Sbr question

[Commando]

In diving into the ar world and I’ve got a pretty stupid sbr question. I was talking to my brother and them and he was saying I need to fill out a form sent it in and get a stamp on the rifle. Cool. But than he goes on to say that if I want to go out and shoot it I need to notify some one I’m going to do that before I go to the range? Is this true? Again sorry for the question but I can’t find a straight answer on it.

[Russ McDonald]

If you go with a 10.5" barrel or shorter it is classified as a pistol.  Don't have to go through all of that then.  I have a AR pistol

[adamR]

Careful! Just because the barrel is 10.5" or shorter, doesn't automatically make it a pistol!  There are other stipulations to that loophole.

[CP]

In diving into the ar world and I’ve got a pretty stupid sbr question. I was talking to my brother and them and he was saying I need to fill out a form sent it in and get a stamp on the rifle. Cool. But than he goes on to say that if I want to go out and shoot it I need to notify some one I’m going to do that before I go to the range? Is this true? Again sorry for the question but I can’t find a straight answer on it.

No, that is not true.  Once your SBR is approved you do not need inform anyone before shooting it at the range.  There are restrictions on taking it across state lines.  I suggest you get more, and better, info before tackling this.  There are some good youtube videos that are a place to start.

[CP]

If you go with a 10.5" barrel or shorter it is classified as a pistol.

That isn't true either.  The difference between an SBR and an AR pistol boils down to one thing; a Short Barrel Rifle is designed to be fired from the shoulder, a pistol is not.

[Russ McDonald]

Sorry and have a arm brace for the pistol.

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[Commando]

Thanks everyone! Looks like my brother needs to look into the law a little better

[Russ McDonald]

I have a AR pistol with a 10.5" barrel with a arm brace.  I will find oictures and post it

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[STEVO85]

Once you get your stamp back then you treat it just as any other rifle other than crossing state lines with it. You have to fill out and get a approved 5320 transport permit to cross state lines. The route I went for ease of use is to build my 10.5 as a pistol. With the availability and quality of the different braces out there today I personally wouldn't go the sbr route because of the cost, time, and restrictions. As a pistol you can keep it loaded in a vehicle if need be and with the atf's reversal on being able to shoot a pistol from the shoulder I don't see the advantage of a sbr except for the cool factor if you were trying to build a replica gun or something. A pistol has 99% of the same usability with 0% of the hoops to jump through.

[b23]

If you go with a 10.5" barrel or shorter it is classified as a pistol.  Don't have to go through all of that then.  I have a AR pistol

Pretty sure it has to come from the manufacturer as a pistol in order for it not to be classified as a SBR.  You put a short barrel or even a short barrel upper and an arm brace on an AR that was sold by the manufacture as a rifle, you better have it engraved as an SBR and have a tax stamp for it because you just made a short barreled rifle.

AR pistols made and sold as pistols, regardless of barrel length and even if they have an arm brace, are considered pistols and don't require a tax stamp.  The ATF has a memo on arm braces and how they can be fired from the shoulder.  It's been awhile since I read it but I recall it leaves a lot of room for interpretation.  If I remember it read something like you can occasionally shoot an AR pistol with an arm brace from the shoulder but if you intend to shoot it from the shoulder all the time, then not so much.  Like I said, it's worded kind of odd and leaves it open to interpretation with a lot of grey area.

[Russ McDonald]

If you go with a 10.5" barrel or shorter it is classified as a pistol.  Don't have to go through all of that then.  I have a AR pistol

Pretty sure it has to come from the manufacturer as a pistol in order for it not to be classified as a SBR.  You put a short barrel or even a short barrel upper and an arm brace on an AR that was sold by the manufacture as a rifle, you better have it engraved as an SBR and have a tax stamp for it because you just made a short barreled rifle.

AR pistols made and sold as pistols, regardless of barrel length and even if they have an arm brace, are considered pistols and don't require a tax stamp.  The ATF has a memo on arm braces and how they can be fired from the shoulder.  It's been awhile since I read it but I recall it leaves a lot of room for interpretation.  If I remember it read something like you can occasionally shoot an AR pistol with an arm brace from the shoulder but if you intend to shoot it from the shoulder all the time, then not so much.  Like I said, it's worded kind of odd and leaves it open to interpretation with a lot of grey area.

I bought mine as a pistol but it was only the lower kit that was labeled as a pistol.  Which as far as I can tell with the naked eye is the buffer tube is a different size where standard rifle stocks won't fit on it.  The upper seems to be standard to any upper just has a 10.5" barrel.

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[NWShooter]

WoW! I haven’t read so much confusion and misinformation. Concerning SBR’s or AR pistols in one place in a long time. Do the proper research. Ignorance is no excuse in the eye of the law. Look it up and read. He said, she said on a forum is nothing but misinformation.

[STEVO85]

"Pretty sure it has to come from the manufacturer as a pistol in order for it not to be classified as a SBR."

If the lower was purchased as a complete rifle or rifle lower then it can't be made into a pistol. If the lower was purchased as a pistol lower or a striped lower purchased as a "other" then you can build it as a pistol without issue. You must also stay under 26" from the end of the muzzle threads to the end of the buffer tube otherwise it would be a firearm. Your muzzle devise and brace are not factored into that length unless permanently attached, pinned muzzle device for instance. You can't use a vertical fore grip, but you can use a angled for grip. If you do some searching you can find all of the specs that it has to fit into to be a pistol, or what you need to do to register it as a sbr. There is some risky gray area on what is defined as a firearm and how your gun might be looked at if enforcement ever decided to take issue with it if it is more than 26". My 5.56 10.5" barrel is 25.5" oal and works very well suppressed or unsuppressed. If you went with a 300blk you could go 7.5 or 8.5 but guys have mixed reliability under 10.5 with a 5.56. Just my experience with them anyway.
Mine is set up similar to the pic Russ posted. It uses the kak super tube and blade brace. The newer sba 3 and sba 4 braces use a carbine buffer tube and you can adjust the "length of pull" on your brace. There are some good youtube videos that explain the differences between the two a little easier to understand than what the atf paper reads. I would still recommend building a pistol instead of a sbr just because it's less of a hassle.

[grundy53]

If you go with a 10.5" barrel or shorter it is classified as a pistol.  Don't have to go through all of that then.  I have a AR pistol

Pretty sure it has to come from the manufacturer as a pistol in order for it not to be classified as a SBR.  You put a short barrel or even a short barrel upper and an arm brace on an AR that was sold by the manufacture as a rifle, you better have it engraved as an SBR and have a tax stamp for it because you just made a short barreled rifle.

AR pistols made and sold as pistols, regardless of barrel length and even if they have an arm brace, are considered pistols and don't require a tax stamp.  The ATF has a memo on arm braces and how they can be fired from the shoulder.  It's been awhile since I read it but I recall it leaves a lot of room for interpretation.  If I remember it read something like you can occasionally shoot an AR pistol with an arm brace from the shoulder but if you intend to shoot it from the shoulder all the time, then not so much.  Like I said, it's worded kind of odd and leaves it open to interpretation with a lot of grey area.

Most stripped lowers come as "other".

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[Russ McDonald]

If you go with a 10.5" barrel or shorter it is classified as a pistol.  Don't have to go through all of that then.  I have a AR pistol

Pretty sure it has to come from the manufacturer as a pistol in order for it not to be classified as a SBR.  You put a short barrel or even a short barrel upper and an arm brace on an AR that was sold by the manufacture as a rifle, you better have it engraved as an SBR and have a tax stamp for it because you just made a short barreled rifle.

AR pistols made and sold as pistols, regardless of barrel length and even if they have an arm brace, are considered pistols and don't require a tax stamp.  The ATF has a memo on arm braces and how they can be fired from the shoulder.  It's been awhile since I read it but I recall it leaves a lot of room for interpretation.  If I remember it read something like you can occasionally shoot an AR pistol with an arm brace from the shoulder but if you intend to shoot it from the shoulder all the time, then not so much.  Like I said, it's worded kind of odd and leaves it open to interpretation with a lot of grey area.

Most stripped lowers come as "other".

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Yup that is how I got mine.  Stripped lower as other than a pistol lower kit.

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[huntandjeep]

Not worth the $200 for the stamp to have an SBR
 My 10.5" Pistol started as an " other " lower . I can cross state lines with it without hassle , it rides around loaded in my truck  . One thing people don't think about with 556 SBRs or pistols is they are loud as hell ,  unless you suppress them ( which I do ) my pistol unsupressed will give me a headache and make my ears ring ( even with EarPro ) after a mag or two with a regular muzzle device . You can get blast comps ( SLR makes a nice one $$ ) that directs the blast away from the shooter . I put one on my brother's 10.5" Pistol and it's not bad to shoot . As far as not shouldering the brace no LEO will hassle you , I've shot mine and my brother his  numerous times with Leo's that my brother works with and not 1 has said a thing . 

[Russ McDonald]

Not worth the $200 for the stamp to have an SBR
 My 10.5" Pistol started as an " other " lower . I can cross state lines with it without hassle , it rides around loaded in my truck  . One thing people don't think about with 556 SBRs or pistols is they are loud as hell ,  unless you suppress them ( which I do ) my pistol unsupressed will give me a headache and make my ears ring ( even with EarPro ) after a mag or two with a regular muzzle device . You can get blast comps ( SLR makes a nice one $$ ) that directs the blast away from the shooter . I put one on my brother's 10.5" Pistol and it's not bad to shoot . As far as not shouldering the brace no LEO will hassle you , I've shot mine and my brother his  numerous times with Leo's that my brother works with and not 1 has said a thing .

Interesting.  I never noticed how load mine was compared to my ar rifles,  I use Walker Silencers.

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[NWShooter]

The SB Tactical AR Pistol brace can be placed against the should. The ATF sent SB Tactical a letter stating such. The brace just cannot be modified in any way or the strap completely removed. This letter only covers the SB braces. It is not a “Blanket” letter covering all AR braces. SB Tactical went at them with attorneys.

https://www.sb-tactical.com/blog/sb-tactical-announces-reversal-atf-open-letter-use-sb-tactical-pistol-stabilizing-braces/

[huntandjeep]

The SB Tactical AR Pistol brace can be placed against the should. The ATF sent SB Tactical a letter stating such. The brace just cannot be modified in any way or the strap completely removed. This letter only covers the SB braces. It is not a “Blanket” letter covering all AR braces. SB Tactical went at them with attorneys.

https://www.sb-tactical.com/blog/sb-tactical-announces-reversal-atf-open-letter-use-sb-tactical-pistol-stabilizing-braces/

And the SB Tacticals are the nicest braces on the market . I have an SBA3 and we put an SBA4 on my brother's.  I had a Kac blade before and it sukd .

[CP]

  I had a Kac blade before and it sukd .

 

[mountainman]

"Pretty sure it has to come from the manufacturer as a pistol in order for it not to be classified as a SBR."

If the lower was purchased as a complete rifle or rifle lower then it can't be made into a pistol. If the lower was purchased as a pistol lower or a striped lower purchased as a "other" then you can build it as a pistol without issue. You must also stay under 26" from the end of the muzzle threads to the end of the buffer tube otherwise it would be a firearm. Your muzzle devise and brace are not factored into that length unless permanently attached, pinned muzzle device for instance. You can't use a vertical fore grip, but you can use a angled for grip. If you do some searching you can find all of the specs that it has to fit into to be a pistol, or what you need to do to register it as a sbr. There is some risky gray area on what is defined as a firearm and how your gun might be looked at if enforcement ever decided to take issue with it if it is more than 26". My 5.56 10.5" barrel is 25.5" oal and works very well suppressed or unsuppressed. If you went with a 300blk you could go 7.5 or 8.5 but guys have mixed reliability under 10.5 with a 5.56. Just my experience with them anyway.
Mine is set up similar to the pic Russ posted. It uses the kak super tube and blade brace. The newer sba 3 and sba 4 braces use a carbine buffer tube and you can adjust the "length of pull" on your brace. There are some good youtube videos that explain the differences between the two a little easier to understand than what the atf paper reads. I would still recommend building a pistol instead of a sbr just because it's less of a hassle.

This covers legalities pretty thouroughly👍

[Bango skank]

I would still recommend building a pistol instead of a sbr just because it's less of a hassle.

Also because you can carry it loaded in your vehicle

[Commando]

Thanks again for all the info guys. When I do build one it’ll definitely be the pistol route with the SBA4 brace. In the middle of building a rifle so as soon as till be building a pistol.

[NWShooter]

I would still recommend building a pistol instead of a sbr just because it's less of a hassle.

Also because you can carry it loaded in your vehicle

I completely agree. I keep a 12.5” 6.8 SPC, built of a 80% lower with a SBA3 brace and a LAW folder. Gassed up in the truck at all times. Makes for a small package and the 95gr Barnes TTSX’s are wicked in short barrels.

[STEVO85]

Nwshooter brings up another aspect in the measurement of your pistol. If you use a folding adapter for your buffer tube then your length is measured with the buffer in the folded position. Therefore you could run a little longer barrel if you wanted.

[konradcountry]

I actually prefer the cheek brace over the blade.

The blast on the AR pistol isn't that bad if you are outside. I wouldn't go to 7.5" with 223 like someone else said though.

Fun stuff

10.5 with a jcomp

[mountainman]

SBA3 tough to beat!

[fowl smacker]

SBA3 tough to beat!

Yep, all my AR pistols have wear an SBA3

[zwickeyman]

I also have a SBA3 on my 8' pistol in blkout. It works very well

I agree with the guys that say build a pistol over a SBR