I’m hoping to draw on the countless insights available in this forum. I’m considering a 223/5.56 CT “other” build and could use recommendations on parts, suppliers and build tips. This will be my first build. The primary uses will be target shooting and varmint eradication.
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I’m a little lost on your topic. Are you in CT as in Connecticut looking to build an AR platform? If so you have a long road to go down just to get the basics but it has been some many years since I lived there and things may have changed.
Cheers,
Craig6
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Yes, Connecticut. In response to your question, yes and no. While AR 15s are currently banned in the state an “other” is legal but has certain requirements (e.g. must have at least a 12 inch barrel, cannot have a butt stock) but is built using an AR lower and upper. I hope that helps clarify a little. There are also a couple videos on line about them, but they don’t provide much build how to’s, parts resources or recommendations.
There are several threads on this site that detail the in’s and out’s of putting together an AR pistol. @Zavier_D had one and there is another good one but the gent’s name escapes me at this time. I am totally ignorant of CT’s “Other” statute or the rules there to but the rules for an AR pistol are roughly in no particular order
Barrel LESS than 16"
Length of Pull (LOP) from the end of the buffer tube to the forward most part of the trigger less than 13.4"
NO VERTICAL fore grips Angled ones are fine (AFG)
Overall length (OAL) MUST be less than 26" from the muzzle to the end of the buffer tube.
You can have a “BRACE” but not a STOCK, words are important in this context use them correctly
An adjustable Brace that extends beyond the buffer tube does not count in the OAL and neither does the length of your muzzle device as both are accessories and not part of the functioning part of the pistol.
If you really need to cut down on OAL go with a gas piston system and a folding BRACE
Putting one together once you have the legal parts is very straight forward, a couple specialty tools are very hand but not required such as an armorers wrench and vice blocks.
I live in a fair part of the world for guns (VA) but I tell EVERYBODY that builds an AP pistol to get and keep copies of the relevant statutes and ATF letters for your platform in the gun case with the pistol. Sherrif Roscoe P. Coletraine may not know the rules for other but he can make a fast assumption about an SBR or just a regular AR in your state. Be able to politely defend every piece and part on your platform and if he says “Bunk” go quietly and fight it in court or possibly with the next senior guy you will run across. MOST LEO are NOT gun guys and even less know the arcane and convoluted laws in which we are discussing.
Good luck with your build and if you have assembly questions I’d be glad to help
Cheers,
Craig6
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Many thanks @Craig6!
That’s pretty much how “not” to build a CT Other.
To be legal in CT, an AR style firearm cannot be either an Armalite Rifle, an AR pistol, or an SBR. Therefore it must have features which defy the definition of all three.
It must have a barrel longer than 12” so as not to be a pistol.
It must have an overall length of greater than 26 inches so as not to be an SBR.
It must have a vertical fore grip so as not to be a pistol. It cannot have an angled fore grip.
It cannot have a butt stock so as not to be a rifle or SBR.
It can have a pistol brace, but one is not required. The pistol brace may be adjustable in length but cannot be a folding brace or stock.
If it can fire only rimfire cartridges, these restrictions don’t apply. You can have an “AR15” if it is chambered for .22LR.
This configuration navigates between State and Federal laws.
The AR15, while legal on the federal level is considered an “assault weapon” in CT. It is not legal to build or import an AR15 into CT (with specific exceptions for LEOs or Active Duty Military). Those that existed here before 2013 must be registered and require a tax stamp from the state.
A CT Other with a pistol brace doesn’t factor into ATF enforcement of pistol braces as far as whether it makes the firearm an AR Pistol or SBR, because the firearm, with or without the pistol brace, is neither.
The CT Other is the Platypus of the firearms world.
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Who the heck comes up with all these ridiculous requirements and how exactly do they make us safer???
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Why our legion of “common sense gun control” experts in our nations and states capitals of course.
Our gov tried reclassifying them a couple months back…but that didn’t get far. Hottest thing to hit the CT market since they came out about 4 years ago.
File photo for informational purposes only 
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How they make us safer…uh,…uh…I know that CA “featureless” grip looks somewhat dangerous to me,as it seems you can’t actually grip it…cripes,looks like it spread to NY as well
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Glad that firearm has the required forward grip making it so much safer when used in CT. Here in AZ having that forward grip makes it too dangerous to own. Unless you get a federal tax stamp which somehow takes the danger away. And then there is the tiny little problem of criminals being allowed to use whatever they want.
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Yeah…tiny little problem lol.
Ironically, CT allows pre ban ('94) AR’s, but foregrip not allowed, whereas on the “others” it’s mandatory.
Awesome with the ehteeeff though, as the foregrip is due to mandatory 2 handed usage with a brace invented for…well, you know.
They initially said these couldn’t be shouldered, but that bit of micromanagerial infringement went away very quickly.
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