I've put together a couple of ARs and have an extra stripped lower laying around.  I've been thinking about putting together a short barrel 9mm.  I was wondering if anyone knows the processes involved and if it is worth it in the long run, or should I just buy one from a local store?

Thanks.

The process in MD is about the same as any other Class III device (suppressor, DD, SBS).  Here is how I did it:

Ship the lower out to have it engraved.  Needs to have the name that will be on the Form 1 you file with the ATF, I put my name on it and the paperwork.  It also needs to have the City and State you live in (this should be where the SBR is being 'manufactured').  Lastly, the engraving should list the calibers that you plan to put on the form.  For the engraving, I sent my stuff out to Orion Arms Mfg and they look good, got them back quick too.

When you get the lower back, engraved, start the paperwork.  From this point it is really the same as any other Title II device except you are filling out a Form 1 (BATFE form to make/manufacture a NFA item) rather than a Form 4 (BATFE form to transfer a NFA device).  The costs are the same, $200 tax stamp, $18 for MDSP background check and whatever it costs for the fingerprint cards.

You will need 2x Blue FBI fingerprint cards from the BATFE's NFA branch.  These can be ordered online from their website along with all of the other forms.  NOTE: You must use the fingerprint cards from the BATFE, they have a little NFA stamp and number on them.
You will also need 1x orange MDSP fingerprint card.  Take all 3 cards to a place that does fingerprinting.  Most State Police Barracks will do it if you are there at the right time.  There are also several Private Detectives that can do it for you.  The digital service is the way to go, cost me about $35 total for the last can I bought, but you walk out without ink all over your hands AND if they mess up a finger they just redo that finger before hitting print on all 3 cards.  Greatly reduces your odds of getting things kicked back for a bad print.

With the fingerprint cards done, fill out the Form 1.  You can do it electronically via http://TitleII.com if you don't mind putting up some of the information online.  It'll plop a .pdf onto your desktop for you to print at your leisure.  Makes for nice clean forms.  You need 2x copies of this form.
DO NOT SIGN THE FORM!

For describing the firearm.  My forms were approved Summer '08 with specific barrel length, 10.5" for one and 5" for the other, a specific overall length (25.5" and 20.5", respectively).  These measurements were done assuming a fully collapsed stock.  I did put multiple calibers on each of my Form 1's, one is 5.56, .22 and the other is 9mm, 5.56 and was approved for it.  I am not sure about having multiple shortened uppers per SBR, some seem to think this is asking for trouble.

Take the 3x fingerprint cards, 2x copies of your Form 1 and a check/money order for $18 (NO cash or credit) to the MDSP Firearms Branch in Pikesville.  Wander into the front desk and ask to see someone from the NFA/Class III section.  Usually, someone just comes down to meet you in the lobby.  Hand over the check, let them review the forms and fingerprint cards and sign them when they ask.
They will take everything when you are done.  Go home, wait 2 weeks to 2 months...  Yea, this stuff is slow.  The MDSP will mail you a little letter saying you passed (assuming you can lawfully own a firearm ) and shortly following that will be a packet in the mail with the CLEO sign-off on the appropriate spot on the 2 Form 1's, along with the 2x FBI/BATFE fingerprint cards.

Now, you will need a Certificate of Citizenship statement (I think that is what it's called).  Again, this can be requested from the BATFE at the same time as the fingerprint cards or you can print it off of TitleII.com.  Fill it out appropriately and sign it.

Place the Citizenship statement, 2x copies of Form 1, 2x copies of fingerprint cards and 1x check for $200 made out to the BATFE in an envelope.  Address it to the current address listed on the BATFE NFA Branch website, return address as appropriate and mail it (typically NO signature required.

Now wait, again.  This will be more like 2-3 months.  You will get an envelope in the mail with 1x copy of your Form 1 and a cancelled tax stamp on it.  At this point you are legal to manufacture the SBR described on the form.

You should know, that it could be construed as 'Constructive Intent' to own an AR and a barrel less than 16" without the accompanying task stamp, so hold off on the barrel purchase until you have the papers back!  You can purchase up all the other components though.

Maryland does not have additional requirements on the re-registration of an SBR or anything like that.  You are obligated to file a 5320.20 with the BATFE before moving the device across State lines for ANY period of time.  These are also available from BATFE's site or at TitleII.com and you can usually fill them out to cover the calendar year if you plan to make routine trips for range or matches with the SBR.

I would recommend that you keep a photocopy of the Form 1 (double sided) and the 5320.20 and keep them with the SBR whenever you have it out of the safe (probably even when it is in the safe).  Keep the original copy in a secure, safe and fireproof location that you remember how to get into...

There is another post, stickied at the top of the local section here, put together by RVB a few years ago.  A few details have changed (like MDSP's Firearms Branch moved) but it is a good read for his experiences building a very nice 5" barreled 9mm (a lot of fun to shoot, too).

Hope this all helps and please do remember, I am not a lawyer, don't play one TV and don't have a Holiday Inn Express within about 5,000 miles of my current location...
-David

Is this a one time $200 or a once a year $200?

One time "tax" stamp. Looks like a postage stamp on the approved form.

Harford engraving service performs engraving for sbrs. They are in Bel Air md, and i think they can do it in about an hour while you wait.

Harford Engraving subforum on Maryland Shooters

To the OP, there are three ways to get you SBR paperwork done; as an individual, as a corporation, and as a trust. The easiest way is to setup a living trust (using Quicken Willmaker) and having the forms notarized and then sending them off. There are no fingerprints or LEO's to sign off on the paperwork.

There are plenty of how-tos and walk throughs online for the trust route. Here's a link for a discussion from silencertalk.com  

My last Form 4 took 7 weeks, about a month and a half. Not nearly as long as some of the wait times folks are having now. But doing a lot of reading and research made the paperwork less complicated than it appears and I think made it easier for the examiner to check and thus a shorter wait time.

BIG +1 to Harford Engraving Service, he's done an AR, 870 and Uzi for me.

Kharn