NY legal AR pistol question

[Chevusa]

Wondering for those of you who have bought or built an AR pistol what the requirements are? I called a place asking about it and was told they didn't have AR pistol lowers in stock. What makes an AR lower pistol specific? Wouldn't they all be the same lowers? Does NY require them to be marked specifically as a pistol? (I know it has to be on my permit.) Also a side question: is there a difference between a lower for 5.56 vs 300BLK or is it the same lower for both?

Thank you.

 

[drowhawk]

Just speculating, but I would think you just go to the county and add the SN from the lower onto your permit.

 

[Chevusa]

Just speculating, but I would think you just go to the county and add the SN from the lower onto your permit.

Yep but the FFL said they don't have pistol lowers. Gotta be something different between them and rifle lowers. Something NY got involved in is my thinking.

 

[drowhawk]

Yep but the FFL said they don't have pistol lowers. Gotta be something different between them and rifle lowers. Something NY got involved in is my thinking.

Then ask them for a "rifle lower" and then try to register it with county. Take receipt. Tell them you intend to convert to legal pistol, hence why you are registering it. Have you tried calling your county clerk and asking what they suggest?

 

[Chevusa]

Then ask them for a "rifle lower" and then try to register it with county. Take receipt. Tell them you intend to convert to legal pistol, hence why you are registering it. Have you tried calling your county clerk and asking what they suggest?

Last I heard they aren't taking phone calls lol. Why would the FFL say its not a pistol lower though? And this guy knows what he's doing. Strange.

 

[drowhawk]

Last I heard they aren't taking phone calls lol. Why would the FFL say its not a pistol lower though? And this guy knows what he's doing. Strange.

Yeah IDK. Maybe you're right and there's some kind of red tape but I doubt it. Seems more likely the FFL just has to do some extra paperwork to register on your PP. The girls at our county office are super helpful and will find the answer if they don't know it. That's where I would start.

 

[Saltwater60]

I think most lowers get sold as others but they can mark them somehow as a pistol lower. I’m not sure the specifics but it was talked about on here.
I’d first call your county to see what they say and what the requirements are.
no difference in lower for .223/.556 and 300 blackout. Just make sure you get a lower that is multi cal and that should cover you.
Also guessing you know this but they must all be fixed mag to get around the safe act.

sounds like if it has a stock attached it can’t be converted if this forum is correct.

Converting a rifle lower into a pistol

www.glocktalk.com

 

[Saltwater60]

Last I heard they aren't taking phone calls lol. Why would the FFL say its not a pistol lower though? And this guy knows what he's doing. Strange.

Email the county clerk then? Don’t know. How stupid. Won’t take calls really??

 

[GUNSICK]

A stripped lower is a other. You can’t use a lower that was manufactured as a rifle and turn it into a pistol.

 

[BDinPutnam]

Only your clerk knows for sure what they are and aren't willing to put on a PP in your particular county (and how).

 

[Chevusa]

Only your clerk knows for sure what they are and aren't willing to put on a PP in your particular county (and how).

Yes this is not the problem. The question was why is the FFL calling a lower a rifle lower and not a pistol if they are physically the same. The clerk here will put it on just the same as any other pistol. Bring bill of sale with serial #, caliber, action, and barrel length. Easy.

 

[GUNSICK]

Just because he is an FFL doesn’t mean he knows anything. When he buys stripped lowers they are sold as others and he should be logging them into his book as others.

 

[BDinPutnam]

Just because he is an FFL doesn’t mean he knows anything. When he buys stripped lowers they are sold as others and he should be logging them into his book as others.

^^what he said.

An unfinished AR receiver is not a rifle or a pistol. It is an "other."

 

[PutnamCharlie]

When you say lower do you mean a stripped lower receiver or complete lower? If he thought you wanted a complete lower then there would be a difference between the two.

 

[Cooolone]

If I recall correctly, if a lower is "registered" as a pistol, it cannot become a rifle! Or vice/versa! It has nothing to do with the "physical" apparatus, but the registry and serial # of the lower. In other words, it's an administrative function of the process registering and recording the possession of pistols!

I believe it is a Federal, and not county issue as well.

Please correct as necessary!

Regards

 

[PutnamCharlie]

I think you can go from pistol to rifle but not the other way.

 

[Jem45472]

As said- a stripped lower is an "other" not a rifle or pistol, and can be used to put on a permit. A lower that has been built into a rifle can not be used to build a pistol. A lower that was built into a pistol CAN be built to a rifle, and back. How would anyone know? They don't, but that's the laws.

Yes any stripped lower can be used for a pistol build, I've done several, you just need to have FFL make you a receipt with the normal pistol information.

And 556- 300blk are the same lowers.

 

[Edwardteach72]

If I recall correctly, if a lower is "registered" as a pistol, it cannot become a rifle! Or vice/versa! It has nothing to do with the "physical" apparatus, but the registry and serial # of the lower. In other words, it's an administrative function of the process registering and recording the possession of pistols!

I believe it is a Federal, and not county issue as well.

Please correct as necessary!

Regards

A pistol can become a rifle and go back to a pistol.

But if something started as a rifle it can never be a pistol

(Federal law not state)

 

[1075tech]

YMMV but this is what I had to do in Orange County...

- Buy stripped lower. This is transferred to you from the FFL as an "other".

- Fill out the PP amendment form, checking the box for "Frame Only". You would also have to list the caliber(s) you want it on your permit for.

- I also had to send a copy of the receipt for the barrel showing length and caliber.

- Once it was on my permit, I could legally assemble it.

 

[PA Guns & Ammo]

An AR15 lower is still a receiver is no matter if it is stripped or complete. That being said, places do have them configured for being a pistol like having a pistol buffer tube and pistol brace but that is still considered a receiver and not a pistol.

 

[Cooolone]

When you consider the application of use for the lower, that the higher degree of control and registration exists for "pistols"... It makes sense that once a pistol, can be also a rifle. But a rifle, may not become a pistol as it would avoid most controls established throughout most of the land in its regard.

Makes me want to build an AR Pistol, just for shyts & giggles

 

[Jem45472]

When you consider the application of use for the lower, that the higher degree of control and registration exists for "pistols"... It makes sense that once a pistol, can be also a rifle. But a rifle, may not become a pistol as it would avoid most controls established throughout most of the land in its regard.

Makes me want to build an AR Pistol, just for shyts & giggles

Do it, it's addicting!

 

[Cooolone]

Hahaha

Do it, it's addicting!
View attachment 105383

That's why I've tried avoiding it ... Would need a bigger boat, lmao!

 

[Edwardteach72]

Hahaha


That's why I've tried avoiding it ... Would need a bigger boat, lmao!

 

[Grimscale]

I would think that I would like to build or buy a .45 AR pistol.
Do they use standard AR lowers modified to handle .45 or is it a special lower?

 

[1075tech]

I would think that I would like to build or buy a .45 AR pistol.
Do they use standard AR lowers modified to handle .45 or is it a special lower?

Most I believe are a special lower because of the width of the double stack mag. Someone at one time made one that would take the straight stick Thompson/Grease gun mags. Now, I think the most popular ones use Glock mags

 

[Cooolone]

Best I had seen was a lower made that accepted grease gun magazines! If I don't do a 300blk pistol that is what I would do. This way there is no issue with the magazine as it's pre-restriction should I decide to also have a rifle upper for the pistol

Covers both worlds (for limited range) lol and assumption of course because I haven't explored the ballistics of the longer barrel on the .45acp...

 

[Briwesk85]

With Orange County I just submitted my form with frame only selected and sent in the receipt for a complete upper (psa marauder) showing caliber and barrel length and they added it with no problem.

 

[Acer-m14]

was at my friends home this weekend for dinner and we got on the subject of AR pistols .. She works at a FFL here that builds them ..
not no more .. FUAC did something with his covid emergency powers to stop manufacture AR pistols in NY .. She said they talked with the ATF and
they said STOP and don't push it .. That's all i know of it .. and there not making them now to sell .. build your own would be in another ball park
of discussion ..

 

[spat]

Yes this is not the problem. The question was why is the FFL calling a lower a rifle lower and not a pistol if they are physically the same. The clerk here will put it on just the same as any other pistol. Bring bill of sale with serial #, caliber, action, and barrel length. Easy.

If the lower was originally manufactured as a rifle and then separated it is legally distinct from an otherwise identical lower that wasn't built into a rifle.


If you take those 2 identical lowers and build identical pistols out of them, the ATF would consider the first one an unregistered SBR and the second a perfectly legal pistol.