AR pistol lower question

[geoint]

I have read both that you can and cant use any stripped lower in an AR pistol. Can anyone here just let me know for sure if I can or can not use any stripped lower in an AR pistol?


I ask because I bought a S&W stripped lower last year with the intent to build an AR from the ground up but my funds were cut short and I had to abandon the project. Now Im thinking of starting again from scratch BUT I just wanted to know if I have the option of an AR pistol or if I should just go with a carbine.

[SNCaliber]

Only LEO in California can build and register an AR pistol from a stripped lower, you can build an AR pistol out of a 80% lower if you mill it out yourself.

[cpatbay]

Only LEO in California can build and register an AR pistol from a stripped lower, you can build an AR pistol out of a 80% lower if you mill it out yourself.

^^This.

[stix213]

Federally you can use any stripped lower in an AR pistol, but CA state SBR law is murky as to whether DROS'ing a stripped lower as a longgun (which is what you have done if you bought it in CA and are not in a Roster exempt class) creates an SBR when you take your longgun DROS'd lower and build a pistol from it.

It is generally accepted that you cannot use a longgun DROS'd lower in a pistol build, and instead either need a lower DROS'd as a handgun on original purchase (would need to be LEO or otherwise exempt, or buying it used from one), registered as a handgun on import (you could move here and register it as a pistol at that time since your previously owned handguns are roster exempt), or built from an 80% lower yourself.

If you choose to risk being the test case for this though, realize that an SBR charge in CA is a felony if you lose in court, which would be a lifetime firearms ban in all 50 states.

[geoint]

Federally you can use any stripped lower in an AR pistol, but CA state SBR law is murky as to whether DROS'ing a stripped lower as a longgun (which is what you have done if you bought it in CA and are not in a Roster exempt class) creates an SBR when you take your longgun DROS'd lower and build a pistol from it.

It is generally accepted that you cannot use a longgun DROS'd lower in a pistol build, and instead either need a lower DROS'd as a handgun on original purchase (would need to be LEO or otherwise exempt, or buying it used from one), registered as a handgun on import (you could move here and register it as a pistol at that time since your previously owned handguns are roster exempt), or built from an 80% lower yourself.

If you choose to risk being the test case for this though, realize that an SBR charge in CA is a felony if you lose in court, which would be a lifetime firearms ban in all 50 states.

What if Im currently out of California? I am stationed in Fort Hood, TX right now and have a few months left in my contract before I move back. If I move in with it, its exempt from the roster?

[stix213]

What if Im currently out of California? I am stationed in Fort Hood, TX right now and have a few months left in my contract before I move back. If I move in with it, its exempt from the roster?

If you are a resident of another state, buy or build a pistol there, you can move to California with that pistol. When you move to CA with a pistol from another state, that pistol does not have to be on the Roster of approved handguns (no AR pistols are on the Roster). It will just need to be properly configured for CA (bullet button installed, use only 10 round mags, see pistol assault weapon ban flow chart at the top of all pages), and you'll need to fill out the below form and send in $19 to the state for new resident handgun registration.

I'd make sure the lower was purchased in the state you reside in, and was NOT originally purchased in CA and DROSed as a longgun.

http://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/pdfs/firearms/forms/ab991frm.pdf

[geoint]

If you are a resident of another state, buy or build a pistol there, you can move to California with that pistol. When you move to CA with a pistol from another state, that pistol does not have to be on the Roster of approved handguns (no AR pistols are on the Roster). It will just need to be properly configured for CA (bullet button installed, use only 10 round mags, see pistol assault weapon ban flow chart at the top of all pages), and you'll need to fill out the below form and send in $19 to the state for new resident handgun registration.

I'd make sure the lower was purchased in the state you reside in, and was NOT originally purchased in CA and DROSed as a longgun.

http://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/pd...s/ab991frm.pdf

Thank you boss. Yep, I bought my lower from a LGS here in Texas. Wasn't a face to face transfer or anything, I did a background check for it and everything.

So AR pistols dont have to be SSE'ed when I register them?

[SNCaliber]

nope not if you're bringing it in from Texas where you originally bought/built it

[stix213]

SSE is for avoiding roster issues when home building in CA or buying new from a CA LGS. Already owned handguns imported for personal use after changing residency to CA are already roster exempt.

Install a BB before bringing it into CA, and complete the registration requirement within the allowed time frame after importing (within 60 days if I remember) and you're in compliance generally.

[Salt Works Rifles LLC.]

Look at the Single Shot Exemption Explanation/Database Thread on Calguns.

[CSACANNONEER]

Only LEO in California can build and register an AR pistol from a stripped lower, you can build an AR pistol out of a 80% lower if you mill it out yourself.

LOL. This is WRONG. There are legal ways that a virgin lower can be transferred as a handgun in Ca without having to be a LEO. But, those ways are few and far between. Of course, now we know that the OP is in TX so, he can legally do it and just bring it to Ca in a non AW configuration.

[Salt Works Rifles LLC.]

Bingo.

[SNCaliber]

LOL. This is WRONG. There are legal ways that a virgin lower can be transferred as a handgun in Ca without having to be a LEO. But, those ways are few and far between. Of course, now we know that the OP is in TX so, he can legally do it and just bring it to Ca in a non AW configuration.

what legal way? I would like to know for my knowledge

[Jeepers]

LOL. This is WRONG. There are legal ways that a virgin lower can be transferred as a handgun in Ca without having to be a LEO. But, those ways are few and far between. Of course, now we know that the OP is in TX so, he can legally do it and just bring it to Ca in a non AW configuration.

cant any FFL sell a striped lower as a pistol if they configure it as a SSE pistol to do the safety demo, then strip it back down ? not sure why no one does this but seems to be legal to do so from my understanding

[stix213]

what legal way? I would like to know for my knowledge

CA PC 12125 has a more detailed lists of exemptions than just LEO.

http://www.oclaw.org/research/code/ca/PEN/12125./content.html#.U1hMTFRdXb8