My current (and only) AR is a PWS MK1 SBR. I want to buy an additional “backup” rifle and, given today’s political climate, I am not sure which direction to go.
Should I buy a rifle or another SBR? I prefer SBR’s and I don’t mind the wait and tax stamp expense. However, I am somewhat concerned about having it known and registered under my trust whereas a standard rifle would be “anonymous”. Should I be worried about this?
Should I buy the same manufacturer’s rifle (PWS) for parts commonality, or should I go with a standard DI Colt, BCM or something similar? Remember, this is my “backup” rifle and the PWS BCG is proprietary. Yes, I have a spare, but having a backup weapon with the same system may be beneficial.
Funds permitting, I would buy both, but as it is I can only afford one. Which would you go with???
FWIW – I have had several other AR’s in the past and love the PWS, so please, don’t tell me to get rid of it…
I was about to post a similar but slightly different question. Although none of us can know what the future actually holds, would anyone be nervous about purchasing an NFA firearm at this time and having the seven-month wait sitting in front of them with the possibility that the government will be pushing for an assault weapons ban?
Before the recent tragedy occurred, I was getting ready to purchase an SBR. Now I’m a little nervous about that.
I just sent in a Form 1 for an SBR a couple of weeks ago and the check has been cashed.
Yes, I’m a little nervous about how that’s going to go. My only consolation is that the NFA process in the past has been outside of other federal gun regulation. It’s hard to imagine the hassle of ATF stepping back on a 6 month backlog of applications already in the works. I’m hoping that might at least dissuade them.
I know nothing of PWS rifles other than small parts but where will PWS as a small company be in the event of a ban? Something to think about. The big guys will probably be making firearms for years to come to fulfill whatever contracts they have. I would assume parts would be available but at a high price.
For me though, until further notice, I’m going to keep on keeping on.
On the one hand, NFA weapons weren’t part of the AWB 1994, 16 inch+ weapons were. However, the ATF doesn’t have records of the non-NFA rifles you’ve purchased. They do have a registry of all NFA weapons.
Yes, you can make an SBR into a non-SBR by putting a 16 inch + barrel on it, but that receiver is still registered, in the database, until you specifically write them an ask it to be removed. Last thing I read on that was from a guy who had done so. He got a letter from ATF acknowledging his request 2 years later.
I am fond of the added concealability and discretion an SBR affords. However, certain states and locales may impose restrictions on NFA arms that would not apply to a 16"+. If you travel, this may be a factor.
SBRs tend to attract interest as well, depending on where you shoot. A guy with a 16" gun is just another AR shooter. A guy with NFA goodies will gain more notice.
OP:
You already have an NFA item. This means you are already on the list and the black helicopters will be coming to get you. It is an inevitability. :jester:
Until that time get whatever the hell you want to and have fun.
I personally will find it funny if another ban is put in place yet all of us in NFA land can still run around with our SBR’s, cans and machine guns. I can see the pee stains forming now.
Hell maybe machine guns will come back down in price to a more affordable level.
From what I understand there has NEVER been a “murder” with a legally possessed NFA weapon. That may be enough to leave us alone.
as I furiously scribble out a few Form 1’s for some stripped lowers I have.
I wouldn’t be too worried at this time, especially after more information is coming out on the CT shooter. But, if you are worried, then I would purchase a Colt 6920 since they are still affordable and purchase a stripped lower now, a do a Form 1 on the lower.
If you are truly worried then sell all of your firearms and go off the grid. Seriously. We have had these “what if” discussions before.
Most gun owners have already left enough footprints all over when it comes to firearms. Through ammo purchases, previous 4473’s, concealed permits, etc…
I’m not saying don’t buy something, but use common sense. You already have an SBR which means someone knows that you have it.
If it were me and I was looking down the road and some kind of ban, I would not want a weapon that doesn’t have parts which are readily available should it need to be repaired or replaced.
Your best option in my opinion is get at least a stripped lower and I would get a non-NFA upper. That can easily be dropped onto your lower and you now have a “regular” rifle as long as you don’t maintain control of the short upper.
I too am faced with this question, but unlike others, I have 3 forms pending at the ATF- 2 suppressors and 1 SBR. The checks were cashed around September so we’re looking around February-March timeframe until I get them back.
I’m a youngin and don’t remember the last AWB, but how long does a bill like this usually take to get passed and historically speaking will I ever see my tax stamps come back? If the bill is passed would the ATF clear the backlog before stopping or would they just stop the date it is signed?
Also- since the ATF has my NFA items now would they likely show up to my home and take my NFA items if the ban is initiated? So many questions…
In the spirit of Steve McCroskey: “looks like I picked the wrong time to get into NFA”…
Re-read earlier posts. NFA was NEVER banned before. My guess is that, if another ban is instituted, NFA will probably sneak by again due to its highly regulated nature.
I thought about that same thing yesterday. I have my AR pistol that I built from a Stag lower and Daniels Defense upper fully assembled and test fired with the pistol tube and I now have the form 1 filled out and the trust paperwork back from the attorney just ready to be all mailed in to SBR it and now I am wondering what will happen when I do. Worst case is they disapprove it and the pistol stays a pistol or I turn it into a 16+ I hope.
Anyway, you already own your “assault weapon”. Even if your NFA application is turned down (unlikely), it’s already “pre-ban”. All you need to do to it is add the rest of the parts, which aren’t regulated and not likely to be. I suppose you might consider buying (try to buy) some 30-round mags now, while they’re still “pre-ban”.
Naturally, this assumes that Diane Feinstein’s AWB will a) make it out of committee and b) be passed by both houses of Congress. I see the chances at about 50-50 if the vote were to happen tomorrow. Less if it gets dragged out beyond the American public’s attention span.
