I did a cursory search but couldn’t find any information. Does anyone have any knowledge about AOWs, in particular, if someone were to purchase a stripped AR lower from their LGS, could they then file the paperwork with the ATF to create an AOW?
The reason I ask is this, SBRs are impossible to get here in CA, and due to the wording in the state’s AWB, legal eagles have opined that putting the Sig brace on an AR pistol would turn it into a SBR in the eyes of the State DOJ, even with the ATF ruling otherwise. I have no desire to be a test case for such things so I want to stay on the fully legal side of things. My thinking is this, I have a Mega lower that I bought as a stripped lower, because of the way CA works, I couldn’t use that lower to build an AR pistol, I had to mill out an 80% and go from there. If its possible, I would turn the Mega lower into an AOW, pull all the pistol parts off the 80% and put them and the 12.5 BCM upper onto the Mega and put the Sig brace on it. My 80% isn’t engraved so I couldn’t use that for the AOW without engraving it.
Given the State laws, braces and or VFGs are verboten on pistols, however on AOWs, perfectly ok. I’m not one for VFGs, I’ve even stopped using the AFG, but the pistol buffer tube is just really too short for me. Although another option is to go with the A5 receiver extension and then wrap it with some paracord or use the CAA saddle as that is legal in CA on pistols.
You should contact the California DOJ for a clarification of the Sig brace. People on the internet often talk out their butts
Also, from my understanding, lengthening a pistol to 26 inches or while the barrel is less than 16 inches allows a VFG to be mounted legally as long as the combination is NOT ever concealed. A pistol that is 26 inches or more, is still a pistol.
Also, from what I understand, all NFA items are illegal in California, including AOWs that require a tax stamp.
DISCLAIMER: I might be one of those internet commandos talking out of his butt. Contact the DOJ for the facts
For the purposes of the National Firearms Act, the term “Any Other Weapon” means:
Any weapon or device capable of being concealed on the person from which a shot can be discharged through the energy of an explosive;
A pistol or revolver having a barrel with a smooth bore designed or redesigned to fire a fixed shotgun shell;
Weapons with combination shotgun and rifle barrels 12 inches or more, less than 18 inches in length, from which only a single discharge can be made from either barrel without manual reloading; and
Any such weapon which may be readily restored to fire. Such term shall not include a pistol or a revolver having a rifled bore, or rifled bores, or weapons designed, made, or intended to be fired from the shoulder and not capable of firing fixed ammunition.
I am fairly certain that AK pistols with the Sig Brace are sold in CA, and I know several people with AR pistols that have the Sig Brace on them. Some them are police officers.