If I own a registered SBR that is listed as having a 14.5" barrel on the Form 4, can I also buy a 10.5" upper as a spare, put that upper on the gun and go to the range and shoot?
Yes you can
Yes. Permanant changes need to be reported.
My examiner was nice enough that she had me email all possible barrel lengths and calibers to her so she could make a note of them while she was processing my Form 1.
So the original length was 10.5 (the smallest I would go) and added 11.5, 12.5 and 14.5 plus 9mm and .22lr to the calibers (with .223/5.56 being the original)
ATF asks that you send them a letter describing caliber, overall length… that you are going to use on the gun. If you are lucky enough, like m249saw, to have an examiner allow you to e-mail it then you are set.
I do not know of anyone getting into trouble because they made a temporary, non permanent, change to their gun and had not sent ATF a letter.
It is the nature of the AR platform that ALL changes are theoretically temporary, as long as you keep an upper of the original configuration, right?
That is my understanding.
If you ask the NFA Branch they will tell you that they want a letter with every caliber and barrel length combination you are going to use on the gun. Again, I have never known anyone who did not comply with that request to get into trouble for a temporary change.
As said as long as you have in your possession an upper in the length you originally registered you should be ok.
Who was your original examiner? Maybe give them a call and see if they will allow you to email the info and they can amend the paperwork on their end.
It was my understanding that if you were approved for say a 10.5" and you put a 14.5" on there then you would be good to go. That’s because you registered it with the shorter length. If you originally had a 14.5" you couldn’t go shorter without sending notification.
Just my thoughts.
That was my understanding as well, hence the reason for the 10.5" on mine
Well, I don’t know who my examiner is, because I haven’t filled out the Form 4 yet. The gun (a 6921) hasn’t arrived at my dealer yet. I was hoping to get a 10.5-11.5" upper to go with it, as a kit, and swap back and forth between the two uppers as I desired. Kind of like the original idea between the CQBR upper paired with an M4.
Does notification mean a new Form 1 and engraving the gun or just an official sounding letter?
Notification as stated elsewhere means sending them something stating that you have changed the barrel length or xxxx weapon previously registered with xxxx upper receiver.
No, there is no new fee incurred.
Thanks guys!
Go to the source. There is no need for any letter if the length or caliber change is temporary. You can put a 10.5" barrel on your SBR even if it was registered with a 14.5" barrel length, if the change is permanent you should send the ATF a letter with the change.
Q: May the short barrel on an SBR or SBS be replaced with a long barrel for hunting or other purposes, with the intent of replacing the short barrel?
A: Yes, and you will not be required to again register the firearm before replacing the short barrel. ATF recommends written notification to the NFA Branch when a firearm’s configuration is permanently changed or removed from the purview of the NFA.
http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/national-firearms-act-short-barreled-rifles-shotguns.html