NFA Ruling and ATF Policy: 4473s Are Now an Option. We Still Recommend a Form 4.

On August 5, a federal court ruled that with the tax at $0, the NFA's registration rules can't stand on Congress's power to tax. On October 9, ATF announced that it will no longer require approval or registration for short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and suppressors, and that policy applies to everyone (ATF open letter). Neither the ruling nor ATF's policy repealed the NFA or changed state law, and ATF says enforcement could resume.

Starting in mid-October, you can buy an SBR or SBS from us on a Form 4473 alone where state law allows it. At launch, that means home delivery in 19 states or pickup at our Texas store. Fifteen states still tie lawful possession to federal registration, so a 4473 isn't an option there. We still recommend a Form 4 for most buyers. ATF's own FAQ says "the NFA treats unregistered firearms as contraband" (ATF FAQ). A Form 4 keeps your SBR or SBS compliant today and under future administrations. The tax is $0, and approvals come back in days. If we can't ship to your door in your state, we can ship to a local dealer you choose. You pick that option at checkout.

4473 vs. Form 4: What to Know →    4473 Ship-to-Home Details →    The August 5 Ruling →

How to Buy a Short Barrel Rifle or Shotgun: Form 4 or 4473

Choose your short-barreled rifle or shotgun, check out, and sign your paperwork. We prepare and file your ATF Form 4 electronically, keep you updated, and ship to your door after approval. The federal tax stamp has been $0 since January 1, 2026, and Capitol Armory handles the process from purchase through delivery.

New to short-barreled rifles? Learn more at SBR.how →

How Capitol Armory Handles the Form 4

Capitol Armory handles your Form 4 from purchase through delivery. We sell the SBR or SBS, prepare the paperwork, and submit it electronically. We keep your fingerprints and trust on file for future purchases, and after approval we ship following approved ATF procedures, with no transfer fees and no third-party dealer in the middle.

This page covers buying a complete short barrel rifle or shotgun through a Form 4 transfer, which we recommend for most buyers. Buying on a 4473 instead? See 4473 or Form 4. If you would rather build one from a firearm you already own, see Form 4 or Form 1.

What Is an SBR? Short Barrel Rifle and Shotgun Rules

SBR stands for short barrel rifle. Under federal law, a rifle becomes an SBR when its barrel is under 16 inches or its overall length is under 26 inches, and a shotgun becomes a short barrel shotgun (SBS) when its barrel is under 18 inches or its overall length is under 26 inches (26 U.S.C. § 5845). Both are regulated under the National Firearms Act. Under ATF's October 9 policy, ATF no longer requires approval before you buy or build one, but we recommend registering yours on an approved Form 4 or Form 1.

What Barrel Length Is Considered an SBR?

A rifle is an SBR if the barrel is under 16 inches or the overall length is under 26 inches, even if the barrel itself is longer. Barrel length is measured from the bolt face to the muzzle, and overall length is measured with a folding or collapsible stock fully extended.

How Short Can a Shotgun Barrel Be?

Without NFA registration, a shotgun barrel must be at least 18 inches long and the shotgun must be at least 26 inches overall. Anything shorter is a short barrel shotgun. In states that allow them, you can own one with an approved Form 4 or Form 1.

Definitions: 26 U.S.C. § 5845(a). Travel rule: 18 U.S.C. § 922(a)(4). October 9 policy: ATF open letter and ATF FAQ.

SBR Tax Stamp 2026: $0, and We Still Recommend a Form 4

The $200 tax stamp on short barrel rifles and shotguns went to $0 on January 1, 2026. Under ATF's October 9 policy, ATF no longer requires approval before you buy or build one. We still recommend registering it, on a Form 4 when you buy or a Form 1 when you build, because registration keeps your SBR or SBS compliant today and under future administrations. Our NFA tax stamp elimination guide covers the change in detail.

Can I Buy an SBR on a 4473? The NFA Ruling and ATF's October 9 Policy

On August 5, 2026, a federal judge in Texas ruled in Silencer Shop Foundation v. ATF that with the tax at $0, the NFA's registration rules can't stand on Congress's power to tax. On October 9, ATF announced that it will no longer require approval under the NFA before making or transferring short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, suppressors, and "any other weapons" (ATF open letter). Neither the ruling nor ATF's policy repealed the NFA or changed state law.

SBRs and SBSs have one more federal rule. Under 18 U.S.C. § 922(b)(4), a licensed dealer cannot sell a short-barreled rifle or shotgun unless the Attorney General has specifically authorized it. The court did not block that law, but ATF says no process exists yet to authorize those sales outside the NFA, so it will not enforce § 922(b)(4) until new regulations exist. ATF says it "is creating forms and drafting regulations as quickly as possible to implement a non-NFA approval process" (ATF FAQ).

Starting in mid-October, you can buy an SBR or SBS from us on a Form 4473 alone where state law allows it, the same way we sell 4473 suppressors: home delivery in 19 states or pickup at our Texas store. Fifteen states still tie lawful possession to federal registration, so a 4473 isn't an option there, and you still need a Form 4. It is open to individual buyers, and for now you need a license to carry or concealed weapons permit issued by your state of residence. If we can't ship to your door in your state, we can ship to a local dealer you choose. You pick that option at checkout.

We still recommend a Form 4 for most buyers. Here is what to know before you buy an SBR or SBS on a 4473:

• The NFA treats it as contraband. That is ATF's own wording: "the NFA treats unregistered firearms as contraband" (ATF FAQ).
• Travel still takes a Form 5320.20. ATF says you still have to file one before taking an SBR or SBS across state lines, even an unregistered one.
• State law still applies. ATF says "most states require that individuals who possess NFA items comply with federal law or register them under the National Firearms Act." ATF also says it can't tell you whether your state will count an unregistered SBR or SBS as lawfully held under federal law, so it tells owners to check with state and local authorities.
• The policy can change. ATF says enforcement could resume if Congress adds a tax, a court overturns the injunction, or the Justice Department changes course. A court order and an ATF policy aren't law.
• No established path to register later. ATF says "federal law does not generally permit subsequent registration of unregistered NFA items," and there are no provisions that would automatically grandfather them.

For more, read 4473 vs. Form 4 Suppressors, which covers the same policy for suppressors, or The August 5 Ruling for background.

How to Register a Short Barrel Rifle or Shotgun

There are two ways to register an SBR or SBS. A Form 4 transfers a factory-built SBR or SBS from a dealer to you, which is the process covered on this page. A Form 1 is used when you make one from a rifle, pistol, or shotgun you already own. Under ATF's October 9 policy, both are voluntary for now, and ATF says it will "approve all NFA forms for those who voluntarily wish to submit them" (ATF FAQ).

How to SBR a Rifle You Already Own

To SBR an AR-15 or another rifle you already own, file a Form 1 SBR application and wait for approval before installing a short barrel or cutting anything down. The NFA requires approval before you make an NFA firearm (26 U.S.C. § 5822). ATF says it won't enforce that requirement for now and that unlicensed makers no longer need to file a Form 1, but it still accepts Form 1s from anyone who wants the build registered. We recommend filing one, so your SBR is registered and compliant today and under future administrations. Our Form 1 filing service prepares the application, gets your digital signature, and submits it to the ATF for you.

Once your Form 1 is approved, engrave the firearm to ATF standards, including the maker’s name, city, and state (27 CFR 479.102). Our SBR engraving service handles those requirements so your build is marked correctly.

Traveling Across State Lines With Your SBR or SBS

Federal law requires approval before you take a short barrel rifle or shotgun across state lines (18 U.S.C. § 922(a)(4)). You request it on ATF Form 5320.20, which you can fill out at eforms.atf.gov using your eForms username and PIN, and your destination state has to allow SBRs or SBSs too. That rule is part of the Gun Control Act, not the NFA, and ATF says it still applies to SBRs and SBSs even if they are unregistered (ATF FAQ).

File it well before a hunting trip, competition, or move. You need the approval in hand before crossing state lines. Suppressors are not covered by this rule, so a registered suppressor does not need a Form 5320.20 to travel. If you carry an unregistered SBR or SBS, ATF also advises caution before transporting it through states where such items are prohibited (ATF open letter).

Trust or Individual: Future Orders Require Just a Signature

Filing in your own name is the fastest path, but only you can legally possess the SBR or SBS. An NFA trust lets the people you name, such as a spouse or family member, legally possess it too. It also makes transferring NFA items to the next generation simpler. Our $79.95 Capitol Armory Trust covers every NFA item you will ever own.

We securely store your trust and fingerprints, so future orders require just a signature. With a trust on file, the information we need is already there as you add SBRs, SBSs, suppressors, and other NFA items over time. NFA Trust vs Individual Filing explains the difference in detail.

Short Barrel Rifle and Shotgun Questions

Answers to the questions we hear most before someone orders a short-barreled rifle or shotgun.

What is an SBR?

SBR stands for short barrel rifle, a rifle with a barrel under 16 inches or an overall length under 26 inches. It is regulated under the National Firearms Act. Under ATF's October 9 policy, you can also buy one on a 4473 where state law allows it, but we recommend an approved ATF Form 4 to buy one or an approved Form 1 to build one.

What barrel length is considered an SBR?

Any rifle barrel under 16 inches, measured from the bolt face to the muzzle. A rifle with a longer barrel is still an SBR if its overall length is under 26 inches with the stock fully extended.

What is a short barrel shotgun?

A short barrel shotgun, or SBS, is a shotgun with a barrel under 18 inches or an overall length under 26 inches. You buy one the same way as an SBR: on a Form 4 with a $0 tax stamp, which we recommend, or on a 4473 where state law allows it.

How short can a shotgun barrel be?

Without NFA registration, a shotgun barrel must be at least 18 inches and the shotgun at least 26 inches overall. Shorter than that is a short barrel shotgun, which you can own with an approved Form 4 or Form 1 in states that allow them.

Do you need a tax stamp for an SBR?

No federal tax is due. The tax on making or transferring a short barrel rifle or shotgun dropped from $200 to $0 on January 1, 2026. Under ATF's October 9 policy, ATF no longer requires approval, but we still recommend registering yours on a Form 4 when you buy or a Form 1 when you build. Registration keeps your SBR or SBS compliant today and under future administrations.

Is the SBR tax stamp going away?

The tax already went away on January 1, 2026, when it dropped from $200 to $0, but the registration requirement is still in the law. Under ATF's October 9 policy, ATF won't enforce it for now. Our NFA tax stamp elimination guide explains what changed and what stayed the same.

Can I buy an SBR on a Form 4473 now?

Yes, under ATF's October 9 policy, where state law allows it. 18 U.S.C. § 922(b)(4) still bars dealers from selling an SBR or SBS without ATF authorization, but ATF says it won't enforce that law until it writes regulations for a new approval process. Starting mid-October, we offer 4473 SBRs and SBSs shipped to your home in 19 states and at our Texas store. Fifteen states still tie lawful possession to federal registration, so you still need a Form 4 there. ATF's own FAQ says "the NFA treats unregistered firearms as contraband," and you still need a Form 5320.20 to cross state lines, so we still recommend a Form 4. 4473 or Form 4 has the details.

How long does it take to get an SBR approved?

Individual eForm 4s averaged 6 days and trust eForm 4s averaged 20 days for applications the ATF finalized in August 2026. A background check delay on you or anyone on your trust can add a few months. Current numbers are on our ATF wait times page.

How do you register a short barrel rifle?

You register an SBR by filing an ATF Form 4 when you buy a complete one, or an ATF Form 1 when you build one. Registration is voluntary under ATF's October 9 policy, and we recommend it. When you buy from Capitol Armory, we prepare and file the Form 4 for you, and our Form 1 filing service handles builds.

How do I SBR a rifle I already own?

We recommend filing a Form 1 SBR application and waiting for approval before you install a short barrel or cut anything down. ATF says unlicensed makers no longer need to file a Form 1, but a Form 1 registers your build. After approval, engrave the firearm with the maker’s name, city, and state, which our SBR engraving service can do for you.

Can my spouse use my SBR?

Only if your spouse is listed on the NFA trust that owns it. An SBR or SBS registered to an individual can only be possessed by that individual.

Can I take my SBR or SBS to another state?

Yes, with an approved ATF Form 5320.20 before you travel, and only to a state that allows SBRs or SBSs. That applies even if your SBR or SBS is unregistered. You can file the 5320.20 at eforms.atf.gov with your eForms username and PIN, and suppressors do not need this form.

Are short barrel rifles and shotguns legal?

Yes, in the states listed below. We recommend registering yours on a Form 4 or Form 1, and ATF's FAQ notes that most states require NFA items to comply with federal law or be registered under the NFA. Under ATF's October 9 policy, a 4473 is also an option where state law allows it. We ship direct to every listed state except Michigan and Pennsylvania, where we transfer your SBR or SBS to a local FFL of your choice, and in Maryland, most SBRs require a Maryland Form 77R.

Ready to Buy?

With the federal tax stamp now $0, buying an SBR or SBS no longer includes the $200 federal tax. We handle the Form 4 process from purchase through approval.

Short Barrel Rifle Laws: Where SBRs and SBSs Are Legal

SBRs and SBSs are legal in the states below. On a Form 4, we deliver to your residence in each listed state, with no FFL transfer, dealer pickup, or extra fees, except where noted below the list. 4473 home delivery is available in 18 of them at launch.

If you are not sure about the rules where you live, contact us and we will confirm →

* State restrictions apply. Colorado and Vermont limit magazine capacity to 10 rounds. Maryland has an overall minimum length requirement and a magazine capacity limit, and most SBRs require a Maryland Form 77R. † SBRs and SBSs are legal in Michigan and Pennsylvania, but we cannot ship them there. In both states, we transfer your SBR or SBS to a local FFL of your choice. We ship suppressors to Connecticut, but we cannot ship SBRs or SBSs there.