When the Sig brace entered the stage, it changed the role of the AR pistol from a novelty to a useful tool and a potential budget SBR substitute. As soon as I could bankroll the project, I built a 10.5 inch shorty, complete with Sig brace. The brace was fat, clunky and uglier than a thread about overpriced Crisco, but at the time, I could brace it against my shoulder and so, did a lot of shooting with it. A good number of other shooters (more than a few of them well respected names in the community) felt the same way. The ATF has since ruled that shooters could no longer brace a brace equipped pistol against the shoulder, but that had done nothing to slow the popularity of the Sig brace. In fact, several new versions have been introduced with more variants in the works.
But, it didn't take long until the hecklers in the balcony started up with "Just go SBR. The cost of brace is most of the way to a tax stamp." It made sense. In the grand scheme of things, the cost of the was only $50 short of a tax stamp. Why not get an SBR? I started rubbing my nickles together to get dimes and finally had enough in the War Chest for an SBR. I started shopping around, weighing the merits of different barrels and BCGs and for a lower at a good price when, lo and behold- G&R received a new shipment of Colt 6933s. I figured for about $1100 plus shipping, plus the $200 Sin Tax, all the necessary decisions were made for me, it was a no brainer. I clicked "ADD TO CART" and gave Grant my money. I figured out should arrive at my FFL in just a few days and I'd beat the July deadline. Life is good.
"Just Go SBR"
Hah! The things they don't tell you at the seminar. Such as, although you're having your new rifle sent from one licensed dealer to another, it still needs government approval even though both dealers are licensed and therefore already vetted. It took eight weeks or so, before it was shipped to the local dealer. It wasn't until the local dealer had it in hand before they would start the paperwork necessary to transfer it to me. It would have been much faster and easier to slap a brace on a pistol.
"It's Only $200"
Not this time. We sat down with the dealer, filled out the forms, did the fingerprints and photos and wrote a check for the $200 Sin Tax. Then, we paid the dealer the expected transfer fee. Good. Done. No, not done. There was an additional fee for the fingerprints, photos and extra paperwork because of the new rules, including the courtesy form that needs to be sent to the local CLEO. All in all, it was an additional $200. That "just $200 more" became $400. My $1100 rifle has now set me back over $1500. Almost twice what the AR pistol cost me to build. (To be fair, I did pay a bit of a premium for My Little Pony, but I feel it was worth it).
When the guys in the balcony start harping on you about a $150 brace being most of the way to a tax stamp, don't believe it. Chances are, as you endeavor to go short, you will discover there are hidden costs in addition to that $200 Sin Tax and that pistol brace might be more economical and easier than the pundits in the balcony let on
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