SB TACTICAL®
As the originator of the forearm Pistol Stabilizing Brace®, SB Tactical® is a groundbreaking thought leader committed to providing firearms enthusiasts what they need. In an industry reluctant to challenge conventional wisdom, we transformed the possibilities of large-frame pistols. We will stop at nothing to help our customers overcome challenges with brilliantly engineered and expertly constructed solutions.
Our HISTORY
SB Tactical has inspiring origins — from roots in military service to the altruistic genesis of the Pistol Stabilizing Brace. We hold steady to our principles and will let nothing stand in the way of our relentless quest to innovate and to help preserve and protect the rights of law-abiding Americans.
2012
USMC and Army vet, Alex Bosco, was shooting with a disabled combat veteran when the range master asked Bosco’s friend to stop firing for safety concerns due to lack of control. Determined to help his friend and other wounded combat veterans, Bosco had an idea. He produced the first Pistol Stabilizing Brace prototype in his garage. After testing his concept with disabled vets, Bosco sought out the opinion of ATF. In November 2012, the agency responded with an opinion letter stating that “the submitted 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. While a firearm so equipped would still be regulated by the Gun Control Act … such a firearm would not be subject to NFA controls.” As a result of this favorable opinion letter, Bosco founded SB Tactical and began making production prototypes for AR and AK platforms.
2013
Exclusive sales agreements were executed with SIG SAUER, Inc., and Century Arms International for the AR (SB15®) and AK (SB47™) braces, respectively. In May 2013, the first Pistol Stabilizing Braces were delivered into the marketplace.
In March 2014, the ATF issued a second letter stating that “for the following reasons, we have determined that firing a pistol from the shoulder would not cause the pistol to be reclassified as an SBR: FTB classifies weapons based on their physical design characteristics. While usage/functionality of the weapon does influence the intended design, it is not the sole criterion for determining the classification of a weapon. Generally speaking, we do not classify weapons based on how an individual uses a weapon.” With yet another favorable opinion letter in hand, the product portfolio of Pistol Stabilizing Braces was expanded to include the SBX™, a pistol buffer tube compatible brace, and specialty braces for HK and CZ firearms.
2014
2015
The ATF issued a third letter just before SHOT Show in January 2015 that resulted in widespread confusion and legal concerns in the firearms industry. The letter stated that, “the pistol stabilizing brace was neither ‘designed’ nor approved to be used as a shoulder stock, and therefore use as a shoulder stock constitutes a ‘redesign’ of the device because a possessor has changed the very function of the item.” Despite lingering confusion in the marketplace, SB Tactical continued to innovate and develop new products. In December of 2015, the ATF issued another letter, enabling adjustable technology to be built into Pistol Stabilizing Braces.
2016
After the exclusive sales agreements with SIG SAUER and Century Arms expired in 2015, SB Tactical underwent a significant rebranding effort including team, product portfolio, and OEM partnership expansion. SB Tactical implemented a dealer and distribution sales strategy to better support the marketplace. In September 2016, the first adjustable Pistol Stabilizing Brace, MPX PSB®, was shipped and the SBPDW® was announced by year end.
After the success of the MPX PSB® and SBPDW® adjustable braces, SB Tactical released the innovative SBT® Series of integral, side-folding braces for B&T, HK, and CZ Scorpion pistols. In March 2017, the ATF issued a private letter to SB Tactical clarifying that the mere act of firing an unmodified, SB Tactical Pistol Stabilizing Brace from the shoulder does not constitute a “redesign” of the host firearm into an NFA short barrel rifle. When fired from the shoulder, a Pistol Stabilizing Brace must be in its original, approved condition and may not be physically altered for use as a shoulder stock.
2017
2018
After rescinding their indefensible 2015 ruling in early 2017, the ATF issued several private letters permitting a wide array of Stabilizing Brace configurations from a host of manufacturers. This positive regulatory environment led to massive market expansion enabling SB Tactical to open a new facility in New Hampshire bringing assembly and other business functions in-house. SB Tactical met the increased market demand with innovation and the release of both the SBA3® and 1913 line of braces.
2019
Continuing to benefit from favorable market conditions and the success of the SBA3, SB Tactical launched the SBA4® and relocated to Bradenton, FL to further improve business conditions and reduce operating costs.
Well positioned to meet continued demand, SB Tactical nearly doubled its workforce at the new facility. In December 2020, the ATF published ‘Objective Factors for Classifying Weapons with “Stabilizing Braces” but pulled the proposed guidance before the end of the month.
2020
2021
In April 2021, President Biden issued an Executive Order weaponizing the ATF and instructing the ATF to go after Pistol Stabilizing Braces. Undeterred, SB Tactical released the SB22™ – a lightweight, modular chassis for the Ruger® 22 Charger™ and Ruger 10/22® family of firearms. In June 2021, the ATF published proposed Rule 2021R-08, “Factoring Criteria for Firearms with Attached ‘Stabilizing Braces” opening the comment period for the public. In September 2021, the comment period closed.
2022
In January 2022 it was released that the Final Rule would be published in August 2022; however, in July, a court case stated that the Final Rule would be published in December. It wasn’t until December that the Final Rule was submitted to the White House for approval, signifying that it would soon be published. Despite the uncertainly of the regulatory landscape, SB Tactical never lost resolve and released the second generation of SBT line of braces offering models to fit the CZ Bren 2 (BREN2), the CZ Scorpion Evo (SBTEVO-G2), and the SBT-G2 for the B&T APC, the HK UMP, and the LWRCi SMG45.
In January 2023, the Final Rule was published and, although effective immediately, a grace period for compliance was allowed until June 2023. In February 2023, SB Tactical, in conjunction with the Firearms Regulatory Accountability Coalition (FRAC), B&T USA, Rick Cicero, and a massive coalition of 25 states, filed a lawsuit in the 8th Circuit against the ATF challenging the legality of the Final Rule.
2023
2024
After some success in other lawsuits against the ATF pertaining to Pistol Stabilizing Braces, SB Tactical was cautiously optimistic and launched the SBA5®. In August 2024, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of SB Tactical and the other Plaintiffs. The Court held that “the Final Rule, as a whole, is arbitrary and capricious because it allows the ATF to arrive at whatever conclusion it wishes without ‘adequately explain[ing] the standard on which its decision is based….” The unlawful Rule was a gross overreach of regulatory authority by an agenda-driven agency. This was a monumental victory for SB Tactical and all law-abiding Americans who should be encouraged that the courts held the ATF accountable.
