difference between AR-15 pistol or rifle lower in 223
- Thread starter mardig88
- Start date
As far as the actual bare lower goes, Bushmaster Carbon-15's are essentially the same except they don't have a buffer retaining pin or the hole it goes into (and of course it's made of plastic). This is because it doesn't use a standard length bolt carrier and receiver extension. I don't know about other companies, though.
In the US (because of their laws) AR pistols and AR rifles are different in their assembled configurations (short barrels and no stocks)... but... as far as the stripped lower receiver itself there is NO difference besides the markings. The US requires that an AR Pistol be specifically marked as a "Pistol Only"... that's it... other than that engraving there is no other difference.
When we import AR Lowers that are marked pistol only we register then (under Canadian rules) as "Handguns"... but under our rules (unlike in the US) it makes no difference if you add a stock or have a longer or shorter barrel. Here in Canada there is no difference really between an AR Pistol ("Restricted Handgun") or an AR Rifle ("Restricted Rifle")... they are all restricted and in this country handguns are allowed to have stocks.
The great part of course is that handguns can have 10 round magazines and so any magazine designed and manufactured for use in a handgun is allowed to have a capacity of 10 rounds (regardless of what firearm the magazine is actually used in)
Mark
When we import AR Lowers that are marked pistol only we register then (under Canadian rules) as "Handguns"... but under our rules (unlike in the US) it makes no difference if you add a stock or have a longer or shorter barrel. Here in Canada there is no difference really between an AR Pistol ("Restricted Handgun") or an AR Rifle ("Restricted Rifle")... they are all restricted and in this country handguns are allowed to have stocks.
The great part of course is that handguns can have 10 round magazines and so any magazine designed and manufactured for use in a handgun is allowed to have a capacity of 10 rounds (regardless of what firearm the magazine is actually used in)
Mark
