was watching an episode of NCIS that sparked what i believe is a good question in my head.... in an AR... its the upper reciever that puts any type of identifying marks on the bullet when fired.... but why is it that the lower is the only thing thats regulated and need registered... only thing the lower really does is present the round for loading.. and the actual hammer stoke to fire.... idunno maybe i missed something but thought id ask anyways

It's whatever part of the firearm the BATFE considers to be the "destructive device" that counts. The lower is the base on which the entire AR functions. It's similar to a pistol frame. I can buy every part of a pistol, but have to go through an FFL for the serialized frame.

My best guess is that the BATFE considers the portion of the firearm that houses the parts that initiate ignition of the round of ammunition as the destructive device

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-John

Still doesnt make sense to me!!!

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Grover Oathkeeper

doesn't make much sense to me either since the upper or just the barrel can be changed at any time. They trace the bullet to the barrel and or the firing pin mark but they still do not have a serial number to identify with.

The bottom line is that BATFE and crime investigation folks have different priorities. BAFTE wants to track the manufacture and sale of the "destructive device" part (like JaPes was saying), but doesn't care all that much about investigation of individual crimes committed with weapons, so the serialized part is the part that houses most of the mechanism rather than the part that leaves forensic evidence.

You shouldn't be watching NCIS anyway.... I was an NCIS Special Agent, and real life 'aint nothin' like the show. Believe me.

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Roger
USN, Retired, NRA Lifer

WOW! Say it aint so, TV distorts what it is like to be an NCIS agent. At least CSI is still accurate right ?

That's sarcasm BTW

My sister is an NCIS person....I would hate to have her after me!!!LOL

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Grover Oathkeeper

I don't want anyone after me at all!

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Isaiah 55:8-9
Phil. 4:13

i watch ncis just because its a good show... actually im kinda ticked that FOX cancelled Terra Nova.... not happy about that...

ANYWAYS... NCIS occasionally has some factual content like how every barrel has its own unique rifling marks on bullets.. thats what sparked the question

Come-on man

[QUOTE=PunisherBane;136505949]i watch ncis just because its a good show... actually im kinda ticked that FOX cancelled Terra Nova.... not happy about that...

I was pretty ticked too, thought it was a good show myself




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[QUOTE=longhornfan69;136506063]I couldn't get through the first episode of Terra Nova, any show that starts with global warming has an uphill battle in my book anyhow but the characters and plot was all just so overdone and predictable. Maybe it got better after but impressions you know...

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This Signature is too Short!

Terra Nova was an entertaining show, and I was miffed that FOX canceled it. I was not as ticked off with the cancellation of Terra Nova as when FOX canceled Firefly. Now that was a good show.

At least Falling Skies is on soon. It's nice change of pace to watch a show on TV with the premise that Armageddon is predicated on alien invasion rather than zombies.

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-John

firefly was an epic show... i miss that show badly...joss whedon wrote that shoe very nicely....

The upper (barrel, receiver, bolt) on a Ruger Mk1 pistol (.22 LR semi-auto) is the part that is registered, not the frame.

I believe the BATFE simply goes by whichever part has the serial number on it. On the Mk1, the upper has the serial #.

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Stu