Uppers, lowers, AR questions

[Captain Bob]

[xrik]

That 10" upper is for an AR pistol. I believe it is a misdemeanor or felony to put a pistol upper on a lower that is not a registered pistol.

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[Uncivil Engineer]

The NFA requires rifle barrels to be 16". Shorter they are short barrel rifles, require a stamp but are illegal in California. A pistol can have a shorter barrel but can't have a shoulder stock. California law makes it extremely difficult to buy an AR pistol, if not impossible.

If you're looking to buy an AR I would suggest going to a local reputable shop and ask to see what they have. There are two basic options to work around California assault weapon laws. Either 'featureless" or fixed magazine.

Featureless rifles avoid any of the bits that make the rifle an assault weapon. For the most part it isn't much except for the pistol grip. There you must use something that doesn't hang below the trigger or allows you to wrap you thumb around to the other side. There are several different grip replacements and it's mostly personal presence as to which is best. Going to local shop that has several different to try is your best bet.

With "fixed magazine" the magazine release is modified via one of several different methods such that the upper have the rear pin released and pivoted forward, some times only a fraction of an inch, breaking the action. Finally, the magazine release should operate as normal. There are several options for rear pins and magazine locking mechanisms that can make this process much easier.

You really need to see what works for you and how much you are going to pay for the different convince options. Not that all the options are expensive, for example depending on the rifle a $20 wrap around the grip might all that is needed to make it compliant.

[RHSth4]

OP you can PPT a Pistol Lower for a premium and go with that 10" in upper. Otherwise you can just buy a lower and need to build off of a minimum of 16" in. You could do a 14.5" in barrel as long as you pin and weld that brake or flash hider onto it making it 16" in overall.

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[golfish]

Yes, the lower is the reciever, so thats where all the business is done.
For your sake, just stay away from pistol uppers.

Bob, head on down to your local Turners and get yourself one of the Anderson lowers that they have on sale for $49.99. While that is in you 10 day wait you can study up on whats next. Building an AR15 is easier than baking a cake and a lot less messy.

Every law abiding citizen should own, know how to shoot and assemble their own AR15........IMO of course

[Jimi Jah]

Bob, head on down to your local Turners and get yourself one of the Anderson lowers that they have on sale for $49.99.

Avoid Anderson lowers, sloppy fit. $49 will get you any number of PSA lowers, some with goofy logos. Those fit much better. Ship to the FFL of your choice.

[DrewN]

PSA has 1-7 16" mid-length complete uppers (with bcg) for $219 msrp right now, $250ish shipped w/ Ca. tax. Gray handguard, but who cares?

[M1NM]

The NFA requires rifle barrels to be 16". Shorter they are short barrel rifles, require a stamp but are illegal in California.

This is not true. SBR, silencers, machine guns are all 100% legal in CA. The problem arises in the fact that CA like the Feds also requires a tax stamp for NFA items. CA has a very poor record of issuing the $75 tax stamps to anyone except movie prop houses or for non-shoulderable machine guns.
AR with "pistol" lower (shown on original purchase form) and no shoulder stock is a pistol. Add a buttstock and it becomes a Short Barrel Rifle and subject to NFA rules.

[Uncivil Engineer]

This is not true. SBR, silencers, machine guns are all 100% legal in CA. The problem arises in the fact that CA like the Feds also requires a tax stamp for NFA items. CA has a very poor record of issuing the $75 tax stamps to anyone except movie prop houses or for non-shoulderable machine guns.

AR with "pistol" lower (shown on original purchase form) and no shoulder stock is a pistol. Add a buttstock and it becomes a Short Barrel Rifle and subject to NFA rules.

While you are correct, this isn't the correct answer for someone asking how to buy their first AR.

Nor is "all you gotta do is order parts online and piece it together".

It is far to easy to run afoul of Californians crazy laws.

The correct answer is buy an AR from a local shop that is already in a legal configuration. You might spend a few extra bucks but it's going to be much cheaper than legal fees. Think of it as a one time insurance policy.

Once you are versed in what is legal, what isn't, and what we just don't know then us the time for some of these other possibilities.

[golfish]

Avoid Anderson lowers, sloppy fit. $49 will get you any number of PSA lowers, some with goofy logos. Those fit much better. Ship to the FFL of your choice.

I've never had a problem with the couple I have. They work like they're supposed to for me.

[L.A. Saiga]

PSA has 1-7 16" mid-length complete uppers (with bcg) for $219 msrp right now, $250ish shipped w/ Ca. tax. Gray handguard, but who cares?

plus
Turners has Lowers for $49
*I have several Anderson lowers - they're solid
then i'd pop this on my lower and grab a gripwrap from munkeeboi and that's a great AR for about $500 including shipping tax n dros

and that's all i have to say about that (in a Larry Potterfield voice)
Good Luck!

[Jimi Jah]

I've never had a problem with the couple I have. They work like they're supposed to for me.

Of course they work. The fit is loose. The front pivet pin wobbles back and forth. There is a good amount of light seen between the upper and lower. A rubber ducky thing helps the rear takedown pin but the front still moves.

Compared to my JD Machine sets it's a huge difference. No movement at all with the JD's and no light seen between the upper and lower. No rubber ducky thing needed.

PSA is a tighter fit with less light seen. It's only 10 bucks more and you get a goofy logo too. I love my "Spacewalker" lower. They have a new one with the Tremor's "@ss blaster" on it flinging poop.