Legality of buying a stripped AR lower

SavageMOA · March 5, 2009, 01:45 PM

I have recently bid on a stripped AR lower on gunbroker and am currently the high bidder. I just read that it is illegal to purchase a stripped AR lower if you are under 21.

Does anyone know if this is true?

XLT · March 5, 2009, 01:49 PM

I believe if it was for some reason identified as a pistol receiver you would have to be 21.... but if it is a rifle receiver, I don't think so....

Local or state law might be different...

fortkevin2 · March 5, 2009, 01:49 PM

From what I know I'm pretty sure it's legal. Buying rifles and shotguns(NC) it is legal when you are the age of 18+. I would think that a lower would be the same way as long as it was used as a long gun. If I am wrong, someone please correct me.

Edit-XLT basically said what I was thinking...

azredhawk44 · March 5, 2009, 01:49 PM

I've heard conflicting things about this... that the lower has to be declared a pistol or rifle either from the manufacturer or on the 4473 itself during the transaction.

Since an AR lower can be built into a pistol, I guess it makes sense. I don't agree with it, but it makes sense. The whole SBR and pistol nonsense is a legacy holdover from the 1934 NFA garbage and really needs some re-examining.

Especially in light of Miller, combined with Heller, and the fact that a huge percentage of our Armed Forces uses a sub-16" carbine.

Bitmap · March 5, 2009, 01:52 PM

The latest version of the 4473 "yellow sheet" that you fill out at the FFL now has categories for handgun, long gun, and other. Dealers used to transfer stripped lowers as long guns, unless the buyer specified handgun, so the dealer could transfer it to an 18 year old as a long gun. Now it has to transfer as "other" which I believe is not allowed to anyone under 21. I think the other category also includes pistol gripped rifles and shotguns.

I think you just waited a year too long to buy one.

Here is a link to the draft proposal of the new form:

http://www.nssf.org/share/PDF/4473_Draft.pdf

Here is something else that seems to confirm the new form, although I don't know for sure that <21 would be prohibited from buying a stripped lower.
http://www.madfi.org/post/4473_changes.pdf

Alleykat · March 5, 2009, 02:02 PM

If you can find a stripped lower locally, then you can buy it legally, if you're buying in a private sale.

SavageMOA · March 5, 2009, 02:03 PM

So should I contact the seller of the item, or the local FFL I'm going to use, in order to determine the legality of it?

Since it's on GunBroker, and I'm currently still the high bidder and would rather not **** off the seller by winning and "changing my mind", Is there any way I can talk to him and we can get around it? Such as adding a stock?

mesabi · March 5, 2009, 02:34 PM

It was changed in November. Stripped lowers you need to be 21. It no longer depends on the registration. I learned that in January when I tried to buy one.

GLK · March 5, 2009, 03:58 PM

Have you mom or dad buy it for you and no that is not a staw buy and is totally legal.

studman5578 · March 5, 2009, 04:31 PM

I'm 18 and was going to go buy an ar15 lower this weekend but even though I am buying it from a store, will I not be able to buy it? If all lowers are pistols, wouldn't that then make all ar15's into pistols?

SavageMOA · March 5, 2009, 05:09 PM

i'm having trouble understanding as well. I just talked to my local FFL and he told me he'll sell it to me as long as it's not marked as a "pistol" lower.

Does anyone else have any more input?

vranasaurus · March 5, 2009, 05:28 PM

It used to be that stripped lowers had to be declared rifle or pistol. Now they are just receivers but because they can be turned into a pistol they are restricted to 21 and over.

The question I have is this. A local gun shop has a few RRA "pistol" lowers. These are marked "pistol only". The marking isn't engraved into the receiver it appears to be some kind of adhesive lettering. Would it be a violation of any law to make them into rifles and remove the lettering?

studman5578 · March 5, 2009, 07:40 PM

I just got off the phone with a gun store here in Illinois and the guy who answered the phone said that they will sell lowers to people between the ages of 18 and 21 who have a FOID card. Just thought I'd share.

SavageMOA · March 5, 2009, 08:50 PM

I live in Mississippi, so we don't have to have a FOID card. Is a FFL holder forced to used the old 4473 forms? Or can he use the old forms with the old format?

March 5, 2009, 01:45 PM	#1
SavageMOA Senior Member Join Date: March 19, 2008 Posts: 368	Legality of buying a stripped AR lower I have recently bid on a stripped AR lower on gunbroker and am currently the high bidder. I just read that it is illegal to purchase a stripped AR lower if you are under 21. Does anyone know if this is true?

March 5, 2009, 01:49 PM	#2
XLT Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2005 Location: El Paso, TX Posts: 207	I believe if it was for some reason identified as a pistol receiver you would have to be 21.... but if it is a rifle receiver, I don't think so.... Local or state law might be different... __________________ It's a shame all my guns were with Trapp's...

March 5, 2009, 01:52 PM	#5
Bitmap Senior Member Join Date: November 12, 2001 Posts: 388	The latest version of the 4473 "yellow sheet" that you fill out at the FFL now has categories for handgun, long gun, and other. Dealers used to transfer stripped lowers as long guns, unless the buyer specified handgun, so the dealer could transfer it to an 18 year old as a long gun. Now it has to transfer as "other" which I believe is not allowed to anyone under 21. I think the other category also includes pistol gripped rifles and shotguns. I think you just waited a year too long to buy one. Here is a link to the draft proposal of the new form: http://www.nssf.org/share/PDF/4473_Draft.pdf Here is something else that seems to confirm the new form, although I don't know for sure that <21 would be prohibited from buying a stripped lower. http://www.madfi.org/post/4473_changes.pdf Last edited by Bitmap; March 5, 2009 at 02:07 PM.

March 5, 2009, 02:03 PM	#7
SavageMOA Senior Member Join Date: March 19, 2008 Posts: 368	So should I contact the seller of the item, or the local FFL I'm going to use, in order to determine the legality of it? Since it's on GunBroker, and I'm currently still the high bidder and would rather not **** off the seller by winning and "changing my mind", Is there any way I can talk to him and we can get around it? Such as adding a stock? Last edited by SavageMOA; March 5, 2009 at 02:32 PM.

March 5, 2009, 03:58 PM	#9
GLK Senior Member Join Date: June 22, 2000 Location: Brandon FL USA Posts: 527	Have you mom or dad buy it for you and no that is not a staw buy and is totally legal. __________________ Just face shoot the criminal was the advice I was given. Old tech new tech, face shooting will nearly always take the wrong doing out of a bad guy.

March 5, 2009, 01:49 PM	#3
fortkevin2 Senior Member Join Date: February 12, 2008 Location: NC Posts: 318	From what I know I'm pretty sure it's legal. Buying rifles and shotguns(NC) it is legal when you are the age of 18+. I would think that a lower would be the same way as long as it was used as a long gun. If I am wrong, someone please correct me. Edit-XLT basically said what I was thinking...

March 5, 2009, 01:49 PM	#4
azredhawk44 Junior member Join Date: September 28, 2005 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 6,465	I've heard conflicting things about this... that the lower has to be declared a pistol or rifle either from the manufacturer or on the 4473 itself during the transaction. Since an AR lower can be built into a pistol, I guess it makes sense. I don't agree with it, but it makes sense. The whole SBR and pistol nonsense is a legacy holdover from the 1934 NFA garbage and really needs some re-examining. Especially in light of Miller, combined with Heller, and the fact that a huge percentage of our Armed Forces uses a sub-16" carbine.

March 5, 2009, 02:02 PM	#6
Alleykat Junior member Join Date: July 26, 2007 Posts: 3,668	If you can find a stripped lower locally, then you can buy it legally, if you're buying in a private sale.

March 5, 2009, 02:34 PM	#8
mesabi Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2007 Posts: 373	It was changed in November. Stripped lowers you need to be 21. It no longer depends on the registration. I learned that in January when I tried to buy one.

March 5, 2009, 04:31 PM	#10
studman5578 Senior Member Join Date: March 4, 2009 Location: Varying between 1 and 3 hours from Chicago Posts: 152	I'm 18 and was going to go buy an ar15 lower this weekend but even though I am buying it from a store, will I not be able to buy it? If all lowers are pistols, wouldn't that then make all ar15's into pistols? __________________ Rev 5:13 "To him who sits on the throne and the Lamb be praise honor and glory and power, for ever and ever"

March 5, 2009, 05:09 PM	#11
SavageMOA Senior Member Join Date: March 19, 2008 Posts: 368	i'm having trouble understanding as well. I just talked to my local FFL and he told me he'll sell it to me as long as it's not marked as a "pistol" lower. Does anyone else have any more input?

March 5, 2009, 05:28 PM	#12
vranasaurus Senior Member Join Date: November 16, 2008 Posts: 1,184	It used to be that stripped lowers had to be declared rifle or pistol. Now they are just receivers but because they can be turned into a pistol they are restricted to 21 and over. The question I have is this. A local gun shop has a few RRA "pistol" lowers. These are marked "pistol only". The marking isn't engraved into the receiver it appears to be some kind of adhesive lettering. Would it be a violation of any law to make them into rifles and remove the lettering?

March 5, 2009, 07:40 PM	#13
studman5578 Senior Member Join Date: March 4, 2009 Location: Varying between 1 and 3 hours from Chicago Posts: 152	...Are you Sure? I just got off the phone with a gun store here in Illinois and the guy who answered the phone said that they will sell lowers to people between the ages of 18 and 21 who have a FOID card. Just thought I'd share. __________________ Rev 5:13 "To him who sits on the throne and the Lamb be praise honor and glory and power, for ever and ever"

March 5, 2009, 08:50 PM	#14
SavageMOA Senior Member Join Date: March 19, 2008 Posts: 368	I live in Mississippi, so we don't have to have a FOID card. Is a FFL holder forced to used the old 4473 forms? Or can he use the old forms with the old format?