Can You Register An Ar15 Rifle And Change It To A Pistol

The ATF wants to ban pistol braces. The bureau published a list of "criteria" for determining whether your AR-15 pistol, when equipped with a brace, will instead be considered an illegal short-barreled burglarize. If yous want to keep enjoying your AR pistol with any accessories you want, then it'southward time to legally transform it into a short-barreled rifle (SBR) by registering it as an NFA gun. Information technology's not as difficult as you think. Nosotros're well-nigh to walk y'all through the whole procedure with written and video guides:

Filling out and submitting the SBR application online.
Rolling your own fingerprints on FD-258 fingerprint cards.
Mailing your prints to the ATF so your application gets approved.

You can utilize these guides whether you want to convert a pistol or build an AR-type SBR from scratch. The steps are too the same whether you're using an fourscore% lower (plus engraving requirements, which nosotros'll affect on afterward) or a stripped lower receiver you bought from an FFL. Allow's start with mutual questions.

Converting to an SBR: FAQs

Q: What'due south an AR-15 pistol?

A: An AR-15 pistol is an AR-15 with a barrel length less than 16", and no vertical foregrip or stock installed on the buffer tube. If the ATF gets their manner, yous won't exist able to use a pistol stabilizing brace with virtually any other accessories (like angled foregrips, sights, or optics of whatever kind) either. You too won't be able to own an AR pistol longer than 26" or heavier than vii.5 pounds (120 ounces) with a brace. It'll automatically be considered an SBR.

Q: What is a short-barreled burglarize?

A: A short-barreled rifle, or SBR, is currently defined equally a rifle with a barrel shorter than 16" and that has a buttstock installed. Later the ATF squeezes its arbitrary dominion-making through, most pistol braces will be treated as buttstocks.

Q: How do I legally convert my AR-xv pistol into an SBR?

A: You must create an account and fill out an application on the ATF's EForms website. Commonly chosen a "Form 1" application by gun owners and builders, it'southward officially labelled ATF Form 5320.ane, Application to Make and Annals a Firearm. Getting an canonical application ways your firearm is now legal nether the National Firearms Human action (NFA), which regulates certain classes of firearms and suppressors.

Q: Tin I convert my lxxx% lower into an SBR?

A: Yep, yous can. Just this will crave you lot engrave a model, series number, your proper noun, and the city and state where you fabricated it. This information needs to be provided on the Form 1 awarding for the ATF to approve your SBR.

Q: Is this legal to do in all 50 states?

A: No. Counter to federal gun laws, some states have finer outlawed ownership of NFA firearms, including short-barreled rifles. Always check your local and state laws before attempting to process an ATF application for a firearm.

Q: Can I turn my AR pistol into a regular rifle?

A: Yes, and you do not have to file any NFA application or submit to the ATF'southward bureaucracy. It's entirely legal to throw a buttstock on your AR pistol and plow it into a regular burglarize if you get-go install a butt that's 16" or longer. Muzzle devices practice not count as office of the barrel length unless they're permanently installed (pinning and welding).

Q: What does filling out the Form 1 crave?

A: The Form 1 awarding is like a more than involved version of the groundwork bank check paperwork that yous fill out when you lot purchase a firearm through an FFL. The application can exist filled out and submitted online. You lot'll provide your name and address, and a brief description of your future SBR. You'll list the name and location of the maker (that's you!), serial number, caliber, and the overall length of the rifle. You'll brand up an alphanumeric series number if you're using an 80% lower.

Q: How long does it have to complete a Form 1 application?

A: Filling out the online application and uploading your photo takes every bit petty as thirty minutes. Rolling your fingerprints is surprisingly easy and only takes effectually xxx minutes, as well.

Q: What'due south this about rolling fingerprints and taking my photo?

A: When you fill out your online application, yous'll need to upload a pic of yourself. Yous can take a selfie at home with your cellphone against any bare wall and upload information technology. After submitting the online application, you'll need to fill out and mail two fingerprint cards to the ATF.

Q: How do I take and submit my fingerprints?

A: The ATF requires your prints be rolled on FD-258 fingerprint cards. They'll provide yous with an email and a .PDF "cover letter" with farther instructions. Nosotros accept a guide rolling and mailing your fingerprints with the .PDF letter linked beneath.

Q: How long does it take for a Grade 1 application to be approved?

A: Approval times tin can vary greatly. Currently, virtually Grade 1 applications for SBRs announced to take betwixt 30 and 90 days for blessing. This author submitted an SBR application on August 12th, and it was canonical August 25th.

Q: What happens when my SBR'south awarding is approved past ATF?

A: You can throw on your buttstock if yous're converting a pistol, or build your SBR if you lot're assembling it from scratch, then striking the range! Once your application is canonical, the ATF will notify yous via email. Yous will not receive a physical, mailed copy of your tax stamp. You must instead download it and keep information technology for your records.

Q: Can I modify my SBR's barrel length or overall length later?

A: Yes. The ATF requests y'all notify them in writing of a permanent change to your SBR's length, but y'all are allowed to swap upper receivers, buttstocks, and fifty-fifty barrels at volition. These modifications can exist considered temporary unless you discard the original upper, stock, or barrel. In this case, such changes don't meet the requirements of notifying the ATF.

Now, let's become into the big details almost how to successfully - and legally - convert your AR pistol into an SBR.

1. Get-go Your AR Build

If y'all don't already ain an AR pistol, now is the time to start building i. Since you need some info nigh your time to come SBR'southward setup for the Form 1 application (like overall length and a serial number), it makes sense to start ownership the parts required for your rifle before you complete your application. Even with the ATF's upcoming pistol brace ban, AR pistols will still be legal to own. Yous merely won't exist able to install a brace on your buffer tube. That ways configuring your future SBR equally a pistol first, so buying and installing your buttstock after the application is approved.

Selection a Lower Receiver (80% vs. Stripped)

All NFA guns require a serial number, simply this doesn't mean y'all can't employ an 80% lower for your SBR. You go to brand up your own serial number and take it engraved on the 80% lower receiver you fabricated. Or, you can use a stripped lower receiver with a series number already engraved.

(Don't build an AR-15 pistol with a rifle lower!)

If you're turning a regular AR-15 rifle into an SBR, do non convert its lower receiver into a pistol configuration earlier approval. It is illegal to convert an AR-15 burglarize into a pistol. The ATF volition consider your pistol an SBR, even if it doesn't meet the definition based on how its built. You tin only convert a burglarize lower to an SBR lower after blessing. You must build an AR pistol with a "fresh" receiver that was never in one case configured as a rifle.

Calculate Your SBR's Overall Length

The overall length of your SBR is calculated by measuring from the tip of the muzzle (with no removeable muzzle device attached) to the terminate of the buttstock with the stock at full extension. Although you can alter overall length (OAL) later, y'all nevertheless demand to report your SBR's length on the Course 1 application. This is why information technology's important to get your parts figured out earlier submitting the application. The NFA Segmentation of the ATF recommends estimating OAL, since you tin't technically gather your SBR for measurement without your application being canonical.

ii. Make an EForms Account

Follow the intro part of our "How to E-File Form 1 for an SBR" Guide to brand an account. Once yous've fabricated an account you can showtime the process of seeking approval to catechumen your pistol to an SBR.

3. Submit The Form 1 Application

When you log in, you'll exist brought to a dashboard with a coil bar and a serial of digital applications at the top-center of the page. Click correct until you find the green icon labeled "Form 1 ATF F 5320.i". This is the awarding you must fill out for your SBR.

We've created an in-depth guide on how to complete the awarding below!

Part 1: Starting the Form 1 application.

Role 2. Payment and Applicant Info.

Trusts: Responsible Persons Questionnaire.

Part 3. Responsible Person page.

Role iv. Primary Police force Enforcement Officer page.

Role v. Line Detail folio (adding your SBR).

Office half dozen. Electronic Documents page (trusts simply).

Part 7. Paying for and submitting the application.

four. Whorl and Postal service Fingerprints

2 sets of FD-258 fingerprint cards demand to accompany your Form i application by mailing them to the ATF. You tin social club fingerprint cards for gratuitous from the FBI by calling 304-625-5590. Ordering cards from the FBI will take approximately one to two weeks for processing and shipping. You tin purchase an FD-258 fingerprinting kit off Amazon, too. The kit comes with ink and five cards.

How to Mail Your Prints

Later on you submit your Form one awarding, you'll receive an e-mail notifying yous that your application is in a "PENDING RESEARCH" status. During this time, the awarding volition exist reviewed by the ATF. In one case the application has been reviewed and the ATF determines information has been entered correctly, your application will go into a "PROCESSING" status. When this happens, you'll receive a 2nd email with a comprehend letter fastened. The embrace letter of the alphabet has instructions for mailing your fingerprints. You must mail two sets of prints with this cover letter to the address provided on the letter.

You'll typically receive the cover comprehend letter of the alphabet within 5 to fifteen days of your application being submitted, if you don't receive it immediately. If the manufacturer of your lower receiver is in the ATF's database, y'all will probably receive the comprehend letter as soon as you submit your application.

Part viii of our guide covers rolling and mailing prints.

5. Wait for Approval

Once you mail your fingerprints, you'll demand to wait around 21 to ninety days for your SBR'south application to be approved. Once approved, the ATF will electronic mail you a 3rd time. This email will contain a digital copy of your revenue enhancement stamp, which you should print multiple copies of.

6. Get Your Receiver Engraved

NFA guns must accept certain information engraved, just like any retail-bought firearm. Once your application has been approved, you must get the following data engraved on the receiver. Whether you lot used an lxxx% lower or stripped receiver, y'all'll need the following info engraved to a depth of at least 0.003" with a text peak of one/sixteen":

Manufacturer: That's you lot! Y'all'll need your first and concluding proper name engraved.

Location: This would be the city and land where you lot live, or wherever you built your SBR. It must match the accost used on your application. The state tin be abbreviated.

Model: This would exist the model name. If you're using an 80% lower, yous'll engrave whatsoever model name you put on your awarding. If it's a stripped lower you bought from an FFL, it'll be whatever the model name that was engraved by the original manufacturer. Over again, this must lucifer what yous put on the application.

Caliber: The quotient will be listed exactly every bit you put it on the application. The ATF no longer allows "MULTI", and then fifty-fifty if you're using a stripped lower marked "MULTI", y'all'll all the same need to engrave the specific caliber (.30, .223, 6.v, etc).

Serial Number: Y'all go to use whatsoever serial number your stripped lower came with, or you get to make upwardly a series number for your 80% lower. If yous're making up a serial number for an 80% receiver, information technology has to use alphanumeric characters without spaces. No special characters are allowed.

7. Throw On your Buttstock!

With approving and engraving requirements satisfied, you can now officially and legally transform your AR pistol into an SBR by installing your buttstock, or otherwise completing your build if you oasis't already. You tin can fifty-fifty just keep your existing pistol brace installed if you wish. Later all, the ATF will likely consider nearly braces to be buttstocks either fashion.

DISCLAIMER: If y'all are new to the world of DIY gun edifice, y'all probable take a lot of questions and rightfully then. Information technology's an area that has a lot of questions that, without the correct answers, could take some serious implications. At 80-lower.com, we are by no means providing this content on our website to serve as legal advice or legal counsel. We encourage each and every architect to perform their own research around their respective State laws likewise as educating themselves on the Federal laws. When performing your own research, delight be sure that yous are getting your information from a reliable source.