I sold an AR rifle to a forum member. He comes over to PA to pick it up. We decided to remove the upper (not a firearm so it shouldn't be a problem, right?) and just present the completed lower to the ffl.

 

However, this only true only if the gun is in it's complete firing condition when the gun is at the PA ffl. In the case of an AR type, the upper and lower being connected at the time. According to NJ rules, they cannot process a lower that is sans the upper, even if the lower clearly has a NJ legal buttstock attached.

 

I knew that PA ffls in can do NICS checks/approvals for NJ'ers for long guns, but not pistols. And now I know not receivers (stripped or otherwise) either.

Yep, a lower receiver, regardless of if it has a stock or not, transfers as "Other" which cannot be transferred to a resident of another state unless transferred through an FFL of his/her state.

The upper was actually in the same room as the lower, but the two were not connected at the time of the call to NICS and we were being honest, so no go.

 

Yep, a lower receiver, regardless of if it has a stock or not, transfers as "Other" which cannot be transferred to a resident of another state unless transferred through an FFL of his/her state.