I’d like to build an 11.5 with a Noveske Switchblock. I’m wondering if you can purchase the barrel w/Switchblock installed from Noveske. Or, just a complete upper with a Switchblock. Thanks for getting me thinking; that just means more $$$ spent eventually.
It is going to cost you $150+ to cut down a barrel, open the gas port, and have it refinished. Then you will be left with a barrel that was originally $300 and is now worth $125 and is non factory.
You can buy a factory barrel and sell your other one and break even.
If I already own a lower, and want to build it into a SBR; can I then go through the NFA process? Or do I have to do it at the time of purchase of the lower?
It would go to ADCO, who test fires all uppers and does any required gas port work.
Thanks for the condescending reply, though. :rolleyes:
An ATF Form 1 is used to convert your existing lower into an SBR. You will have to have your name and city engraved on your current lower.
If you don’t wish to engrave your current lower then you’d need to buy a lower already registered as an SBR from a Class III dealer. This would require a Form 4 (and possibly a Form 3), potentially making the wait time longer than simply going with a Form 1 on your existing lower.
Wow, condescending? Are you serious?
Sir if you don’t like what other have to say, or are looking for immediate gratification of your foolhardy decisions then why bother posting? Further if you felt that was a condescending post then perhaps the internet (and especially this forum) is not the place for you until you grow some skin.
Do whatever you want with your upper, I could really care less. It’s just that some of us have been down these roads before and are trying to share our experiences with others who haven’t so they don’t make the same mistakes we did. That’s the whole point to this forum.
ADCO is not going to troubleshoot your entire setup with different buffers, extractor springs, test with a silencer, etc. It is unreasonable for them to do this.
All they would do (and would be expected) is maybe fire 10 rounds through your upper.
What brand of barrel do you have now?
The insinuation that I was a “poor man” and therefore couldn’t play the NFA “game” was condescending. I’ve had BRD long enough to know the drain it makes on the bank account. 
LMT. Complete LMT M4 upper.
You are getting worked up over nothing.
Your position of not wanting to replace the barrel came off as you being very cheap. This position is what the amatuer uses.
Cutting a barrel down is only used for very, very specific custom builds where a factory barrel is not avaliable as an option.
Then I would just buy the LMT 10.5" upper or barrel and be done with it.
Why would you cut one down when you can buy a factory one that will get you to exactly where you want to be?
Here is what Bravo Company said about why they choose to go with 11.5" uppers:
“Q: Why BCM chose the 11.5” SBR over the 10.5"
I get this question a lot. It is a good one. When we spec our program we can build anything we would like, so we sat down and looked at the pros and cons.
First Statement: I know a good 10.5" SBR can run very well. I personally own a semi MK18 type and it runs great. No problems.
A: Dwell time.
Dwell time is the time that your gas operated weapon maintains pressure to continue the cycling of the weapon. It primarily exsists from the time the bullet passes the gas port in the barrel to the time the bullet exits the muzzle. When you pull the trigger and fire the weapon the movement of the bolt carrier group unlocks the bolt, extracts, and ejects the spent casing. Then it cocks the weapon, feeds, chambers the next round, and then locks again. One of the thing that can make SBRs finicky is the dwell time (or lack of).
The 11.5" carbine is approximately 4% longer weapon than its’ 10.5" counterpart, but this extra inch gives the barrel a 40% increase in length for dwell time. IMHO, this is an excellent trade off. This additional dwell time (all other things being equal) will allow the carbine to be more forgiving to different ammo types, extremes in air temperature, weak or worn extractor springs, worn extractors, buffer weights, etc.
Last Statement: For those folks who have a 10.5" that works very well, I would reply; me too. (see first statement)
If I had to “go to war” with a AR15 Carbine, I would grab the BCM 11.5".
The BCM 11.5" Runs Like a Dream.
Hope this info helps,
Paul "