80 lowers are interesting, having stirred up a lot of controversy over the years, but also acting as a surefire government free way of owning firearms. Because 80% lowers are not actually considered firearms, they are pretty much open to anyone to buy, so long as they know beforehand that they will need to complete the process of milling the lower in order to create a fully functioning firearm. There are some other little nuances to the law, whether federal or on the state level, however, most of the laws revolving around 80% lowers have to do with how they are treated after they are turned into completed firearms. You might be wondering at this point if 80% lowers are something you want to get into. Here are the legalities of 80% lowers in the US.
Are 80% lower receivers legal in California?
California has been one of the states with the most gun regulations per any state in the country. However, they even extend these laws to 80% lowers, barring a few of the different methods people might use to obtain them, as well as several of the things they must do after completing them. The short answer to whether 80 lower receivers are legal in California is yes. It is completely legal for a resident of the state of California to buy 80% lowers. However, there are some stipulations.
In the state of California, a law was passed in 2016 requiring all completed firearms to have a serial number. This serial number is placed in the state registry of firearms which is controlled completely by the states Department of Justice. In order for those who want to build 80% lower AR-15s, residents will have to contact the state DOJ to apply for a serial number, otherwise face a misdemeanor charge. This also applies to 80% lowers that are completed and issued ATF certified serial numbers. In many cases, people will still have to get the CA DOJ issued serial number engraved on the lower as well. As far as it goes now, 80% lowers themselves do not need serial numbers until they are completed, turning them into legal firearms.
Can I buy 80 lower in NY?
Last year, 2021, saw the addition of a few new laws in NY regarding the sale and ownership of 80% lowers in NY. Not only had there been a new NY compliant AR15, but the state also issued cease and desist orders to a number of online gun stores that were known to sell much of their stock to the residents of the Empire state. That being said, late in 2021, NY came out with new 80% lower laws, completely banning the ownership of 80% lowers in the state. The law does not, however, only encompass AR-15 80% lowers, but receiver blanks at all. Unlike California, the law does not allow people to buy 80% lowers and get the serialized upon completion, the law completely bans 80% lower blanks as a whole.
The fact is, what constitutes an 80% lower is quite broad, including any material that doesn’t constitute a receiver or frame but which has been formed and/or shaped to allow it to become a frame or receiver for a shotgun, rifle or pistol and which can be “readily” made into a receiver or frame that is functioning. The term “readily made” is also not defined under the law, meaning that the definition is completely up to interpretation. The law does no affect even merely 80% lowers, as it becomes illegal for anyone who can’t already possess a firearm to own any major component of a firearm. 80% lowers are completely banned in the state of New York.
Can you buy 80 lower in PA?
In his attempt to combat 80% lowers in the state of Pennsylvania, the Attorney General John Shapiro announced last year, in early March, announced that the largest promoter in the states gun shows had halted the sale of “pre-assembled guns, referring to 80% lowers specifically. The purchase and ownership of 80% lowers, while under attack in the state of Pennsylvania, is completely legal in the state. However, if the person trying to buy an 80% lower is not allowed to have a gun according to state and federal regulations. If you own an unfinished frame or receiver that is already finished from an 80% blank, Pennsylvania law does not stop you.
The law is really in relation to people who are not permitted to own firearms at all. The law also gives the Attorney General more power to decide who is and who is not able to own firearms in the state, especially in relation to 80% lowers. If you are an FFL in the state of pennsylvania trying to sell 80% lower receiver blanks to the public, you will nto be able to do so unless you have the transferee go through a state certified background check. As states have been given the authority to regulate the transfer of firearms, this does somewhat have legal precedent.
CanI buy an 80% lower in Washington State?
The short answer to if you can buy an 80% lower in Washington state is no. in 2019, the state issued a new law banning the sale of “ghost guns.” In the bill HB 1739, the senate passed a law which would prohibit these key actions regarding 80% lowers.
- Manufacture, own, buy, sell, loan, furnish, transport, or have in possession or under control, any machine gun, bump-fire stock, undetectable firearm, short-barreled shotgun, or short-barreled rifle;
- Manufacture, own, buy, sell, loan, furnish, transport, or have in possession or under control, any part designed and intended solely and exclusively for use in a machine gun, bump-fire stock, undetectable firearm, short-barreled shotgun, or short-barreled rifle, or in converting a weapon into a machine gun, short-barreled shotgun, or short-barreled rifle;”
- Assemble or repair any machine gun, bump-fire stock, undetectable firearm, short-barreled shotgun, or short-barreled rifle; or
- Manufacture an untraceable firearm with the intent to sell the untraceable firearm.”
When it comes to the federal law of the united states, 80% lowers are not actually considered firearms, so this law, HB 1739 is in direct retaliation of the sale, manufacture, and completion of 80% lowers, particularly in relation to handguns or any other weapons as outlined by federal law in the National Firearms Act of 1934. However, if you already have an 80% lower built, there is no law requiring you to have it serialized. The bill primarily affects 80% lowers, polymer blans, 3D printed firearms, blueprints, and AR-15s.
Are 80% lowers reliable?
80% lowers can come in many different shapes and sizes. That is because, with the advancements in metallurgy over the past few decades, people can make stronger materials with which to make their guns. When it comes to AR-15s this is especially true as many 80% lowers have gone away from the standard mil spec, forged t6 7075 aluminum in favor of the billet t6 6061 aluminum, allowing a strong and reliable lower with a sleeker look.
Any 80% lower is as reliable as the experience of the one building it. That being said, there are precautions people can take to lessen the margin of error when milling out an 80% lower. The first would be a jig. Jig kits are awesome devices designed to help with the milling process. They are typically made of steel, but can be made of polymer in order to maintain a cheaper price tag, and have all the dimensions for the width and depth of the cavities on them as part of their design. These are single handedly the best for milling 80% lowers, especially when not using a CNC machine which wouldn’t require a jig at all.
80% lower vs stripped lower
80% lowers are not legally considered firearms and are not regulated in most states. That means most people, granted they are federally able to own firearms in the first place, can mill one out and have their very own firearm, built from the comfort of their home. People mill out 80% lowers because the are typically much cheaper than buying a whole gun outright, and also can be sent straight to the house of the buyer without the need for a background check, granted you are in a state that does not regulate 80% lowers.
Stripped lowers are not 80% lowers, but they are the closest thing to 80% lowers without actually having the same rules as them. Stripped lowers are characterized by the fact they are not finished completely, like 80% lowers, but they have been milled out. Because they are milled out, they are federally recognized as firearms and therefore subject to the firearms laws of the state laws in regards to transfer and ownership. Because they are considered firearms, a federal background check must ensue before it can be released to the transferee. Stripped lowers can be bought separately from the rest of the parts of an AR-15 to be assembled later with completely custom parts.
Where to buy 80% lowers?
80% lowers are not typically sold in physical store fronts. That is because it is illegal to sell 80% lower built firearms without an FFL. Furthermore, it is not legal to sell 80% lower built firearms, or firearms without serial numbers in certain states. Because of the intense risk associated with selling bothing complete and 80% lowers from the same location, many gun stores choose only to do one or the other. However, it is still not most effective to buy the 80% lowers from a store if you can help it.
80% lowers are primarily sold online over the internet at online gun store websites. From these websites, you can typically find lowers, jig kits, and other helpful tools you can use to make your 80% lower build process either easier or more cost effective. From these online 80% lower stores, you can have your 80% lower shipped to the exact address you want it shipped to. This is the main reason buy 80% lowers. Because they are not actually considered firearms, they do not have to be sent to an FFL dealer under an FFL transfer. This keeps the sale of 80% lowers much cheaper compared to the purchase of 100% complete firearms.
Conclusion
80% lowers are not legal in all states. Because of this, it may be hard for some people to take full advantage of 80% lowers in their state. While some states completely ban the sale of 80% lowers in their states, others merely regulate the sale and ownership of 80% lowers, like California. The sale and ownership of 80% lowers in most states is still legal, and whatever laws do exist out there for 80% lowers does not necessarily target firearms, as the federal law dictates what is and what is not a firearm.
80% lowers are not considered firearms, so there are currently no laws on a federal level banning their ownership. However, if someone wants to sell an 80% lower built AR-15 or firearm that has been completed from an 80% lower frame, they will need a Federal Firearms License to do so. The intent to sell is what is really important, however, many people who build their 80% lowers do not build them in order to sell them especially if they don’t have an FFL, as this is a criminal offense.
80% lowers are not only a reliable way to own firearms, but there are many unique designs out there due to the increase in metallurgical advancements in the 21st century. Because of this, people who buy 80% lowers can typically expect a higher level of customization in comparison to simply buying a completed firearm from a name brand. There are many measures people can take, especially if they are not completely comfortable with the milling process, in order to help them build a quality lower from an 80% frame.