Disclaimer
The information contained in this article is for informational purposes only. This content is not intended as legal advice and should not be taken as such. Those wishing to obtain more information about the construction of an AR 15 Pistol should contact the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives directly.
With that said… Yes. In most states, AR15 pistols are perfectly legal. They adhere to the same laws as any other pistol. That said, these laws can be somewhat complex, so it’s important that you do extensive research both on federal law and your local/state laws to confirm a pistol’s legality. Federal law has some strange intricacies as well. For example, if your pistol’s overall length measures over 26” (not counting muzzle device), it may be able to have a vertical grip because it classifies as a ‘firearm’ instead of a ‘pistol’. This is because the legal definition of pistol considers concealability, which is partially defined by overall length.
That said, if you want to play it safe, DO NOT USE A VERTICAL GRIP ON A PISTOL. The ATF has previously stated that angled foregrips and handstops are fine, but their views can change quickly. You’re better off running a plain handguard than risking it with a foregrip that sits on the border of legal.