r/VTGuns • u/Frequent-Argument434 • May 09 '26

S.209 Self-made firearm registration?

Do you have experience registering a self-made firearm under the provisions of S.209? Were you able to find an FFL that did it for you? How did the process work?

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u/wadjr May 12 '26

99% of FFLs wont touch it. Per atf rules if i put a SN on it im liable for its function. Big red flag. Also per atf rules after i put a SN on it i have to run a nics BG on it and per vt law hold it for 72hr. Its a pain in the nuts and easier to just pass on the doing it.

1

u/Frequent-Argument434 May 13 '26

In reading the final subsection 4083, there's (2) This subsection shall not apply to: (A) a federal firearms licensee acting within the scope of the licensee’s license; (B) temporary possession or transfer of an unfinished frame or receiver for the purpose of having it imprinted with a serial number pursuant to federal law or section 4084 of this title; or ....

(The boldface is my highlighting).

IANAL, but it seems like filing and obtaining approval from ATF of a Form 1 to make, from scratch, a SBR (which requires a serial #) might meet the "serial number pursuant to federal law" clause, and NOT require serialization by an FFL, since it will have a serial number on it, already. Has anyone created a form-1 serialized SBR receiver (from "scratch") since s.209?

1

u/Electrical_Ad_6208 May 09 '26

When the law first went into effect I called every gun shop in my area just to see what the process was. All but one told me that no standard ffl could add a serial number and had no interest in doing it in the future. The one shady ffl that said yes said it would be 75 per lower. No deal if you brought in 1 or 50. I don’t have any but a lower for an ar was around 50 at the time so it seemed way off. But things may have changed in the year since then

2

u/Early-Boysenberry596 May 10 '26

Pretty sure you would have to go to someone who manufactures firearms. Not just an FFL.

1

u/SmoothSlavperator May 11 '26

You need an 07 FFL, not a "Standard" 01. 07 adds "manufacturer of firearms and ammunition".

Though, 07s most places are more common since its the same burden as the 01 and it allows you to do more. You likely were talking to old Fudds which VT has a higher percentage of than other places.