AR-15 Registration Question

[AJCrowley]

Sorry if this is a question that's been covered before, couldn't find it....and yes, I know that the lower is the registered part.

My question is - if I get a selection of uppers to go with my lower, what's the deal legally, since the lower is the only registered part, and on my other rifles, the barrel length is on the registration cert, I assume that I'd have to call and notify them of a change to a barrel of a different length.

Would I be able to freely switch between my different length uppers, or would I be required to call the CFO each time I changed the upper?

For that matter, how is a lower registered if you buy it without an upper?

Thanks.

 

[rivetc78]

You have 30 days to change the registration of your firearm.

So if you change your upper from 18" to 10.5", you should notify the CFO within 30 days of the changes you have made

The lower would be registered as a 'Frame'

 

[AJCrowley]

Ok, that's what I thought.

Where does that leave me if I have a 16" barrel on the upper, and get a 12" on a separate upper, put the 12" on, take it to the range for a try out, then get it home and put the 16" back on? As long as I don't leave it with a different upper on for 30 days, am I good, and don't have to call?

This is all very confusing for a rifle that's built to be modular and have interchangeable uppers.

 

[cr5]

When I registered mine they never asked a single question about the upper. I don't know for sure but I don't think it matters, you have registered the lower as a restricted firearm and it is restricted even without an upper in it.

Best way to get an accurate answer is to call the CFO and ask. All other answers are someones interpretation of the law or their personal opinion.

Good luck,
Let us know what you find for an official answer.

 

[667]

Leave your lower registered as a "frame only"
Switch out uppers at will...
As mentioned the lower is a firearm. Uppers are uncontrolled unregulated parts.
No need to complicate life and pester the CFC every 30 days.

 

[Leg]

I've heard of people getting guns registered as multi barrel in order to avoid the headache if they're checked. This was more for shotguns where they may be checked by a CO but same logic applies.

 

[Mirk]

I went through this about a week ago. As far as I can tell there is no easy answer because the laws/registration system isn’t really setup for this. Here is what I understand though. Changing the barrel length will not change the rifles classification as restricted and that you have 30 days to notify CFC of a permanent change. Take what you will from that.