I have been reading and researching about Form 1 conversions of a rifle lower to an SBR. But so far, no matter what I read, I can’t seem to find a clear answer to what I would like to do: And that is–buy a complete factory lower from a name brand manufacturer (i.e. BCM, LMT, Colt, etc) and then go through the process of registering it as a SBR using Form 1. I would not own an upper with this lower. I would be buying only the lower. So, is it possible to register a factory complete lower purchased without an upper as a SBR? I realize that for some of you I am only showing my ignorance by asking this, but I am a retired attorney and I have studied the legalities until my mind is spinning. If someone out there knows the answer, please, HELP!! :suicide2:
Why not just buy a “factory SBR” and not have to do any additional engravings? I have purchased a stripped, factory SBR and built it up to what I wanted. Since the platform lends itself to easy changes you could have multiple calibers even though it is registered in a particular barrel length and caliber.
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You may purchase a complete Factory non SBR rifle and register the lower,
you may purchase a factory lower receiver without an upper and register the lower
you could purchase a factory AR pistol and register the lower.
My Texas gun trust clients are consistently reporting approved form ones inside of 30 days over the past few months so efiling the form one is absolutely the way to go
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Form 1 is to make and register a firearm. So you can apply for and receive an approved Form 1 without a lower at all. So yeah, can apply with an existing lower and no upper.
Thanks guys. That is what I thought was correct, but wasn’t sure. Wanted to go the Form 1 route because of how much faster it apparently is than Form 4.
+1
The main downside to buying a factory SBR right now is that you’d have to wait 10+ months on the paper Form 4 to be approved and the rifle would have to stay at your dealer that whole time. There’s also the additional expense of the regular transfer versus the NFA transfer. Other than those two things, factory SBR’s are more desirable. In fact, once you Form 1 and engrave a lower, they’re actually harder to sell than a regular lower. I’m more of a collector, so I go the factory SBR route whenever possible, but I do own more SBR’s that I made myself. And once the Form for the lower is approved, you can use whatever upper on it you want. So long as you still have the original barrel length upper that’s on the Form, it’s not a permanent change.
It’s not even a permanent change if you sell the original barrel length…
I was having the same dilemma recently but decided to Form 1 (individual) one of my lowers. It was a lot easier than I anticipated and I am bummed I have waited so long. I will definitely be sending off for another lower and an 870 I have collecting dust. The biggest PITA is getting it engraved but for me it is worth it since I will have my SBR from application to assembled in about a month.
The easiest options is factory SBR and just wait.
Some great replies! I really don’t want to wait 6-10 months for approval of a Form 4 at my age (69). And, any and all firearms that I either own now or accumulate in the future I will keep until I die, and then my heirs can decide what to do with them. So resell value of the Form 1 lower is not an issue for me. I just want to have a legal sbr.
Because then his whole gun sits in NFA jail for whatever the processing time is.
Buy a couple its all good.
PB
E file form 1 is really easy. I just did a couple recently. When you file, I would probably put the shortest length you plan on having and the same for caliber.
Sure. You can Form 1 an AR lower as an SBR without having any other rifle parts and stick it in a safe if you want. You can finish it with any barrel length you want any time you want.
No matter how it’s “registered” it’s not an SBR unless and until it has an upper with a barrel shorter than 16 inches mounted on it. If it has no upper, or if you decide to put a 16 inch barrel on it, it’s not an SBR.
You put the length and caliber you initially plan to build.
Once that’s done, shorter or longer is fine…as is a different caliber.
I continue to be appreciative of all the responses to my question. For those wondering why I don’t just do a factory sbr, I could, but I don’t want to wait the lengthy period it apparently takes to get approved with substantial $ tied up during that time. Also, going the form 1 route gives me more flexibility as to which lower I buy, and which upper I choose to mate it with. I may also buy a complete pistol down the road and then apply to sbr that weapon as well. Like I said in my original post (I think) I am relatively new to AR’s. My life experience has pretty much been pistol/revolver shooting and I consider myself fairly knowledgeable in that arena. But it has been fun getting into the AR game. Just trying not to get too addicted to it right now.
To stay legal, assemble your lower as a pistol using an SBA3 arm brace, install the shorty upper of your choice and enjoy shooting while waiting for your paperwork to come back.
I have a SBR lower that was filed as an 11.5" upper. Can I sell the upper and change to a 12.5" upper?
Thanks
You can definitely change the upper to anything you want. You may need the ability to return it to original length but I’m not 100% certain on that.
You can definitely change the upper to anything you want. You may need the ability to return it to original length but I’m not 100% certain on that.
I do believe you need to retain the ability to return it to the configuration as stated on your form 1.