legal to build or put together a automatic ar-15 in florida

belveflowslykh20 · March 11, 2010, 11:16 PM

Hi all i am very new to this and figured i can get some great advice from you guys. I was told that i can purchase a full auto upper receiver and attach it to an existing lower as long as i get the tax stamp first?!? i was wondering if that is true. I have seen full auto uppers for sale on a few websites and before i got to excited i wanted to know what the law was. Thanks so much for you help.

ogree · March 12, 2010, 12:00 AM

You would need to purchase a transferable M-16 that was manufactured prior to May of 1986.
Swapping out uppers is not an issue with NFA weapons.
The only downside is that you will be spending $10,000 and up to get your hands on one.

If you are talking about an upper with a barrel shorter that 16", on a Semi lower........You have to submit a form 1 and pay the $200 to manufacture a semi-auto short barrel rifle.

Willie Lowman · March 12, 2010, 02:04 AM

It has been illegal for civilians to build machine guns since 1986. You can get a stamp to own an existing one but not build one.

The only part in a AR upper that is needed for full auto fire is the bolt carrier. A "full auto upper" will not make a semi auto into a machine gun.

The lower is what serial numbered and controlled by the ATF. The lower contains the full auto fire control parts.

So, belveflowslykh20 if you want a full auto AR15, here is one. http://www.dealernfa.com/209715.html

Skans · March 12, 2010, 09:58 AM

Exactly what Willie said, but just one word of caution. Most uppers designed specifically for placement on a registered lower receiver (or with an auto sear) are short barreled uppers. If you put them on a standard semi-auto lower receiver, you will be creating an illegal SBR, unless you register it.

James K · March 12, 2010, 05:22 PM

Be careful if thinking of buying a registered drop-in auto sear (DIAS). Some were made in a hurry to beat the law and are complete junk that won't last for a full magazine. And when it goes, the MG goes, and getting another costs another $200 and a Form 4.

Jim

Skans · March 12, 2010, 05:56 PM

Jim, I'm surprised to hear that. I thought the Registered DIAS's were supposed to be pretty durable....even the aluminum ones. There's really not much to go wrong with them.

March 11, 2010, 11:16 PM	#1
belveflowslykh20 Member Join Date: November 2, 2008 Posts: 77	legal to build or put together a automatic ar-15 in florida Hi all i am very new to this and figured i can get some great advice from you guys. I was told that i can purchase a full auto upper receiver and attach it to an existing lower as long as i get the tax stamp first?!? i was wondering if that is true. I have seen full auto uppers for sale on a few websites and before i got to excited i wanted to know what the law was. Thanks so much for you help.

March 12, 2010, 02:04 AM	#3
Willie Lowman Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2009 Location: Uh-Hi-O Posts: 3,006	It has been illegal for civilians to build machine guns since 1986. You can get a stamp to own an existing one but not build one. The only part in a AR upper that is needed for full auto fire is the bolt carrier. A "full auto upper" will not make a semi auto into a machine gun. The lower is what serial numbered and controlled by the ATF. The lower contains the full auto fire control parts. So, belveflowslykh20 if you want a full auto AR15, here is one. http://www.dealernfa.com/209715.html __________________ "9mm has a very long history of being a pointy little bullet moving quickly" --Sevens

March 12, 2010, 12:00 AM	#2
ogree Senior Member Join Date: January 18, 2005 Location: Idaho Posts: 151	You would need to purchase a transferable M-16 that was manufactured prior to May of 1986. Swapping out uppers is not an issue with NFA weapons. The only downside is that you will be spending $10,000 and up to get your hands on one. If you are talking about an upper with a barrel shorter that 16", on a Semi lower........You have to submit a form 1 and pay the $200 to manufacture a semi-auto short barrel rifle.

March 12, 2010, 09:58 AM	#4
Skans Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2008 Posts: 11,332	Exactly what Willie said, but just one word of caution. Most uppers designed specifically for placement on a registered lower receiver (or with an auto sear) are short barreled uppers. If you put them on a standard semi-auto lower receiver, you will be creating an illegal SBR, unless you register it.

March 12, 2010, 05:22 PM	#5
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Be careful if thinking of buying a registered drop-in auto sear (DIAS). Some were made in a hurry to beat the law and are complete junk that won't last for a full magazine. And when it goes, the MG goes, and getting another costs another $200 and a Form 4. Jim

March 12, 2010, 05:56 PM	#6
Skans Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2008 Posts: 11,332	Jim, I'm surprised to hear that. I thought the Registered DIAS's were supposed to be pretty durable....even the aluminum ones. There's really not much to go wrong with them.