A awhile back I was going to build an AR rifle. So I purchased an AR lower as a rifle. I have changed my mind and would like to build an AR pistol. Can I use the AR lower that I purchased as a rifle lower as a pistol lower.
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I don’t have an answer but am interested in hearing the responses!
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Which box was checked on the the 4473 form? If it was rifle, then no.
@Harvey and @Craig6 can probably give more details than I can.
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I have never seen on form 4473 a box stating what the lower is to be used for. I have bought multiple lowers and built both. Your state may be different though.
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This is the section I was talking about. Maybe it is not on all 4473(s)?
Edit: I agree, the 3rd box should have been checked, but if it was me I would take a look at it.
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In part;
The following information is by no means comprehensive but here are just a few things to remember:
- A factory fresh AR lower receiver that has never been part of a firearm can be used to build a pistol, carbine or rifle. If a lower receiver is built into and registered as a pistol first, it can be stripped down and converted into a rifle in the future. If the receiver built into a carbine or rifle first, it must always remain part of a rifle and cannot ever be used to build a pistol. Example: If you bought a DPMS Oracle 5.56 rifle. You cannot put an SBA3 tactical brace on it and slap an AR-15 Pistol upper on it.
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It must be state specific, never seen that in NV.
AR pistols are currently legal here as long as it has a brace on it and there isn’t any specific paperwork needed. SBR, then yes.
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I wonder if I could sell it to a dealer then buy it as a pistol.
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I’m surprised, it’s a federal form.
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I was mistaken, the seller fills in that part, not the buyer. When I bought my lowers I did not need to specify rifle or pistol.
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Wonder which one the seller checked?
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I wonder how you could check.
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The dealer you picked it up from will have the form on file. They should be checking other. I asked the dealer which one he was checking when I picked mine up just to be sure and he confirmed he checked other.
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@Gary_H The “current” 4473 has “rifle , pistol and other”, IIRC the old one was rifle, pistol, shotgun and no “Other”
The current one was developed after a VA Beach gun shop employee was “adding guns” to properly filled out and checked 4473’s since the description, S# etc. was on the 2nd page the purchaser didn’t see or sign that page. So you would go in buy your firearm and head on down the road after the background check and your credit card cleared. Old boy would decide to fill in another firearm to your 4473 and it came off the books legally to YOU not the guy that ended up with it. I forget how the whole thing came out but a buddy of mine got the Federal knock on his door about a gun he had “purchased” on XYZ date. Fortunately for him he kept meticulous records of his gun purchases and was able to show that his receipt was for only ONE of the THREE guns listed on his 4473.
Now the description of the guns is on the front page and the seller has to write in “ONE”, TWO" or “THREE” etc. in the little block for total guns purchased. The unintended consequence is now you only need to scan/photograph the front page to know who and what.
As to the pistol to rifle thing. it is as @George98 posted. A pistol can become a rifle but a rifle can never become a pistol which IIRC was written to prevent taking a shotgun/rifle and turning it into a pistol by lopping off the barrel and chopping the butt stock or sticking it in a folding stock. It also followed the precedent set under NFA which says once a machine gun always a machine gun which is why the gov’t never sold any M-14’s, even though cutting off the lug in the rear of the receiver would turn it into an M-1A.
Cheers,
Craig6
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That dealer is out of business. So I’m sure he sent his records to the ATF.
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I know I’ll get corrected if I’m wrong but, I believe the 4473 is only to record the transfer from the licensed dealer inventory and should never come into question down the road. 
What does your bill of sale or receipt say you bought?
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I bought it from Browmells it just says forged lower receiver. The local gun shop owner is out of business but still in town. Maybe he kept copies of his records. When I see him I’ll have to check.
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I wonder if they could just run the serial number and see what comes back?
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Did he sell the business or close completely?
If the business was sold the new owner is required to keep the records in perpetuity.
As far as I know, it is as George said. If you’ve put any of the “rifle” parts (ie, stock, vertical grip) on it, it is forever a rifle.
Not sure if anyone would know though unless you’ve posted pics somewhere.
I forget what GunTuber’s channel I saw it on, but what I started doing w/ all my lowers is slapping the 10.3" upper on it as soon as I bring it home & taking a pic for my records. Then it’s all fair game.
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