You might be the stripped upper type, one who likes to make everything from scratch. Perhaps you even mill out your own lowers.
There is a very strong argument to be made for building with a stripped upper. There’s no other, better way to customize the build than using one of these.
But at the same time, there’s a strong use case for building with an assembled upper to complete your SBR, too.
Here are some of the top reasons.
1. Save time, money, and effort
This is probably the most attractive reason for most home builders. Though (admittedly) the upper is arguably more simple than the lower, there are still a whole lot of parts you will need to get if you actually build the whole thing yourself.
These include the barrel, handguard, hardware, gas system (block and tube), bolt carrier group, ejection port cover, forward assist, charging handle, and potentially muzzle devices.
It is, simply put, easier and more convenient to get an assembled upper (or a short barrel rifle kit) rather than getting all the components piecemeal. On top of that, it could potentially even save you a little money.
Getting an assembled short barrel upper and building a functioning SBR can be as simple as mating the complete upper receiver and lower together. They can be plug-and-play ready and highly cost-effective.
2. You’re not comfortable enough (or honestly don’t really know what you’re doing)
There’s no shame in admitting this. Working on a gun is a lot like working on a car. There are a lot of small moving parts, and it can be hard to know what everything does. Granted, this is a good thing to learn more about if you’re going to start tinkering with rifles, but there are a lot of shooters that don’t know that much about the mechanics of their platforms. Just like there are a lot of drivers that don’t know much about how cars work.
It is very easy to make mistakes when you don’t know how all the parts work together or what they actually do. Admittedly, you’ll learn a lot if you do build with a stripped upper, but your first project might not be the best for that.
3. Guaranteed compatibility
One thing you’ll naturally want to be assured of is that, when the build is complete, all the parts will work together, and well at that. Starting with an assembled upper, rather than building one yourself, is a good way to be sure of that.
An assembled short barrel upper will come ready to you with all (or at least most) of the parts needed to create a functioning upper and pair it to a lower. And, the best part is that all the parts included are selected for their operability and compatibility with each other. That’s less work for you and no chance of making a mistake.
4. Downright ease
If for no other reason, a good one to start with an assembled short barrel upper or short barrel rifle kit is that it’s easier. If your goal is to make one and get to the range, this is the fastest and most reliable way to do so. The fewer parts you actually have to make or assemble yourself, the better.
5. You have other things to deal with
Now we can’t overlook the red tape associated with building an SBR, especially if you make it yourself and don’t buy it from an FFL (which also requires a lot of paperwork).
First, you’ll have to fill out a Form 1 from the ATF. It’s quite a few pages long but straightforward and shouldn’t take you very long. This is the first prerequisite required to make your own SBR since these are considered NFA items and are regulated differently from other firearms.
The Form 1 is basically to get dispensation to do so. Make four copies. Submit two to the ATF, one to local law enforcement, and keep one for your records.
Then you will need to submit the $200 tax stamp for an NFA item, which is another layer of red tape associated with the Gun Control Act.
At any rate, the point here is, since you have to jump through these other hoops, why not start with an assembled upper and save yourself some time?
Note: This is not binding legal advice. If you have any concerns about the legality of building an SBR, make sure to consult a firearms lawyer before proceeding.
Getting Started with an Assembled Upper or Short Barrel Rifle Kit
For our part, we offer a wide range of assembled uppers, many of them for SBRs. If you’re thinking about building with an assembled short barrel upper or would like to make it easier on yourself with a short barrel rifle kit, start out with what we offer and get in touch with us if you have any questions.