AR workaround?

Community Discussion Shoot the Breeze
1

I’ve heard there is a workaround to the 16” minimum length on the barrel. Any idea?

2

Besides an SBR or Other, the only other “work around” might be getting a 14.5” bbl with a 1.5”+ muzzle device pinned and welded.

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3

There is also the option of AR pistol, however here in NJ’stan the magazine must be fixed (not removable) in which case you need to break it open or use a ejection port loading device.

I thought some joker had a SBR at the range the other day. At first glance, looked like it had ~11” barrel, no vertical foregrip and a pistol brace. When he opened the receiver to reload it clicked this was a ‘pistol’.

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4

I was at RTSP the other day and saw a shorter AR and the guy said something about the front grip and the buttstock. I can ask again next trip

5

From the sounds of it what you prob saw was an “AR - other”. This classification is the workaround in NJ. Not a rifle as it has a pistol brace and not a pistol as it has a vertical foregrip which requires you to hold with two hands. Barrels can be any length from 10.5” and longer as long as the OAL is 26” from the end of the buffer tube to the end of muzzle. I wouldn’t go any shorter but that’s me.

Check out Reddit for more info but also make sure whatever you end up doing it’s legal for NJ….

https://www.reddit.com/r/NJGuns/comments/i7dw6z/nj_othernonnfa_firearms_infoguide/

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6

Thank you. That must be what they were saying.

7

So we are aloud in NJ to have an AR 15 Pistol with say a 8.5” barrel as long as it has a Pistol Brace and a Fixed Magazine it doesn’t require a Vertical Grip or any other compliance work. Is a pistol Permit required or can I just purchase a lower and build one. I was under the impression we were not aloud to own AR 15 Pistols in the republic of NJ

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8

You would still be required a pistol purchase permit. I suppose if you were to build one you would need to declare that receiver as a pistol at purchase/transfer. As such the transferring FFL would need to fix a 10 round magazine so that it could not be removed. Check with the FFL they can make the receiver pistol compliant before purchase/transfer.

As far as I understand it’s allowed in a certain configuration (fixed 10-round magazine) to make it compliant with NJ AWB.

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9

Thank You for your reply could you possibly point me towards the information so I can educate myself to all the ins and outs before I dive down the rabbit hole

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10

Your best bet is to check with your local FFL that does compliance work and ask them about it first.

https://www.reddit.com/r/NJGuns/comments/140fc5p/ar_pistol/
https://www.reddit.com/r/NJGuns/comments/15pl46j/do_i_need_a_new_handgun_permit_to_buy_an_ar_pistol/

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11

A virgin lower is transferred as a receiver, not a pistol. It can legally be assembled as either a pistol, rifle, non-NFA other or an AOW (with the required tax stamp). This is why it is transferred using your FPIC and a CoE form, not a pistol permit. It is not a pistol yet and might never become one. However, because it could become a pistol, you have to be over 21 in NJ to have one transferred to you.

The ability to remove the magazine is dependent on the parts you install on the stripped lower as you assemble it. If you install a fixed mag retainer, it is not a removable magazine. If you install a regular mag catch, it is a removable magazine. It has nothing to do with how the stripped lower was transferred.

12

Does the 50 oz rule apply here ?

13

Only applies to pistols/handguns.

14

So if I make an 8.5” AR pistol with a Brace and a (King Pin) Fixed Magazine the 50 oz rule does not apply ?

15

Since I’m not familiar with an AR, how to you load a fixed magazine?

16

Depends on what device you use check YouTube type Fixed Magazine in the search bar there’s plenty of video

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You’re probably right on this. But if it’s already configured as a pistol for sale in a shop I would assume you would still need a permit?

I was also under the impression that your would need to first build the blank lower as a pistol as you are not allowed to convert a rifle to a pistol? But if first a pistol it can be either? Who’s on first? What’s on second? I don’t know is on third.

19

So if I make an 8.5” AR pistol with a Brace and a (King Pin) Fixed Magazine the 50 oz rule does not apply ?

20

So is the main reason to make a fixed mag AR a shorter barrel?