NFA SBR question- Interchangable upper

[Ronin13]

Question:
My brother has a Noveske SBR with an upper that currently has a 10" barrel, but he's wondering how he would go about a new upper with a 7" or 7.5" barrel. Since the lower is what's registered (SN and all), he's curious to know if he can just get a new upper with the shorter barrel to go on that lower. Does the NFA registration annotate the length or is it just "SBR" as far as the ATF is concerned?
Thanks.

[kidicarus13]

The NFA registration does annotate the length. He can change the upper freely but if it going to be a permanent change notifying the ATF is would be prudent.

[O2HeN2]

Just put on the new upper. If you lose the abilty to switch it back to its orginal configuration (like sell the barrel or something) you should notify the ATF of the new configuration. Otherwise just keep the orginal upper around.

O2

P.S. Nuance that can land you in jail: Make sure that if you have non-SBR lowers you have enough "long" uppers to be able to put together legal configurations on all of them.

[Dave_L]

Just put on the new upper. If you lose the abilty to switch it back to its orginal configuration (like sell the barrel or something) you should notify the ATF of the new configuration. Otherwise just keep the orginal upper around.

O2

P.S. Nuance that can land you in jail: Make sure that if you have non-SBR lowers you have enough "long" uppers to be able to put together legal configurations on all of them.

^This.

[asmo]

My god. Actually good information in an NFA sub.

As others have said. He can put on the smaller upper without issue. If he looses the ability to go back to the original configuration then he needs to inform the ATF (just inform - doesn't need approval). You do put the length of the barrel and the OAL on the Form 1 (Or the Manf did on the Form 2 if it was a factory SBR).

Now, if you want to be uber paranoid: if he has another lower around, that doesn't have an upper, constructive intent *could* be charged (since it the other upper could be put on that unmatched lower) but only if he as already seriously pissed off the ATF and they are causing him buckets of grief. The ATF isn't going to come out and check.

[Ronin13]

Thanks guys!
I told him to keep the original upper (he plans to) and just have it readily reassembled into the original configuration, especially if he intends on transferring it.

[GlockMathews]

ok i hve a curious question thats kinda relevant.. planning on sbr'ing a lower i got before the election. was thinking i'd have time to figure out the details on what upper configuration i would go with. but in filling out the form 1 i need to put those details in the overall length and barrel length. how do i get the overall length if i cant legally put it together to measure? especially if i dont have the upper cause i only have a rifle and a stripped lower at this point. curious for suggestions.

[paddywagon]

ok i hve a curious question thats kinda relevant.. planning on sbr'ing a lower i got before the election. was thinking i'd have time to figure out the details on what upper configuration i would go with. but in filling out the form 1 i need to put those details in the overall length and barrel length. how do i get the overall length if i cant legally put it together to measure? especially if i dont have the upper cause i only have a rifle and a stripped lower at this point. curious for suggestions.

First of all, the SBR length is figured with the stock open. As far as overall if you have an overall of a built rifle like it (i.e. Colt LE 6920 which is 16.1" barrel) then reduce it the # of inches you plan on. LE 6920 is 35.5" open. If you will have a 10.5" bbl then reduce length 5.6". 29.9"

[GlockMathews]

thanks for the reply. after posting this and reading more this is about what i was figuring i was going to have to do. originally i was planning on getting the stamp process going and have plenty of time to figure out what my sbr set up will but after looking at the form 1 i realize i'm going to have to decide atleast barrel length now.

[Wulf202]

Not really. You just need to put down a configuration. You can amend it after you're approved.