E21A Posted June 22, 2018 Share Posted June 22, 2018 I follow a few gun pages on Instagram and have always wondered why Americans call AR15 based guns pistols?? Anybody know? Example below Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supporters Gepard Posted June 22, 2018 Supporters Share Posted June 22, 2018 From what I gather an AR pistol is just an AR with a short barrel and no stock. The gun pictured above should really be designated as a 'Short Barreled Rifle'. There's a bit more into it like is the receiver originally a rifle action or not but I don't know the specifics. The reason people go with AR pistols is to get around the NFA process. edit: Did some digging. Here's a better explanation: Quote An AR-15 pistol is a weapon that has a barrel shorter than 16 inches, does not have a stock, and is shorter than 26 inches overall. The lack of a stock defines the AR pistol as a pistol. If you equip an AR-15 platform of any caliber with a barrel shorter than 16 inches and a stock it becomes a short barreled rifle. A short barreled rifle is legal to own in most states but requires the user to go through the NFA process, register the weapon, and pay a 200 dollar tax stamp. An AR pistol allows the user to have a barrel shorter than 16 inches, without having to go through the NFA process. Some states will prohibit the ownership of short-barreled rifles regardless of the Federal law. This makes an AR-15 pistol the only option for someone wanting a short barrel AR-15. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supporters jcheeseright Posted June 23, 2018 Supporters Share Posted June 23, 2018 it's a stupid technicality in US law, you can own a 'pistol' with a short barrel no problem, so instead of having a stock on the buffer tube they have a brace instead, it's designed to be strapped around your forearm (not even joking!) but works perfectly well as something to put in your shoulder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supporters Adolf Hamster Posted June 23, 2018 Supporters Share Posted June 23, 2018 iirc it used to be using the "brace" as a stock was a no no, although apparently they've changed that. it's a bit like the untwisted rifling they brought out to skirt that law- no twist means it's not a rifle (ergo not an sbr) and no smoothbore means not a shotgun (so not a short barreled shotgun either). all you sacrifice for this wondrous loophole that lets you have a proper folding stock and a short barrel is the ability to hit anything. it really makes a mockery of what little gun related legislation america has, just as ridiculous as the bump-fire stocks and electric gloves for getting around full auto legislation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AshOnSnow Posted June 23, 2018 Share Posted June 23, 2018 But stick a vertical foregrip on the front and it suddenly becomes illegal again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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