AR15 Classification Cheat Sheet With Photos

[arakboss]

In progress


I put this cheat sheet together so AR based firearm classification could be more easily identified, regardless of the build stage the firearm is in, for transfer purposes. From lower receiver to complete firearm, I tried to include every conceivable stage. If I missed some let me know. This is not legal advice and if you disagree with my view on a classification, please share your view and provide links to BATF info backing up your view. I am open to changing my view on classification based on BATF info supporting it.

Section 1 Receiver: All of these configurations below would be classified as an "Other" on Question 16 of form 4473 (receiver).









Section 2 Long Gun: The photos below would be classified as a Long Gun on question 16 of form 4473(rifle or shotgun).






Attaching the .410 shotgun upper below to a lower with rifle stock would make a shotgun



This is a short barreled rifle with less than 16 inch barrel and rifle stock.








Section 3 Handgun: The following would be classified as a Handgun on question 16 of form 4473.








Section 4 Other Firearms: My views on these will be the most controversial but they would be a functional firearm in their depicted configuration and would not be a hand gun or long gun as defined by BATF so I would classify them as Other on question 16 of form 4473








The upper below would be considered a firearm with the addition of a triggering device, I used the flashlight to depict what a triggering device might look like to make the upper capable of firing a cartridge. By inserting the flashlight inside the BCG and tapping the rear of the flashlight with your hand it would send the firing pin in to the primer and fire the cartridge.

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[trevi]

Looks good!!

 

[arakboss]

Looks good!!

Thanks. I know some FFLs are going to differ from each other on some of these classifications but I was trying to base my view on the available BATF info out there and/or how a majority of FFLs would handle each configuration. I realize some of these configurations will probably not be presented to FFLs like I depicted but they could....

 

[The Heretic]

AR receiver with 16" barrel (14.5" and 1.5" flash hider with hidden pin and silver soldered to barrel) with pistol brace.

Pistol or rifle?

 

[arakboss]

Assuming it has a pistol grip and rifled barrel it would be a handgun. Barrel length would make no difference in classification, imho.

 

[The Heretic]

Assuming it has a pistol grip and rifled barrel it would be a handgun. Barrel length would make no difference in classification, imho.

Pistol grip - the only diff between this config and a rifle would be the brace or lack of a rifle stock. But I have seen some posts where I felt like someone was saying this would be a rifle once the barrel went past 16" and the OAL was longer than 26". I don't necessarily see how that could be.

 

[arakboss]

Pistol grip - the only diff between this config and a rifle would be the brace or lack of a rifle stock. But I have seen some posts where I felt like someone was saying this would be a rifle once the barrel went past 16" and the OAL was longer than 26". I don't necessarily see how that could be.

A rifle requires a stock. I have not found any batf info suggesting there is a maximum length for a pistol barrel.

 

[arakboss]

Pistol grip - the only diff between this config and a rifle would be the brace or lack of a rifle stock. But I have seen some posts where I felt like someone was saying this would be a rifle once the barrel went past 16" and the OAL was longer than 26". I don't necessarily see how that could be.

If you add a vertical fore-grip to the mix that will raise some other classification issues that I did not address in this cheat sheet: The 26 inch measurement would come in to play when adding a vertical fore-grip: This page has some info on that:

Can you add a vertical fore-grip to an AR pistol?

In the article I posted last week about the Sig Sauer stabilizing brace I included a picture of a reviewer shooting an AR pistol equipped with the brace. The pistol in the picture also featured a

johnpierceesq.com

 

[The Heretic]

Yeah, I was aware of the foregrip issues. Not an issue for me - don't want to go the AOW route. I have an upper with that 14.5" barrel and 1.5" flash hider. Just want to make sure that if I put a brace on it, that it is still a pistol and can be legally concealed while loaded.

 

[arakboss]

Yeah, I was aware of the foregrip issues. Not an issue for me - don't want to go the AOW route. I have an upper with that 14.5" barrel and 1.5" flash hider. Just want to make sure that if I put a brace on it, that it is still a pistol and can be legally concealed while loaded.

You should be good for now but who knows if this pistol brace dust up with the BATF is going to amount to anything. Some of the pistol braces are so close to rifle stocks in function that I could see the BATF rewriting the rules to prohibit them.

 

[Member 34319]

A rifle requires a stock. I have not found any batf info suggesting there is a maximum length for a pistol barrel.

You say a rifle requires a stock yet picture a receiver with a stock attached, and it's somehow a receiver?

 

[arakboss]

You say a rifle requires a stock yet picture a receiver with a stock attached, and it's somehow a receiver?

A rifle requires a stock and barrel, he had the barrel.