Building AR-15 - Lower receiver?

[thegiantmidget]

I have the AR bug. Originally I was looking at low-end ARs by Century (Neutered M16-A1) and Olympic. Olympic doesn't sell the specific style I'm looking for, and the Century seem a little pricey for a parts gun. I thought I'd probably be better off picking up a used early Colt 20" upper and slapping it to any old lower. I would like to assemble my lower myself. As I understood it, lower receivers were treated as rifles, and anybody 18+ could simply pick up a stripped lower at a gun shop and start their build. Not so, I hear. Lower receivers are treated as AOWs now because they may be built as rifles or pistols. So, if you're 6 months shy of 21, what is a guy to do? Wait it out? Buy the Century?


Can I buy a lower receiver privately under the new-ish law? Seems like I should be able to. I can buy a handgun from a private party under federal and state law. Why not a lower? I'm a little confused by the AOW law on AR receivers... seems kind of senseless to me.

 

[MYCAR47562]

following

 

[MYCAR47562]

Who told you that you had to be over 21?

 

[MYCAR47562]

http://www.ar15.com/archive/topic.html?b=1&f=6&t=1098436

These guy's say you can buy one from an individual

 

[thegiantmidget]

One of the guys who works at Gander Mountain over the weekend told me. Cited something or another. Sounded ike he knew his stuff.

 

[MYCAR47562]

After more research im hearing you can not as well, my suggestion would be to buy a cheap ar and slowly over time buy and sell parts till you have what you want.

 

[MYCAR47562]

oh and also they are saying you can not buy from individual because of federal law.

 

[thegiantmidget]

Hm. Federal law allows me to purchase a handgun. Why not a base that can be built into a handgun, or rifle? Can anybody link me to the Federal or State law that prohibits me from buying an assembled or stripped lower from an individual? This stinks. Whoever enacted this is a moron.

 

[MYCAR47562]

Http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/licensees-conduct-of-business.html#age-requirements

 

[AR-Trvlr]

Hm. Federal law allows me to purchase a handgun. Why not a base that can be built into a handgun, or rifle? Can anybody link me to the Federal or State law that prohibits me from buying an assembled or stripped lower from an individual? This stinks. Whoever enacted this is a moron.

AFAIK there is no federal law that prohibits you from buying a stripped lower from an individual, only from an licensee (a FFL). I have not looked into the full details, but I was under the impression that you can legally buy an assembled lower from a dealer - once the rifle-stock is added it can no longer be legally assembled into a pistol.