AR Pistol Flow Chart

[pennys dad]

Do we have one? Every once in awhile I see a nice pistol upper for sale but I wonder what it takes to get an AR pistol put together.

[Acorn556]

I know if you're going to have one shipped here it has to be setup to take one bullet at a time with a sled.
I'm not sure if you can build one out of a stripped lower but I'd be interested in knowing for sure.

[dan12580]

make sure you own the complete pistol lower before you buy the upper.

[for2nato]

make sure you own the complete pistol lower before you buy the upper.

yea you wouldnt want to take a chance of someone thinking your building a sbr.

[Hopi]

How to become the owner of an Ar-15 pistol.....


The hard way to import
-Pistol must meet dimensional compliance (6+ " barrel)
-Meet single shot exemption
-Properly configured to avoid AW laws (i.e. if semi-auto, mag needs to be locked)

The cheating way to import
If you're an LEO you can have a stripped pistol lower or complete pistol (non-AW) imported via the safe-list leo exemption.

If you're an ordinary citizen, you can have a stripped pistol lower or complete pistol (non-AW) imported via the Ifamily exemption.

*note that LEO can purchase stripped pistol lowers or complete pistols from FFls inside CA.
*note that Ordinary citizens can purchase stripped pistol lowers, or complete pistols PTP inside CA.


The fun way, no import needed
-Complete an 80% receiver into a pistol lower. Then build a dimensionally compliant, single-shot AR-15 pistol.

[Tragic Image]

what, if any, registration is required when you complete and 80% lower pistol build?

[Hopi]

none. Registration is voluntary.

[Tragic Image]

and what indicates it as a "pistol" as opposed to "long-arm" should the DOJ ever wonder why I have an short barrel?

Do you mark/engrave this side to indicate a pistol?

[Hopi]

I have not had mine engraved yet. I do intend to have "pistol" marked on the front face of the magwell.

As far as having to explain anything.....well, that is a wide-open question. If it comes to that, make sure you are well-versed in the law and can articulate very clearly why your pistol is legal. If it requires 'more discussion', a lawyer should be able to clear it up in a few minutes.

Both of the above are moot issues if you voluntarily register your pistol. Which I also intend to do after engraving.

[Tragic Image]

well, I appreciate the information. Thanks!

[Vinz]

I have not had mine engraved yet. I do intend to have "pistol" marked on the front face of the magwell.

As far as having to explain anything.....well, that is a wide-open question. If it comes to that, make sure you are well-versed in the law and can articulate very clearly why your pistol is legal. If it requires 'more discussion', a lawyer should be able to clear it up in a few minutes.

Both of the above are moot issues if you voluntarily register your pistol. Which I also intend to do after engraving.

So would you have to register the 80% pistol build using the import procedure? Single shot etc?

vinz

[Hopi]

No. The single-shot configuration is only applicable when you are building or importing, as to avoid manufacturing or importing an 'unsafe handgun'.

With an 80%, you can register it whenever you want, or not at all.

[Vinz]

Thank you Hopi.

vinz

[CHS]

FYI, to actually answer the original question, there already is a handgun flowchart:

http://www.calguns.net/caawid/hgflowchart.pdf

[CHS]

So would you have to register the 80% pistol build using the import procedure? Single shot etc?

Nope.

You don't even have to put a serial number on it if you don't want to