I am in the process of putting together an AR pistol and would like to use the Battle Arms Sabertube for my buffer tube. BA makes several different Sabertubes which are identical in every way except length: pistol, carbine, and rifle. And of course, the carbine and rifle lengths also include a removable miniature “stock.” I am asking this question because I have a 6’6" wing span and would prefer a longer buffer tube for comfort. Can I legally use the carbine or rifle length tubes on an AR pistol?
These buffer tubes have no detents at all for any conventional stock. They include a minimalist “stock” which I would of course remove before assembly. I would replace it with an approved pistol brace.
Thoughts? Is this kosher or would I be assembling an unregistered SBR, in which case, big no no.
I would personally wait until either a status letter is released from the ATF technology branch, or they sell the tube with no stock portion, advertised and marketed as a “pistol” tube.
How much longer of a tube are you looking for? The Vltor A5’s both pistol and rifle are 3/4" longer than a regular carbine-length, and the KAK tube is just as long but only bored to the same depth as a standard CAR.
The longest pistol buffer tubes I can find are 9" OAL (so about 8 and 1/4" extension beyond the receiver). I would like to have around 11" of extension. I have a LAW Tactical folding adapter on order which should help.
And from a purely asthetics standpoint, those dimpled Sabertubes are niiiice. A perfect match for a dimpled KAC CQB upper…
I was wondering why it felt like I had longer adjustments with the dimples then a standard 6 position!
Thanks for this random tidbit, great piece of cool information that could be helpful.
Nonetheless, I dunno…
If you buy the “stock” I would imagine it could be discerned as potential “intent” if the stock is available to put back on it?
I am not sure. Honestly, I dunno if it would hold up in a court, if it ever even went that far. If you put a brace on the tube and crank it down. I was under the impression you could use normal carbine buffer tubes as long as you didn’t put a stock on it.
I may be misinformed though, and I go the KAK route for the 2 pistol lowers I have built out now. I also got a Phase 5 from a very generous member from the PIF forum awhile back. That goes on every lower I ever purchase and I “register” it as an original pistol lower in my excel file.
You know… Just in case? :ph34r:
I suppose, the bad news on that, is that I have to get a permit to purchase from every person I ever sell them too now as they are a “pistol” lower… Good news is I probably will never sell the nearly 10 lowers I have at this point.
