Articles Posted in Short-Barreled Shotguns (SBSs)

It appears that ATF does not permit individuals to own the parts necessary to make a SBR or SBS prior to receiving their permission to manufacture / assemble the items. Because of this is it recommended that the same person should not purchase all of the items necessary to make a SBR or SBS and if they do, they should not take all of them home from the dealer. As a barrel can often be attached to several guns, it would be prudent to leave the barrel at your Class III dealer prior to receiving an approved ATF Form 1.

This information comes from a similar question and is found on the ATF website.

A FFL (Type-7 or Type-10) who pays the Special Occupational Tax (SOT) may possess the parts required to assemble NFA firearms (SBR or SBS). A non-licensee (individual, trust, corporation, or other business entity) or FFL who has not paid the SOT is required to register any NFA firearm via an ATF Form 1 (5320.1) prior to acquisition of the parts required to assemble such firearm.

There have been many discussions on this and it appears that as of July 2010 the answer is:
Yes, and you will not be required to again register the firearm before replacing the short barrel. ATF recommends written notification to the NFA Branch when a firearm’s configuration is permanently changed or removed from the purview of the NFA.

If I put my original barrel back on my SBR or SBS, can I take it across state lines without using an ATF Form 5320.20?

If you no longer own the barrel, you can do this, but if you still own or possess the short barrel, the item is still restricted by the NFA unless you remove the item from the NFA by contacting the ATF.

If you want to make a permanent change to the SBR or SBS, it should be removed from the NFA and will not then be regulated under the NFA. If the owner maintains possession or control over the short barrel riffle or shotgun they should be careful about constructive possession of an SBR or SBS. While there is no requirement to notify the ATF of the transfer of an item which has been removed from the NFA, the ATF does recommend that you notify the NFA branch of such changes in writing so that the possessor is not mistakenly identified as the owner if the firearm is later used in a crime.

Until the firearms is removed from the NFA registry, it will have the same restrictions regardless of the current barrel length. You can not put a longer barrel on to bring to a state where a short barrel is permitted or avoid the necessity of a 5320.20 to cross state lines. Once a SBR or SBS it will always be a SBR or SBS until the item configuration is changed and the gun is removed from the registry. If removed, you can not the original Form 1 to change it back to an SBR or SBS at a later date