Can I legally change the caliber of a dedicated AR-15 pistol lower?

[Saw-Bones]

12 to 15 years ago I purchase an undedicated AR-15 lower receiver that the FFL seller made into a dedicated pistol in .223 by marking it as such on the 4473.

I want to put a 10.5” 300BLK upper on it. Is there any prohibition in doing that?

 

[yugorpk]

No problem.

 

[newfalguy101]

There is, in reality, no such thing as a " pistol " lower.

When you bought the lower, there was no " other " option to choose on the 4473, so dealers just picked either longgun or handgun. However, that does not change the fact that a lower is a lower is a lower.

No issue whatsoever changing calibers. As far as that goes, as it was first built into a pistol, you can now go back and forth between rifle and pistol if you want to.

 

[Arizona_Mike]

Deleted. I thought you were asking about an NFA weapon. It sounds to me like you are going from one Title I configuration to another.

You can also add a stock of the barrel is at least 16". There is a "first a rifle, always a rifle" rule but a pistol can go to a rifle and back.

Mike

 

[yugorpk]

There is, in reality, no such thing as a " pistol " lower.

When you bought the lower, there was no " other " option to choose on the 4473, so dealers just picked either longgun or handgun. However, that does not change the fact that a lower is a lower is a lower.

No issue whatsoever changing calibers. As far as that goes, as it was first built into a pistol, you can now go back and forth between rifle and pistol if you want to.

Some states require pistol lowers to be transferred ( not necessarily registered ) as such no matter what the feds want so yes, there are such things as stripped pistol lowers. Federal law is not the only law.

 

[USAF_Vet]

It's no different than dropping a 9mm barrel in a .40S&W frame/ slide.

Title I caliber change is not at all regulated, as long as the firearm remains a Title I firearm. .223 Caliber pistol converted to .300 caliber pistol is completely legal.

 

[Saw-Bones]

I thought that this would be the case, but I wanted to be as sure as one can be with the ATF. Thanks to all for your replies and I’ll be ordering my upper tomorrow.

yugorpk - “Some states require pistol lowers to be transferred ( not necessarily registered ) as such no matter what the feds want so yes, there are such things as stripped pistol lowers. Federal law is not the only law.

Transfer? How would you do that and how would I find out which States require a transfer?

 

[yugorpk]

A transfer is when you buy it from someone else. In some states they require a pistol or even a lower you want to build as a pistol to be "transferred" from the dealer to you on an additional state specific pistol transfer form. Not knowing the Florida laws myself you'll have to check with your local dealer.

 

[pjeski]

Some states require pistol lowers to be transferred ( not necessarily registered ) as such no matter what the feds want so yes, there are such things as stripped pistol lowers. Federal law is not the only law.

Which states do that?
ETA: Your state. I just read your post in legal. So how do they determine an AR lower is a pistol lower?

 

[yugorpk]

Which states do that?
ETA: Your state. I just read your post in legal. So how do they determine an AR lower is a pistol lower?

I think Michigan has laws that are as silly in some respects. Maybe some in the Northeast. Possibly CA but theirs are weirder.

My experience as a dealer and as a buyer from other dealers is that if it comes in as a pistol marked lower and the buyer wants to build it as a pistol it will transfer out as a pistol on the state pistol form. OR if its just marked muliti-whatever the buyer can chose to transfer it as a pistol on the state pistol form. Lots of people chose to do it that way to establish a paper trail as a pistol. Some don't and still build as a pistol and to my knowledge there is no regulation or ruling stating they are breaking the law per se.by doing so. But then again they may be. Like all of this stuff its on the honor system. Waashington has other weird unenforceable laws like the ban on ANY machine gun parts and M16 carriers would be in the mix to a jerk prosecutor. One of the reasons I moved to Oregon 6 years ago was the prohibition on the use of silencers even though you could own them legally. The law has since changed and now that SBR's are legal too I am moving back.

Lots of silly laws out there. Don't get me started on 922r.

 

[pjeski]

Yeah, Michigan has some strange laws, but they are slowly getting better.

 

[Ryanxia]

There is, in reality, no such thing as a " pistol " lower.

When you bought the lower, there was no " other " option to choose on the 4473, so dealers just picked either longgun or handgun. However, that does not change the fact that a lower is a lower is a lower.

No issue whatsoever changing calibers. As far as that goes, as it was first built into a pistol, you can now go back and forth between rifle and pistol if you want to.

There's actually a box for receiver so the dealer wouldn't put long gun or handgun.


Always 'build it' into a pistol first, because a pistol can go to a rifle and back again but if it starts as a rifle, always a rifle. (There's a good FAQ in the NFA section that explains that a little better).

 

[USAF_Vet]

Michigan has some dumb laws, but stripped AR lowers still transfer as an "other". A pistol build will still require registration, though.

 

[newfalguy101]

There's actually a box for receiver so the dealer wouldn't put long gun or handgun.


Always 'build it' into a pistol first, because a pistol can go to a rifle and back again but if it starts as a rifle, always a rifle. (There's a good FAQ in the NFA section that explains that a little better).

there is now, however, 10 -12 years ago when the OP says he bought the lower, there was no "other" option, it was either handgun or longgun.

 

[Ryanxia]

there is now, however, 10 -12 years ago when the OP says he bought the lower, there was no "other" option, it was either handgun or longgun.

Ah yes, I missed that part in the OP.

Reading comprehension, never leave home without it.