Can I Cut 16" Midlength Barrel to 11.5"?
- Thread starter prproulx
- Start date
dangertree
Business Rep
- Location
- NL/ON/FL/PL
When you say midlength do you mean gas tube length or barrel length (as in Diemaco's use of the term)?
If it's a carbine length gas system you may or may not have to open up the gas port for reliable cycling.
If it's a carbine length gas system you may or may not have to open up the gas port for reliable cycling.
Legal yes - It's already restricted (just don't go to prohib lengths - less than 106mm).
Would it funtion - that's another matter
I think many will say to just get a 11.5" barrel and swap'em. Suggestion: You could probably sell the 16" barrel and use the money to buy the new barrel.
Would it funtion - that's another matter
I think many will say to just get a 11.5" barrel and swap'em. Suggestion: You could probably sell the 16" barrel and use the money to buy the new barrel.
b-wingpilot
CGN Regular
- Location
- Sherwood Park
Prohibited in Canada. The law indicates that you can't reduce the barrel length to less than 18.5" for semi's and 18" for bolts/pumps. Regardless of what the barrel's length is to begin with, after you're done cutting if the barrel is less than 18.5/18" then it becomes prohibited.
To me this becomes a huge cluster-f*ck if you try to make an 11.5" barrel from scratch. Does reducing a barrel blank to less than 18" become an illegal activity for an individual? At what point a piece of metal becomes a barrel is up to a judge I suppose.
To me this becomes a huge cluster-f*ck if you try to make an 11.5" barrel from scratch. Does reducing a barrel blank to less than 18" become an illegal activity for an individual? At what point a piece of metal becomes a barrel is up to a judge I suppose.
The AR-15 is already restricted...cutting it to 11.5" will not change the status of the rifle.
I have heard mid-length gas systems are better than carbine length, but I like the 11.5". I don't even know if there would be enough barrel to cut since I don't know the exact length of the midlength system.
I get some weird ideas sometimes!
If it's illegal then no sense thinking about it.
I get some weird ideas sometimes!
If it's illegal then no sense thinking about it.
b-wingpilot
CGN Regular
- Location
- Sherwood Park
Very, very wrong. Read the Criminal Code, it states that "rifles and shotguns that have been altered so that their barrel length is less than 457mm (about 18 inches) or their overall length is less than 660mm (about 26 inches)" are prohibited firearms.
Technically cutting(altering) a barrel so it ends up less than 18" is prohibited, even if you somehow lengthened a 5" 1911 barrel to 6" that would be creating a prohibited firearm
What you state here only applies to non-restricted long guns.
Lengthening a pistol or handgun barrel will NOT make it prohibited.Technically cutting(altering) a barrel so it ends up less than 18" is prohibited, even if you somehow lengthened a 5" 1911 barrel to 6" that would be creating a prohibited firearm
.... and if you speak of reducing the length of a non-restricted long gun, then, you may not cut the barrel to less than 18.5" (470mm).
Your info is incorrect my friend.
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Back to the topic,
if it was a 16" CAR gas system, having it cut down is not an issue really.
if it was a 16" mid-length, that means a new gas port was drilled and the barrel diameter at the gas port may not be the 0.75" that you need for std gas blocks. For what a new barrel costs, I would stay away of such a barrel.
if it was a 16" CAR gas system, having it cut down is not an issue really.
if it was a 16" mid-length, that means a new gas port was drilled and the barrel diameter at the gas port may not be the 0.75" that you need for std gas blocks. For what a new barrel costs, I would stay away of such a barrel.
b-wingpilot
CGN Regular
- Location
- Sherwood Park
Lol, you guys need to stop thinking logically and start thinking like a lawyer. From the Criminal Code:
It doesn't make sense but technically it does become a prohibited firearm if you cut the barrel down. Also it looks like I was wrong about the pistols though, you can chop/extend those as long as it meets the 106mm requirement.
It doesn't make sense but technically it does become a prohibited firearm if you cut the barrel down. Also it looks like I was wrong about the pistols though, you can chop/extend those as long as it meets the 106mm requirement.
Call the CFC, ask to be patched through to a tech. in Ottawa, and ask what the interpretation is with respect to cutting, altering or modifying the over 470mm barrel of a restricted rifle so that the barrel is less than 470mm. Ask what the interpretation is if the barrel was already less than 470mm before it was cut, altered or modified.
Your opinion, a lawyer's opinion, really don't count for much, when it will be the CFC/RCMP that determines whether or not an offence has been committed, and action will be taken.
Are you aware of any court ruling supporting your opinion?
Your opinion, a lawyer's opinion, really don't count for much, when it will be the CFC/RCMP that determines whether or not an offence has been committed, and action will be taken.
Are you aware of any court ruling supporting your opinion?
The question is moot - unless you fill the existing gas port and drill one behind - the shortest mid-length gas system shorty is about 12.3"
Even then you will need to likley open the gas port due to the lack of port pressure.
I know of some project guns built for someone with a 12.5" middy - I will ask aroudn on the port diameter.
Even then you will need to likley open the gas port due to the lack of port pressure.
I know of some project guns built for someone with a 12.5" middy - I will ask aroudn on the port diameter.
b-wingpilot
CGN Regular
- Location
- Sherwood Park
On hold with the CFC now...
Also, its not my opinion that chopping the barrel creates a prohib firearm, it is my interpretation.
It would be illegal unless you have a manufacturering permit because you would be manufacturing a barrel under 18.5".
You're interpretation is wrong.
I suspect he won't be back to say we were all right.
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b-wingpilot
CGN Regular
- Location
- Sherwood Park
Okay, the tech I talked to told me that I could not cut any barrel to less that 457mm . He told me that if a barrel is "manufactured" less than 457mm then its good to go. The tech really didn't seem too knowledgeable, I'm gonna call again tomorrow morning.
Deckard is right though. The CFC is a poor place to get information from, the only person that can really confirm or deny the legality of this is a judge.
. He told me that if a barrel is "manufactured" less than 457mm then its good to go. The tech really didn't seem too knowledgeable, I'm gonna call again tomorrow morning.Deckard is right though. The CFC is a poor place to get information from, the only person that can really confirm or deny the legality of this is a judge.
Okay, the tech I talked to told me that I could not cut any barrel to less that 457mm
Deckard is right though. The CFC is a poor place to get information from, the only person that can really confirm or deny the legality of this is a judge.
CFC info they gave to you is BULL####... I pretty much live at gun smith shop when I can, Nothing Illegal about having a restricted AR15 barrel chopped down. What they gonna do make it resticted being its allready restricted....
I think they gave you the info about a non restricted rifle. Because 457mm is 18"... I know probley every 3rd guy on CGN has a AR15 barrel chopped down less then 18"
A couple of years ago I asked the same question about an FN barrel and was told, the gun is already prohib, I can't make it any more prohib. Get it in writing what ever the heck you do. Make sure they put you through to someone that will sign a piece of paper!!!!!!!!!!
Scott
Scott
