NFA Questions

[gsd]

Evening guys and gals,

I've decided to look into some NFA items in the near future, and have a few questions if y'all don't mind.

First, I know of the engraving thing, but I plan on Duracoating the receiver. Is this something I have to wait to do until after I get it back from the engraver?

Second, I have heard I can buy everything, just not possess all the items at the same time in the same place. Does this mean i can purchase the suppressor/SB upper and store them at another location?

And last, I see that the ATF needs overall finished lengths on the firearm to be listed on the Form 4 when submitted. Since I haven't even built the lower yet, how would one go about this?

Thanks,
Dave

[jonm]

You can duracoat before or after. Just as long as it meets minimum depth requirements.if you buy a suppressor, it will sit at the dealer until the form 4 comes back. If you are making a sbr ar lower, you need to submit a form 1. You can have the upper as long as you have a bare receiver with no "rifle" lower, or pistol built lower. Overall length is easy, measure full size ar, then subtract x inches for barrel. Also, youddon't need to buy a lower marked as pistol for it to be a pistol lower. You can build a bare receiver as a pistol as long as you don't have buttstock parts.

[bkoenig]

Lots of guys build a pistol lower so they can shoot their shorty upper, and when their stamp comes in they swap out the pistol buffer for a carbine one and slap on a stock.

[Burnsy87]

Yep I grabbed a pistol buffer tube so I could gather the parts over the ~6 months I was putting the SBR together.

[RobertH]

GSD, what are you thinking about getting?

[Hardwood83]

The .gov REQUIRES the FFL to keep the Suppressor until your stamp returns. Isn't that generous?

I also recommend the pistol route- allows you to use your upper & iron out any issues prior to the stamp coming in.

Don't want to discourage you, but in full disclosure stamps are taking a good while now, my last one (received in early June was a bit over 6mos from PENDING. Haven't checked lately but read that wait times are approaching 8mos due to the post-election/Newtown surge. 

[bkoenig]

NFA wait times are crazy.  My last two stamps also took right at 6 months.  I've been thinking about another Form 1 but haven't done it yet.  I guess the longer I wait the longer it will take.

[gsd]

GSD, what are you thinking about getting?

SBR first, followed by a suppressor. Which brings about another question:

Do I have I buy the suppressor before I get the stamp or can I get the stamp and save for the suppressor?

[bkoenig]

Most dealers will require you to pay for the can up front, and will submit the form 4 with your $200 check at the same time.  So you'll pay for both at once.

Or you could be really stupid and buy a lathe.....

[RobertH]

i hear the waits are close to a year.  taking about 2-3 months to get to pending, then at least 8 or 9 months after that.  if you send in your stamp now, most people are thinking it'll 2014 before they see their stamp.  so send in your stamp NOW... better yet, yesterday!

for my Form 1 SBR, i did not do a pistol.  i didn't want to buy a pistol assembly since i don't like the looks of pistol AR's, but that's just me.

[CitizenClark]

i hear the waits are close to a year.  taking about 2-3 months to get to pending, then at least 8 or 9 months after that.  if you send in your stamp now, most people are thinking it'll 2014 before they see their stamp.  so send in your stamp NOW... better yet, yesterday!

Here are the timelines for my two pending forms:

Form 1 to SBR a Kel-Tec PLR-16:
Forms sent: 01/08/2013   
Forms arrived: 01/11/2013   
Check cashed: 01/18/2013   
Pending: 02/14/2013
Predicted date for stamp: August or September

Form 4 for a Huntertown Kestrel 5.56 suppressor:
Forms sent: 03/04/2013   
Forms arrived: 03/07/2013   
Check cashed: 03/15/2013   
Pending: 05/08/2013
Predicted date for stamp: November or December

You can also see self-reported data on processing times here: http://www.nfatracker.com/TrendGraph.aspx
http://www.nfatracker.com/reports.aspx