TexasCHLforum.com

Hey guys I want to convert my AR to an AR pistol. What are the components I need? Do I just need the AR pistol upper? Any pointers?

3 Items you need:

1. AR Pistol Upper - Anything under 16 inch barrel is considered a pistol. Think about this. Moving this directon in 5.56 you will lose a lot of power going down to a 9 or 10 inch barrel. 5.56 in that length barrel becomes a big noise maker.
2. AR Pistol Buffer tube

3. And most importantly research the legal implications. If you purchased that AR15 as a complete rifle that lower is considered a rifle lower and slapping a pistol upper on it is manufacturing a short barrel rifle. That requires forms and 200 tax to the ATF and yada yada yada lots of red tape. Failure to comply is a felony.

I should be ok then with my Ar because I ordered the upper and lower at the same time but it wasn't as a full rifle. I picked which upper and lower I wanted then had them shipped. The lower had to be shipped to an ffl and they told me it was qualified as a pistol. Then when my upper came in I slapped them together.

You are mistaken.

If you purchased the lower and built it as a pistol first, then you can convert it to a rifle.

However, as you just admitted, you built it as a rifle first you cannot convert it to a pistol.

If, at any time after purchasing the lower, you assembled a rifle upper... it is a rifle and cannot be used as a pistol lower without the ATF tax stamp for SBR.

Furthermore, if the lower was ever assembled with a buttstock (by you or the manufacturer), it cannot be used as a pistol lower...


To qualify for a AR pistol, the lower must have been purchased as a 'virgin' lower, never assembled and marked on the FFL paperwork as 'firearm' or 'other'...

I'm not a lawyer, but I've built a few AR pistols... You'll probably spend more time doing research than actually assembling the firearm...

Play it by the book, and remember,
Once a rifle, always a rifle...
And, document your build and keep good records...

Decent article from 2013... keep in mind the recent ATF updates regarding how the lower is 'marked'...
http://jerkingthetrigger.com/2013/11/20 ... nceptions/

Well fudge lol. Thank you guys for the info and knowledge and letting me know how to go by the book correctly!! Time to do some research!