ibgp3 Wrote:I asked about the legalities because it looked like the Amazon site offers the uninformed an opportunity to get into serious trouble.
After several pages of answers I'm coming to the conclusion that informed people with good legal advice can get tripped up.
TxGunner gave sound advice in his reply to you earlier...buying a lower as a pistol from FFL dealer than adding the pistol length upper is fine. The trouble starts when swapping barrels/stocks.
The real problem is the ATF writes in a confusing manner instead of being straightforward, and the various branches give conflicting opinions. Even lawyers will give differing opinions.
To be safe, going back and forth should be done only if the the AR receiver was sold as a "receiver" and not as part of a rifle. But even then, you could still be harassed by LEOs who don't understand all the subtleties of the law (but who really does?)
If you have any doubts, consult directly with ATF with your specific question (in writing, as recommended previously by keith13b), keep the response, and then keep checking on changes to the ATFs policies (or contradictions).
Personally, I find the whole idea that one can be "caught" in a technicality of how a modular lower receiver was "papered" originally ludicrous. What should really count (in the ATF environment) is how the gun is presently configured.
I would like to see the entire NFA cast aside and return to full 2A rights...(one can dream).
Finally, no one should take anything I (or anyone else for that matter) comments upon with respect to NFA legalities as the gospel. We can all read the various laws, regulations, and "rulings" and come to our own interpretation...I don't know of any other case law (besides Thompson Center) that would address the back and forth conversion between pistols/rifles. I'll keep looking (as this greatly interests me).