Are all lowers sold as "rifle" lowers in CA?

[ethib]

I moved out of CA. I believe there are federal laws saying once a rifle always a rifle. If I have an ar15 lower I bought in CA that was never built upon into a rifle, could this be used for an ar pistol? Or is every lower purchased in CA by non LEO automatically considered a rifle due to the handgun roster?

[SkyHawk]

If you still live in CA, it cannot be a pistol. Even if you left CA, I'd still get another lower to start a pistol build just to be safe. $50 is cheap insurance.

[AreWeFree]

ATF regulation was changed last year or the year prior, your receiver is allowed to change between pistol or long gun configuration as long as it's compliant.

CA states once it's a long gun it can't go back, and all stripped lowers are DROS'd as long guns.

You're not under CA laws anymore, I believe your receiver can be built however you like, pistol or long gun, no problems.

[Donk310]

No, every lower sold in CA is not a rifle lower. You can purchase pistol lowers through private sales. ... I think.

[Oceanbob]

No, every lower sold in CA is not a rifle lower. You can purchase pistol lowers through private sales. ... I think.

I think a pistol lower today couldn't be a made from scratch RAW now that
we are past 1-1-17. It's too late.

Now if you owned a AR pistol before 1-1-17, you could register it as an AW
This year. (However new rules are on hold or still pending AFAIK)

Bob

[spoof145]

Unlike those of us in California, you are living in a free country, you do what you want.

[Run300Blackout]

In CA, Prior to Jan 01 2015, A lower can either be DROS as a rifle or as a pistol through the single shot exemption loop hole by a FFL that possess a Class 3 license. After, Jan 1 2015, the single shot exemption was ban thus no more lowers allowed to be DROS as a pistol. A rifle that is DROS as a rifle will always be a rifle. A lower DROS as a pistol will always be a pistol.

[Baboosh]

In CA, Prior to Jan 01 2015, A lower can either be DROS as a rifle or as a pistol through the single shot exemption loop hole by a FFL that possess a Class 3 license. After, Jan 1 2015, the single shot exemption was ban thus no more lowers allowed to be DROS as a pistol. A rifle that is DROS as a rifle will always be a rifle. A lower DROS as a pistol will always be a pistol.

Huh? So much wrong and bad info here

[SkyHawk]

Anyhow OP you're doing it wrong. When I leave CA I am turning my CA ARs into SBRs as fast as ATF can process applications for stamps.

Why do just a pistol when you can do it right?

[inferno999]

Are all lowers sold as "rifle" lowers in CA?

I've been through the process so here's the answer without any of the FUD.

Yes, all lowers are sold as rifle lowers. But let's back up...

Prior to 2015, you could purchase an AR pistol ONLY IF IT WAS A COMPLETE PISTOL. The reason it has to be complete was, in order to DROS is as a pistol, certain details had to be completed. First, barrel length; ALL pistol DROSes require the FFL to record the barrel length (and no, they won't lie for you). Second, the FFL needed to mark "single shot exemption" (since the AR15 pistol is not on the safe handgun roster). Had to be complete if it was really single shot. Third, as the mag well was outside the grip (as evil feature on a pistol), it required a bullet button to be installed, and to make matters worse, the BB (in 99% of cases) had to be installed by the manufacturer or out of state. FFLs are not allowed to accept AWs into the state to convert them to BB.

Starting on 1/1/15, Single Shot Exemptions went away. The only way to get an AR pistol after that was, again, to buy a complete pistol through a private party transfer, as those are exempt from the safe handgun roster (and so didn't need SSE to get around it). Note: It still needed to be a COMPLETE pistol, not just a lower, and required a BB.

Starting on 1/1/17, the only way to get an AR pistol is to do a Private Party Transfer of a COMPLETE pistol, that has a permanently attached magazine. Remember, "a detachable magazine well outside of the pistol grip" is an "evil feature" on a pistol.

So, short version: it has NEVER been legal to register/DROS a lower - it MUST HAVE BEEN A COMPLETE PISTOL. (well, maybe prior to 1990 when pistol DROS became a thing it was possible, but that's for the history books)

Also, *some* FFLs were cool and let you bring in your own upper to complete the DROS, effectively allowing you to buy a complete lower only, but don't be fooled, it was still a complete pistol on DROS.

[Chapped Hide]

Anyhow OP you're doing it wrong. When I leave CA I am turning my CA ARs into SBRs as fast as ATF can process applications for stamps.

Why do just a pistol when you can do it right?

I'm leaving in 3 weeks