AR Doctrines 101 Class

[RevM]

AR receivers are not recorded on forms 4473 as "rifles", they are simply "receivers".

You can build your receiver as a rifle or a pistol. Technically speaking, once it has been built into a rifle with a buttstock and upper attached it is only and forever a rifle unless you go the form 1 route to convert it to a pistol.

The exception is as your second ATF letter states ... if you buy a complete lower receiver with a buttstock attached you are allowed to remove the buttstock and replace it with a pistol buffer ... but once that complete lower is assembled with an upper it is forever a rifle (except form 1, yada, yada).