them (both trigger federal SBR and AOW status, respectively).

[huntercf]

Thanks RyanAnchors, I forgot about the vertical forward grip, I believe you can put one of those V grips on front.

[mrdd]

I do not believe it needs to be converted to single-shot, since the lower is not a firearm.

The PC states:

12125. (a) Commencing January 1, 2001, any person in this state who
manufactures or causes to be manufactured, imports into the state
for sale, keeps for sale, offers or exposes for sale, gives, or lends
any unsafe handgun shall be punished by imprisonment in a county
jail not exceeding one year.

If you are doing an 80% build you are definitely building a firearm. But, since you are building the receiver yourself, you do not require an FFL or state license to manufacture it. You still need to single shot it for exemption from the roster for the manufacturing.

[1911su16b870]

12125(b)(4)The sale or purchase of any pistol, revolver or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person, if the pistol, revolver, or other firearm is sold to, or purchased by, the Department of Justice, any police department, any sheriff's official, any marshal's office, the Youth and Adult Correctional Agency, the California Highway Patrol, any district attorney's office, or the military or naval forces of this state or of the United States for use in the discharge of their official duties. Nor shall anything in this section prohibit the sale to, or purchase by, sworn members of these agencies of any pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person.

Does not apply to sworn members of the aforementioned agencies.

[Sicilian]

Well now I'm confused. I thought the single-shot was only for importation. It seems strange to take the extra step of converting it to single-shot only to convert it back to regular semi-auto. But, strange is exactly what our state gun laws are.

I better get this all worked out before I build my AR pistol.

[mrdd]

Well now I'm confused. I thought the single-shot was only for importation. It seems strange to take the extra step of converting it to single-shot only to convert it back to regular semi-auto. But, strange is exactly what our state gun laws are.

You are not converting it to single shot, you are manufacturing it as single shot. Also, realize that you are building a firearm, but you have an exemption from the manufacturing license requirements since you are making it for yourself and not to sell.

Make sure that you build it in the right order:

1) Finish 80% receiver
2) Install all lower parts including magazine lock and single shot sled
3) Attach complete upper receiver assembly

At that point you can remove the sled.

[Sicilian]

Thanks for setting me strait

[BBC632]

Hello again, thanks for the help and advice!! My thoughts on the "single shot" pistol, the AR15 pistol can be home built, but MUST be a single shot handgun before converting to 5-10 round magazine fed. The AR15 pistols are sold at my local gun stores, but only as "single shot" pistols to exempt them from California's drop test and magazine disconnect rules. After purchase a buyer can use 5-10 round mags, no problem. No serial #'s are required unless the gun is to be sold (home built) although it may help me if local LE does inspect weapon. If asked by LE, I am to state the pistol is a "home built single shot pistol/firearm converted to 10 round" I am concerned about engraving any serial numbers on the lower, as I am not a manufacture and the firearm was NOT made for resale. I do have another question about the AR15 pistols, I have come across various opinions in regard to the purchase of stripped lowers. As the stripped lower is NOT a rifle or pistol, but a "firearm" it may be legal to complete one as either. Local FFL dealer did mention that they "CAN NOT" DROS a receiver as a pistol unless it was a completed gun and they could assemble the pistol. So if not a "pistol" it must be a rifle?? at time of DROS?? Anyway, I appreciate the help and will reply after I speak to my gunsmith, he knows the laws, but will always advise caution.

[huntercf]

Hello again, thanks for the help and advice!! My thoughts on the "single shot" pistol, the AR15 pistol can be home built, but MUST be a single shot handgun before converting to 5-10 round magazine fed. The AR15 pistols are sold at my local gun stores, but only as "single shot" pistols to exempt them from California's drop test and magazine disconnect rules. After purchase a buyer can use 5-10 round mags, no problem. No serial #'s are required unless the gun is to be sold (home built) although it may help me if local LE does inspect weapon. If asked by LE, I am to state the pistol is a "home built single shot pistol/firearm converted to 10 round" I am concerned about engraving any serial numbers on the lower, as I am not a manufacture and the firearm was NOT made for resale. I do have another question about the AR15 pistols, I have come across various opinions in regard to the purchase of stripped lowers. As the stripped lower is NOT a rifle or pistol, but a "firearm" it may be legal to complete one as either. Local FFL dealer did mention that they "CAN NOT" DROS a receiver as a pistol unless it was a completed gun and they could assemble the pistol. So if not a "pistol" it must be a rifle?? at time of DROS?? Anyway, I appreciate the help and will reply after I speak to my gunsmith, he knows the laws, but will always advise caution.

Lowers cannot be DROS'd as pistols, only complete pistols can. You can build them yourself but only in the order above. In speaking to a LEO friend of mine he highly suggests engraving a S/N and registering it, he knows you don't have to have a S/N on a home build but not all LEO's are equally up to speed in regards to this issue (also check previous threads regarding what needs to be engraved on the lower: i.e. your name[manufacturer], city, state, USA[place it was built], model #[have fun with this one] and S/N[it was suggested that this start with HB]. You can also buy a complete pistol and change the upper if you want, you can even sell the original upper that came with it, of course it doesn't make sense but what ever makes sense coming out of sacramento?

[gr86ss]

So can I build a stripped lower into a pistol or does it HAVE to be an 80% lower that is completed as a pistol lower?

[huntercf]

So can I build a stripped lower into a pistol or does it HAVE to be an 80% lower that is completed as a pistol lower?

It has to be an 80% unless the stripped lower was originally a complete pistol and was registered that way, then it can be stripped and built into another pistol.