If your firearm contains a stabilizing orthosis, the ATF has something to say. If the orthosis is stationary, they only include a standard receiver extension in your measurements. However, if your stabilizing propeller bends or collapses, the length of the rifle is measured with the propeller in the folded position. The barrel length must be less than 16 inches for a pistol, although the law does not specify a total measure – barrel to be stored. Someone recently told me that if the barrel was originally longer but modified to lengths that are still within the legal limits, i.e. 18.5 inches+, the gun is now illegal because it has been “modified”. A shotgun with pistol grip and a barrel of at least 18.5 inches. The barrel was shortened to this length. It`s legal, I suppose. (?) If you really want to fool your rifle with plenty of tactical accessories, including front grips, telescopic sights, and muzzle devices, go for a full-length rifle. If it is larger than 26 inches and cannot be hidden on your person, then you are golden.
Better yet, why not build your rifle with a kit 80% lower? Then you can choose the parts you want to fix, the accessories you want to assemble and the caliber you want to pull. The length of the barrel is measured from the tip of the mout to the front of the closing surface, usually by inserting a gauge into the barrel. The barrel length may partially include a fixed muzzle accessory (for example, recoil compensator or lightning suppressor). The total length is measured between the outer ends of the weapon along a midline that runs through the center of the barrel. For rifles equipped with foldable or telescopic stock stock, such as the U.S. M1A1 carbine, U.S. federal guidelines state that the measurement is performed with the stock intended for use as an unfolded rifle. Some states — like California and Michigan — measure the total length with folded paper. [1] Short-barreled rifles can be manufactured by modification by the end user, cutting a larger rifle, constructing a rifle with an original barrel less than 16 inches (41 cm), or adding a shoulder rest to a handgun equipped with a barrel less than 16 inches (41 cm), which would legally redefine it as a rifle rather than a handgun. In the United States, each of these processes must be legally accompanied by an ATF registration.
If the rifle in question meets the total length requirements, but does not meet the barrel length requirements, is that illegal? Medium-fire semi-automatic guns with a barrel less than 470 mm (19 inches) are limited. Any firearm that can be fired in a configuration with a total length of less than 660 mm (26 inches) is restricted. All restricted firearms require a licence. [8] Without the threat of hefty fines and/or jail time, these seemingly random quirks and decisions would actually be funny. But of course, it`s not funny, because there are actually different length requirements for SBRs and SBS. The U.S. regulation of short-barrelled rifles was the result of the National Firearms Act of 1934, which also imposed restrictions on short-barreled shotguns, silencers, and machine guns. [3] Short barrel rifle (SBR) is a legal term in the United States that refers to a rifled shoulder-fired firearm made from a rifle with a barrel length of less than 16 inches (41 cm) or a total length of less than 26 inches (66 cm) or a handgun equipped with a stock and barrel less than 16 inches in length. In the United States, an SBR is an article regulated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) as a Title II weapon. In the absence of local laws prohibiting possession, U.S.
civilians can possess an SBR, as long as it is registered with the ATF, and a $200 tax is paid before the firearm is owned or manufactured. United States – -(Ammoland.com)- Welcome to The Legal Brief, the show in which we dispel the various legal myths and misinformation surrounding various areas of the gun world. I`m your host Adam Kraut and today we`re talking about determining your barrel length and your total weapon length. So how do you measure the length of a barrel? The ATF method for measuring the length of a barrel consists of measuring from the closed latch or closing surface to the end of the barrel or fixed muzzle device. But Adam, you said we were talking about measuring the barrel, why does the ATF method involve measuring a fixed muzzle device? What constitutes a firearm is defined in the legislation, and simple disassembly does not change the length of the barrel to determine whether it is an SBR. You could always argue, but I wouldn`t accept that bet. Many older handguns originally designed with shoulder rests, such as the Mausers, Lugers, Browning Hi-Power, and Inglis brooms, as well as many Winchesters with lever mechanism and 14- to 15.5-inch barrel, are considered relics instead of restricted by the NFA and not regulated by federal SBR rules; However, they may still be subject to local laws. [2] The ATF maintains the list of Curio & Relic`s weapon models and serial number ranges. Although they are not considered NFA devices under the National Firearms Act of 1934, most are regulated by the Gun Control Act of 1968. [3] Those manufactured before 1899 and excluded from the ATF Curio and Relic lists are also exempt from GCA.
Woe to the uninformed heir of an illegal firearm. I guess leftists believe that`s what the founders wanted with their 27 simple words. Keep in mind that if you set the total length of your shotgun or rifle to less than 26 inches, it is either a short-barreled shotgun or a short-barrelled rifle under federal law. As with barrel length, if this is the case, the firearm is an NFA firearm and must be registered. Thanks for the article. I left immediately and measured the race against the new building I had just finished. Whew. I am legal. Following the Supreme Court`s decision in United States v. Thompson v Center Arms Company, 504 U.S.
505 (1992), it is not illegal to possess a “kit” that equips a handgun with a butt and barrels both below and above the barrel equipped for a rifle of at least 16 inches, as long as the firearm is used only in legal configurations (handgun without butt, Rifle with stock and barrel of 16 inches or more) is mounted. Mounting the firearm in an NFA-regulated configuration (rifle with buttocks but barrel less than 16 inches) would be a violation of the National Firearms Act. [7] One or the other means as in “either the total length is less than the minimum required, or the barrel is shorter than the minimum required. You are full of them. It is not illegal to own only a short barrel or an upper part of an AR. You can even legally buy ready-made trays with barrels in 10.5, 7.5 inches, etc. online. They can`t charge you with constructive possession, because who says it`s not for a gun building. Maybe you`re in one of those states like California or New York.
Just because you have a short barrel rod doesn`t mean you immediately build an SBR. Have you ever heard of AR or AK “guns”? So with your reasoning, anyone who has a. Read More » It is considered a “constructive position” unless you have the pieces in hand to make a legal configuration. So if you have an AR rod with a 10-inch barrel but no closed submaterial classified as a “pistol”, then you are in possession of an illegal SBR (assuming you don`t have a registered SBR subgun). With countless rules and regulations surrounding AR-15 and 80% rifles, it`s safe to assume that they contain barrel length in all the legalese that keeps you in place. How long can an AR-15 gun be? This is a question you`ve probably been asking yourself in the last few days. We have. Why are the length requirements for SBRs and SBSs different? That`s a good question. Unfortunately, there is not really a right answer. Go back and re-read the first paragraph of this section.
That`s about as good as a good answer. Canadian regulations prohibit firearms that have been adapted from a rifle or shotgun by sawing, cutting or otherwise modifying to a total length of less than 660 mm (26 inches) or a barrel length of less than 457 mm (18.0 inches). Handguns with a barrel length of less than 105 mm (4.1 inches) are also prohibited. [8] In a logical world, the legal length for rifles and barrels would be the same. Unfortunately, government agencies do not operate in logical worlds. It`s a bit reminiscent of host Drew Carey`s introduction to Whose Line Is it Anyway? in which he says: “Everything is invented and the dots don`t matter!” Keep in mind that if the barrel length is less than 16 inches, it is possible that the firearm is a short-barreled rifle (if you are building a rifle or if it is already on a rifle) and if the barrel length is less than 18 inches, it is possible that the firearm is a short-barreled hunting rifle (again, if you are building a shotgun or if it is already a shotgun). Both firearms would be subject to the National Firearms Act and would require proper registration of the firearm. Keep your eyes peeled for a video on how to fill out a Form 1 in the future. Thanks for the information. All of these 2nd Amendment violations will land a person in jail for a formality that did no harm to anyone. How does the barrel length rule cause personal harm to anyone except the person who wants to stop the BATF, etc., for a shorter barrel or no arrest for a longer barrel? It looks like a victimless crime, except that the person with the barrel that is not on the tape measure becomes a victim.
Perhaps the BATF thinks that the shorter barrel will automatically lead to a criminal act on the part of the owners. Read More » Welcome to the wonderful world of legal definitions as defined by the government! Through the National Firearms Act (NFA) of 1934, firearms that fall below certain barrel or total length requirements are called “short-barreled shotguns” (SBS) or “short-barreled shotguns” (SBR).