Turning a PLR into a SBR

[magman454]

I too am thinking of doing the SBR, I have everything I need to do it except for the stock. My question to all is this, can you use a slide stock (bump fire) on the PLR-16 with the stock converision kit?
So far this is just a idea and would only be put into the real world after all BATFE rules and tax stamp was paid for and approved, and after someone with much more experience knows if this works. No need in buying anything if it wouldn't.
Thanks

The Slide Fire SSAR-15 stock is the only such stock of which I am aware that is made for that purpose, and it will not work on a PLR-16 or SU-16. Even if you install the AR-15 stock adapter, the Slide Fire installation on an AR-15 requires replacing the pistol grip with an adapter block. It may be possible to cut-up and rework the PLR or an SU to make it work, but it will require a lot of work, and may even be impossible.

Below is a short vid of the installation procedure:

[bossmav]

Thanks Magman454, that's exactly what I was looking to find out. Bolting on items to make this work is one thing but I'm not cutting up a perfectly good plr-16 after spending 200 on a stamp and waiting 6 months for approval to start the project. I'll do something else instead.

[magman454]

On the plus side, if you srewed it up, or found that it can't be done, you could always just get another pistol grip for the PLR from Kel Tec. Although if you don't have a back-up AR on which to install the slide fire, you will have quite a bit of money invested in what would be a worthless piece of plastic to you.

[rachilders]

I considered the AR adapter when I began looking into making a SBR. I actually wondered if simply buying the attachments that hold the AR stock in place - I already had the PLR pistol grip - was an option so I could use an AR rear stock I already have. However, though I contacted K-T numerous times about the parts and whether they would work on a PLR pistol grip, they never replied to my messages. FWIW, K-T was completely uncooperative when it came to providing any assistance or information when I had questions about parts and/or their compatibility with other K-T parts. The same thing happened when I wanted info about the adaptability of the SU-16 "charlie" stock to a PLR-16 when I first started the SBR project with my own PLR. I finally just ordered the charlie stock (K-T was more than happy to sell that to me) since it was the cheapest option available and hoped it would work. Thankfully, it did.

[magman454]

The only physical difference between the upper on the SU-16's and the PLR-16 is the length of the barrel. Any part for the SU's can be fitted to the PLR, and vice versa. Had you purchased the pistol grip AR stock adapter kit for the SU's, it would have worked on the PLR.

Kel-Tec customer service is usually head and shoulders above most others. You have to realize that anyone can call and say that they are doing the conversion legally, but they have no way to verify that. Their lack of cooperation in such projects is more likely due to the fact that it could open then up to legal liabilities than rather than mere unwillingness. After all, they are the only source for the parts. It hurts their business to not sell them to you. It makes no sense to not help out, unless legal liability is a concern.

[magman454]

Speaking of legal liabilities; I feel that I should point out that to install an SU barrel or stock on a PLR or a PLR barrel or pistol grip on an SU is illegal without going through the proper channels at the BATFE. Even if you want to turn a PLR into an SU or an SU into a PLR, the proper paperwork must be filled out and approved ahead of time because technically speaking, you are creating a new firearm.

[rachilders]

As a last update (probably), I'm posting a couple of photo's of my PLR in it's current and final configuration... at least for now. It's hard to believe I went from the gun in the first photo over five years ago (April '06 to be exact) to the one in the pictures that come after. I have a few other bells and whistles for my new toy but this is the way she'll stay most of the time. It's been a long journey that was frequently frustrating, ocassionally annoying and at times left me wondering why I bothered in the first place. Still, now that it's all said and done, it was worth it. Maybe I'll add a suppressor in the not too distant future since I'm now familiar with the Class III process, know what paperwork is involved and what the wait will be, but I'll save that for another years tax return. This years refund is going towards a trip to Disney World for the wife and kids when schools out!

PLR1.jpg sbr1a.JPG sbr2a.jpg

[rachilders]

Speaking of legal liabilities; I feel that I should point out that to install an SU barrel or stock on a PLR or a PLR barrel or pistol grip on an SU is illegal without going through the proper channels at the BATFE. Even if you want to turn a PLR into an SU or an SU into a PLR, the proper paperwork must be filled out and approved ahead of time because technically speaking, you are creating a new firearm.

You are absolutely correct. There's an old adage that states a job's not finished until the paperwork is done. When dealing with firearms and the BATF, it needs to say a job isn't started until the paperwork is done!

[rachilders]

Now, for a range report on how my project worked under live fire conditions.

I managed to get out to the local gun range last weekend and put several hundred rounds through my new "rifle". I shot it both with the folding stock closed and with it fully extended. My ranges were 20, 50 and 75 yards. I found the gun easy to hold and aim, there were no malfunctions, recoil was easy to control and everything seems to work exactly as planned. I found (as expected) that the gun is more accurate when using the stock. For example, I placed a 1 gallon milk jug next to a 16 oz cola bottle on short wooden poles at 20 yards. I could easily hit both with the rear stock extended, hitting the milk jug 10 for 10 and the cola bottle 8 out of 10. OTOH, with the rear stock folded and aiming by extending the gun along my line of sight, the jug was hit 7 of 10 and the cola bottle a mere 4 of 10. I also tried shooting off hand and resting the gun an a shooting bench. Like the other comparisons, the bench rest shots were more accurate than shooting off hand. When using the rest, I was able to hit the jug at 75 yrds 7 of 10 while offhand was only 4 of 10. FWIW, the misses were all fairly close and if I were shooting at a BG, they all would have been COM hits. Finally, since this was my first time shooting the gun since it's makeover, I mainly wanted to see how it worked with the new parts installed. Also, since this will probably be my home defense/SHTF go to weapon, I was only interested in "combat" accuracy not target range accuracy, at least for now. It passed the test easily and should improve with practice.

Overall, I'm happy with the results. Considering I'm firing a rifle cartridge out of a 9 inch barrel, I was surprised at the accuracy. My only complaint is with the folding stock itself. The gun is very light and after about 50 rounds, my shoulder was getting sore. By the time I was finished, my shoulder had a bruise the size of my fist. However, I was wearing a cotton "T" shirt (it was in the 70's) and the stock is hard polymer with no padding, so I may as well have been placing it against bare skin. Still, I highly recommend wearing either a shooting pad or a jacket if firing more than a box of ammo at one time with this stock.

[banana380]

Good report, glad everything is working well on it for you.