Magwell grips on AR-15 pistols?

[nwilliams]

So I was at a gun shop the other day and I think I overheard some bad legal advice being given to a customer.

The customer was asking the clerk about AR-15 pistols and as the conversation progressed the customer asked about putting a vertical grip on the front. The clerk said that was illegal, however he then walks over to a rack on the wall and pulls off a magwell grip and hands it to the customer and tells him that's the answer.

So is this true? Can one install a magwell grip on an AR pistol and not be breaking the law?

Here is the magwell grip that the clerk showed the customer....
www.ematactical.com/viewProduct.asp?ID=255&catID=6

 

[Owen]

there is no federal restriction on forward pistol grips, unless it is on a pistol.

so yes, the clerk was correct.

 

[nwilliams]

there is no federal restriction on forward pistol grips, unless it is on a pistol.

The clerk was talking to the customer about an AR-15 Pistol, on a rifle obviously it's perfectly legal.

 

[Prince Yamato]

I don't think that there has been a ruling on these yet. But it falls into a gray area.

It is legal in that it is not a forward vertical grip.

It is illegal in that it implies that your pistol will be fired with two hands which goes against the ATF definition of "pistol" which is a device that is to be fired with one hand.

Use at your own risk.