Question about SBR
 

I am thinking about building an SBR AR15 and had a question. I have been reading many different forums and wasn't really finding the answers I was looking for. When building the SBR, the lower is the part requiring the $200 tax stamp, correct? With this I already know that I could swap uppers say with a 10.5" and a 16" but would the 10.5" upper require anything as far as tax stamp? I know that I would need to have the lower engraved with Name, City, and State(I know I have to find the specifics as far as depth) and I have a good idea of the form that would be sent in.

I am just in the researching stage of this right now and trying to figure a few things out before moving forward.

Re: Question about SBR
 

I do not own an SBR, but I have lurked and posted for years on http://www.subguns.com and read a bit of the CGA/NFA myself. Here is how I understand it.

The lower receiver is the part that is engraved and registered with the ATF. The upper receiver and barrel do not require anything. The serial number is required to be at least 1/8th inch high and .003" deep, so this is safe for the rest of the engraving also. You can get the ATF form 1 from the subguns or ATF websites. Make sure you print out the forms double sided and fill in all of the blocks that are not reserved for the ATF, even if it is just "N/A".

You might get better answers from the Subguns NFA forum, but it is an old style format and the answers go away after a matter of days and become harder to find in the archives. Good luck.

Re: Question about SBR
 

Shopnut is right on the money! Just did it a few weeks ago. I had excellent guidance since I went straight to the BATF office and had them help me fill out the form and explain everything to me. Form 1 on the BATF website is the wrong form unless it has changed in the last few weeks. See if you can contact your local BATF office. They were alot of help.

Re: Question about SBR
 

I downloaded the ATF form 1 from the ATF website at the beginning of the year for a silencer. It was approved in about four months. The current form looks like the one I used last. It says OMB No. 1140-001 (9/30/2010) at the top and ATF form 1 (5320.1) Revised September 2007 on the bottom.

I have heard that they will accept the older forms for a while, but I think this one is the currant form. You can call them in WV at 1 (304)616-4500. They are the guys that deal with form approval and should know. But remember, every time they pick up the phone to answer someone's question means less time spent rubber stamping forms for approval. :)

Re: Question about SBR
 

I'm thinking that when they had me measure overall length and barrel length that's what you are registering with the batf, also the engraved receiver that goes with the said measured barrel and setup. i just got two stamps for SBR back and I'm pretty fresh on this. but don't know how much of an issue it is to swap uppers. i have always heard you could swap them out like 6.8 and back to 223. but don't think that applies to a sbr registered gun. CALL BATF AND ASK FOR ATF AGENT Al Lamburger HE'LL HELP YOU OUT AND IS SUPER FAST ON RETURNS AND VERY NICE!

Re: Question about SBR
 

You don't have to engrave the receiver of a lower you bought from a manufacturer.. (example: aero precision). Since the manufactured lower, which has a serial number on it, (yes, because you had to have a background check done and have it shipped to a FFL), if you bought it properly. So you have a serial number on the lower that Aero manufactured for you. Aero has engraved on their lowers the city and state. And the caliber is listed on the barrel when you put it together. So... looking at FORM1 as it READS:

Line4a Name and Location of ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER of FIREARM (receiver)
that is what it says. so what do you write there? your name? NOPE.
in this example the original manufacturer was AERO their location is Tacoma
Washington.

Line4b Type of Firearm. What are you building? SBR

Line4c Caliber Gauge or Size. What barrel are you putting on? 223,308, 300?

Line4D Model. Aero lists the model number on the lower you bought. Put
that model number in that line

Line4e Length of barrel . measure and write it down

Line4f Overall . Length of gun... measure and write it down.

Line4G Serial Number . Aero ALREADY has a serial number on the lower, it is what what put on it when (remember now), the ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER made the lower, as required by law, which happens to be AERO, not YOU. Put that serial number down. THAT is what law enforcement (duh) uses to identify the gun. Since you filled out your form 1, when they run that, it will show you have a SBR, and when you show your paper work when asked for, they will see in fact, the SBR you have, is correctly registered, because the manufacturer, the address, the location, the serial number... all that, is correct.

Line I (eye) why do you intend to make (put together) a firearm (SBR, which you are applying for) : Reason: It is my stinkin right. (don't put that however). Just put because you are a collector, or any other legal reason.

Why would you then need to carve the crap out of your work of art with an EXTRA serial number? Show me where in FORM 1 it tells you to do that. SHOW me where in the GCA it says that. Show me where in the NFA it says that. Show me where the ATF says that. IT doesn't. Does your car have your name and an extra serial number on it? What has two serial numbers and why are two serial numbers needed?

Ignorant sheep following ignorant sheep. Look it up yourself. Any intelligent person filling out the forms CORRECTLY knows you don't have to engrave a "previously manufactured lower. "

So , you ask,when would you engrave a lower with your name, address and serial number? When YOU manufactured it on your CNC machine, or if you bought a 80 percent lower, that has no serial number or name on it, and finished the work yourself. THEN, you are required to do what, in this case AERO, has already done.

No where on FORM 1 does it have a second set of lines that ask AGAIN, for ANOTHER different serial number, name or state. (that is a huge clue) Remeber a manufactured lower you bought wasn't MADE by you, it was made by someone else. Example AERO.

Carve your work of art up if you want, it just damages resale....