Legalities of ar pistols

Handguns Semi-Auto
1

Hows it going?
I dont know if this would be the right section for this but my question with this goes in regards of the max weight ot a pistol on the njsp website stating it can not weigh over 50oz manufactured weight…

View number 4

A semi-automatic pistol that has an ability to accept a detachable magazine and has at least two of the following:
(1) An ammunition magazine that attaches to the pistol outside of the pistol grip;
(2) A threaded barrel capable of accepting a barrel extender, flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer;
(3) A shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles the barrel and that permits the shooter to hold the firearm with the non-trigger hand without being burned;
(4) Manufactured weight of 50 ounces or more when the pistol is unloaded; and/or
(5) A semi-automatic version of an automatic firearm;

If i make the pistol my self lower/parts kit/upper etc does that make the 50 oz rule void due to the fact of not being a fully assembled (manufactured ) pistol?

Thanks

2

The short answer is no. Whether you build or buy, it must conform to the weight limit.

3

Just because you are not in the business of manufacturing, it does not follow that the item you put together, at some point becomes fully assembled (manufactured).

Add the NJ sneakiness of constructive intent and you’re on dodgy ground. Even if you don’t put it together, just having all the parts is deemed the same as having put them together.

4

An old shroudless fed-ban compliant carbon 15 pistol in theory makes the cut. There are not a lot of them in existence. Other than that… no.

5

There was also the Extar which is no longer made.

6

How about a M&P 15-22 pistol without a brace and hand guard? That should weigh below 50 oz.

7

I think i might be able to make this work using polymer items… everyone thanks for the input … there is a lot of grey areas when it comes to this stuff… if its gotta be under 50 oz thats what i will do! Once again thank you

8

Please, feel free to come back and share your build experience. I’m sure it will be helpful to others who want to build a compliant pistol on the AR platform.

9

3 1/8 lbs (50oz) is gonna be tough to make.

10

Never gonna happen

11

Not sure i would call it “grey” area, confusing yes.

The parts have already been manufactured, you are “assembling” the firearm. Its not legal in NJ to manufacture a firearm without a license.

The idea behind manufactued weight prevents modification to lighten a complete firearm to meet criteria. Gave them a blanket across tons of options we loose, with zero room for modification.

We could make a lot of arguments, if i buy a lower reciever that is by defintion the part which is the firearm, does only that count?

I fully understand the intent of the law, i dont beleive any LEO would care to hear my argument, and i dont see anything winning in the courts unless you get a good jury who can recognize the obtuse language.

12

You could not get a S&W M&P 15-22 pistol under 50oz.

13

Its manufactured weights would only matter anyway.

I bet you could get a .22lr pattern AR-15 under, given that bushmaster did it with 5.56. You’re gonna have to make it yourself tho.

14

You can do it with a 5.56 gun, but it’s gonna take a lot of polymer and skeletonized parts.

But it can be done.