Quoted:
I wasn't old enough to partake during those glorious years and have a question for those that were. During the A.W.B. era did you have to pin the stock and muzzle device and only use a muzzle brake if your rifle was SBR'd?
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If you live in MA IMO the answer is yes, your SBR must either be a grandfathered preban lower or must comply with the MA AWB to be legal.
You can get other opinions and some consider it a gray area, but after reading the confusing laws involved I believe it falls under the AWB restrictions.
It all depends on how much money and freedom you want to bet on the convoluted and contradictory laws in MA and how much of your money and freedom you want to bet on the corrupt MA legal system.
You are talking about the cost of a barrel and brake compared to tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees and potential years in jail, loss of employment and becoming a prohibited person. If you move, just teplace the barrel.
If you are not in MA then disregard.