AR Pistol?

I see several pistol kits for ARs, would I have to have a lower made to be a pistol? Or can I use any lower, witout the stock?

AR Pistol Lowers have to be transferred as a Pistol not a Rifle on ATF form 4473 if the Lower you want to use was on a Rifle or is registered as a Rifle it cannot be used to build a AR Pistol because it could be considered a SBR if a LEO runs the numbers and it comes back as a Rifle.

Stryker6 wrote:AR Pistol Lowers have to be transferred as a Pistol not a Rifle on ATF form 4473 if the Lower you want to use was on a Rifle or is registered as a Rifle it cannot be used to build a AR Pistol because it could be considered a SBR if a LEO runs the numbers and it comes back as a Rifle.

At what part of the paperwork process is it determined whether it is a rifle or a pistol? I am sorry, you probally answer this already but I do not know that much about the paperwork.

Make sure everyone through the process knows the lower is for a pistol. But as Stryker said, make sure it says pistol on the 4473 says pistol, don't sign one that doesn't. That's where the rubber meets the road. You can do what you want but if the 4473 says rifle, its a rifle, a SBR to boot. 10 years I believe. Check out some ready made ones on places like Rock River to get ideas.
On a side note, do your homework on upper length and velocity. IMHO, a 556 needs a 11" barrel to get up to speed but do your own work and decide. The longer barrel also gives you more control.
Lastly, DO NOT put a forward pistol grip on it. Seen this argued back and forth but a pistol can only have one grip, I believe that's 10 years also.

Guess it doesn't have to make sense it's just the law. No gun is worth ten years. Had an extra lower, but will just have to think of another project for it. Thanks for the info.

Ironworker wrote:Guess it doesn't have to make sense it's just the law. No gun is worth ten years. Had an extra lower, but will just have to think of another project for it. Thanks for the info.

Yep, the problem is once the lower has been transferred as a Rifle it will always be a rifle no going back and changing it. AR Pistols are overrated they'll get you some cool points at the range and that's about it.