AR-15 Pistol thread: How to build an AR-15 pistol info

[Quarterbore]

Here is my own AR-15 Pistol Project:
http://quarterbore.com/ar15m16/index.html


Note, this is a Non-Ban AR-15 pistol built on a new stripped Bushmaster lower with Bushmaster FCG parts. The pistol buffer is from Model 1 sales. The upper receiver (as shown in the pic above) is a DPMS side cocker which uses a FAL style charging handle on the left side of the receiver and it makes for a handy bolt handle for ths project. The Barrel is from Kurts Kustom here and it is a 10.5-inch Douglass barrel in 300/221 Fireball (300 Whisper clone) and it was built without any gas port making this a perminant bolt-action upper. The barrel is threaded and includes a Gem-Tech TPR-S Bi-Lock as this is a silencer I plan on adding to my collection for my AR-10s and an eventual full-blown SSK 300 Whisper. The barrel is mounted to the receiver via one of Knights Medium Long FF RAS tubes and the bipod I use with this pistol is one of the Harris Short BR bipods.

This pistol was built specifically for hunting deer here in PA as we can not use semi-autos for hunting but we can use pistols. The 300 Whipser does a very good job of getting better then 30/30 performance (as compared to a comparable T/C Contender in 30/30). I just have not had the time to get a scope and start working with this project due to a new job and baby over the past few months... I hope to have some loads ready for this fall!

Now, I do also have a 11.5-inch barrel with all the extras I need to assemble a semiauto upper for this pistol on 9/14. I will not be converting this upper to semi as I do have a use for her as she is but I do want to try out a semiauto AR-15 pistol as well.

[Quarterbore]

Legal Issues:

Letter RE using a rifle receiver to build a pistol:
http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs/user/...tf_letter7.txt

October 1, 1992


Firearms Technical Branch
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
650 Mass. Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20226

Dear Sirs:

The Greensboro, NC BATF Compliance Office suggested that I write to
you for information on the following point.

I am interested on whether it is possible to have a commercially
manufactured rifle receiver changed to be legally considered to be a handgun
receiver, and how this can be done. The Compliance Office said that this
might be possible via a "Letter of Determination", but advised me to write
to you about the criteria and procedures.

For example, if a person has a rifle receiver and wishes to have it
built into a rifle-caliber handgun suitable for steel silhouette target
shooting, comparable to the bolt action Remington XP-100 handgun. I
understand that the serial number of this receiver is recorded as being for a
rifle. Could this person have this receiver's serial number considered to be
a handgun receiver? If so, what procedures and paperwork would be
necessary.

Sincerely,

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Oct 29 1992
Dear Mr. XXXXX:

This refers to your letter of October 1, 1992, in which you inquire
about the legality of manufacturing a handgun which utilizes a rifle
type receiver.

26 U.S.C. Chapter 53 # 5845(a)(4), the National Firearms Act (NFA),
defines the term "firearm" to include a weapon made from a rifle if
such weapon as modified has an overall length of less than 26 inches
or a barrel or barrels of less than 16 inches in length.

Utilizing the receiver of an existing rifle for the purposes of
manufacturing a handgun would constitute the making of a firearm as
defined above. Individuals desiring to make such a firearm must first
submit an ATF Form 1, Application To Make And Register a Firearm and
pay the applicable $200 making tax.

If an individual were to obtain a rifle type receiver that had not
previously been utilized in the assembly of a rifle, a handgun could be
made and not be subject to the provisions of the NFA. Verification
must be obtained from the manufacturer of the receiver to establish
its authenticity.

We trust the foregoing has been responsive to your inquiry. If we may
be of any further assistance, please contact us.

Sincerely your,
(signed)
Edward M. Owen, Jr.
Chief, Firearms Technology Branch

LEGAL Issues with Two Grips on a PISTOL

This is a complicated subject and I have compiled most of what I know along with feedback from others here: http://www.quarterbore.net/forums/showthread.php?t=184. Note, to make this perfectly clear... THE BATFE IS OF THE OPPINION THAT TWO PISTOL GRIPS ON A PISTOL MAKES IT AN AOW! It may be possible to challange this in a court of law BUT the BATFE has been quite clear on their oppinion on the subject!

[Quarterbore]

A few related threads at other places on the web...


ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=4&t=192300

ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=4&t=193136

ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=4&t=189418

ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=4&t=187475

http://ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=...4&t=194053

http://ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=...4&t=191527 <= Lots of good info in this one!

[Quarterbore]

Notes Regarding a Pistol:

The receiver:

Here in Pennyslvania, there is a state form that is supposed to be filed with the state when you purchase a pistol. I am still not clear if this "white Form" is an essential requirement but when I bought my AR-15, AKM, and AR-10 receivers I had the receivers all transfered on my 4473 as PISTOL RECEIVERS and I filled out the Pennsylvania State form for these receivers as PISTOL RECEIVERS to cover my bases.

Note in the quote above that the BATFE indicates that there is no requirement that this receiver be transfered as a PISTOL receiver and that it would be legal to build a pistol from a Rifle Receiver as long as the receiver had never had a stock mounted to it! I just don't know what the legal status of this is on a state level and I have nothing to hide so I asked my FFL to do the paperwork this way for me!

922(r) Import Parts Issues
Note that the 922(r) import parts regulations only apply to Semiautomatic Rifles and shotguns. This is important in the case of the AKM pistol as there is no need to purchase US Made parts to get around the US Parts counts. See following thread for more info: http://www.quarterbore.net/forums/showthread.php?t=158

[Quarterbore]

Where to buy parts:

http://www.model1sales.com/: Sells Complete Pistol kits as well as pistol buffer assemblies

http://www.dpmsinc.com/10Expand.asp?...ode=BA-A2AS-07: DPMS Kitty Kat upper has a solid reputation

http://www.olyarms.com/?page=m1_oa_models: Olympic Arms OA-93 upper and manual on how these work

[Quarterbore]

Crime Bll as it applies to Pistols:
Note that the Federal Crime Bill expired on 9/14/2004 so for most of us the following laws no longer aplly!
Also Note that SOME STATES still need to live with state versions of this law!!!

Following is from http://quarterbore.com/library/law/crimebill.html

Semiautomatic assault weapon {in the context of a pistol}

(c) A semiautomatic pistol that has an ability to accept a detachable magazine and has at least 2 of--

(1) An ammunition magazine that attaches to the pistol outside of
the pistol grip,

(2) A threaded barrel capable of accepting a barrel extender, flash
suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer,

(3) A shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely
encircles, the barrel and that permits the shooter to hold the firearm
with the nontrigger hand without being burned,

(4) A manufactured weight of 50 ounces or more when the pistol is
unloaded, and

(5) A semiautomatic version of an automatic firearm;

Definition of Semiauto pistol:

Semiautomatic pistol. Any repeating pistol which utilizes a portion
of the energy of a firing cartridge to extract the fired cartridge case
and chamber the next round, and which requires a separate pull of the
trigger to fire each cartridge.

[dlt223]

Hello All,
My name is Dave and I live here on the west coast in Portland Oregon.
I am 53 years old and a long time Gun Enthusiast/Collector.
I own half a dozen AR's in various configurations.
Recently Joined this Chat board in hopes of getting some input to
resolve a problem I have been having with an OA-93 pistol upper.

Just after the AWB expired a group of us ordered a dozen AR Lowers
and had them all registered as Pistols.
From one of these I assembled an OA-93 using Olympics Upper.

This firearm would not cycle reliably when first assembled.
Experimented with many different types of ammo and found that
only the Federal Lake City Brown box would cycle more or less reliably.
None of the ammo tested would Lock the action open after the last round.
Emailed Olympic's Support people and never received an answer.

So now I am on my own. Dissassembled the Upper and found the following.
The Gas port was set at .0625" (1/16) and it had the straight gas tube.
The recoil spring seemed way too stiff. It's dimensions were as follows:
OD=.440" OAL=7.5" Wire Dia.=.047" Coil Pitch=.1875

Opened the Gas Port just slightly to .070" and added a pigtail Gas tube.

I have Inquired all around and spent Hours searching the web to find a
spring with a little softer rate and have had no luck.

So I started cutting off coils and retesting, I now have a spring that is
just barely 6.0" long. The Federal Lake City ammo now reliably Locks
the action open every time. The other ammo now cycles But they
will not Lock the action open.

At least now the OA-93 functions, But it is not the optimum situation.
I would still like to find a spring that will allow a wider variety of ammo to be
used while still functioning correctly.

Anyone that has any thoughts on this subject please respond.

Dave

[prebancolt]

I built a pistol using the OA93 upper but I used a RRA lower. My OA93 upper came with a pigtail gas tube and it usually functions fine, not perfectly fine, but fine, as I consider it nothing more than a cool toy. I've noticed that my recoil spring seems pretty stiff, also.

I would love to find a replacement, as I want to begin construction on a 9mm OA93 upper to match. Let us know if you if you find that spring anywhere. Thanks.

J