I wanted to wait until this had came to a conclusion until I posted my experience.

I got ahold of a stripped SDI lower ($200) back during the rush from a distributor. Being from Nashville I had wanted to use this lower to build out a rifle, granted SDI is native of that same area. I was going to use it for my 1st SBR, went through all the paperwork and sent it out with $200 MO. Around 3 months later I finally had a kit order come in that I had previously ordered, as I was going to use that LPK in the Sabre Defence lower. While doing this I encountered a problem with the detent/selector/spring. The selector would protrude when all these parts were installed, and the hammer wouldn't drop when fired. After switching out all these individual parts, as well as trying the originals on a different lower I concluded that it had to be the lower itself. I got on the phone with SDI, and went through the process of sending back the lower for inspection under warranty. While on the phone I also asked about the possibility of whether or not they would be able to return to me a new lower with the original serial if it indeed had turned out to be out of spec. I was told that I would be better of having the original paperwork voiding and resubmitting, as it would be a more difficult process otherwise. I thought to myself huh....   A day after this phone call my paperwork came back approved. I sent the lower in with a note informing them that my paperwork came back approved and that I needed the same serial if possible. ( I of course got to pay the shipping). I waited a week and called to check in for an update and was informed that the lower was currently going through the inspection process and that I would be notified on the conclusion. I was also informed that they had been in contact with the ATF, and that it was not legally permitted to issue the same serial # on a new lower, and that a copy of the email containing this statement would be sent to me. Needless to say I waited another week without this email showing up and without receiving the conclusion to the testing. I decided to call the ATF for myself to make sure the information I was given was correct. This of course took me a couple days to get an answer for. I was referred up the ladder to someone who could answer my question. What SDI had told me was apparently correct, as one of the ATF specialists said they could legally issue out that same serial. I then called back SDI to check to see what was going on with my lower, and had to leave a voicemail. No response Thursday, no response the next....then figured I would wait until the weekend was over and call back. I was told that the lower was indeed out of spec and that's what was causing my problem. I was also told that it would be another 3-4 weeks (however I was told not to quote him) until I would receive my replacement. I asked if there was a way I could be given the serial #, so that I could begin the 2nd round of my paperwork. However that was a no go. So now all together I'm looking at a 6-7 week (at least) turn around time on receiving a new lower. I also can't wait to see how long it will take to have my paperwork voided and have my $200 returned to me. Then I get to turn around and wait another 3 months for approval.

Needless to say this is a pain in my ass. Instead of getting what I payed I will receive this inconvenience as well as be out the shipping fees.

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Why didn't you install an LPK and test the lower prior to applying for the SBR?

Who did you buy the SDI lower from?

Sabre is a major manufacture and produces nice stuff but like everyone they make mistakes and are taking the steps to fix them.

I would just buy a new lower and sell the SDI lower (or keep if for a spare) when they send it to you so you don't have to wait so long, the SDI lowers aren't that special anyway since the don't have the cat head on them IMO.

Who did you buy the SDI lower from?

Sabre is a major manufacture and produces nice stuff but like everyone they make mistakes and are taking the steps to fix them.

I would just buy a new lower and sell the SDI lower (or keep if for a spare) when they send it to you so you don't have to wait so long, the SDI lowers aren't that special anyway since the don't have the cat head on them IMO.

I had a LPK on order that was supposed to be coming
LPK's were scarce and overpriced anyways
I didn't feel like postponing the 3 month average wait period
I expected more from a $200 product, as I havn't had problems with "lower tier" lowers
..............

It came from Talon Arms

It sucks that Sabre is screwing you over but I have to go with this guy on the ATF end of things.

Chock it up to lesson learned. All manufacturers make a lemon here and there. Unfortunately you chose to trust that your lower was in spec without verifying. Good luck getting it sorted out.

you should have bought a spikes

Hind sight is 20/20 of course.  But building and test firing a lower with a non SBR upper would be a good idea.

Assuming Talon had more in stock...I have no doubt that they would be more than willing to take care of you, but you'd be out an additional transfer fee, and it won't help your SBR paperwok situation. Maybe Sabre will do something to ease your pain a bit as well. Talk to Grant (I believe it is).

I didn't have a separate LPK to put into the lower at that point in time. I also didn't consider removing one and installing it into the lower as an option.
It's clear that this could of been avoided if I had done that, but at this point I'm not irritated by the out of spec incident.  Now SDI's customer service is more irritating. I'm also not the kind of person to suggest compensation for being inconvenienced.

What Am I missing? If you return the lower to the original manufacturer they should be able to issue another lower with the same serial (destroying the original lower in the process). It happened once to a "friend" with an out of spec Stag lower. Stag sent "him" a prepaid label, the lower was shipped directly to them...A week later "he" received the lower back, in spec, same serial. Everything was done legally as what Stag did was a "gunsmith repair". As far as anybody is concerned it is the same lower...

I would bet that most people on here in your situation would have gotten the paperwork started as you did. It just sucks you got a bum lower. Just unlucky. Hope you can find a way to speed things up. Crazy what we have to go through to make what we want.

Sorry to hear of your debacle.  I purchased an SDI "No Cat" lower late last year for a build.  Bought it to fit under a new 16" M4 Bushy top end that fit great on a "low end" DPMS lower.  I was bugged about having such a "low end" receiver build and I wanted to upgrade my build to a "better" lower.  BIG mistake!  DPMS lower was a good if not perfect fit under that Bushy top end and functioned flawlessly.  While the SDI lower went together easy enough, the fit was piss poor on the upper(Loose as a Goose and very"gappy"), and any other upper I tried(CMMG, BCM & Colt).  I dumped the lower and when I went to get another lower, Oh man, all were gone.  Lucky for me, my local dealer got in several DPMS lowers and I snagged another.  New build is a combo of DPMS lower and a 14.7" perm flashider CMMG upper.  Used a LPK from Grant at G & R Tactical and this is one damn fine shooting little carbine.  Anyway, my point is I will pass on SDI from now on, as I was less than impressed with the QC on the lower.  They may build good M2 barrels for the DOD and I thank them for that.  But AR's?  No SDI's for me until I see a better QC product.  Not slaming SDI, just my experience with a "No Cat" lower.  FWIW my Brothers.
Ofc. JL

At $200, you over paid by about $60. I was buying them $125 a year before the election and $140 a few months before the election. I've got experience with 3 of them. All have good fit and finish. Sabre does have a .mil contract they've been working on recently for I believe to be 1000 M4 rifles for .gov contractors over seas. This is why they have been so busy lately and you've been seeing less of their fine products for sale publically.

+2

Man that stinks.  Three more months.....maybe.  

+1 - Sorry man. I know this sucks and you want to blame this all on SDI but the delays and aggravation rests on you, not them. Hopefully anybody else reading this that is planning on registering a lower as an SBR will learn from your mistake.

Thanks for sharing.  I have a couple stripped Tactical Innovations Billet Lowers and I want to make one an SBR.  I will make sure to build and test fire mine before submitting my paperwork after reading your post.

I'm sorry for you misery.  I imagine that the percentage of "out of spec" lowers coming out of SDI is very low.  I wonder how their QC process compares to other manufacturers?

To avoid the wait, you should be able to engrave the old serial # on the new lower.  The serial # you put on the ATF form 1 does not HAVE to be the manufacturer's serial # - they like it that way but it's not mandatory, that serial # you give them just needs to be on the gun somewhere, so have it engraved below your trust info or personal info when you get the new lower.  At least that's my understanding of form 1's Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

The only thing I'd "blame" SDI for is not knowing the law - which might even not totally be their fault, I'd bet there might be more than one person at the ATF who believes you can't switch out a serial ... especially on those super evil SBRs. No real way to tell on that one. Do they even sell factory SBRs? (I know they make <16" uppers, however, I haven't come across a true factory SBR from them).

Other than that, I understand the wait being annoying, but I'd never, ever, ever cut a check without making sure that thing was 110% good to go. I don't care how name brand that shit is.

Hope you get it sorted out, good luck.

This is what I thought also. I'm curious......

I find it incredible that after reading my posts people are still finding it necessary to say "should of tested an lpk in the lower first" Clearly there is a need for people to elevate themselves and throw salt in the wounds.

Slanky, I've actually heard this from someone else but was told by a class 3 dealer that this actually isn't legal. I will try to see if I can squeeze an answer out of the ATF.



Yes they do make factory SBR's

Quit asking dealers that have no clue what they are talking about and the ATF who will try to screw you any way possible questions. This stuff has all been asked and handled by someone before. Go to our SBR/Class 3 section and ask there, specifically tony_k.

When I mentioned "hearing about this from someone" it was from the class 3 forum.

Likewise that 1 person was the only one who said you could do that.

If the ATF is willing to screw me on any questions, then I could assume they would be willing to screw me if this action was ever brought to their attention.

I am "pretty sure" that one person was correct. I know it has been done before and everything I know about Class 3 has come from this forum. Someone there more knowledgeable than me has said it was legit. The manufacturer is allowed to remake the same serial #, I know that for a fact. LMT did it in another thread where someone encountered a problem similar to yours with a lower being out of spec recently. See if you can find it. The serial # thing is valid also, there is no reason for it not to be. You are "remanufacturing" the lower when you file the SBR paperwork with the ATF. If that lower has been destroyed then you won't ever have an issue. If it hasn't been destroyed then you might have a problem.

I will try to find that thread...

I also posted a separate specified topic about this in the c3 forum.

All I know is that I would prefer to do something that is recognized or understood by the "majority of the ATF". I know that many of their employees have know knowledge of their job what so ever. This was displayed by the amount of people who had to refer me up the chain of command to ask about keeping the same serial #. It seems that even if the guy was wrong, it would be a chore to try and convince SDI otherwise, and to find someone at the ATF who would confirm it was legal. I was also told by SDI the original lower was going to be scrapped....so if this is true I don't think I would have to worry about the same serial popping up.....or they would devalidate what they claimed in the first place.

Good deal. I just went back through my subscribed threads and I couldn't find it. I probably just took it off. Someone will remember the thread: Basically the grip mount part of the lower was misaligned by a mm and caused a Magpul miad not to sit right. He sent it in and I am relatively SURE he was able to get the replacement serial # and all. I know it was discussed in the thread a bunch and that is what I remember happening... As I said, someone remembers it as it was an LMT lower and everyone posted on it until the thing went a good number of pages.

BTW, get to work.....

This.

I have several SDI lowers.  Luckily I also had LPKs and they went in fine.  Then, I sent the paperwork in.  That said, I feel for your pain.