Dumb Pistol Lower Question

[Johnny Reb]

This question has probably been asked before, but can I buy a Pistol lower and then put a 16 in upper on an AR? Do I have to send in a MSP copy once I mate the uppers? This whole thing is a convoluted mess of rules and laws. Thanks for your help.

[Corsten]

Yes, no.

[PhotoTom]

Yes, no.

Correct, assuming the "pistol lower" never started off as a rifle lower.

If it did, turn the other way and look elsewhere.

[Garymac]

This question has probably been asked before, but can I buy a Pistol lower and then put a 16 in upper on an AR? Do I have to send in a MSP copy once I mate the uppers? This whole thing is a convoluted mess of rules and laws. Thanks for your help.

Lowers that come without a upper on them are neither pistols or rifles, they are "other". Therefore you can put whatever upper you want on it. However, if you put a rifle upper and a stock on it first it's a rifle always. If you make it a pistol first, you can then make it a rifle and back into a pistol whenever you want.

As for registering it as pistol. Technically you are supposed to register it within 10 days transferring a pistol. However, some people would argue that since making a pistol is not transferring it there is no legal way to register a pistol you make.

Then there is the question that if you have 10 days to register a pistol from the time you make it, and during that time you make it into a rifle, does the 10 days even apply if it's a rifle and does the 10 days reset when you make it back into a pistol? Could you then make it into a rifle every ten days and start the 10 day waiting period over when you make it back into a pistol? Convoluted mess of rules and laws indeed.

[Johnny Reb]

Egads. Thanks for the replies Gents.