Are there any major downsides that someone who is just looking into SBR ownership should know? I have heard once you register a lower as an sbr, you can never sell it, is this true? Thats not a huge deal, because I plan on always having at least one ar15. I am really thinking of going the sbr route after my 21st burthday in a couple of weeks, but I want to understand all the pro’s and con’s before getting an SBR. Looking of any type of general input.
Thanks
It costs $200 and you can resale it. If it remains a SBR the new buyer will have to pay for a new stamp $200. It transfers on a Form 4 just like any other NFA device.
You can remove a SBR from the Nat’l Registry you have to write ATF and have it removed and then remove the short upper. Once you get a letter back from ATF that it’s removed you can sell it as a Title 1 lower receiver. You won’t get your $200 back.
Okay, thats good to know. I was just a little worried I would be stuck with the lower forever. What about the engraving of my information on the lower? If I go the sbr route I will not be buying a factory SBR but will be converting a lower. I am very new to the nfa world, so please pardon my newb quesitons.
Engraving is only required if you ‘made’ in on a Form 1. If you bought it on a Form 4 (transfer) no additional engraving is required because you aren’t the manufacturer.
My 4 SBRs I made on a Form 1s, I don’t ever plan to sell any of the lowers so the engraving doesn’t bother me. For persons who think they might resale the lower at some point I’d highly recommend buying a factory SBR.
If I could afford it right now I’d SBR every lower I own on a Form 1. That way I could use any of my uppers on any of my lowers.
You can’t take it out of state without prior approval from the ATF.
You can’t let your friends borrow it.
It is true that to take it out of state is kind of a pain. You do have to have an approved 5320.20 form BUT you can do this for up to a year. I do my 5320.20 forms early each year and do one for everywhere that I think I might go. You can only take SBRs to states where their possession is legal. My 5320.20 forms have never taken more than 2 weeks. My examiner is pretty cool. Once I had a class coming up and had forgotten to submit one. I called him on the phone and he said fax one it. I did and he signed it and faxed me a copy a few hours later, he also mailed me a copy which showed up just a few days later.
You can’t lend them to friends. This doesn’t apply to me since I don’t lend guns out anyway.
Can you legally let a friend or stranger shoot your SBR while you are both at a range? Or is even a magazine or two considered illegal?
As long as you’re present a ‘transfer’ hasn’t occurred.
If you met your friend at the range and brought your SBR then left the range and left your SBR with your friend then yes than an illegal transfer occurred and he and you would have both committed a felony.
It’s a good idea to read the NFA Handbook if you’re going to own NFA items.
http://www.atf.gov/publications/download/p/atf-p-5320-8/atf-p-5320-8.pdf
its good to have some title I lowers, but i basically agree with this thinking… i’m pretty much planning on SBRing basically all future builds- less complication overall.
OP- there’s basically no reason not to SBR, unless it’s your only gun and have no non-SBR uppers AND you like to/need to take the weapon into enemy territories (non-SBR states)
The inability to take SBRs into less enlightened states is the only reason I didn’t go factory SBR from the start. Thus far I’ve PCSd four times, and only once to a free state.
One other downside…you will get addicted to SBRs!
this. Waiting for my second.
This is to be followed to the letter, correct:
How limited are you by the location you put on the 5320.20?
Does the form apply whenever the registered lower is transported, or only when it’s an assembled SBR? You travel with your registered lower, 16" upper and leave the SB upper at home, for example.
I don’t want to write a book, so I hope “you” understand what I mean.
It’s pretty simple. The lower is the registered NFA item, not the upper. If you take the upper off the lower is still considered an NFA item. If you put a 16" upper on there and transoprt it out of state you are wrong.
You cannot transport it to or through a state that does not allow SBR’s.
I do mine for places I know I’ll be shooting/using the SBRs.
For instance. When I visit my dad down in NC I do a 5320.20 for his house and one for the range that I’ll be shooting the SBR at or any private property where I may be shooting it.
If I’m taking it along with me out of state say to PA for a match.
I do a 5320.20 for the hotel I’ll stay at and another for the range where the match will be held.
Sometimes I take my SBRs down to USTC/Blackwater.
For that I early leave NoVA very early in the morning or stay at a friends house in Chesapeake VA or a hotel in Chesapeake and only do a 5320.20 for USTCs/Blackwaters address. One is not needed for my friends house or hotel in Chesepeake since this is still in VA.
so can one have multible SBR uppers for that registered lower ?
Yes as long as it’s not a permanent change is how the law reads.
It could be legally argued that nothing on an AR is really ever permanent.
i submitted my $200.00, f1, and trust for an lmt lower with the intent of getting an sbr upper. got it back approved but i changed my mind (didn’t engrave yet) and called to see what i could do. spoke with examiner jason and he said to send a letter requesting cancellation and a refund. got my f1 back with a cancellation stamp (saving it) and the refund came later.
Yes, there is a HUGE problem. All of your friends will be envious. 
C4