[AR-15 SBR?]

I posted this a while ago in another forum. This topic comes up a lot and I never hear the same answer twice.

 

 

 

"There is argument over who's name is to be placed on the Form 1 paperwork that needs to be filled out when you want to convert to a Short Barrel Rifle. Some say it is YOUR name, others say it's the original maker's. I firmly believe it is the later and I'm happy to explain why. This is not meant to be a one sided argument. I am open to hear why I could be wrong. There are a couple letters from the ATF floating around with conflicting information (surprise) but what is more important than their interpretation is the actual Form 1 itself, and it's included definitions because this is what you sign, and what they sign and approve.

 

With that said follow my reason here.

 

First, go to the atf website and read this form http://www.atf.gov/forms/pdfs/f53201.pdf

 

This is your form 1 you fill out and submitt for your sbr. It's a little better than the one available from the titleii site because it has the definition attachment that the real copy the ATF sends you has.

 

4a is where the argument is. Some people claim you put YOUR name since you are the maker (regardless if it's a 100% receiver). I disagree because it's pretty clear if you read the whole box on the form and the 2h description, and I will quote:

 

(4)"a. Name and Location of Original Manufacturer of Firearm (Receiver)(if prototype, furnish plans and specifications)(See instruction 2h)"

 

Again this is where all this debate and sometimes argument comes from. So now lets go read instruction 2h for clarification...

 

"Serial Numbers and other Markings. If an existing firearm is being modified into an NFA firearm, enter the existing serial number of the firearm into item 4g and the name and address of the original manufacturer into item 4a." Do not Alter or Modify the existing Serial number. If the NFA firearm is being made from parts, your name and address are to be entered into 4a and a serial number you create is to be entered into item 4g."

 

This is telling you to use the maker info that was already on your 100% receiver. Read again: "If an existing firearm is being modified into an NFA firearm". This directly translates to your 100% receiver will become a SBR.

 

Keep this in mind:"Do not Alter or Modify the existing Serial number." when you next read: "If the NFA firearm is being made from parts, your name and address are to be entered into 4a and a serial number you create is to be entered into item 4g."

 

What they assume is if you are making the gun from parts, you are making the receiver as well as it counts as 1 "part" in the 922r parts count. If you make the receiver, your are the manufacturer, otherwise use the existing information. They want a paper trail of the firearm, otherwise they will think two seperate firearms are out there which happen to have the same serial number.

 

 

The other important point I want to make (and this alone is a huge can of worms) is if you put your name as the maker on the paperwork, as well as the rifle, you would not be able to sell it legally since you can't build to sell, unless your an SOT that is. The big difference here with a normal rifle build (with your own receiver) is by filling out your Form 1 with your name as the maker, you admitted that you built it yourself and if anything ever happened with that SBR you may as well skip the lube.

 

 

I hope this clears up the confusion once and for all."

 

 

I wrote this because when I was getting ready to build my Krink, I was met with too much conflicting information, from the ATF letters, to gun shops, to DIY builders. Once I had the forms in hand and read it all myself, I realized most people don't know what they are talking about.

[Krinkov]

 

5.45x39

 

This is my latest build: A Bulgarian AKS-74U. This was one of the more challenging builds to date for me since there were some things I had not seen before (side folder latch, top cover spring hinge and how that affects the gas tube) Pretty clever design. Pics make the wood look bright, but it's much darker. The kit was one of the K-var unissued deals, I built it on a DCI receiver with the Bulgarian selector markings. I have yet to fire this weapon, but it shouldn't give me any issues.

 

The weirdest thing with this kit...... For anyone who has one of these kits, take a look at the face of the receiver saw cuts... Mine was painted. Now I don't know if the cut end was dabbed in paint to protect it, or if these things were actually pulled off the assembly line before getting painted, cut up, and then sprayed. It wasn't burned, or anything like that...it was painted.

 

I had a few yugo rifles, so I didn't go with the Yugo SBR. It's a nice looking weapon and maybe I'll secure a kit down the road.