Been searching around and didn’t find a thread about the cons of going SBR/NFA.
Other than the long wait time for the tax stamp, any other cons out there?
My buddy told me once that when you get your SBR/NFA, the NFA or FBI have the right to randomly search your home to make sure everything is kosher. True? I really don’t know, haven’t found any facts or proof on the matter so I wrote him off. Anyone else hear of this?
I am this close, fingers really close together, to starting the SBR process.
Yes, we’ve heard of it. It’s what the ignorant assholes who can’t wrap their minds around the process say when they want to sound like they know something.
The ATF can show up at anyone’s house and ask to see guns at anytime. You have the same protections then as you do with an SBR in the house. The 4th Amendment…
An ATF agent, or other LE, can ask you to produce a Form 1 or 4 when you are shooting your SBR in public, and it’s wise to show them, to avoid a hassle, but that is not the same as “random searches”.
There are no negatives to getting an SBR.
I’ve got two SBR’s and a suppressor. The hardest part is probably the waiting on stamps and keeping them fed.
Kidding aside, I’d say the hoop jumping is the most difficult part. That goes for buying one, and for selling one, so I’ve heard. I have no intentions on selling the ones I own, but it’s similar to the purchase process, just in reverse of course. Out here in Wyoming it adds a layer of difficulty due to the fact that there aren’t many transfer dealers. I only know of 3 in the whole state. Having to drive 5-6 hours to pick an item up is kind of a pain. That, of course, will vary depending on your proximity to a transfer dealer.
As far as the “knock and talk” with the ATF, unless you’re breaking the rules, it should be a simple conversation. Just make sure you always have your ducks in a row. I’ve been questioned by a few sheriffs officers when out shooting and I’m actually unclear if it’s even required to show them paperwork, but it’s generally easier to just be nice and talk them thru the process when they ask if its legal, simply because many of them don’t have a clue when it comes to the process. I have a buddy who has an SBR as well, and he is kind of abrasive and him not being “nice” lead to a whole riggamaroe with the sheriffs office. Me, I simply talked them thru what I did to get the paperwork, showed them the signatures of the Chief of Police and went about my business. In other words, just be nice.
ETA - Noticed that SHIVAN posted prior to me submitting, same same.
The only downside I know of, other than the hassle of legally acquiring one, involves interstate travel. As I understand it, ATF has to approve the SBR crossing state lines. Shivan, please feel free to correct me if I’m merely regurgitating gun-store myths 
Some states have laws that say specifically that unregistered NFA items are illegal. In that case there’s no question that non-Federal LEO’s can ask for your paperwork if they see you in possession of the weapon. If there’s no such law, best not to be a dick about it even if they are. It’s not at all uncommon for LEO’s to be ignorant about various aspects of various laws and they may think they have the right, but jerking them around can always make for a more complicated afternoon than you were planning.
One big con that I can see (please correct me) is that if you move around state to state which can become an issue if that state doesn’t allow SBR/NFA (ie being a member of the armed services) There are work arounds such as a Trust if you have to leave it behind in another state.
Pros-getting what you want and most can not/won’t do the paperwork.
CD
5320.20 is among the easiest interactions with the ATF you’ll ever have. The ones I have done come back approved within two weeks and are good for a full year from date of request.
I wouldn’t personally classify it as a hassle, but it is a hoop you have to jump to go from state to state.
Definitely a hassle, but so is hiring the movers to get you from state A to state B without breaking all your furniture and TV’s. 
According to the ATF if an SBR leaves the state in an non-SBR configuration, with no easy way to convert the gun to an SBR, then you have a Title I gun until such time as you bring the parts together again for “easy” conversion.
In the case of an AR, if you have no short uppers in your possession, no short barrels, etc, then your SBR is, according to the ATF’s recent letters, a non-SBR and not subject to the NFA controls. Not sure I would trust that, since they change their mind on a whim, but that is their “ruling” via a few letter recently published to the internet, and phone calls to the NFA branch.
This is turning into a great thread with wealths of knowledge.
Again, this thread is not for me, but rather a knowledge for others thread.
Lets keep this up
For illustrative purposes of the concept:
Well, there is a $200 fed tax on each SBR no? I was looking at a conversion kit that made a Glock pistol into an SBR. More fun then useful I thought, but I digress. The conversion kit was tad under $400, but considered an SBR, which added (as I was told) $200 to the cost.
One time tax per SBR is correct Will. You send a check for $200 with your forms, they cash it regardless of if you’re approved, but you should have a pretty good idea if you’ll get approved or not. Haven’t seen the Glock SBR thing, but either way SBR’s are VERY fun and very addicting. Once you start clanging steel with a gun that’ll almost fit in a briefcase, the fun factor goes waaaaay up.
Agreed. The wait notwithstanding, the $200 for an NFA stamp for SBR is some of the best money I’ve spent on firearms from an enjoyability standpoint.
Check with local ranges too. At one time the only range that was less than a 1 hour drive from me did not allow NFA items of any kind. They STILL don’t allow full auto (although I don’t entirely blame them on this one given the range situation). It meant that when I got my first SBR and can I had to drive over an hour each way to zero them. Made me really nuts about not removing my optic from the gun!
In regards to making an AR an SBR I seem to be able to find more reasons to make them all registered SBRs.
In comparison to a case of ammo the fees are minor. The flexibility to do anything to the rifle you want (short of a suppressor) is a huge benefit for me.
The interstate issues may be an issue for some … so a single non-SBR for travel trips without ATF approval does make sense.
Some may not like the idea that ‘big brother’ knowing about every rifle. That isn’t a big ticket for me.
Aside from that, the ability to freely swap all you components without regard to “I can put this upper on this lower … but not that one” kind of deliberation is a definite advantage.
I haven’t gone this route yet, but I am definitely considering it.
Ok, there is. That’s a neutral fact of life. It’s $200 for a $25,000 Ma-Deuce or a $400 budget suppressor.
There are very few tangible items, worth anything, that do not have associated costs.
Good to know, thanx.
See 2:36 of my “Guns, Gear, Gadgets” vid from the recent CT SWAT Challenge:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqB_4xcVbWc
I have seen a lot of conversion kits were you used the lower from a handgun, but what good is that really? This thing, you turn a few screws, put the entire handgun in it, and in less then 5-6 seconds are GTG. You have optics, longer site radius, added stability, etc,and a 20-30rnd stick (which it will hold on the stock) and you have yourself a SBR carbine for much less $$$ then other SBR carbines. The only major drawback I can see is that fact you are not picking up and velocity from a linger barrel you normally would.
I have always enjoyed such guns.
Love my 6933. SBR’s are utilitarian as well as being fun to shoot. IMHO, SBR’s are great for HD. For reaching out to 200yds.(max. I’ve shot mine) it was fine. See no reason why that couldn’t be extended to 300.
As was previously said, the 5320.20 is about as simple a form as it gets. Just filled out one today for upcoming EAG and TigerSwan classes.:dance3:
The only “con” for me was one SBR could not satisfy me and now all my 14.5+ guns rarely get shot.
Minor correction. They cash your check up front. If they do not approve the forms, then you do get the money back. It is a transfer tax (Form 4), or a making tax (Form 1). If no transfer takes place or no making is approved then there is no tax liability.
That said, only downside to me is the wait. Also, I have relatives in CA and they don’t like it that I can’t bring any of the cool toys with me when I visit.