Crossing US border with 14.5" barrel but permanent brake = 16" overall

[cbabes]

Hey fellas

I have a real nice PWS MK114 arriving Monday. Now as I understand it the barrel for an AR crossing into the US has to be 16" or over and not a Norinco. My PWS MK114 with the pinned PWS 556 brake is considered permanent and takes my barrel from 14.5" to the "legal" length.

My question is when I take this AR for a match in the US how do the border guards know this? Do they measure my barrel because they obviously can't go by my registration certificate as it would say the barrel is 14.5".

Cheers!

 

[667]

Hey fellas

My question is when I take this AR for a match in the US how do the border guards know this? Do they measure my barrel because they obviously can't go by my registration certificate as it would say the barrel is 14.5".

Cheers!

The BPO's won't care about your Canadian registration cert.
They will go by the info listed on your F6NIA...

What you should do is confirm that the "pinned" brake is indeed regarded as perminant by the BATFE.
I have doubt as I've read "pinned and welded" is the criteria, but you should investigate.

If you confirm that the pinned brake makes your barrel legal to import under a F6NIA, then just list it's length on your F6NIA app. and if it comes back approved... You're GTG.

The very few times I've been sent to secondary and actually had to show my firearms all the BPO's ever did was check to see if the serial number(s) on the gun(s) matched what was on My F6NIA.

I never saw anyone with a tape measure.

 

[Onagoth]

Getting through the border isn't your onlyproblem

 

[cantom]

Getting through the border isn't your onlyproblem

Lots of rules in New York State and others...seems risky.

 

[cbabes]

The BPO's won't care about your Canadian registration cert.
They will go by the info listed on your F6NIA...

What you should do is confirm that the "pinned" brake is indeed regarded as perminant by the BATFE.
I have doubt as I've read "pinned and welded" is the criteria, but you should investigate.

If you confirm that the pinned brake makes your barrel legal to import under a F6NIA, then just list it's length on your F6NIA app. and if it comes back approved... You're GTG.

The very few times I've been sent to secondary and actually had to show my firearms all the BPO's ever did was check to see if the serial number(s) on the gun(s) matched what was on My F6NIA.

I never saw anyone with a tape measure.

From what I have been reading the PWS MK114 comes with a pinned and welded brake. Good thing that's the brake I wanted. Will have to check when I get it.

 

[cbabes]

Getting through the border isn't your onlyproblem

Have things changed recently? What issues?

 

[Onagoth]

Well...the ATF is really only gonna see the overall length on the form 6....and they will approve or deny based on that. If you fill out 16" based on your interpretation, that's fine, but.....what would happen if joe blow patrolman pulled you over with what he perceives is an NFA controlled item without the appropriate registration. (ie, what if your interpretation is wrong?)

Does a 14.5" barrel with a pinned and welded flash hider get around the NFA in the US, I don't know, but that is what I'd be concerned about.

The form 6 does not allow a non-resident to possess firearms in the US, it only allows them to cross borders.

 

[667]

The form 6 does not allow a non-resident to possess firearms in the US, it only allows them to cross borders.

True.

Y'know... I bet technically we're always in violation of "some" local/state law with regards to our NIA status and our firearms while we're in the US, but... 'Somebody needs to care in order for anything bad to happen.

The BATFE gives you a permit to bring your guns into the country. They leave it up to YOU to ensure you're in compliance with the hundreds of other rules that may/may not apply depending on where you are at any given moment.

Practically speaking... I don't worry too much about the state/local stuff. I transport much the same way I do at home and really, the guns only come out of their cases when at the shooting venue or in the privacy of my hotel room.

'Seeing guys taking gun cases out of their truck or walking through a hotel lobby with 'em doesn't cause a public panic so... Again, no need to fret.

 

[cbabes]

Well...the ATF is really only gonna see the overall length on the form 6....and they will approve or deny based on that. If you fill out 16" based on your interpretation, that's fine, but.....what would happen if joe blow patrolman pulled you over with what he perceives is an NFA controlled item without the appropriate registration. (ie, what if your interpretation is wrong?)

Does a 14.5" barrel with a pinned and welded flash hider get around the NFA in the US, I don't know, but that is what I'd be concerned about.

The form 6 does not allow a non-resident to possess firearms in the US, it only allows them to cross borders.

Ahhh got you. Well the more I have been investigating the more it looks like PWS permanently put these brakes on so that even the US citizens can avoid paperwork. I emailed PWS for written confirmation so I can print it out and carry with me.

 

[LONEWOLF]

Thought you bought a new 3gun Stag from East Arms it has 18inche barrel. Why would you not take it.Put it on your form6.

 

[cbabes]

Thought you bought a new 3gun Stag from East Arms it has 18inche barrel. Why would you not take it.Put it on your form6.

It's next on my list, I was about to as I was waiting for them to get back in stock at Arms East but I really wanted a PWS long stroke piston AR. One came on the EE just before Arms East got their Stag shipment in. It was a great price and also FDE so I couldn't resist. Putting a Geiselle 3-gun trigger in it and using it for now. Even though it's not a "made for 3-gun" AR it should do ok as I have shot a couple and they are very accurate.

 

[mildot]

IIRC correctly the "pinned" or "welded" brake counts for the overall length, that's why most (US shooters) do just that so that a 14.5 is no longer a NFA SBR.

 

[cbabes]

I was directed to their specs...

The PWS MK114 has quickly become the crowd favorite for those wanting a compact package without the NFA paperwork associated with shorter barrels. The MK114 retains lethal capability out to 500 meters with varying types of ammunition and boasts a permanently attached FSC556 extending the barrel from 14 to 16 inches.

Apparently it's pinned and welded.

 

[mechanik]

IIRC correctly the "pinned" or "welded" brake counts for the overall length, that's why most (US shooters) do just that so that a 14.5 is no longer a NFA SBR.

Yup, what he said. It's basically the only reason compensators/brakes ever get pinned and welded. Otherwise it would be just a shot of Loctite and threaded on.

 

[cbabes]

I was directed to their specs...

The PWS MK114 has quickly become the crowd favorite for those wanting a compact package without the NFA paperwork associated with shorter barrels. The MK114 retains lethal capability out to 500 meters with varying types of ammunition and boasts a permanently attached FSC556 extending the barrel from 14 to 16 inches.

Apparently it's pinned and welded.

Some shipped to Canada were not pinned. Mine was not pinned but I traded yesterday. Gonna miss it.