AR15 upper receiver - slot required?

Message

#1 Post by **safetyfirst** » Mon Jun 05, 2017 2:59 pm

Hi all.

PARP* WARNING

I've got a .233 straight pull pretendy rifle and a .22 semi auto pretendy AR and I'd like to swap a few things around.

The serial numbered lowers will remain stuck to their appropriate caliber rifles but I want to replace that straight pull upper with a more traditional one with case deflector.

Can anyone tell me if I can purchase a stripped upper legally?

If not, what do I need to do? I'd like to retain the straight pull stripped upper in case I want to revert my changes.

Cheers!

*Pretendy Armalite Rifle Platform

#2 Post by **BamBam** » Mon Jun 05, 2017 4:03 pm

I rang Brownells about this recently. The upper I wanted was call to order.

They said they would only sell to a RFD who built and sold PARPs, mentioning all the usual suspects.

#3 Post by **safetyfirst** » Mon Jun 05, 2017 4:21 pm

Hmm. What's the legal position with having an upper in my possession is my question I guess.

#4 Post by **BamBam** » Mon Jun 05, 2017 4:40 pm

It's a firearm component as defined by the law, if you have no slot for it, can't have it.

Andy632 · #5 Post by **Andy632** » Mon Jun 05, 2017 4:46 pm

safetyfirst wrote:Hmm. What's the legal position with having an upper in my possession is my question I guess.

I would say very gray area; I suppose one can argue that it is not a "Pressure Bearing component" of the rifle, therefore not covered as a "component part".

"component parts". R v Clarke (F), 82 Cr App R 308, CA states that the component part of a prohibited weapon is itself a prohibited weapon. Although there is no statutory definition, the Home Office Guidance to the Police at paragraph 13.70 states the following:

The term "component part" may be held to include (i) the barrel, chamber, cylinder, (ii) frame, body or receiver, (iii) breech, block, bolt or other mechanism for containing the charge at the rear of the chamber (iv), any other part of the firearm upon which the pressure caused by firing the weapon impinges directly. Magazines, sights and furniture are not considered component parts.

It's not a Breech.

Breech means such parts of the arm which are highly stressed components intended to prevent the escape of gases generated by firing a load.

It's not Barrel attachment requiring proof.

Barrel Attachment Requiring Proof means a device forming any part of a barrel, removable or otherwise, from or through which any part of the Load would be discharged.

But then again........

R v Ashton, CA, 1 February 2007 seems to suggest that any part that stops the weapon functioning as it was designed would be a component part:

"Whether in fact this particular gas plug is a component part of a prohibited weapon, is a matter of fact for the court to decide the words have their ordinary natural meaning. as a matter of reasonable interpretation it means a part that is manufactured to the purpose screw or washer, would not be a component part for present purposes. Similarly, a component part must be a part that if it were removed, the Gun could not function without it."

.................AFAIK theoretically an AR15 could be made to fire without the upper receiver, therefore making it NOT a component part!

Not a part which would contain the Charge.

and every Part of every Small Arm which would in the User of the Small Arm contain all or any part of the Charge of the Small Arm, and every Part of every Small Arm in, from, or through which Part in the User of the Small Arm all or any Part of the Charge thereof would be exploded or discharged:

#6 Post by **Rarms** » Mon Jun 05, 2017 5:56 pm

It is a component part. You would need a slot for it

#7 Post by **safetyfirst** » Mon Jun 05, 2017 6:51 pm

Looks like getting a slot for an upper and shelling out for a complete upper would be for the best.

I'll ask my lot if they'll do a stripped upper slot....

Thanks for the info all, much appreciated.

#8 Post by **Blackstuff** » Tue Jun 06, 2017 8:17 am

Prior to the new EU directive almost all FLDs did not class either spare lower or upper receivers for AR's as licensable parts. My force (Durham) has always done though

) and that has caused me some fun and games.

Since the Directive though, when the split receiver design of AR's was discussed and brought into focus it seems that most (if not all) FLD's do now class them as a licensable part. I have been wondering what people who had just been able to buy them like an accessory in the past would do

Hunter87 · #9 Post by **Hunter87** » Wed Jun 07, 2017 3:42 pm

safetyfirst wrote:Hi all.

PARP* WARNING

I've got a .233 straight pull pretendy rifle and a .22 semi auto pretendy AR and I'd like to swap a few things around.

The serial numbered lowers will remain stuck to their appropriate caliber rifles but I want to replace that straight pull upper with a more traditional one with case deflector.

Can anyone tell me if I can purchase a stripped upper legally?

If not, what do I need to do? I'd like to retain the straight pull stripped upper in case I want to revert my changes.

Cheers!

Www.gun-partsGermany.com have it sent to your friendly RFD to be entered on your FAC you will save a good few quid compared to any uk "builders"

*Pretendy Armalite Rifle Platform

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