ar-15 pistol on OLL?

[MrTokarev]

I wasn't able to pin anything definitive down with the search so I'll ask here. Is it legal to build an AR-15 pistol using an off list lower made in California?

I heard some things about having to use a specific pistol lower or build one from an 80% lower but I wasn't able to find anything prohibiting use of an OLL.

Thanks for the help.

[Quiet]

If you use a lower that has been DROS'd as a "long gun", CA may view that as making a SBR (weapon made from a rifle).

If you use a lower that has been 4473'd as a "long gun", Feds may view that as making a SBR (weapon made from a rifle).

Therefore, you have two options:
1. You can only use a lower that has been DROS'd as a "handgun" and 4473'd as a "handgun" or as a "other".
2. Use a lower that you have manufactured yourself.

[MrTokarev]

So as long as I have the dealer dros it as a pistol it's fine? I was thinking of getting one from JD machine in San Diego. Do I just tell them I want it dros'd as a pistol lower?

[Quiet]

So as long as I have the dealer dros it as a pistol it's fine? I was thinking of getting one from JD machine in San Diego. Do I just tell them I want it dros'd as a pistol lower?

Because there are no AR15 pistols on the Roster of Handguns Certified for Sale, an AR lower can not be DROS'd as a "handgun", unless you meet one of the following exemptions:
* Law Enforcement Officer
* dimensionally compliant single-shot pistol
* Private Party Transfer
* out-of-state intra-familial gift

Therefore, unless you have one of the above exemptions, no CA FFL dealer can DROS a firearm receiver as a "handgun".

[TheDigitalPicasso]

Great info as I have a lower and I wanted to build it as a pistol. So the only way to get a lower and have it marked as a pistol would be a Private party transfer and an 80% made lower by you?

Also what does an of list lower mean? I have a S&W lower that I wanted to build into a pistol, can I use it to build one?

[MrTokarev]

Because there are no AR15 pistols on the Roster of Handguns Certified for Sale, an AR lower can not be DROS'd as a "handgun", unless you meet one of the following exemptions:
* Law Enforcement Officer
* dimensionally compliant single-shot pistol
* Private Party Transfer
* out-of-state intra-familial gift

Therefore, unless you have one of the above exemptions, no CA FFL dealer can DROS a firearm receiver as a "handgun".

Hmm. So I couldn't buy a new receiver from a dealer but I could buy one from another person or receive one from a relative? If I bought one from another person, would it have to have been originally DROS'd as a handgun? Or could I purchase a stripped lower from another person that who had DROS'd it as a longarm but have it DROS'd as a handgun for myself?

BTW thank you for the info.

[troysland]

Also what does an of list lower mean? I have a S&W lower that I wanted to build into a pistol, can I use it to build one?

California has a ban on what they define as "assault weapons". Their definition is based specifically on make and model in what is known as the Kasler list. These AR-15's are now banned (since 2000). If a lower reciever is not on the following list, it's considered Off-list, and perfectly legal to buy and own in CA. Hence the Off-list lower (OLL) acronym.
AR SERIES ASSAULT WEAPONS - RECENTLY IDENTIFIEDTHESE ASSAULT WEAPONS MUST BE REGISTERED BY DECEMBER 31, 2000.
American Spirit****
USA ModelArmalite***** AR 10 (all)***** M15 (all)***** Golden Eagle
Bushmaster***** Bushmaster XM15 (all)
Colt**** Sporter (all)**** Match Target (all)**** Law Enforcement (6920)
Eagle Arms**** M15 (all)**** EA-15 A2 H-BAR**** EA-15 E1Dalphon**** B.F.D.
DPMS**** Panther (all)
Hesse Arms**** HAR 15A2 (all)
Knights**** SR-15 (all)**** SR-25 (all)**** RAS (all)
Les Baer**** Ultimate AR (all)
Olympic Arms**** AR-15**** Car-97**** PCR (all)
Professional Ordnance, Inc.**** Carbon 15 Rifle**** Carbon 15 Pistol
Palmetto**** SGA (all)
PWA**** All Models
Rock River Arms, Inc.**** Standard A-2**** Car A2**** Standard A-4 Flattop**** Car A4 Flattop*** * NM A2 - DCM Legal**** LE Tactical Carbine
Wilson Combat**** AR-15

Actual PDF file here.

http://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/pdfs/firearms/infobuls/kaslist.pdf

[TheDigitalPicasso]

Okay so I can build my S&W M&P15 lower into a AR pistol because I don't see S&W on that list?

[ohlone]

if you bought your lower as a long gun, then you can not make it into a pistol, forever.

if you don't know it was as a long gun or not, then 99.9% chance it was a long gun and you can't build into a pistol

that is my understanding.....

i was told by LGS that if you got a stripped lower from a dealer, then it is a long gun and you can forget about pistol. they told me that the ar pistol should come as completed lower with pistol upper, with bb and a 0 round mag inserted... sale upper back and change mag after you walk out of the shop....

Okay so I can build my S&W M&P15 lower into a AR pistol because I don't see S&W on that list?

[king kong]

To my understanding, pistols have to be sold as complete in California, therefore you cannot register a stripped lower as a pistol. Only way to acquire an AR pistol is to purchase one with a SSE from somewhere like riflegear or build one from an 80%

[sdsguy87]

Easiest thing to do from what I'm reading is to get an 80% lower, then build it yourself. By doing that, it's a custom build. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[HK Dave]

Answer = NO

[starsnuffer]

Most AR pistols are purchased as SSE or single shot exemptions in CA. This is accomplished by using a sled in the magwell that essentially makes the thing single shot.

Usually, most gun shops that sell AR's have these in stock, however, due to the glut of AR parts due to pending legislation, it's nearly impossible to find them at the moment.

An 80% build is your best bet.

-W

[IPSICK]

Many questions here showing a deep lack of research of the information available throughout this forum.

One glaring confusion that I haven't seen answered is the private party transfer possibility. When one of the posters above mentioned ppt as a legal avenue for acquiring an AR pistol, they meant one of several things.

1. PPT of a complete AR Pistol
2. PPT of an AR Pistol Receiver that was DROS'd as a pistol receiver by the original owner.
3. PPT of an 80% receiver now serialized for private sale as an AR Pistol (admittedly I am not completely sure if this last one really works).

Lastly, the one other avenue mentioned in the post above is purchasing an OLL AR Pistol from an 07 FFL who will sell it to you in a single shot exemption format.