AR lower transfer question

[MMcfpd]

A thought struck me as I drove into work this morning, and I need y'all's help in addressing my naivete on this subject.

I've got an AR lower receiver coming to my usual FFL, and I got to thinking about the transfer process. Is an AR lower by itself a longgun? It's certainly not a handgun. What sparked the question was my seeing an online ad for a homemade lower that the seller said was registered as an SBR.

Do I need to go through the SBR rigamarole to complete this coming transfer of an AR lower?

 

[1911 guy]

The lower is the rifle.

The lower reciever is the serialized portion of the firearm, the BATFE considers this to be the firearm. You do not need to apply for a SBR stamp (form 4, I believe) unless you plan to put a barrel shorter than 16" on it. The paperwork is the same as if you were buying any other long gun.

 

[DMK]

I've got an AR lower receiver coming to my usual FFL, and I got to thinking about the transfer process. Is an AR lower by itself a longgun? It's certainly not a handgun.

No, it is not necessarily a long gun automatically. You can have a bare lower transferred to you as a handgun. I know this because I've done it.

 

[MMcfpd]

OK, so it could be transferred as either a longgun or a handgun, but either way I shouldn't need to worry about an SBR transfer.

Thanks, guys. It was just one of those things that can suddenly pop into your head while driving.

 

[Amish_Bill]

You can also have it written in the book and transferred out as a stripped lower. This qualifies it as a firearm, but not specifically a rifle or pistol. If you are getting more than one in at a time, this means the multiple handgun purchase paperwork will not apply to the transfer.

As long as it's not transferred as a rifle, you can build it up with a short upper and no stock and call it a pistol. (yes on receiver extension, no on actually putting the plastic stock on it) If you want a short upper on it AND a stock, you need to register it as an SBR.

 

[MMcfpd]

Hmmm..., more to think about. I guess I might build it up as a pistol, although that wasn't the original plan.

 

[Amish_Bill]

side note - as best I can tell, you can build it as a pistol. You can then add an over-16" upper and a stock (in that order) and make a rifle. After than, you technically cannot take off the stock and long upper and call it a pistol. (once a rifle thing, just like their infamous 'once a machinegun' thing...)

 

[af1acura]

Amish_bill,
Is there a way to tell if the lower was transferred as a "rifle" or "stripped lower"? I ask this because I just bought 2 stripped lowers but didn't think about the pistol thing until too late. On my receipt all is says is DPMS PANTHER ARMS CAL .223 A15 S/N XXXXX. So no where do I see rifle stated, I don't know if this is enough to cover me legally though. I will call the shop and see what they transferred them as also.

 

[wdlsguy]

There is an FAQ and an ATF letter on this subject in the AR Pistols forum at ar15.com.