-I have heard that if you have a 12.5" registered SBR, you can add a 13" upper, but not an 11.5" upper.
-I have heard that if you have any length SBR lower, you can add any length upper, as long as you retain the registered configuration with no notification of the ATF.
I cannot find any information from the ATF on any of this. Can someone point me to the ruling or place on their website that addresses it.
I know the popular internet opinion is the second point, but I want something published by the ATF on their site before I go and do something involving federal laws.
Define permanent with an AR or similar weapons where one can easily switch an upper or remove a barrel within minutes.
People overthink the situation. The BATFE’s own website clearly states what the rules are. People need to simply get a fishing pole rather than ask for a fish.
If I purchased a different length upper/barrel for my SBR and sold the original, I would consider sending a letter to the ATF if I planned on keeping it this way. I wouldn’t lose sleep over it, but I’d consider it.
I see your point but there are few firearms where the barrel is permanently attached to the receiver.
I understand. I wanted something to show my Class III dealer. Someone PM’ed me something, that in conjunction with the ATF’s FAQ page, allowed me to show my dealer the ATF’s position on this as I and the rest of the posters in this thread understood it to be. Thank-you, all!
In the context of it being legal to swap uppers without notifying the ATF. I bought a 12.5" complete factory SBR and a 10.5" upper from him. He told me it was illegal to place the 10.5" upper on the 12.5" lower without written permission from the ATF. I wanted to see the 10.5" upper on the 12.5" registered SBR’s lower during a conjugal visit. He thought this was an NFA violation, as the 10.5" upper was not what the 12.5" factory SBR was registered for.
Dude, you’re dealer is obviously wrong. Stop talking to your dealer about anything.
They take your money and give you stuff in return, that’s where the exchange should end. I wouldn’t give a single bit of info to any dealer or gun store employee that doesn’t need it.
I showed the FAQ site to the dealer and he is now no-longer misinformed. Problem solved. Why the hostility? A bit of light is all that is needed, not heat. Now my dealer will correctly inform his other customers and knows the correct answer to this question, himself. What’s wrong with that?
No hostility, I just think it’s a known thing to not listen to anyone on NFA until you do the research yourself and then have it confirmed.
Frankly, if my SOT/Dealer was that blatantly wrong about easy NFA rules, I’d be finding a new dealer. The ATF doesn’t seem to promote a Learn-As-You-Go type of system. I’d want my dealer to have their ducks in a row.
My paperwork has always been spot on, and he sells me things at and near dealer cost + tax. I have no desire to dump a dealer just because their go-to at the local office misinformed them.
I had read for myself months ago. I just wanted to know if there was anything specifically dealing with the situation/claims at hand that I could take to my dealer. Yes, he obviously has critical thinking skills and the FAQ page was G2G, but I was hoping for something idiot-proof, because I like idiot-proof.
There is so much mumbo jumbo from changing uppers to engraving to pixie dust in the NFA rules. I will say this, make sure you have a stamp, and dont put that full auto trigger in the gun, not bueno
