I know what you mean AR180. Frankly I was surprised to see that posted by foxbat when there's "Super Uber Team Gun Nutz" under the name.
But what about when the rifle is registered as restricted and we install a NR barrel? There's no registration for NR to change any-more. Once the long barrels on can it be treated as NR? Technically its still in the database as restricted.
Also if you call the CFC and ask the exact question about installing a shorter barrel they will still tell you that there's 30 days lenience to report permanent changes. Yet most knowledgeable people I talk to say that's not true at all.
The point I'm trying to make is that we don't fully know, and they don't fully know.
When the change of status takes weeks in paper-work-world and seconds in the real world, it makes things a mess.
I was just looking over how the laws are currently written, considering things have changed and there was a 30 day grace period… If you have a restricted or prohibited firearm you are required to have a registration certificate, period. As a condition of said registration certificate you have a 30 day grace period to update said certificate if anything has changed. So, I must conclude if you have a restricted firearm, based on barrel length in this case, and do not have a registration certificate you are in contravention of section 91 of the criminal code. Section 91 does not allow for any sort of grace period. You can find the grace period under section 4 of the Firearms Registration Certificates Regulations.
As for a restricted becoming non-restricted, I believe you have a 30 day grace period to update the registration certificate into oblivion, but the firearm is technically non-restricted at the time and would thus follow all non-restricted laws.
As for foxbat, sham on you, just because you don’t have a reg cert that says restricted it does not mean the firearm is non-restricted. Thus, you must be authorized, typically by ATT, to posses the firearm at the range.
In conclusion the firearm is classified by the definitions provided in the Criminal Code based on its current configuration, not what it used to be nor what the reg cert may say. You must follow the laws based on its current configuration and classification. If I am mistaken, someone please correct me.
I know, a little of topic, but I hope this clears somethings up here…