Stripped lower- pistol or long gun?

[SwPx4]

Hello gents,

Today I went to my LGS and was told that if I intended to buy a stripped lower, I would have to register it as EITHER a long gun or a pistol. Obviously if I purchased it knowing that I would be building am AR Pistol, it would have to be registered as such, and if I were to just go the conventional way of registering as a long gun, that future conversion to an AR pistol would be illegal.

Is this correct? I spoke to another FFL that I deal with, and he said that the stripped lowers are registered as receivers and that, on a federal level, it doesn't matter if it is built into a long gun or pistol.

BUT, that it may be prudent to register it as a pistol to avoid issue with California laws.

Your help is much appreciated.

[lorax3]

On the federal 4473, stripped lowers are marked as "others". They are not yet pistols or longguns. In other states you could buy a stripped lower and build anything you wanted.

in CA the DROS only gives you two options. Handgun or Long gun. In order to DROS a firearm as a handgun it must be:

1. On the CA roster
2. Roster Exempt.

Assuming you are not a police officer, a stripped lower is not roster exempt on its own. In most cases a lower is DROS'ed as a long gun. As it is DROS'ed as a long gun the current consensuses is to only build that lower into a rifle or a shotgun, and not until a pistol unless it was DROS'ed as a pistol.

[SwPx4]

So does this mean I have to DROS it as a pistol if I know I will be building it into said configuration?

This would mean a whole nother DROS for me... Gotta love California.

[SwPx4]

And no, I'm not an LEO. I just wanna make sure I do the right thing when trying to build my AR pistol.

I'm planning on picking up the stripped lower in a month or so, but the build is gonna be a while.

[lorax3]

Okay. AR pistols are tricky. Here comes more information than you ever wanted.

Too long; didn't read version: You can't normally build an AR pistol from a stripped receiver you bought from a dealer.

Here is another thread that explains it all. http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...d.php?t=400222 Being that I like to talk about this stuff, I shall regurgitate the information here.

Your dealer has to DROS all firearms. A DROS(Dealer Record of Sale) is the electronic process that sends different types of information to the CA DOJ, does the background check and ends up having you wait 10 days.

If the lower is DROS'ed as a longgun you should not build it into a pistol.

You want to DROS the lower as a pistol. However there is a problem. You can't just decide this. The DROS software is very specific. When you try to DROS something as a pistol it will want said pistol to be on the CA Roster of certified handguns. No stripped lowers are currently on the roster.

So if you still want an AR pistol, you have to pursue a roster exempt method.

The most common is the "single-shot exemption"

(b) The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to a
single-shot pistol with a barrel length of not less than six
inches and that has an overall length of at least 101/2 inches
when the handle, frame or receiver, and barrel are assembled.

Basically, a single shot pistol that has a barrel of at least 6" and an overall length of 10.5" it is roster exempt.

Stripped lowers do not meet this requirement, and therefore cannot be DROS'ed as pistols.

Then how do you get an AR pistol? Building a custom pistol out of the gate is not easy.

Basically anyway that avoid marking it as a longgun on a DROS.
1. Have a pistol built out of state and shipped here in a compliant configuration.
2. Buy a complete AR pistol from a dealer already in a single shot configuration
3. Buy an AR pistol from a private party
4. Build your own AR pistol from an 80%

It sounds confusing, well, that's because it is confusing. I'm sure the other dealers will chime in if I missed anything. There are pending letters at various government agencies trying to get more clarification.

I need to update the Calguns wiki to include this info, do not yet see it there.

[JagerTroop]

And no, I'm not an LEO. I just wanna make sure I do the right thing when trying to build my AR pistol.

I'm planning on picking up the stripped lower in a month or so, but the build is gonna be a while.

Unless you're LE, you're not going to buy a stripper pistol lower, new, from a dealer.
Buy a complete single shot pistol, buy a stripper lower via PPT, or machine your own lower from an 80% forging(if you don't know, google it). Those are just about your only options.

[Santa Cruz Armory]

I JUST had this question yesterday! I love Cal Guns!!

[SwPx4]

lorax3,

thanks so much. looks like i have my work cut out for me.

BLFD1,

me too... lol... me too.