Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles Overall length limit for AR pistol….

Is there a “can’t exceed” length for an AR pistol, or any pistol I suppose?? Or a max barrel length? Looking at one for a friend just over 28” overall with brace collapsed and no muzzle device. Tried looking for federal regs but no luck. Thx

I believe 26". That is measured from the rear of the extension tube (yes, remove the brace) to the front of the barrel with the muzzle device removed, unless the muzzle device is permanently attached then to the front of the muzzle device.

If it's a folder, measure from the rear of the firearm in the folded position.

If the firearm is over 26", but not a rifle it currently falls into the 'other firearm' category. I believe the ATF/Biden intend to declare ANY firearm over 26" to be an SBR or SBS. I don't believe it has happened just yet though.

I have found that an AR pistol with an 11.5" barrel, and a carbine receiver extension measures right at 25 and 5/16" when measured with the muzzle device removed.

Don't take anything I say here as solid legal info, these are just the facts AS I UNDERSTAND THEM.

I had momentarily gotten out of the AR pistol business. In light of current (criminal) events involving many perps, I decided maybe an AR pistol does have a place in my world.

This is it. 5.56 NATO, 11.5" barrel, carbine extension, H3 buffer, and SBA3 brace. It comes in just under 26".

Well, I spent way more time on research today than I should have. I can find nothing in either the National Firearms Act or the Gun Control Act of 1968 referencing the required dimensions for a handgun (pistol or revolver). Nothing about barrel length, overall length, height or weight. Online searches produce nothing in these documents or any other as far as Federal Law. There are only references to, paraphrasing, “intended to be fired with one hand”. There ARE dimension references for qualifying as a rifle; it must be over 26” overall with a barrel 16” or longer. In a proposed worksheet it appears the ATF has awarded themselves a poetic license to assume then that any AR type handgun must be both shorter than 26” overall with a barrel shorter than 16” to even be considered for legal use of a stabilizing brace. I find no law that mentions, grants, or approves that assumption. If someone cares to enlighten me a link will be appreciated. This is a pistol. The stabilizer is an admitted “accessory” by ATF.

Other items I can across are equally dismal. Many references in ATF documents to “sporting use” and “determined by the Director”. Neither statement passes Constitutional muster. Nothing by our founding fathers about “sporting use”. Nothing about law being determined by any director. Nothing about a created department determining what is and isn’t covered by a very simple 2nd Amendment. Much more to read that I have not referenced.

The first link goes thru the Factoring Criteria ATF used to set up a worksheet for determining what is a legal AR pistol WITH brace. The second link goes to a much shorter version. The third link is the proposed worksheet. Public comment on the worksheet was closed in September, 2021. Who knew. So here you are; the high points of what I found:

Factoring Criteris

Short Version

ATF Worksheet

A big part of the confusion is that the ATF policy/regulations are not codified law.

But, evidently citizens can be prosecuted based on these 'non-laws'.....?????


That is what I call government overreach.

[b]not codified law.[/b]

Put well. Everything I read reflects that.

Elected legislators know it is political suicide to vote for gun control laws. They have appointed bureaucrats create something akin to a law, but not actually a law.

It's bull$hit.

So the ATF opinion is that pistols are limited by length to a minimum of 12” and a maximum of 26” in order to legally have a stabilizer attached. No federal law is referenced. That opinion if enforceable puts a maximum barrel length limitation of about 11.5” on AR pistols given receiver length and pistol length buffer tube. Wonder when a decision will be reached on whether or not to make this federal law?

Shane, it seems there is no government anymore. Only politicians.

That's kind of what I'm talking about....political suicide. Very few Representatives, Senators, or Presidents wants to go on record voting for such a law, or signing it into law.

Instead they let it reside in the "regulations" written by an appointed bureaucrat....someone who was not elected, and doesn't face re-election.

It's the same damn reason that Dr Fauci is the one who brings all the unpopular 'Rona rules to the public. Again, an unelected appointee.

And certainly not by the People, and for the People.

Well said, LD & MM.