Stripped lower

[steven0150]

Okay I'm wanting to build a rifle, I'm 19. You got to be 21 to buy a stripped lower. Now I asked my LGS if I buy a lower parts kit and make it a rifle lower, they install it, can I buy it. They said yes. Now what if I just have them install a buffer tube and stock, do you think I can buy it, just like that. No parts kit installed, just the buffer tube and stock.

 

[AR-Getsome]

I don't have an answer for you. I don't know where you live. Why don't you ask your LGS? They answered your first question.

 

[JJEH]

What's the point of building a rifle for 2 years? What state are you living in?

 

[JaPes]

Okay I'm wanting to build a rifle, I'm 19. You got to be 21 to buy a stripped lower.

I have to admit that this one got me. It took me a minute to remember that in order to purchase a handgun, the individual must be 21 years old. Long guns are permissible at 18. The issue with an unmarked stripped lower is that it can be built into either a pistol or a rifle. Until the lower is built and mated to an upper, the designation between rifle and pistol isn't made.

I think there may be a way around this. Back in the day, I remember seeing stripped lowers specifically engraved marked as "RIFLE" or "PISTOL". Because the lower was permanently marked as one or the other, the lower could only legally built into the firearm as marked. I remember the LGS logging the transfer with the serial number and marked lower type.

I'm not sure if a stripped "RIFLE" marked lower still exists. If so, it could be the solution to your problem.

Good luck!

 

[thecatch8]

Just buy a fully built lower with buffer already installed. Just add your upper of choice and call it a day! You can find them for under $300....pretty much anywhere!

 

[JaPes]

Steven, if you're intention is to build your own lower for the fun and experience of it then you're stuck trying to find a "RIFLE" marked stripped lower that a FFL can legally transfer to you.

If you have specific parts in mind for your lower and want only those parts and can't find a "RIFLE" marked lower, then have your LGS custom build your lower with the parts you selected. Then the LGS can log out the transfer as a rifle.

If you want to have an AR-15 right now, it's my opinion that you buy a factory complete AR-15 from a well known manufacturer. If you're going to buy completely built lower, might as well buy a whole rifle.

It all depends on your motivation for starting on this path. Good luck!

 

[Wenzomatic]

Yes my LGS sells the fully built lower for about $275, just like thecatch8 stated. The upper can then be bought on the internet via many sources for ~$600 or more.


Mike Wenzel
Oklahoma City

 

[steven0150]

Yes I would like to build a to build one to get familiar with a rifle, piece by piece. I know I can buy a fully built lower with a stock considered as a rifle. I know I can buy a fully built one but I'd rather build an upper and a lower.

I'm just wondering if I buy one with just a stock would it be considered a rifle.

Sorry I live in good ol indiana

 

[gdnagle]

Yes I would like to build a to build one to get familiar with a rifle, piece by piece. I know I can buy a fully built lower with a stock considered as a rifle. I know I can buy a fully built one but I'd rather build an upper and a lower.

I'm just wondering if I buy one with just a stock would it be considered a rifle.

Sorry I live in good ol indiana

Buy a rifle now, take it apart as many times as you want and put it back together then you will be familiar with it. You can replace whatever parts you want and you can buy it now with no worries and be legal.

 

[zoom6zoom]

Now I asked my LGS if I buy a lower parts kit and make it a rifle lower, they install it, can I buy it. They said yes.

Technically, that makes your FFL a manufacturer, and they would need to be an FFL07. Yeah, they just snap together, and it seems silly, but that's how the laws are written.

 

[thecatch8]

Buy a rifle now, take it apart as many times as you want and put it back together then you will be familiar with it. You can replace whatever parts you want and you can buy it now with no worries and be legal.

This.....And unless you know a little gunsmithing and have access to some decent tools, building a complete upper can be a pretty big undertaking.

 

[shawn mccarver]

This reminds me of the unhappy days after 1968. Everyone just had their mother or father "sign for it." Of course, times were different then, and many kids of my acquaintance thought nothing of carrying 22s on bicycles, or some war surplus 1911 on a bicycle to go plinking at the "city dump." Remember those? A friendly wave was all you were likely to get from the policeman on duty because he knew your family and had common sense. I didn't mean to highjack the thread, but it has been so long since I even thought about this issue that it brought back memories.

 

[Autococker07]

Technically, that makes your FFL a manufacturer, and they would need to be an FFL07. Yeah, they just snap together, and it seems silly, but that's how the laws are written.

This is correctomundo.... zoom6zoom beat me to it....

If your LGS is unknowledgeable enough to do this, their next audit may not be pleasant..... (it came in as a "other, receiver" and went out as a "rifle") this tips BATFE to an untaxed assembly operation and will get the books dug into really deep.

You will probably risk nothing more than the gun being confiscated, if it even went that far, but why risk it? Get a rifle and the tools and learn to build on a gun that you know works . With the price of uppers and BCGs today, you wont save money..... There are also partially built receivers on the market that some gun stores sell as "rifle" since they have the stock.... same idea, but since they did not build it, there is a better chance of that gray area working out for you.

 

[cyphertext]

If you could find one for sale locally by a private individual, like at a gun show, you could legally purchase it, unless you have a state or local law prohibiting it. The federal law states that you can't purchase a pistol from a FFL, but it does not address a private sale. I think you are going to have to stay local though, because if you purchased from an individual across state lines, it still has to go to a FFL. Someone feel free to correct me if I am wrong.

Or, if you really want to get into making a lower, there are the 80% lowers out there. Problem is though that you have to mill out the pocket for the trigger group and drill all the holes. This requires access to more tools than just doing a build on a stripped lower. Not something I would typically recommend, but your situation is not typical.

If truly for just a learning experience, you could go with the polymer 80% lower. Those only require a dremel to finish out. This would allow you to build the lower and learn, but it may not hold up to a lot of use.

 

[sgtsandman]

Steven, if you're intention is to build your own lower for the fun and experience of it then you're stuck trying to find a "RIFLE" marked stripped lower that a FFL can legally transfer to you.

If you have specific parts in mind for your lower and want only those parts and can't find a "RIFLE" marked lower, then have your LGS custom build your lower with the parts you selected. Then the LGS can log out the transfer as a rifle.

If you want to have an AR-15 right now, it's my opinion that you buy a factory complete AR-15 from a well known manufacturer. If you're going to buy completely built lower, might as well buy a whole rifle.

It all depends on your motivation for starting on this path. Good luck!

The way I look at it, one should have two rifles. One for when the government comes to confiscate and one built around an 80% lower that is squirreled away somewhere not easy to get to along with your ammo stash. That is assuming one is willing to build their own rifle.

 

[sgtsandman]

I have to admit that this one got me. It took me a minute to remember that in order to purchase a handgun, the individual must be 21 years old. Long guns are permissible at 18. The issue with an unmarked stripped lower is that it can be built into either a pistol or a rifle. Until the lower is built and mated to an upper, the designation between rifle and pistol isn't made.



I think there may be a way around this. Back in the day, I remember seeing stripped lowers specifically engraved marked as "RIFLE" or "PISTOL". Because the lower was permanently marked as one or the other, the lower could only legally built into the firearm as marked. I remember the LGS logging the transfer with the serial number and marked lower type.



I'm not sure if a stripped "RIFLE" marked lower still exists. If so, it could be the solution to your problem.



Good luck!

A possible way around this, though the OP would have to do everything themselves, is to get an 80% lower. No FFL required. The down side is that the rest of the receiver would need to drilled and machined out. Preferably with a drill press. A Harbor Freight el-cheapo might do the trick along with a Dremel and some hand files.

There are several internet guides out there on how to do it. It just depends on the OPs confidence level.

There are 80% lowers out there for the AR15, AR10 (Armalite and SR25/LR308), and the 1911. Granted, the last one might cause future problems for someone under the age of 21.

 

[Rastoff]

Why not just have your parent buy it? Then you can build it and have the gun transferred to you once it's built. I did this with my son. I bought the lower and he installed all the parts. Technically it's my gun. When he gets old enough, I'll transfer it to him.

 

[sgtsandman]

And that is another option.