Length of barrel + muzzle device for classification

Ninja_En_Short

Ninja_En_Short

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Hi,

One of my friends managed to make me doubt myself today on barrel total length for classification so here goes : he claimed that the classification regarding barrel length is with muzzle device (be it compensator or flash hider) included even if not permanently fixed.
I am pretty damn sure the classification accpunts for barrel length without any muzzle device.

The only point I have a doubt on is : would a barrel be considered 18.5 or more if the muzzle device is pinned or welded in place ? Like in the US to avoid SBR status with a 14.5" barrel people buy barrels with pinned 2" devices.

So how does it actually work.

I know how stupid the question sounds but I've been going to bed a 4am every night this week... not exactly thinking straight.

Thanks
 
If you are referring to long guns I don't believe Canadian laws include the 'flash hider' in the barrel length... the RCMP changed that years ago when they were not happy with 30 M1 carbine alterations.
 
In Canada with regards to our regs, barrel length is measured from bolt face to muzzle, welded on muzzle devices do not count but integrated muzzle devices do if cut into the same continuous barrel blank which the barrel is made from. Herron Arms offers this option on custom barrels for the ACR to give the appearance and length of a factory US 16" barrel.
 
Will.45 said:
Muzzle device could count towards overall lenght?
Click to expand...

Its a grey area. The lab is of the opinion that if you can't make your firearm shorter than 26" in a fireable state with out tools to disassemble it, that it would be NR(a slip on rubber buttpad doesn't count towards OAL, but a bolt on one does). However every time a fellow contacts the lab to ask if muzzle devices count to OAL, the lab says no.

Really there is no law on this, just opinions from the lab. I would wager that any muzzle device mounted securely enough that it needs tools for its removal would be included in OAL if it ever went to court.
 
onetwentyish said:
Its a grey area. The lab is of the opinion that if you can't make your firearm shorter than 26" in a fireable state with out tools to disassemble it, that it would be NR(a slip on rubber buttpad doesn't count towards OAL, but a bolt on one does). However every time a fellow contacts the lab to ask if muzzle devices count to OAL, the lab says no.

Really there is no law on this, just opinions from the lab. I would wager that any muzzle device mounted securely enough that it needs tools for its removal would be included in OAL if it ever went to court.
Click to expand...

The Criminal Code spells it out fairly clearly. Here's an excerpt:

"Barrel length

(2) For the purposes of this Part, the length of a barrel of a firearm is

(a) in the case of a revolver, the distance from the muzzle of the barrel to the breach end immediately in front of the cylinder, and

(b) in any other case, the distance from the muzzle of the barrel to and including the chamber,

but does not include the length of any component, part or accessory including any component, part or accessory designed or intended to suppress the muzzle flash or reduce recoil."
 
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Jaylegger said:
The Criminal Code spells it out fairly clearly. Here's an excerpt:

"Barrel length

(2) For the purposes of this Part, the length of a barrel of a firearm is

(a) in the case of a revolver, the distance from the muzzle of the barrel to the breach end immediately in front of the cylinder, and

(b) in any other case, the distance from the muzzle of the barrel to and including the chamber,

but does not include the length of any component, part or accessory including any component, part or accessory designed or intended to suppress the muzzle flash or reduce recoil."
Click to expand...
highlighted it for you
 
onetwentyish said:
highlighted it for you
Click to expand...

You are correct to point out that the criminal code only defined how to measure a barrel, and not an overall firearm.

Unless a judge has ruled on this issue specifically, we can only speculate how over all length would be measured. One judge might decide that if Overall length was meant to include the exclusion of barrel devices, than parliament would have said so specifically, and therefore muzzle devices can be included in OAL Measurements. A different judge might rule that it is reasonable to include the barrel length measurement consideration into considerations of measuring the overall length of a firearm, which logically includes a barrel.

Total crap shoot. We can debate all we want to, but there is no official answer to the "how to measure OAL with regards to muzzle devices" question.
 
Cameron SS said:
You are correct to point out that the criminal code only defined how to measure a barrel, and not an overall firearm.

Unless a judge has ruled on this issue specifically, we can only speculate how over all length would be measured. One judge might decide that if Overall length was meant to include the exclusion of barrel devices, than parliament would have said so specifically, and therefore muzzle devices can be included in OAL Measurements. A different judge might rule that it is reasonable to include the barrel length measurement consideration into considerations of measuring the overall length of a firearm, which logically includes a barrel.

Total crap shoot. We can debate all we want to, but there is no official answer to the "how to measure OAL with regards to muzzle devices" question.
Click to expand...

Looks like I misread onetwentyish's post. This thread was about barrel length so was supplying info on that.
 
This "seems" to be the way things are in Canada! Seems!

Stuff welded on, counts towards length overall, but not towards Barrel Length. The accepted length of the barrel requires a continuous rifling groove from one end to the other. No?

Which may or may not, be helpful.
 
trevj said:
This "seems" to be the way things are in Canada! Seems!

Stuff welded on, counts towards length overall, but not towards Barrel Length. The accepted length of the barrel requires a continuous rifling groove from one end to the other. No?

Which may or may not, be helpful.
Click to expand...


Rifling is irrelevant; shotgun barrel length rules are the same as for rifles.

One would think that fusion welding two pieces of steel together would result in a longer piece of steel, but as you point out, that doesn't apply to barrels. It is about restriction. Accepting welded additions would reduce the level of restriction.
 
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