Can any upper be used on a AR Pistol lower?

[supermario]

I understand that once you dros a Pistol lower you can use under 16" uppers. I have 7" upper right now, but i was wondering, if i happend to buy a 16" or 18 SPR upper, can i also use that on my AR Pistol lower, I would assume that i can but then i remember there was a fine line when drosing a Pistol lower and that most shops reccomended that you use under 16" upper to DROS the lower. So now that i have a complete Pistol, is it okay if i took it to the range along with a 18" upper and just swap them out all day and have fun. YES, i know why would i want to do that, I am just asking and wondering if its ok. I kinda want to have a weapon that is modular, and i think having the Diablo PWS Pistol with along with a 18" SPR upper would be cool. Please dont beat me to death, i just thought it would be a cool idea, but i dont know if that would be illegal, considering my pistol lower does not have a stock and should not be fired from shoulder position. I guess i was thinking of the T/C contender pistols that actually have bipods and can really get out there? I hope i make sense. Thanks for all the input guys.

[Jwood562]

I think you are right. I drosd mine with a 16" barrel. I dont think the length of the barel matters. I believed the only difference would be when you add things that would no longer make it a pistol IE buttstock

[supermario]

I think you are right. I drosd mine with a 16" barrel. I dont think the length of the barel matters. I believed the only difference would be when you add things that would no longer make it a pistol IE buttstock

Ok then what about a Bipod? Becus i know you cant have a vfg, but a bipod should be ok right? And also, not that i would use one, but what about a Grip Pod, technically its a bipod too, so would that be considered a vertical grip or bipod. And thanks for answering my questions, I think everybody probably thinks its a dumb idea?

[forynot]

Your grip pod is not a good idea but a bipod will be ok as long as you don’t use it as a grip…and just remember a pistol can be a rifle but a rifle can never be a pistol once it’s a rifle it’s always a rifle

[Ducman]

just for reference.

a bipod may not be a good idea, this is what I have gathered.

You should read the ATF definition of a pistol but generally anything outside of the receiver that extends perpendicular to the barrel is consider a foregrip (that has the intention of providing a grip for your off hand)

[Josh3239]

Ok then what about a Bipod? Becus i know you cant have a vfg, but a bipod should be ok right? And also, not that i would use one, but what about a Grip Pod, technically its a bipod too, so would that be considered a vertical grip or bipod. And thanks for answering my questions, I think everybody probably thinks its a dumb idea?

No grip pod is not technically a bipod. Listen to the name it is both a vertical foregrip and a bipod. That is like saying a vertical foregrip is a monopod, it can certainly be used as such but it is a one way ticket to jail. If it is perpendicular to your barrel and you can hold onto it, it is probably a vertical grip. That said, attaching any type of grip that would make the pistol a "2 handed weapon" then you have stepped out of pistol territory and into AOW NFA territory.

[CSACANNONEER]

Interesting. I thought that the Ruger 10/22 pistol (whatever it's called) comes with a bipod. Or, maybe, I've just seen them with aftermarket bipods at major sporting goods shops outside of California?

[professorhard]

I know exactly what you are talking about. The Ruger Charger pistol, I have seen pics of it with a bipod mounted as well, although I'm not sure if it comes from the factory that way or was added aftermarket

[aplinker]

Did you miss the part where they said "intention of a grip."

A bipod isn't a grip.

Bipods are used on featureless rifles.

[maxd]

I understand that once you dros a Pistol lower you can use under 16" uppers......

Supermario, if you are LEO then skip reading my reply otherwise keep reading!!

From what I understand you CANNOT DROS a pistol lower by itself in CA unless it is listed on the allowed pistol list. If you try to DROS the lower as a pistol and get caught with it, DOJ will treat it as a regular lower receiver for a rifle and if they catch you with an under 16" barrel on it then they get you for possession of SBR.

A pistol , here an AR-type pistol, if not listed in the DOJ's list, can only be entered in CA as an entire functional pistol (not in parts) and can only be a single shot, i.e with single shot sear and no other "evil stuff". The parts can be send to a registered CA licensed gun manufacturer and he can put it together for you and put it through registeration etc., however, it still must meet the above conditions as I told you. On top of that you can NEVER EVER have a buttstock or a forward grip on it.

Be aware, that you may do all the registerations with US DOJ and be cool with US DOJ but CA has its own rules and the DOJ here will host you for while in one of their finest establishments for a few years or so... you don't want that.

This is because CA feels that it needs to do a drop safety test on pistols before putting them on the allowed list.

I think Oaklander has a write-up on this: http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...d.php?t=115364

Good luck.

[aplinker]

Wow, I totally missed your question when I read it the first time...

squinty eyes, late, and you have an issue with correct punctuation and using paragraphs?

The reason they recommend <16" barrel is because you don't want it to be a "long gun" (>26" and >16" barrel). This is an "other" category.

Once it's dros'ed you can use any upper you'd like and it still remains a pistol. A long gun is not a rifle.

Maxd - I think supermario knows you need to dros complete pistols. His question is about what he can do once the lower is in his possession. Still, for other newbs, it's good info - and a decent summary, considering your newness to the forum. Congrats on "getting it."

[supermario]

Supermario, if you are LEO then skip reading my reply otherwise keep reading!!

From what I understand you CANNOT DROS a pistol lower by itself in CA unless it is listed on the allowed pistol list. If you try to DROS the lower as a pistol and get caught with it, DOJ will treat it as a regular lower receiver for a rifle and if they catch you with an under 16" barrel on it then they get you for possession of SBR.

A pistol , here an AR-type pistol, if not listed in the DOJ's list, can only be entered in CA as an entire functional pistol (not in parts) and can only be a single shot, i.e with single shot sear and no other "evil stuff". The parts can be send to a registered CA licensed gun manufacturer and he can put it together for you and put it through registeration etc., however, it still must meet the above conditions as I told you. On top of that you can NEVER EVER have a buttstock or a forward grip on it.

Be aware, that you may do all the registerations with US DOJ and be cool with US DOJ but CA has its own rules and the DOJ here will host you for while in one of their finest establishments for a few years or so... you don't want that.

This is because CA feels that it needs to do a drop safety test on pistols before putting them on the allowed list.

I think Oaklander has a write-up on this: http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...d.php?t=115364

Good luck.

Thanks for the info, i understand that you cannot dros a pistol lower alone, Unless you were lucky enough to ppt a pistol frame from a LEO, otherwise the single shot is the way to go. And i definetly wouldnt use a Gripod, i was just thinking out loud. I wouldnt do anything to get myself into trouble and never be able to purchase a gun. I was just double checking if i can use an upper longer than 16" on my pistol lower and attach a bipod to it. If you get a real bipod, its not really something you can use as a vfg. I was thinking of the TC contender pistols, that have interchangable barrels and use bipods for those steady long shots. Anyways, my questions have been answered and thanks for the help. Thats why i post this questions, i knew you guys would know whats best to do and not to do.. Thanks Guys

[Acorn556]

Correct me if I'm wrong but once you make that pistol into a rifle you're screwed. You CANNOT!!!!!! TURN A RIFLE INTO A PISTOL.


you CAN turn a pistol into a rifle however after that you cannot go back. I am under the impression that there are certian feature on a rifle (collapsable stock) that make it into a rifle and it's not the barrel length however you might want to contact your local law enforcement agency or the California branch of the ATF to be sure.

[Rukus]

The OP wasn't asking about turning a pistol into a rifle (adding a buttstock) he was asking whether or not he could have an upper with a length greater than 16". That in itself does not constitute a rifle.

Like UCLAPLINKER stated above "a long gun is not a rifle"

[maxd]

... Maxd - I think supermario knows you need to dros complete pistols. His question is about what he can do once the lower is in his possession. Still, for other newbs, it's good info - and a decent summary, considering your newness to the forum. Congrats on "getting it."

Thanks ucla for the kind words I was not too sure if Supermario already drosed a complete pistol or was trying to dros a lower? I read it quickly and sounded like he was talking abut a lower. I'm glad to know that it was a complete pistol. Good for you Mario. Thanks for clarifying