ATF on AR15 Stabalizing Brace

[cdparker]

OK, I have a friend of a friend of a guy who is curious. This guy built a brand new AR 15 upper in 300 Blackout with a pistol barrel and forend. He put a Sig stabilizing brace on it with the locking strap, so now he has an AR pistol. Right? So, in the American Rifleman there is a new article about the ATF and the brace and the shooting position. Of main concern is if--just if--someone puts the brace up to his shoulder and shoots the gun like a rifle? I'm not a Philadelphia Lawyer and I don't even play one on TV. What I seem to understand is that if the brace is properly installed as in not permanently affixed and you make no alteration to the brace to lock it in like a butt stock that if it is fired from any position--even off the shoulder that you have not made a SBR. Right? I used to think that I understood Lawyerese; but this has me a wee perplexed. Does anybody got a "Fursure" idea as to what the ATF is saying? should I tell this guy that he is good to go even if someone does hold his pistol the wrong way.

 

[C.E.Smith043]

To my understanding you are correct. The ruling was that, "what is the stock originally intended to do" and its original intention was to be shot in the form of a pistol. If you shoulder it like a rifle, that's fine. As far as the ATF is concerned it is a pistol. How "YOU" shoot it or hold it has nothing to do with what it is classified as.
Basically the ATF can't go around policing how people hold a gun but what they can police and will is what is the gun classified as. They're more worried about the classification of it than how it is going to be held by different people.

 

[wedgy]

I think it has more to do with the lower being registered as a rifle, then converting it to a pistol is like sawing the barrel off a shotgun. You can make a pistol into a rifle, but you can't make a rifle into a pistol without the proper paperwork for an SBR.

 

[shoot4fun]

I think it has more to do with the lower being registered as a rifle, then converting it to a pistol is like sawing the barrel off a shotgun. You can make a pistol into a rifle, but you can't make a rifle into a pistol without the proper paperwork for an SBR.

True. In order to install a pistol length barrel on an AR lower that lower must have been purchased as a receiver only and shown so on 4473. Building on a lower sold as a complete rifle would technically be in violation of ATF rules.

 

[XTR]

One thing is for certain, people are going to keep asking until they get the answer they don't want.

 

[Nowhere Man]

To the best of my knowledge, all five responses are correct.

 

[people]

One thing is for certain, people are going to keep asking until they get the answer they don't want.

Exactly.

 

[Knotwild]

If I have any questions, I will write the ATF a letter and ask them. Then I will keep their response for my files. I won't be seeking answers on internet forums.

 

[avidflyer]

SB tactical is what you want to research they have the only known letter approving less than normal so called use. I was told that other manufacturers have not sent a letter of clarification nor received one...atf is like faa ask 5 inspectors get 7 answers.

 

[dellet]

The original letter/s to Sig and presumably the other manufacturers, approved the manufacture, sale, installation and use of the brace/s as presented to the ATF.

All of the other letters have been "opinion's" on whether misuse would/could be prosecuted. These are meaningless until tested in court.

Install it as approved and sold(velcro strap included), without converting an existing rifle to a pistol and go about your business.

 

[cdparker]

I got an email from my acquaintance who put this together and he said that the pistol was assembled from a bare receiver that he bought from another guy; face to face private sale. Apparently the receiver was never assembled until this guy made himself a pistol. I told him that he should enjoy his pistol and have fun plinking with it. I'm sure that ATF has a lot more important things to do than worry about someone plinking with a pistol that they hold in an unorthodox position. Heck, look at all the mishandled firearms that they show on TV! Thank you all for your thoughts.