Title 1 Style Question

[jackfate]

Might be the wrong place to ask this but haven't been able to find anything via search (maybe I'm not good at operating this).

Would sticking a 16" semi-auto upper on a SSE lower (built from a M4E1) put you in a position to build your own "title 1" firearm?

I know the general opinion is that you can't use a <16" semi-auto upper on a SSE lower because you'll have manufactured an "unsafe handgun".

[mej16489]

If I remember correctly, there isn't a barrel length maximum for a "pistol" in CA. So it would probably still be considered a pistol...

[chomomo]

not a lawyer, but it has to do with the way the lower was registered, pistol vs rifle.

[jackfate]

not a lawyer, but it has to do with the way the lower was registered, pistol vs rifle.

Yeah - the lower in question is an Aero Precision M4E1 that was DROS-d as a single-shot exempt pistol.

[jimbo74]

If I remember correctly, there isn't a barrel length maximum for a "pistol" in CA. So it would probably still be considered a pistol...

But if you go 16" or bigger, isn't that considered making it a rifle? I was under the impression, if you do that, it's now, and forever a rifle

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

[smittty]

16” barrel with overall length greater than 26” for manual rifle and 30” for semi auto rifle.

[jackfate]

But if you go 16" or bigger, isn't that considered making it a rifle? I was under the impression, if you do that, it's now, and forever a rifle

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

No - I'm fairly certain that if your lower was DROS-d as a pistol you can convert it back/forth as many times as you like. I think the salient point here is that the lower is a pistol - and therefore:
- not designed to be fired from the shoulder
- does not have a stock

So if you slap a 16" semi-auto upper on it, it's technically also no longer a "pistol" because the overall length will be longer than 26" including the buffer tube.

So doesn't that sound like it's neither a pistol, nor a rifle, nor a shotgun?
And therefore a Title 1 style firearm and not subject to the *current CA AW ban?