I am jonesing something fierce for a Daniel Defense sbr. Either a DD4RIII or DDM4V7K. Or both if I’m feeling jiggy.

Then Berelli goes and offers up a pistol version of the V7 for 1200 bucks. With no tax stamp how hard is the Form 1 process? Do I have to get it engraved still? Is that hard to find someone? It’s just my name and location right? Am I missing something?

Or. Is it just easier to pay full tilt and buy the sbr straight up?

quote:

Originally posted by pedropcola:
I am jonesing something fierce for a Daniel Defense sbr. Either a DD4RIII or DDM4V7K. Or both if I’m feeling jiggy.

Then Berelli goes and offers up a pistol version of the V7 for 1200 bucks. With no tax stamp how hard is the Form 1 process? Do I have to get it engraved still? Is that hard to find someone? It’s just my name and location right? Am I missing something?

Or. Is it just easier to pay full tilt and buy the sbr straight up?

The Form 1 process is pretty easy. The current wait times are annoying. If you make a SBR from a pistol, then it must be engraved with the maker’s (your) info. The advantage to buying a factory SBR is that no additional engraving is required. The down side is that you have to wait for the paperwork to clear before you can take it home, whereas you can use your pistol while waiting for the paperwork to be approved. The good news is that Form 4s seem to be going a lot faster than Form 1s, so you probably won’t have to wait nearly as long.

As for buying a SBR instead of a pistol and Form 1ing it, that’s a personal choice. If there’s a significant price difference between a pistol and the factory SBR, that may factor into it.

Ok thanks. That’s kind of what I thought. Hmm.

What's the price difference between getting the SBR and getting the pieces?

If you decided to build it, I'd recommend getting a gun trust if you don't already have one. The receiver would be engraved with the name of you trust, and the city/state in which it is filed. I would also get an electronic copy of your finger prints (.eft file).

Doing the Form 1 online is not too bad, and there are step by step guides. I've done two SBRs on Form 1's and several suppressors on Form 4's.

F1's are taking longer than F4's right now. While you'll have a pistol in your possession, it will take 60 days for the approval for an F1 vs. as little as a week on an F4.

Given the current landscape and need to engrave a pistol, I'm going for existing SBR's whenever possible.

Also, DD stuff is overpriced for what is a mid-tier AR. Saying this as someone who bought a DDM4V7 as their first factory AR (other than the brown color, it wasn't notable).

They aren’t cheap that is for sure.

I've form 1'd a pretty decent number and variety of guns. If the option of a Factory SBR exists for a gun I want as an SBR I'm taking it. Solves many issues both short and long term.

Ok thanks. Stupid follow up. Once I own an sbr (lower) I can put any shorty upper on the serialized sbr lower right?

Ie I’ve always shot a 7.5” 22lr pistol AR. Now I can put that 22 upper on the sbr for a completely legal gun right? (I have heard 22 uppers are hard on AR lowers specifically the hammer and sear, any truth?)

Lots of Q’s.

Once a lower gas it’s stamp and is engraved, any length upper can be swapped out and used.

quote:

Originally posted by pedropcola:
Stupid follow up. Once I own an sbr (lower) I can put any shorty upper on the serialized sbr lower right?

Yes, this is considered a 'Temporary Modification' and of ZERO concern to you, or the ATF.

I am in this exact boat with a MCX I do not need. I looked at the options and I opted to go the factory SBR route.

Biggest reasons why-

No gay arm brace that I would have to replace.
Form 3 will come back in half (or better) the time.
No need to engrave.

While no big deal with any of the above, I think it’s the right choice for me.

Thanks guys.

I understand DD is overpriced for what it is but I have to admit I am drawn to their DD4 versions with a full ambi lower. My HD guns are LWRCi IC DI guns with full ambi as well.

Without a doubt I prefer shooting a full ambi AR over a standard one. I like doing away with some of the awkward positionings to accomplish basic admin functions. In the past I will admit to adding BAD levers to accomplish similar effects. Gasp. lol

My MR556 sbr is full ambi which I like their version even better than DD but not enough to buy another.

Well no gay arm brace sealed it for me. Lol. I’m sbr’ing.

I know we all get our minds set on things, especially sexy looking ARs...BUT, don't rule out (overlook?) Geissele without checking them out first. IMO (and experience!) every part of the Geissele is a quality part, and it's simply a much better rifle that the Daniel Defense!

A little backstory: I'm a lefty, and every AR-15 of mine always gets/needs a pile of upgrades as a result. The Ambi/LH parts include a Norgon Ambi-Catch, a Radian Talon Ambi-Safety, an Oversized Bolt Catch/Release (a POF Enhanced Universal Bolt Catch on forged lowers), and a Radian Raptor CH. Then there's all the 'make the gun just like all my other ARs so it works for me' upgrades, which usually includes a Trigger (either a Geissele, or a Larue MBT), a Magpul Enhanced Trigger Guard (again on forged lowers), a B5 Enhanced SOPMOD Stock, a Magpul MOE+ Pistol Grip.

I purchased a Geissele Super-Duty (a Pre MOD1-A model) and the only thing I added to it was the Norgon Ambi-Catch...Even the Flash Hider (a Surefire SOCOM Closed-Time FH) didn't 'need' to be upgraded. Without question, the list of parts you'd consider updating/replacing, or 'need' to on a DD (and a lot of other ARs!) is quite long by comparison.

I was seriously looking at a Daniel Defense DDM4V7 at the time, and then I handled a Geissele...A visit to the Geissele website a short time later to confirm some of the details and my decision was made. Geissele doesn't seem to cut any corners, anywhere, right down to the Bolt, and the CHF Barrel, which is the main claim to fame for Daniel Defense...The Geissele is simply a LOT MORE more gun for the money! And if your preference is for a factory full-ambi AR, the Geissele MOD1-A checks ALL of the boxes!

Well there is the wait for approval. Then having the buy the stock and possibly buffer tube. So another $200'ish or whatever there in cost.

Then if you have a spare pistol brace sitting around you'll have to build another pistol to go with the brace. Which you'll then have to SBR with a form 1 later.

Rinse and repeat.

It’s a viscous cycle. I just bought a striped lower receiver because I had a spare Colt commercial 6920 upper and figured I would build it out into a complete rifle.

I then almost immediately SBRd it and bought a Geissle Super Duty upper for it.

So now I’ve got this spare Colt 6920 upper just sitting around…