As we reported earlier in the week the ATF issued a new opinion letter to SB Tactical proclaiming that it is once more legal to shoulder and fire the company’s pistol arm brace. There were a couple caveats to that approval, namely that the brace needs to be unmodified from the version which was approved by the ATF (arm strap and all). TTAG’s sources had indicated that other products were not included in the approval, but the people behind the Shockwave brace say that they have been given the all clear from the ATF as well.
From the Shockwave Technologies website:
I just got off the phone with a very nice gentleman at ATF Tech Branch—who was fielding these calls today. (He was, understandably, very well versed on the subject—and very nice about it even though he’s been on the phone all day, repeating himself ad nauseam.) I identified myself and asked him specifically if the letter that’s making the rounds is limited to one company’s products–or if it applies to all pistol stabilizing braces. He said: “The letter covers all pistol stabilizing braces, including the Shockwave Blade.” So that settles that.
He then gave me a bit of further guidance for our customers:
1) By “permanent affixing,” ATF considers that to be adding permanent Loctite to the large set screw that secures the Blade into the dimples in the KAK tube. As long as you don’t red Loctite the set screw in place, ATF considers it to be “temporarily placed” and “perfectly okay to shoulder.” (He didn’t beat around the bush on this topic.)
2) “Length of pull”—for lack of a better word regarding pistol braces—begins to enter a “gray area” above 13.5″. Above 13.5″ begins “to enter shoulder stock area.” (His words. I believe this has to do with the “comfortableness” aspect.) On an AR-15, the “length of pull” for the Blade is approximately 13.13″, so no issues there. But if you use the Blade on a firearm that requires a large adapter of some sort, please make sure that you only use the dimples up to the point that you remain below the 13.5″ length. Stay below 13.5″ and according to ATF, it’s okay to shoulder a Shockwave Blade.
So there you have it. Anything you read to the contrary on a web forum, social media site, or industry blog is simple misinformation by people who are not being completely honest.
I will note that it sounds like Shockwave has not received this news from the ATF in writing. I’ve personally been given verbal instructions by the ATF before on their interpretation of the law which were later proven to be 100% inaccurate. So I’m wary about trusting anything that someone claims to have been told over the phone by an unnamed ATF employee.
Unless you have an SB Tactical brace in its original configuration, shoulder at your own risk.