Buying a complete lower online

[Misterpink]

What are the rules for buying a complete lower online? Thanks, stay safe everyone.

[Notpc]

Must be purchased through an FFL. Just like a completed firearm.

[pythonfan]

Unless you click the "online loophole" button... then they add clipazines for free.

Just joking around. Yes same rules.

Some online retailers wont let complete lowers be shipped to a california ffl. They are being extra legal.

Some online retailers require you order complete lowers with maglock, fin grips, or other compliance parts before they will ship to a california ffl.

Some online retailers will ship standard complete lowers to a california ffl. Now it is still YOUR responsibility to make it compliant before you attach a compliant upper to it.

Good luck in your endeavour. And ask away if you have any other questions. We dont want people going to jail for honest mistakes.

[Librarian]

Right - for AR-types, BATF has ruled that the lower is 'the firearm'.

That's getting challenged, IIRC, but is still accurate in April 2020.

[pythonfan]

Thanks librarian. I guess I just sorta assumed OP meant ar type lowers. I wasnt thinking about the wide array of other lowers he could be asking about.


If complete lower in question is a pistol lower, forget about it unless you are exempt i.e. law enforcement. Examples would be 1911, glock, ar pistol, etc. Even if the seller agrees to ship it, your receiving ffl will refuse it and you will be out some money and time.

[Blownmotor]

Find a complete lower of your choice. Contact the retailer of the lower to see if they are willing ship to CA as is. Find an FFL that will receive it as is. Also make sure the retailer has the receiving FFL's information. A complete lower is no different than a stripped lower. some FFL's are scared to receive a complete unmodified for compliant complete lower even though there is no law designating a complete lower must be made compliant before entering CA. Both stripped & complete lowers are DROS'd the same way.

Some online retailers will ship standard complete lowers to a California ffl. Now it is still YOUR responsibility to make it compliant before you attach a compliant upper to it.

Good luck in your search

[BrassCase]

Just so ya knowz, even a completely stripped lower is considered to be the gun and also goes through an FFL just like a complete firearm does.

[Misterpink]

Hi guys sorry I wasn’t specific. I’m looking to get a AR15 complete lower on gunbroker. The dealer said he was willing to ship to California, but I assume the dealer isn’t versed on California laws. I’m most likely going to go the fixed magazine route. Do I have to buy the parts before I pick up the lower? Thanks again.

[Barang]

Hi guys sorry I wasn’t specific. I’m looking to get a AR15 complete lower on gunbroker. The dealer said he was willing to ship to California, but I assume the dealer isn’t versed on California laws. I’m most likely going to go the fixed magazine route. Do I have to buy the parts before I pick up the lower? Thanks again.

...

Some online retailers wont let complete lowers be shipped to a california ffl. They are being extra legal.

Some online retailers require you order complete lowers with maglock, fin grips, or other compliance parts before they will ship to a california ffl.

Some online retailers will ship standard complete lowers to a california ffl. Now it is still YOUR responsibility to make it compliant before you attach a compliant upper to it.

Good luck in your endeavour. And ask away if you have any other questions. We dont want people going to jail for honest mistakes.

Find a complete lower of your choice. Contact the retailer of the lower to see if they are willing ship to CA as is. Find an FFL that will receive it as is. Also make sure the retailer has the receiving FFL's information. A complete lower is no different than a stripped lower. some FFL's are scared to receive a complete unmodified for compliant complete lower even though there is no law designating a complete lower must be made compliant before entering CA. Both stripped & complete lowers are DROS'd the same way.

Good luck in your search

contact your ffl. good luck op.

[n8vrmind]

OP,

If you are willing to disclosure the county you live in, friendly calgunners will point you towards recommended FFLs. Best to locate a FFL that is well versed in CA laws pertaining to ARs. Often times, the FFL maybe able to get you a better "out-the-door" price than buying it online + fees

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

[Misterpink]

Thanks n8. I live in Los Angeles, and I’m willing to travel pretty much anywhere in the Southern California area.

[edgerly779]

Find ffl with lowest transfer fees. No limit on what they can charge. Shootsocal is in buena park

[August]

Buy stripped lower and learn to build it. Super easy.

[ShadowGuy]

I don't think you are going to find it worth the transfer fees to buy a complete lower online and pay the transfer fees, unless of course it is something special that can't be found locally. Those that I know that have bought lowers online, buy a few stripped lowers at a time on a deal and then the transfer fee and DROS is split across multiple lowers and makes the cost per lower much cheaper.

For my first AR, I bought a complete lower locally from here: https://riflesupply.com/Anderson-Com...d-_p_1733.html. It even came with a SI Fin Grip and SI stock stop installed already.

I probably woudn't buy another complete lower again, after building my second, it is not that hard and I built it for about the same cost with better parts.

[ShadowGuy]

Don't need any parts to pick up, just the proper paper work you would use to buy any firearm in CA.