They have a pretty good sub forum.
Tony K. is a pretty sharp moderator on NFA items (and has been for over a decade) over on ar15.com's Armory subsection. Renegade used to be moderator in the NFA section before some internet drama that I don't know about or care to bring back to the surface he was banned from the AR15.com site.
http://www.ar15.com/forums/f_6/17_Ge...Questions.html
I might ask in the above.
Nfatalk.org is also a good site, Plunky runs a pretty good forum (been a member there for a few years).
Silencertalk.com is also a good site for NFA information; I was very active there for years before here.
So, to clear it up. The only weapon that is always that has an NFA classification is MG's; even if you remove the auto sear from a registered MG receiver. If it's paperworked as a MG; it's a MG. Barrel length does not matter. If it's a side plate for an M2 or an RDIAS; it's an MG.The first quote of yours above is a factual statement. I would say the meaning is clear. The second quote is an anecdotal statement that is not fully defined as to the circumstance, but I took to mean that since they do it, it must be ok. I don't think either are right, but I'm not an NFA lawyer or BATFE official. I'm just some dude who was an avid reader of the NFA section of M4carbine when I was going through the process, but not so much now. Do you know what the law is? If not, I think your statements are reckless and contribute to the misunderstanding and confusion regarding a complex set of laws and rulings. I don't know, so I gave conservative advice and warnings that were meant to wave people off of committing what I suspect to be a felony. If I really wanted to know, I would ask on M4carbine and see what people like Renegade and scotryan say, or ask an NFA lawyer. The BATFE has a bad habit of giving different answers depending on who is asked, and individual agents may/probably don't know the past rulings/interpretations.
SBR's rely on condition of the weapon. Which is why about I don't know 4-5 years ago when BCM started selling SBR Lowers through G&R Tactical registered as SBR's; the ATF put a stop to that because the weapons had to be registered with a barrel length and the barrels were not present on the weapons thus nullifying the need for the registration.
Which kind of drives back to my point earlier in the thread about the condition of the weapon being the issue.
If you register an AR-15 as an SBR and place it in a configuration that no longer adheres to the requirements of being an SBR; the ATF no longer considers it an SBR.
Now, there is the of once a rifle always a rifle. But, here's a good .PDF from the ATF that applies to Pistols and weapons that were original designed and intended to be pistols being converted to rifles and parts.
But in this .PDF from the ATF (https://www.atf.gov/firearms/docs/ru...stols/download).
As I read it The ATF indicates what I'm saying is correct in this statement on Thompson Contender's configuration being changed and going to the Supreme Court.
It is important to remember that Pistols are not regulated or considered firearms under the NFA which is true, but there are other provisions indicated that a pistol is indeed a firearm just the NFA deals with SBR's, SBS', MG's, AOW's, and DD's.
Specifically, the underlined part. It's not subject to NFA when it's returned to it's not NFA configuration.Therefore, so long as a parts kit or collection of parts is not used to make a firearm
regulated under the NFA (e.g., a short-barreled rifle or “any other weapon” as defined by
26 U.S.C. 5845(e)), no NFA firearm is made when the same parts are assembled or reassembled
in a configuration not regulated under the NFA (e.g., a pistol, or a rifle with a
barrel of 16 inches or more in length).
Now, I would go to other sources such as NFATalk, silencertalk the NFA General FAQ under AR15.com, or the NFA forum in M4carbine.net. I've been to all of those areas and participated there for years.
But, to me. If you wanted to CYB, I'd check with the ATF. If you really want to Cover your Butt, write a letter and get a letter back.
Now Toonces, I may speak in generalities or waffle a bit in my statements, but I'm not new to NFA items.
Thanks and God Bless,
Brandon