Last night on A&E's "The First 48" they confiscated a .223 AR-15 pistol similar to a Carbon 15-no buttstock, just a short  recoil buffer tube. (you know what I'm talking about)  A witness to the drug-related murder fired it (no hits) at the murderers who shot his business associate. But what caught my eye was that someone had attached an AR-15 pistol grip to the barrel (no handguards) with a clamp that appeared commercially made.

Will the attachment of such a pistol grip convert this from a "pistol" to a short barreled rifle or other NFA regulated firearm?  Cops made no comment-they may not have even recognized what they were holding, which does not surprise me. When I saw them bring it out of the car and it fit into a small kitchen trash bag, my wife said I sat bolt upright in my chair. That was a pretty high tech and high dollar weapon for one our urban entrepreneurs.


EDIT:  for more description

pretty sure that would count as a vertical foregrip thus making it a AOW if it didn't have a stock.

It's not a rifle unless it also has a buttstock.

A handgun with a pistol grip attached as you describe would be considered an AOW (Any Other Weapon). AOW's are NFA firearms.
The reason the addition of the second grip makes it an AOW is because ATF considers a handgun a a firearm intended to be fired with one hand only.

But a pistol is not necessarily a handgun.  



There is a thread in GD and a thread in the Magpul forum where people are discussing the AFG on an AR Pistol.



IMO, I don't think anyone really knows for sure.  Have there been any federal court cases about it?

Says who?

Code of Federal Regulations
http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&rgn=div5&view=text&node=27:3.0.1.2.3&idno=27#27:3.0.1.2.3.2.1.1

I put a little JB weld in the buffer tube on my pistol build. I'm pretty sure that will be sufficient ......I hope

Have you noticed how those definitions aren't the same?  That means they aren't the same!  I know, I know, it's very difficult to understand.



Edit:  As an example, it seems clear to me that the Ruger Charger was not designed to be held and fired by the use of a single hand.  That must mean it's an AOW right?





 

How practical is your setup?  Do you shoot often?  If so, how do you like it?  Did you build this for the purpose of current configuration or are you wanting to SBR?  Just curious because I have a few SBR ARs that I don't think I could shoot like that.

ETA, looking closer it appears you have yet to shoot the thing (I hope) since you are missing something crucial.

I know those two definitions are not exactly the same, they aren't supposed to be. And for me, they are very easy to understand.
Further, revolvers are also handguns and would meet the definition of "handgun", but not the definition of pistol.

You made the claim that "a pistol is not necessarily a handgun...". Well, that's just plain wrong. I would like to know what pistol does not meet the ATF definition of a handgun?

It doesn't matter if the handgun (pistol or revolver) is uncomfortable or difficult to hold while firing one handed. What matters is whether ATF Tech Branch believes it was DESIGNED for one handed use. Remove the bipod, and it possible to shoot the Ruger Charger a bit easier using one hand. Early on, there were folks that postulated the bipod made the charger an AOW because it offered a forward grip. Apparently ATF does not think so.

Have not shot it yet but I did get a few steps closer today with some parts. I'll never SBR this one but maybe another one. I just wanted a pistol cause I've built several AR's but wanted something diff.

Just because you can use a gun a certain way does not mean it was designed to be used that way...