Stripped Receivers

[instaramen]

I was browsing the interwebs looking at stripped receivers when it hit me, even though stripped receivers are DROS'ed as rifle in CA, they are still considered receivers on the 4473. Suppose you buy a stripped receiver in CA and later move out of CA permanently, wouldn't you be able to make it into an AR pistol in a different state because it's still classified as a receiver? Your thought?

[RTE]

I've heard more than once before that if its assembled as a rifle its always a rifle, can not be reconfigured to a pistol.

If the serial number isnt registered, who you going to tell it was once a rifle?

[kemasa]

The CA DROS doesn't taint the receiver in terms of Federal law. As long as it was never originally made into a long gun, you can make it into a pistol.

[CoopsDad]

The CA DROS doesn't taint the receiver in terms of Federal law. As long as it was never originally made into a long gun, you can make it into a pistol.

What's the statute saying a receiver originally DROS'ed in California as a rifle would be eligible to be built into a pistol outside of California, so long as it was never configured as a long gun?

[kemasa]

What's the statute saying a receiver originally DROS'ed in California as a rifle would be eligible to be built into a pistol outside of California, so long as it was never configured as a long gun?

Sorry, but that question doesn't make any sense as that isn't how the law works. Federal law deals with what was done with the firearm, not state paperwork. Why would you think that a federal law would mention CA DROS?

[Quiet]

I was browsing the interwebs looking at stripped receivers when it hit me, even though stripped receivers are DROS'ed as rifle in CA, they are still considered receivers on the 4473. Suppose you buy a stripped receiver in CA and later move out of CA permanently, wouldn't you be able to make it into an AR pistol in a different state because it's still classified as a receiver? Your thought?

ATF 4473 = handgun, long gun, other.
CA DROS = handgun, long gun.

A receiver = 4473'd "other". DROS'd "long gun".

Per BATFE...
Title 1 Other -> Title 1 Handgun = legal.
Title 1 Other -> Title 1 Handgun -> Title 1 Rifle = legal.
Title 1 Other -> Title 1 Handgun -> Title 1 Rifle -> Title 1 Handgun = legal.
Title 1 Other -> Title 1 Rifle = legal.
Title 1 Other -> Title 1 Rifle - > Title 1 Handgun = illegal SBR.

Therefore...

If you are a non-exempt CA resident that acquires a stripped AR receiver in CA, it will be 4473'd as "other" and DROS'd as "long gun".

If you then move out of CA, then depending on what you did with the stripped AR receiver while in CA will effect it's status outside of CA, regardless of how it was DROS'd.

So, while you were in CA...
If you use the stripped AR receiver to make a rifle or shotgun, then it can not be legally used to make a handgun when you move to another State because doing so will create an illegal SBR/SBS.
If you kept the stripped AR receiver as a receiver, then it can legally be used to make a handgun.

[ar15barrels]

What's the statute saying a receiver originally DROS'ed in California as a rifle would be eligible to be built into a pistol outside of California, so long as it was never configured as a long gun?

The same one that says you have permission to breathe air.

[RickD427]

I've heard more than once before that if its assembled as a rifle its always a rifle, can not be reconfigured to a pistol.

If the serial number isnt registered, who you going to tell it was once a rifle?

That is an accurate summary of California law. It is not an accurate summary of federal law.

[CoopsDad]

My question was asked out of genuine curiosity, not intended as a challenge. Having bought the great majority of my guns during the 27 years I lived in California, I was ignorant of the way a firearm DROS'ed in CA would be viewed by the feds and the new state if I moved. I had no idea that a receiver DROS'ed as a long gun in CA wouldn't carry that designation into a new state. Quiet's post was exactly what I was looking for.

My ignorance on this has been cured. I have a couple of never-built receivers languishing in the safe that have just become more interesting.

[spfabrication]

Any legality questions of can I make a shorty are easily avoided by Efile form 1 when you are in free America. It's too easy , and pistol braces are overrated.

[JohnBrian]

Any legality questions of can I make a shorty are easily avoided by Efile form 1 when you are in free America. It's too easy , and pistol braces are overrated.

But don't you need ATF permission to take it out of state if you SBR it? Pistol seems to be the better option.

[ar15barrels]

But don't you need ATF permission to take it out of state if you SBR it? Pistol seems to be the better option.

You can fill out a 5320.20 each year to cover each place that you want to routinely travel to with your SBR.
That way, if you have a monthly match or annual events across state lines, you have the form on file.
At least that's how it used to be.

[smittty]

The CA DROS doesn't taint the receiver in terms of Federal law. As long as it was never originally made into a long gun, you can make it into a pistol.

Sort of, in California, it would need to be dros'd as a handgun receiver to be made into a handgun.

[instaramen]

Sort of, in California, it would need to be dros'd as a handgun receiver to be made into a handgun.

By default, all receivers are DROS'ed as long gun, but since it is 4473'ed as a receiver, once you've moved out of california permanently, and assuming it remained a receiver and not build into a rifle, you would be able to build it into a handgun because you are no longer subject to CA laws.

[ar15barrels]

Sort of, in California, it would need to be dros'd as a handgun receiver to be made into a handgun.

Inside of CA, a stripped receiver can not be DROSed as a handgun to non-exempt subjects because of the roster.