Last month I bought my first AR’s and after a lot of google searches at reviews and who actually had product in stock decided to go with PSA, I ordered mine as complete lowers and complete uppers separately. A 16” 5.56 and 8.5” 300BLK.
Initial quality, I’m very impressed! Obviously I’m doing the 300BLK as a pistol build but have been considering doing the NFA registration as an SBR.
I have some questions and hoping for some clarification on what makes it an SBR vs Pistol.
I know you have to have a pistol brace vs a stock and that you can’t have a forward grip, but does putting a Timber Creek Outdoors Enforcer mini angled for grip make it an SBR or is that cool for a pistol?
I also understand that if I register it as an SBR, I can never “legally” change it to a pistol or non SBR with a longer barrel? Or is that wrong?
I know I have to do the tax stamp to buy a suppressor, but is there a way to permanently mount the suppressor so that it extended the barrel and it can be a legal rifle and not an SBR? Just trying to see if I can get around having to buy two tax stamps.
Anyone have a line on 300BLK ammo at a good price? 
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Yes, you can put a 16” upper on a sbr registered lower. (you can put any length you desire on a sbr lower and switch between them.)
You ‘could’ pin a suppressor to a shorter barrel to make a rifle over 16” for a one stamp gun. I would not do that, but you can if you want. If that is what you desire, then you seek an integrally suppressed 16” upper in your chosen caliber. (Also a one stamp weapon). Hope this helps.
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Welcome @hotrodv6 ! To answer your queations:
The ATF has determined that SBR’s can have a vertical (90° to the bore) grip. Pistols cannot as the VFG assumes 2 handed use (pistols are meant to be shot with 1 hand). Several companies make non 90° almost vertical grips, but a safe way to go for sure is an angled front grip.
As for registering as an SBR, you can put whatever upper on it that you want as long as you can return it to the registered configuration. A 16" barrel will not automatically make it a non sbr though, as it is your lower (the serialized part) that is registered.
You can pin and weld a suppressor, I do not recommend doing that. Should you have an issue such as a baffle strike you want to be able to have it serviced. Plus, once you get the can you are going to want to put it on other guns.
once you shoot suppressed you will never want to shoot without it.
Finally, good luck on ammo…we are all constantly looking. 300blk is going to be ~1.50/round or more these days.
Edit, here is my 8.5" 300blk sbr, with a YHM can:
And as it fits in its covert bag:
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Wow I’m in love with that setup! Pre-COVID I had good luck with Sellier & Bellot ammo for affordability and quality, no complaints 500 rounds in (it’s been out of stock for a while however).
Thanks for the replies everyone, I decided what I wanted in my original idea was an SBR, so went ahead and did the form 1 and just waiting on approval now.
I dug out the Nikon 3-9x40 scope I bought almost 4 years ago for $100 bucks and scored the Nikon mount, new off eBay for 85 shipped.
I also ordered last week(and received today) an A3 flattop LH stripped upper so I can convert this to LH since I don’t like shells flying at my face…lol. Waiting on the Nickel Boron LH BCG to get back in stock and then I’m going to strip my stealth lower, and have the upper and lower cerokoted in Tungsten H-237 to match Timber Creek Outdoors Tungsten furniture I will slowly be acquiring. I’m also thinking at this point it’s better to get a new barrel and just leave the PSA complete upper I have all together, and looking at the Ballistic Advantage 8.3 or 10.3 Hanson Barrel with the pinned gas block, but both are out of stock so like everything else it’s a waiting game.
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Good luck @hotrodv6, I wanted to do an SBR but settled on the Pistol.
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SBRs are cool, dont forget to engrave your lower
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Here’s my 300 Blackout Pistol work in progress.
Here’s why I chose a pistol over an SBR.
I’m not paying an unconstitutional tax to exercise my right.
The government doesn’t need to know how many TVs, toilets, or type and number of firearms that I own.
I’m not writing a letter asking for permission to take my legally owned firearm across state lines.
I can keep a loaded pistol in my Jeep or on my ATV up in the mountains, even during hunting season. Not so with a rifle.
That’s why I chose to build a pistol, and will continue to build them.
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Very nice build. I’m looking at the PSA 10.5 300blk with 10.5 rail but not sure if I’ll be able to put the YHM Phantom QD on it with can. Don’t want it to interfere so was hoping I could find someone with this upper that could get better pics before ordering.
that’s crazy considering i actually dont shoot any of my pistols one handed, besides the necessary practice with each hand for just in case… i been thinking about making my purple ak an sbr as well (tbh really like the plum sba3 and would have to find a plum ar15 buttstock) just to get a jump on paperwork and because i only left reno 1 time in the last 5 years, but if i dont have to i probably won’t because i’m lazy, it really depends on this election… if we elect the right people then idc what anyone says… if the wrong ones are elected i guess im filling out paperwork…
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You need a rail 1.5" ID if you want the can to fit inside.
