I was reading an article from a few months ago, and found this gem:
Before ever building or buying an AR pistol, you have to go to an FFL to have the serialized lower classified to be used as an AR pistol. This comes with a tax stamp price of $200 as well.
Additionally, the author claimed the way ATF defined pistols was "barrel length. Any barrel under 16 inches is considered a pistol."
So, how do you handle incorrect information? The author of this piece would generally be considered an ally of ours, since this is a competitive shooter, who is clearly on the side of gun ownership. However, there was not a comments section at the end of the article.
To expand on General Geoffs post......
Whoever wrote that gem of an article is wholly and completely ignorant of ATF regulations. Sadly, people that read such nonsense tend to trust the source.
An article in print, ie American Rifleman, the newspaper, etc is there forever. Usually corrections are made several months later and buried in the back pages.
An online article on the other hand is easily and quickly editable. If not by the author then by the editor or website manager.
Those claims are easily refuted just by a quick read of the definition in ATF regs or simply taking the time to read the instruction on the Form 4473.
Specifically:
Before ever building or buying an AR pistol, you have to go to an FFL to have the serialized lower classified to be used as an AR pistol.
A lower receiver is firearm, but neither handgun or long gun until assembled as such. Firearm frames, receivers and other firearms that do not meet the definition of handgun or long gun transfer as an Other Firearm on the Form 4473......says so in the instructions. No FFL is able to "classify" a firearm for something it isn't, he must record the type of firearm he received or disposed.
ATF Ruling 2011-4
https://www.atf.gov/firearms/docs/r...red-rifles-rifles-configured-pistols/download says one can make an receiver into a pistol and subsequently reassemble into a rifle and then back again to a pistol. ANYONE can do this, no notification to ATF or an FFL required under federal law.
This comes with a tax stamp price of $200 as well.
If the firearm was originally a rifle, or the receiver of a rifle, it cannot be assembled into a pistol. EVER.
It can be assembled or converted into a Short Barreled Rifle.....that may look exactly like someone else's AR pistol. Making a rifle into an SBR requires a Form 1 w/$200 tax.
Additionally, the author claimed the way ATF defined pistols was "barrel length. Any barrel under 16 inches is considered a pistol."
ATF regs define "pistol" as:
Pistol. A weapon originally designed, made, and intended to fire a projectile (bullet) from one or more barrels when held in one hand, and having
(a) a chamber(s) as an integral part(s) of, or permanently aligned with, the bore(s); and
(b) a short stock designed to be gripped by one hand and at an angle to and extending below the line of the bore(s).
Barrel length is irrelevant.