Registering an AR lower for SBR; deadline on when to buy upper?

Therapydude2 · September 15, 2008, 06:57 PM

I am in the process of registering an AR lower for SBR status. Legally, of course, I know I cannot purchase my 10.5" upper until receiving my cancelled tax stamp. However, what if, after receiving my stamp, I kept the lower in my safe and never purchased an upper? Would I be in violation of any federal laws since I didn't actually build a SBR like I said I was going to? Any time limit on when (if ever) the build is complete? Thanks for any help you all can provide.

VUPDblue · September 15, 2008, 06:58 PM

Nope. I've got 2 SBR lowers in the safe that have been sitting idle for several years.

aroundlsu · September 16, 2008, 10:52 AM

I just registered my first lower this year. It was so easy and inexpensive ($150 lower, $200 stamp) I plan to register at least one every year and stick it in the safe. Seems to be a pretty good insurance policy against future assault weapon bans.

VUPDblue · September 16, 2008, 02:23 PM

IIRC during the last AWB even SBR's that were registered during that time had to abide by the AWB guidelines, save for barrel length.

Hkmp5sd · September 16, 2008, 04:07 PM

Yup, the last AWB included the prohibition on new NFA items which also violated the ban. They also ruled that unless your firearm was assembled as a complete "semi-automatic assault weapon" with all applicable evil features at the beginning of the ban, you could not take your pre-ban lower and assemble a banned rifle. So having registered lowers pre-dating the ban would not help if it follows the old rules.

On the flip side, they did rule that NFA items were exempt from 922(r) [the assembly from parts of a firearm not legal for imporation...blah, blah, blah].

September 15, 2008, 06:57 PM	#1
Therapydude2 Member Join Date: June 3, 2007 Posts: 19	Registering an AR lower for SBR; deadline on when to buy upper? I am in the process of registering an AR lower for SBR status. Legally, of course, I know I cannot purchase my 10.5" upper until receiving my cancelled tax stamp. However, what if, after receiving my stamp, I kept the lower in my safe and never purchased an upper? Would I be in violation of any federal laws since I didn't actually build a SBR like I said I was going to? Any time limit on when (if ever) the build is complete? Thanks for any help you all can provide.

September 15, 2008, 06:58 PM	#2
VUPDblue Senior Member Join Date: December 18, 2005 Location: Central Indiana Posts: 1,981	Nope. I've got 2 SBR lowers in the safe that have been sitting idle for several years. __________________ Silencers have NEVER been illegal !

September 16, 2008, 02:23 PM	#4
VUPDblue Senior Member Join Date: December 18, 2005 Location: Central Indiana Posts: 1,981	IIRC during the last AWB even SBR's that were registered during that time had to abide by the AWB guidelines, save for barrel length. __________________ Silencers have NEVER been illegal !

September 16, 2008, 10:52 AM	#3
aroundlsu Senior Member Join Date: December 7, 2007 Location: Louisiana Posts: 156	I just registered my first lower this year. It was so easy and inexpensive ($150 lower, $200 stamp) I plan to register at least one every year and stick it in the safe. Seems to be a pretty good insurance policy against future assault weapon bans.

September 16, 2008, 04:07 PM	#5
Hkmp5sd Senior Member Join Date: December 15, 2001 Location: Winter Haven, Florida Posts: 4,303	Yup, the last AWB included the prohibition on new NFA items which also violated the ban. They also ruled that unless your firearm was assembled as a complete "semi-automatic assault weapon" with all applicable evil features at the beginning of the ban, you could not take your pre-ban lower and assemble a banned rifle. So having registered lowers pre-dating the ban would not help if it follows the old rules. On the flip side, they did rule that NFA items were exempt from 922(r) [the assembly from parts of a firearm not legal for imporation...blah, blah, blah].