My first AR was a 7.5" 5.56 pistol, built (assembled) from whatever parts I could get my hands on. Ran fine from day one, contrary to the myriad malfunctions that were guaranteed by 'experts'. Was fun. I liked it.
I was offered one of the original Sig SB-15 braces for cheap, and gave it a shot. Hated it. Too heavy, bulky, and short; and impossible to use as an actual brace, if desiring to use the sights.
Then I started assembling rifles.
When I wanted to combine a butt stock and short barrel, I hesitated because of all of the fuddlore and over-talked BS surrounding SBRs and ATF headaches.
Eventually, I just filed a Form 1 and went for it. Approval was something like 76 days. A local machinist engraved the lower for me, a couple days later. And I assembled the fun.
I should have stamped it sooner. I missed out on a lot of fun.
Form 20s (ATF Form 5320.20) are annoying, but not as bad as many people portray them. I typically send mine off in early April each year - probably today, since the subject is fresh in my mind.
I have them saved as pre-filled .pdf files. One per state. Each year, I copy-paste a file (or two), change the name(s), and add a state (or two) by entering a new address.
To change dates, I open one file and change it from, say, 08/01/202
1-07/31/202
2, to 08/01/202
2-07/31/202
3. (Yes, just two digits until 2029, or 2027 after the form is up for revision in 2026.)
After changing the dates, all I have to do is copy once and paste into every other file in a matter of minutes. Copy-paste-paste-paste-paste.
I print them off, sign, send them all off in one 9x12 envelope for about $3, and get them back, piece-meal, over the following weeks.
Good for the year, for every state in my list.
In all, it takes about an hour of my time - including the drive to the post office.
I added an SBS this year. Initial filing will take a couple hours to build up the state list. But it is a one-time setup fee. In the following years, it is just change dates, copy-paste-paste-paste-paste...
I do still have the pistol. It is my only AR that just is what it is. It does one thing, and does it well. The rest get uppers and lowers swapped around regularly. The 7.5" upper has been used on an SBR lower, but I tend to just keep the assembly in pistol form.
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Thinking about it now, it would probably be even quicker and easier to do with a python script that filled out the forms based on data in a maintained spreadsheet. Check info. Make sure there isn't a revised F20. Hit 'go'. Verify output. Print. Sign. Mail.
15 minutes per firearm, probably. -Assuming the printer can keep up.
Ahahahaha! It already exists!
https://pypi.org/project/fill5320/