Pistol to Rifle and back to Pistol = No NFA paperwork ? Looks that way now...

bassman2 · Aug 3, 2011

http://www.atf.gov/regulations-rulings/rulings/atf-rulings/atf-ruling-2011-4.pdf
Found on another forum...

From the link... signed by Melson...

Held further, a firearm, as defined by 26 U.S.C. 5845(a)(3) and (a)(4), is not made when parts in a kit that were originally designed to be configured as both a pistol and a rifle are assembled or re-assembled in a configuration not regulated under the NFA (e.g., as a pistol, or a rifle with a barrel of 16 inches or more in length).

Held further, a firearm, as defined by 26 U.S.C. 5845(a)(3) and (a)(4), is not made when a pistol is attached to a part or parts designed to convert the pistol into a rifle with a barrel of 16 inches or more in length, and the parts are later unassembled in a configuration not regulated under the NFA (e.g., as a pistol).

mjbskwim · Aug 3, 2011

Should probably be in Legal,but with wording like that,he's on the way to great things in litigation and politics

saxon · Aug 4, 2011

has to do with the Thompson contender i believe.
Long story short if you have a pistol receiver
And you have parts to change back and forth to a rifle,
You have to do it the right way to not have a SBR NFA item.
Say you have a pistol lets say uzi for ease of idea
You later get a 16' barrel and a folding stock.
You can make your pistol a rifle it is legal and then make it back to a pistol BUT
You have to do it in a specific order for legal reasons.
You have to swap out barrel FIRST that way it is 16'+
Then put on the stock, good to go.
You can not put on the stock with the pistol barrel or you have an SBR NFA

del_and_bones · Aug 4, 2011

From how I read it, if you have an AR pistol you have a fairly versatile tool. This also solves the whole MechTech CCU conversion debate.

bassman2 · Aug 4, 2011

For those that didn't read the ATF letter from the Director at the LINK... This is a NEW interpretation of the regulations.

saxon · Aug 4, 2011

ahhhhhhhhh i see sorry.
they just made but did not make them a crime now
i like that it goes right along with a sho lace being a machine gun

bassman2 · Aug 4, 2011

Just another update - from another forum that I thought might place some caution on this entire thing... Imagine that..

The question is that all virgin AR receivers are classified as "other" and not as a pistol or rifle. So Melson's letter may or may not apply to AR receivers - Clarification is needed. The speculation is that if it does not include AR receivers then ATF MAY have just sneakily classified all AR style pistols as NFA items due to the language defining a rifle.... A stretch but I would still cautiously await clarification.

OK - just an over reaction.... looks like the letter does apply to AR receivers based on the language. .... Please read it yourself - I'm not a Lawyer!