Converting JP pistol to rifle for uspsa

[tnshoot]

During a few year break from much competition shooting I bought a JP GMR-15 pistol with brace with the idea it would be a fun suppressed range toy.  I was right, it was fun!!!!, but I had already been thinking about getting back into our local USPSA matches when the ATF went and made my pistol a SBR I don’t have a stamp for, so time to rebuild this upper and give PCC division a try.  Lemons into lemonade you know!
 

I think I’ve read all I can possibly read on my options and I’m still not sure exactly which direction I want to go.  Thinking about a JP 14.5 with vertical comp and a smoke composites handguard swapped into my existing upper. Obviously not the most cost conscious solution but I rarely regret buying quality.  Although I have to say I feel like JP is ridiculously proud of a barrel/comp at almost $500.  If there are other options worth considering I’m all ears.  I guess specifically I’m most interested in other barrel/comp options I might want to consider.  
 

Thanks in advance for any insight and experience you’ve had in this area that could help this guy put together a gun I’ll be happy with for while to come. 

[Tampa-XD45]

I would spend the $200 for the ATF form 1 e-filing, another $50 for a stock (after getting the tax stamp) and you'll have a legal SBR.  Regardless of the recent ATF rulings, braces aren't allowed in USPSA.

 

SBRs are tons of fun in USPSA matches.

Edited March 30, 2023 by Tampa-XD45

[Z-Chaos-Factor]

Muzzle devices do very little with very 9mm due to the limited gas. 

 

I wouldnt focus so much on the muzzle device. 

 

Most people prefer a lightweight barrel and handguard alot of times this results in a shorter barrel and shroud combo. 

 

I have also found that the gun shoots better with a shorter barrel due to less back pressure. 

 

I would look into a odin works ultralight, JP shrouded barrel or get a brekke barrel and their extra long muzzle device.

 

Like was mentioned above though of your trying to save money and dont intend to travel then just pay the tax stamp and shoot it as a SBR. 

[Flatland Shooter]

So if I quickly buy an AR pistol (don't currently own one) and file their paperwork for an SBR, what would be the waiting period to get approval from the Feds?   And once approved, can I switch calibers legally (from .223 to 22LR)?

[Dirty_J]

No way I’d spend $500 on a JP 9mm barrel. 
 

It does NOTHING that a $200-300 Davinci, MBX or Taccom barrel doesn’t do. 

[SnipTheDog]

I have an Odin Works barrel for my EPC.  16" barrel with rifling over the first 5.5 inches.  It's super light and works for my state's rules. OdinWorks

[tnshoot]

These replies are very interesting to me. From what I’ve read I’ve gathered most preferred the 5.5” shrouded barrels or similar design for steel challenge but it seemed like most Uspsa/idpa pcc shooters were tending more towards barrels that were rifled 10-14” and then some sort of comp/ extension to get to 16”.  I understood that to be a result of most people wanting a slightly heavier gun to help mitigate dot bounce, which obviously comes into play on a target that needs two rounds fast vs steel challenge that only needs one shot then a quick transition. Most of the suggestions so far are counter to what I assumed I’d hear with the exception of Dirty_J who said kinda what I’ve been thinking. So tell me what I’m giving up by going 5.5” shrouded ultralight type barrel for my intended use….

[tnshoot]

4 hours ago, Flatland Shooter said:

So if I quickly buy an AR pistol (don't currently own one) and file their paperwork for an SBR, what would be the waiting period to get approval from the Feds?   And once approved, can I switch calibers legally (from .223 to 22LR)?

Don’t know about waiting period but as far as I understand once you sbr a lower (because that’s technically the firearm) you could put whatever upper or uppers on it you want. 
 

However, none of this is relevant to the question I asked.  So any suggestions regarding pcc barrels for Uspsa are welcome if you have experience in this area

[Dirty_J]

1 minute ago, tnshoot said:

These replies are very interesting to me. From what I’ve read I’ve gathered most preferred the 5.5” shrouded barrels or similar design for steel challenge but it seemed like most Uspsa/idpa pcc shooters were tending more towards barrels that were rifled 10-14” and then some sort of comp/ extension to get to 16”.  I understood that to be a result of most people wanting a slightly heavier gun to help mitigate dot bounce, which obviously comes into play on a target that needs two rounds fast vs steel challenge that only needs one shot then a quick transition. Most of the suggestions so far are counter to what I assumed I’d hear with the exception of Dirty_J who said kinda what I’ve been thinking. So tell me what I’m giving up by going 5.5” shrouded ultralight type barrel for my intended use….

You’re spot on with the shrouded barrel. 
 

The 5” sleeved barrels are ideal for Steel challenge. Less so for uspsa with 2 per target required. 
 

You’ll also find folks running the sleeved barrels because they just don’t want to load a round specific for a PCC and the 5” barrel gives a PF similar to their handguns.  
 

For USPSA style shooting… you absolutely want some weight on the barrel/muzzle device. 
 

With that said.. I have both. A pair of 14.5” barrels with a pinned/welded comp for USPSA and a Taccom ULW barrel for steel challenge. 
 

My same pcc load is ~ 134PF in the 14.5” barrel and is 125pf in the ULW. 
 

[Darqusoull13]

On 3/29/2023 at 5:13 PM, tnshoot said:

During a few year break from much competition shooting I bought a JP GMR-15 pistol with brace with the idea it would be a fun suppressed range toy.  I was right, it was fun!!!!, but I had already been thinking about getting back into our local USPSA matches when the ATF went and made my pistol a SBR I don’t have a stamp for, so time to rebuild this upper and give PCC division a try.  Lemons into lemonade you know!
 

I think I’ve read all I can possibly read on my options and I’m still not sure exactly which direction I want to go.  Thinking about a JP 14.5 with vertical comp and a smoke composites handguard swapped into my existing upper. Obviously not the most cost conscious solution but I rarely regret buying quality.  Although I have to say I feel like JP is ridiculously proud of a barrel/comp at almost $500.  If there are other options worth considering I’m all ears.  I guess specifically I’m most interested in other barrel/comp options I might want to consider.  
 

Thanks in advance for any insight and experience you’ve had in this area that could help this guy put together a gun I’ll be happy with for while to come. 

Build a new upper as either a 14.5" Pin/Weld or a 5.5" + Shroud. With a new upper you can start playing the game immediately. I've never had someone regret a JP barrel + internals because with a JP, you know it will run. 

In the meantime, file a NORMAL Form 1 online to SBR your lower. Not the BS entrapment the ATF is trying to push, but a new build. When you get your stamp you now run the range toy when you want or run it at a USPSA match, sans can because USPSA hates fun. 

You'll probably end up with 2 lowers to make 2 full builds in the end but who ever complained about building another gun? 

[tnshoot]

16 minutes ago, Darqusoull13 said:

Build a new upper as either a 14.5" Pin/Weld or a 5.5" + Shroud. With a new upper you can start playing the game immediately. I've never had someone regret a JP barrel + internals because with a JP, you know it will run. 

In the meantime, file a NORMAL Form 1 online to SBR your lower. Not the BS entrapment the ATF is trying to push, but a new build. When you get your stamp you now run the range toy when you want or run it at a USPSA match, sans can because USPSA hates fun. 

You'll probably end up with 2 lowers to make 2 full builds in the end but who ever complained about building another gun? 

I had considered this option too, but an upper from JP is like 4months wait. I missed one in the classifieds here a couple weeks ago that I definitely would have bought. 

[Darqusoull13]

13 minutes ago, tnshoot said:

I had considered this option too, but an upper from JP is like 4months wait. I missed one in the classifieds here a couple weeks ago that I definitely would have bought. 

A barrel, comp and bolt is usually on sale from JP. Any upper and CH will work. Slap on your favorite handguard and you're in business in a week. 

[tnshoot]

8 hours ago, Darqusoull13 said:

A barrel, comp and bolt is usually on sale from JP. Any upper and CH will work. Slap on your favorite handguard and you're in business in a week. 

Sounds good in theory, but here’s how my math is working out:

 

JP barrel/comp.           $485 (4-6 wks)

smoke handguard        $275

JP 9mm bolt                 $275

cheap upper.                 $75

radian charging handle $75

 

I’m coming up with $1200 for an upper that’s not exactly instant gratification.  I can lower that by $150 by getting barrel with crush washer comp instead of blended from JP, which would also mean no wait, but then I still have to pay someone to pin/ weld plus the hassle of finding that someone. 
 

Also, your suggestion that I’ll eventually end up with two complete guns is 100% accurate, and to that end I might want to try something other than just another JP bolt to find something that suppresses a little better.  Thinking one of the delay systems. Only bummer with the blowback 9 is a lot of port pop suppressed. 
 

MBX is 30 minutes down the road from me (just figured that out when looking through their website), so thinking I might see what they’d charge for a barrel with comp unless I’m really taking a step down in quality. Anyone have an opinion there?  Am I likely to see an accuracy potential difference in JP vs MBX barrel?

[Dirty_J]

10 minutes ago, tnshoot said:

MBX is 30 minutes down the road from me (just figured that out when looking through their website), so thinking I might see what they’d charge for a barrel with comp unless I’m really taking a step down in quality. Anyone have an opinion there?  Am I likely to see an accuracy potential difference in JP vs MBX barrel?

The 10.5” MBX Pro-Comp barrel with the pinned extension is fantastic. Ran one for a bit before moving over to Davinci. Very accurate. 
 

Only odd thing is a bit of tuning fork ring from the muzzle device when manipulating the bolt. Can’t say I noticed it while shooting… but is worth mentioning. 

[tnshoot]

Well MBX was a bust. I was thinking I wanted the 14” barrel with 3 port comp they had on their website but I guess they don’t stock that any more, only the 10.5 with extension.  One thing I know I want is at least a 12” handguard so that options out for me.
 

Guess all roads keep pointing back to JP.  Unless it looks like garbage I think I might buy 14.5 barrel and comp with crush washer and put it together myself rather than having JP time and blend a comp. $150 cheaper and at least a month quicker.  Anyone seen one installed with crush washer to know how that looks?  Any downside besides having to find someone to pin /weld it?

[Dirty_J]

You don’t want that older MBX comp. It’s a PITA to clean. Too many intricate cuts in it. 
 

Their 10.5” ProComp barrel is great… shame you’re stuck on a 12”+ handguard. 

[tnshoot]

18 hours ago, Dirty_J said:

You don’t want that older MBX comp. It’s a PITA to clean. Too many intricate cuts in it. 
 

Their 10.5” ProComp barrel is great… shame you’re stuck on a 12”+ handguard. 

I guess I should have clarified which MBX barrel I was thinking about last week and you could have saved me some trouble!

 

It’s just the way I was taught to shoot a carbine. And I’m 6’2” with a pretty healthy wingspan so anything less than about 12” doesn’t have my left arm anywhere near extended.  I got taught full extension then in just a bit to break elbow. Now you telling me I’m gonna have to do it differently with a PCC?
 

 

[rtl]

Or you could just e-file a Form 1 for the pistol upper. 
no $200 for the stamp if you owned it prior to the new rules, no requirement to engrave it. 
the filing isn’t hard or you can spend $50 with Silencer Shop, use one of their kiosks for prints and picture. 
no idea how long BATF will take to approve but at least you’re not out $500 for a longer barrel you really don’t need. 

 

RTL

Committed stamp collector

[tnshoot]

14 hours ago, rtl said:

Or you could just e-file a Form 1 for the pistol upper. 
no $200 for the stamp if you owned it prior to the new rules, no requirement to engrave it. 
the filing isn’t hard or you can spend $50 with Silencer Shop, use one of their kiosks for prints and picture. 
no idea how long BATF will take to approve but at least you’re not out $500 for a longer barrel you really don’t need. 

 

RTL

Committed stamp collector

Nah. Forgive me for not trusting the government’s “free” registration 

[Dirty_J]

2 minutes ago, tnshoot said:

Nah. Forgive me for not trusting the government’s “free” registration