Stripped Lower Classified

dfletcher

February 22, 2011 20:54

The previous thread ended on outdated information with respect to long gun configuration. Specifically, that an AR 15 with a buttstock attached, but having never had a greater than 16" barrel attached, is a long gun.

http://forums.gunbroker.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=503270

While that used to be true it is no longer. A "brand new" AR 15 with a buttstock attached (but no upper) is documented on the 4473 as "other" and a person must be over 21 years old to purchase the new AR 15 lower even with buttstock attached. Per ATF a new AR 15 with buttstock does not become a long gun until a greater than 16" barrel is attached.

{Elsewhere}

There's another ATF letter floating around (it's been posted here) but my search ability isn't that great - and it's late. It refers specifically to a new AR 15 with buttstock attached as being "other" until a greater than 16" upper is attached. Only after the greater than 16" upper is attached is it considered a long gun and must remain so.

0

• 

  nononsense

  February 23, 2011 01:01

  Here are the letters for all to read:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Best.

  0
• 

  dfletcher

  February 23, 2011 06:53

  Here is a 2010 ATF letter link regarding the AR, it's the one I was looking for last night. It references attachment of the +16" barrel to a shoulder stocked action, in this case an AR, as the point at which the gun goes from "other" to long gun. Up to that point the gun may be configured as a handgun, after that it can not be configured as a handgun.
  
  {Elsewhere}
  
  I realize it may run counter to what we've become used to, but a "never had a + 16" barrel attached" action in a rifle stock (picture a Remington 700 action bolted to a stock, no barrel) would be sold via 4473 as "other" and the buyer must be 21 years of age to purchase. The gun could subsequently be configured as a long gun or handgun, if as a long gun it must remain so; if as a handgun one must be aware of SBR constructive possession laws if retaining the long gun stock.
  
  With all the "do it yourself" capability and designs out there it seems to me firearms have outpaced the law in this specific area. Keeping folks from hack sawing off rifle barrels like Bonnie and Clyde is fine I suppose, but all this easy switching out and virgin actions for sale makes things very confusing, very easy to accidentally step over a line.

  0
• 

  nononsense

  February 23, 2011 12:21

  Here are the two pages of the ATF letter regarding the AR configurations:
  
  
  
  
  
  Best.

  0

Please sign in to leave a comment.