[UPDATE: The ATF has not, in fact, reversed itself. Follow to this article to find out why.]
One of our Facebook followers messengered an ATF letter that’s been making the rounds. [Posted after the jump.] Dated November 10th, it advises an inquiring gun owner that “if this device [the SIG SB-15 brace ], unmodified or modified [italics theirs], is assembled to a pistol and used as a shoulder stock, thus designing or redesigning or making or remaking, of a weapon designed to be fired from the shoulder this assembly would constitute the making of a ‘rifle’ as defined in 18 U.S.C. Section 921(a)(7).” And thus become an NFA item. The letter is from . . .
Max A Kingery, ATF Acting Chief, Firearms Technology Industry Services Branch. It’s in direct contradiction to previous ATF communications on the SIG/SB Tactical brace. Letter number 903050 clearly states that the brace is not an NFA item, no matter how it’s used, and an AR pistol is not an NFA item, no matter how it’s used. To wit:
FTB has previously determined (FTB #99146) that the firing of the weapon from a particular position, such as placing the receiver extension of an AR-15-type pistol on the user’s shoulder, does not change the classification of a weapon. Further, certain firearms accessories such as the SIG brace have not been classified by FTB as shoulder stocks, and therefore, using the brace improperly does not constitute a design change. Using such an accessory improperly would not change the classification of the weapon per federal law. [Full text below.]
SB Tactical (makers of the Brace) are aware of the situation. Here’s the most recent ATF letter on the SIG Brace stating that it’s an NFA item – depending how you use it.
And here’s the letter from the ATF stating the Brace is not an NFA item, no matter how it’s used.
