Pistol Braces For Dummies

Or The ATF Fucks Donkeys

TL;DR - A pistol brace does make the AR-15 a steadier platform when compared to one configured in a manner that literally no one does. 

 The combination of another mass shooting with House hearings on pistol braces has sparked a lot of discussion, mostly between those who don't understand what they are and how they're used.  This will be the abbreviated and simplified version of the story.  I hope you'll find it somewhat useful.

Our story goes all the way back to 1934, when the National Firearms Act was passed.  Firearms subject to the NFA included shotguns and rifles having barrels less than 18 inches (later changed to 16") in length, certain firearms described as “any other weapons,” machine guns, and firearm mufflers and silencers.  The condensed version is it was meant to tightly regulate the weapons favored by gangsters at the time, along with a few others thrown in because who the fuck knows.  In order to legally own one of these items, you were required to have a tax stamp from the ATF.  It's literally a stamp and it cost $200 in 1934, which was a ton of money.  A tax stamp still costs $200 today.  Possessing an item on the naughty list is a felony, with real federal jail time.

Based upon the above criteria, any rifle with a barrel length under 16" (and other criteria I don't care about) is considered a short barreled rifle (SBR).  However, if no stock is present (a bare buffer tube), the gun is considered a pistol.  The only people I've seen shoot a gun with a bare buffer tube are complete dimwits, because you can't hit shit. 

At some point in the past decade or so, a manufacturer designed a pistol brace for use by disabled persons that would allow them to shoot an AR-15 using one arm.  

On the left is a picture of the brace alone with the one below illustrating the proper use of the brace. 

The original manufacturer submitted the design and documentation to the ATF for consideration and received approval.  This arrangement allowed a barrel shorter than 16" to remain categorized as a pistol.  

In reality, while the brace could be used for its intended purpose, it was a workaround to avoid having to register a gun as an SBR and pay $200 each.  Everyone knew it and the ATF even issued an opinion that guns with braces could be "fired from the shoulder occasionally".  And millions of braces are shouldered on the occasion the guns they're on get fired.  

Then came the Boulder supermarket mass murder, where the shooter used an AR-15 with a pistol brace and President Biden lost his shit about it because, being frank, he doesn't know shit about guns.  But he communicated that he wanted them gone.  And so, ATF decided almost overnight, that the device they had approved would be a felony.  We're currently within a 120 day period where brace owners must take action by either surrendering or destroying the brace, or because ATF is so kind, you can register your gun as an SBR.  Obviously, the fourth option is fuck the ATF and continue to use the gun as is.  I've heard some are planning to SBR every fucking gun they own for free, because fuck the ATF.

Does a pistol brace make an AR-15 more lethal by making it a steadier firing platform?  When compared to the pistol arrangement pictured above, absolutely.  However, only complete morons shoot their AR equipped in that manner (with a bare buffer tube).  You know what makes an AR-15 even more steady?  A rifle stock like the one to the left.  You can buy a stock for under $20 and install it on a buffer tube in 15 seconds. That's the real alternative to a pistol brace.   

One might argue that doing so would make the person a felon, by creating an SBR, to which I'd point out, if they're planning on committing mass murder, they probably don't care.  

Oh, if I've been unclear, FUCK THE ATF

This entry is part of my "Gun Series" that focuses on providing insight into the gun debate and gun violence.  You can find the other entries in the series HERE.  

About the author: Sean R is a recovering conservative who owns a consulting firm specializing in strategic marketing.  He's been a competitive shooter since the early 90's and holds a High Master classification in PPC and a Master classification in USPSA.  As an instructor, he taught courses in gun safety and competition.  He lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with his overly vocal dog, Sadie.