SIG-TAC SB15 AR-15 Pistol Brace

When Sig announced their SB15 Stabilizing Brace many in the gun community were -surprised it was approved by the BATF.  
The device attaches to an AR15 pistol -buffer tube and allows the shooter to stabilize the handgun by placing their forearm through an opening in the device and then -tightening it down with a velcro strap.  The device looks like a conventional AR15 collapsible stock but in the eyes of the BATF isn’t not.  It’s a “brace” that’s not intended to be -shouldered by the shooter.  The material used to make the SB15 is rubbery in feel and is pliable, it’s not hard plastic like a conventional M4 style stock.

This accessory was -designed by veteran Alex Bosco to assist a disabled veteran who was having a hard time shooting his AR15 pistol.  The benefits became obvious to the designer and those who had a chance to shoot the prototypes, now all they needed was a way to manufacture it.  That’s where Sig comes into the picture. Sig will bring the device to market as the SB15 with a price at around $150 and it should be available -sometime this summer. 

Every device sold will have a portion of the proceeds donated to HAVA, a group that helps disabled -combat veterans. This alone makes me want to buy one even though I don’t own an AR15 pistol -yet.Despite the intent of the design, the SB15 equipped pistol can be shouldered like a conventional rifle as I’ve seen -people doing it.  However, I’ve also seen people -shouldering AR15 pistols using the stumpy buffer tube as a make -shift stock long before the SB15 came onto the market.  

Surely the ATF considered people would shoulder the pistol with the device thus skirting the spirit of the NFA laws, in particular those governing short barreled rifles.  So how did this device slip through the technical branch and actually receive a letter of approval making it legal to own and use?  I couldn’t tell you, but I’m not complaining about it.  I also don’t know the legalities of firing the SB15 equipped pistol from the shoulder, even if it’s not really practical.  Will it get you into trouble if you are caught firing it from the shoulder?   Who knows, but I personally wouldn’t want to be the one who gets to test it in court.  The supplied ATF letter -reads, “Based on our evaluation, FTB finds that the submitted forearm brace, when attached to a firearm, does not convert that -weapon to be fired from the shoulder and would not alter the classification of a pistol or other firearm.”