AR Pistol Build Information Please

[icemanbryan]

Hi,
Looking to build a couple of CA Legal AR pistols.
I tried to look up a build thread but am not finding one.
(Not real good on computers).
Could someone help me out with a guideline?
I want to comply to the legal standard.

Thanks very much


Bryan

[crrjr]

AR Pistol Build Information Please

-Bullet button

-No vertical fore grip (angled is okay)

-Fixed stock or no stock. Some people use the foam piece on the buffer tube, but I have and recommend this ( http://www.thordsencustoms.com/shop/...T-x3607311.htm )

-Pistol buffer tube. It cannot have holes for an adjustable stock. I have this ( http://www.thordsencustoms.com/shop/...E-x2528646.htm )

P.S. If you decide to use the Thordsen customs enhanced cheek rest kit. It will only fit mil-spec pistol buffer tubes. Commercial is too fat. Also, make sure you constantly read up on BATFE rulings since they make up new laws all willy nilly.

[LeadFarmer74]

-No vertical fore grip (angled is okay)

Is this still true if the overall length is more than 26.5"? Franklin armories uses a vertical grip with the pistol they sell.
The lower either has to be built off an 80% or was drosed as a SSE weapon(not available in California anymore).
Bullet button as stated above. Pistol buffer tube only as stated above. Phase 5 has a good tube. Cannot in anyway accept a stock. Be safe and know the laws.

[icemanbryan]

-Bullet button

-No vertical fore grip (angled is okay)

-Fixed stock or no stock. Some people use the foam piece on the buffer tube, but I have and recommend this ( http://www.thordsencustoms.com/shop/...T-x3607311.htm )

-Pistol buffer tube. It cannot have holes for an adjustable stock. I have this ( http://www.thordsencustoms.com/shop/...E-x2528646.htm )

P.S. If you decide to use the Thordsen customs enhanced cheek rest kit. It will only fit mil-spec pistol buffer tubes. Commercial is too fat. Also, make sure you constantly read up on BATFE rulings since they make up new laws all willy nilly.

Thanks for the information.
Is there a minuim length or maxinium length?
Bullet button and less than 10 rounds?

[nothinghere2c]

I was under the impression AB-1964 destroyed the SSE exception so your can't even manufacture your own AR lower from an 80% anymore. Is this not the case?

[LeadFarmer74]

I was under the impression AB-1964 destroyed the SSE exception so your can't even manufacture your own AR lower from an 80% anymore. Is this not the case?

SSE is only for lowers in the system. 80% is never in a system so SSE does not apply. Atleast this is my understanding. A key word you used is manufacture which is illegal but building a lower for personal use is different then manufacturing for sale(which is a no no).

[LeadFarmer74]

Thanks for the information.
Is there a minuim length or maxinium length?
Bullet button and less than 10 rounds?

No minimum or maximum. I build a 7.5" and it was a no go at 100 yards. I now have 12.5 bcm and its just as accurate as my 14.5. I would go nothing less than 10" due to pressure and wear concerns.

[icemanbryan]

SSE is only for lowers in the system. 80% is never in a system so SSE does not apply. Atleast this is my understanding. A key word you used is manufacture which is illegal but building a lower for personal use is different then manufacturing for sale(which is a no no).

That was my understanding as well.
Thanks for clearing it up.

B

[LeadFarmer74]

One key feature I forgot is to buy a single shot magazine. To be within the law you do have to follow the SSE laws ie when a AR pistol comes to california it has a bullet button and single shot magazine.

[RickD427]

I was under the impression AB-1964 destroyed the SSE exception so your can't even manufacture your own AR lower from an 80% anymore. Is this not the case?

SSE is only for lowers in the system. 80% is never in a system so SSE does not apply. Atleast this is my understanding. A key word you used is manufacture which is illegal but building a lower for personal use is different then manufacturing for sale(which is a no no).

Gents,

It remains lawful to build a Single-Shot handgun from an 80% lower.

You do need to ensure that the firearm is "Bolt Action" or "Break-Top" in design and meets the dimensional requirements of Penal Code section 32100(b).

The net effect of AB1964 was to prevent semi-auto firearms from being converted to single-shot to permit their transfer. Those days are gone, but the wording of AB1964 does not affect originally manufactured firearms.

[bohoki]

i used one of these

http://www.ebay.com/itm/223-5-56-Pistol-Buffer-Tube-KIT-Mil-Spec-COMPLETE-Set-Free-Adapter-Plate-/121295930350

[lone shooter]

No minimum or maximum. I build a 7.5" and it was a no go at 100 yards. I now have 12.5 bcm and its just as accurate as my 14.5. I would go nothing less than 10" due to pressure and wear concerns.

What caliber? I plan to build two AR pistols. One 556 at 10.5" barrel and a 9mm pistol with a super short 5.5" barrel.

[Lightstrider]

Do you need to register an 80% pistol lower or anything? Or do you build it without gas tube and use a sled mag.... THEN make it semi??

[LeadFarmer74]

What caliber? I plan to build two AR pistols. One 556 at 10.5" barrel and a 9mm pistol with a super short 5.5" barrel.

I shoot 5.56. This is just my experience with a no so name brand barrel. 10.5 would be good I'm sure but 7.5 just put more wear and tear on the bcg and gas tube. How much more for the average shooter? It could be negligible. I've added a picture with a test of pressure on different barrel lengths and gas systems. As you can see the shorter versions run much higher pressures than their longer counterparts.

Do you need to register an 80% pistol lower or anything? Or do you build it without gas tube and use a sled mag.... THEN make it semi??

Registration is not required but a lot of people do mark them somehow just in case it gets stolen then they at least have a mark to identify if it comes back up or to personalize it.

[RickD427]

Do you need to register an 80% pistol lower or anything? Or do you build it without gas tube and use a sled mag.... THEN make it semi??

There is no requirement to register your 80% lower.

We have a lot of debate on this forum about whether it is lawful to later convert your single-shot 80% to semi-auto. I believe that it is not legal, and that Penal Code section 32000 is the reason why. You're manufacturing a "unsafe handgun" as that term is used in the code. There is no exemption in the code for personal manufacturers.

A lot of folks try to separate the semantics of "manufacturing" and "converting", but there's no support in the case law for that approach. It's really a wide open question just waiting for a defendant to serve as the "test case."