Barrel length legality question

[carverk]

So how does this apply to all the short barrel AR15's and CSA short barrels (7.5 and 11.5 inches IIRC)? They sure are selling a lot

Because thy are already classified as restricted you can have any length barrel but you want it will still be restricted (but you can't cut them down shorter then 18.5")
For NR Semi-auto centre-fire rifles it can't be shorter then 18.5 thar is no loop holes
If you are putting on a manufactured barrel installed on a boult action,pump action,lever acting,brake action it will still be NR as long as the rifle is still over 26"over all

 

[carverk]

Cut it, polish it and reblue it and call it a "new barrel".

Whatever you do do not do this it is a great way to go to jail and be band from owning another firearm again this is not a joke and it's not funny!
You can cut down to 18.5 but no shorter

 

[bobbynewmark]

our laws are so bloody convoluted

 

[carverk]

So how does this apply to all the short barrel AR15's and CSA short barrels (7.5 and 11.5 inches IIRC)? They sure are selling a lot

you mean by saying can't be under 18.5 they would be prohib? or restricted?

Any barrel cut under 18.5 Will be prohibited regardless of prior classification

 

[guntech]

Cut it, polish it and reblue it and call it a "new barrel".

Recommending breaking the law is not wise and it is also against CGN rules.

 

[turbo_bird]

Any barrel cut under 18.5 Will be prohibited regardless of prior classification

Wrong. Shorter than 18.5" will make a centre fire semi auto restricted, not prohibited, as long as the overall length is still over 26". Less than 18" is the magic number for making it prohibited. Cutting the same barrel to 18" is legal, but will change the gun to restricted and it must now be registered as a restricted. Anything that is not a centre fire semi auto can be cut down to 18" barrel and stay non restricted. This is of course assuming that the overall length stays over 26". No barrel can be cut shorter than 18" without making it prohibited, unless it is already registered as a pistol. Any pistol can be cut down to 4.2" and stay restricted. Clear as mud, but those are the rules we have to follow. I agree that you could cut a barrel down shorter than 18" and no one would know the difference if you did a nice job, but that is illegal, and suggestions of illegal activities are not allowed on this board. Do it if you want, but be aware of the legal ramifications.
Kristian

 

[carverk]

Wrong. Shorter than 18.5" will make a centre fire semi auto restricted, not prohibited, as long as the overall length is still over 26". Less than 18" is the magic number for making it prohibited. Cutting the same barrel to 18" is legal, but will change the gun to restricted and it must now be registered as a restricted. Anything that is not a centre fire semi auto can be cut down to 18" barrel and stay non restricted. This is of course assuming that the overall length stays over 26". No barrel can be cut shorter than 18" without making it prohibited, unless it is already registered as a pistol. Any pistol can be cut down to 4.2" and stay restricted. Clear as mud, but those are the rules we have to follow. I agree that you could cut a barrel down shorter than 18" and no one would know the difference if you did a nice job, but that is illegal, and suggestions of illegal activities are not allowed on this board. Do it if you want, but be aware of the legal ramifications.
Kristian

I never knew that
I have only done research on NR Short-barreled rifles for my own projects

 

[carverk]

It is quit Simple just call The firearm center
That is what I did
Next week I will be ordering a new 13" custom barrel for a NR savage boult action from Harron arms

 

[nanuk]

two questions:
1) who or how is it decided just who is a "Qualified" 'smith?

2) if you buy a barrel that is NOT finished, then if you want, you can shorten it up until the OAL of the firearm with said short barrel attached is not less than 26" (assuming this is NOT a Semi Auto) ... correct?

the rules for chopping are only appllicable to "Finished" barrels

 

[carverk]

two questions:
1) who or how is it decided just who is a "Qualified" 'smith?

2) if you buy a barrel that is NOT finished, then if you want, you can shorten it up until the OAL of the firearm with said short barrel attached is not less than 26"... correct?

the rules for chopping are only appllicable to "Finished" barrels

My understanding is that the barrel has to be made by a license manufacture
Once the barrel is manufactured for you then you can have a gunsmith or install it yourself
26"applies to the NR rifle overall minimum length (but stock to The end of the muzzle)
If it's a folding stock measure it with the stock folded to the muzzle if it is 26"or over your good

 

[nanuk]

Licenced "Manufacturer"???

on another thread there was a gunsmith advertizing he'd be buying barrels and cutting them in half to make some VERY short barrels.... the barrels he was starting from were "blanks" but if you purchased a profiled blank, or a threaded and profiled blank... I think the defining issue is the term "Finished"

 

[carverk]

Licenced "Manufacturer"???

on another thread there was a gunsmith advertizing he'd be buying barrels and cutting them in half to make some VERY short barrels.... the barrels he was starting from were "blanks" but if you purchased a profiled blank, or a threaded and profiled blank... I think the defining issue is the term "Finished"

I wish some of the manufactures would start making short barrels for savage rifles in small batches
338. Fed 7.62x39 223
I have a AIA Enfield in 7.62x39 that would be love to have a 12 inch barrel made fore it and still be NR

 

[dogzilla]

Don't think for an instant that they are nonchalant about people chopping their own barrels. Most barrels have proof marks, and they also know if a certain manufacturer has or hasn't made barrels in whatever length (your 12 1/2 barrel with full choke stamped on the side is a bit of a giveaway). I just registered a restricted shotgun with a short dlask barrel and pistol grip. They made a mistake writing down the info when I got it verified. They wrote down 8" instead of 8 1/2". I got an email from them asking if the barrel had been modified, and to include high resolution pictures of the muzzle, and the left and right sides of the barrel at the muzzle end (looking for tool marks and if the barrel was square). They also said I may have to submit the actual barrel for inspection. Lucky we discovered it was a typo, because it may have become a real pain in the ass

 

[nanuk]

I'm more a single shot guy, and have moved most of my Semi's and bolts.

but a short barreled x39 would be just too much fun, bolt or SS!!!!

with the H&R's, stubbing is always an option, and if you can find a short barrel from something, it can often be made to fit.

 

[nanuk]

dog, key word in your post is "Restricted"

that word always seems to bring a bright light onto itself.

people always accuse me of using sematics.... but when dealing with the law, semantics is EXTREMELY important

 

[carverk]

A safe thing to do is to have a barrel made for you from a license manufacture.
Nothing says you cannot install the barrel yourself or have the gunsmith of your choice do the work for you
Just make sure that when the project is finished it is over 26 inches overall to keep it NR

 

[dogzilla]

The gun is restricted because of overall length, although if the barrel had indeed been modified by me, it (the barrel) would be prohibited and have to be turned in, yet if Dlask had made the barrel @ 8" or 7 3/4" it would be ok and Dlask stamps the length on his barrels. Make sense? Of course not.

 

[nanuk]

nothing makes sense with the firearms laws

I can buy a NR shotgun with 8" barrel, but I cannot shorten one to look exactly the same....

a gunsmith can buy a barrel blank, cut it in half, turn it, thread it, chamber it and install it and Voila, a handi short barrreled rifle.

as I said, the law is odd, in that as long as the barrel is not finished at a specific length, the wording in the act become moot

where this really becomes troublesome is this:
According to the Criminal Code, a prohibited firearm is:
...
b.a firearm that is adapted from a rifle or shotgun, whether by sawing, cutting or any other alteration, and that, as so adapted, ◦is less than 660 mm in length, or
◦is 660 mm or greater in length and has a barrel less than 457 mm in length,

so, by THIS definition, buying a 14" barrel, putting onto a Rem870 would make a prohibited weapon, and yet when I talked to the CFC, they said as long as the barrel was originally made 14" and the total length of the shotgun was over 26" it was all good....

and if you buy one of those 14" barrelled 410 single shot shotguns, and move the barrel to another receiver, you have made it a prohibited weapon, yet the CFC told me it was OK to do so...

it is very frustrating when the CFC gives information that appears to contradict the published info

 

[carverk]

I'm more a single shot guy, and have moved most of my Semi's and bolts.

but a short barreled x39 would be just too much fun, bolt or SS!!!!

with the H&R's, stubbing is always an option, and if you can find a short barrel from something, it can often be made to fit.

It would have to be boult or single shot or pump to keep it NR
7.62x39 with 12"manufactured barrel and reflex sight would make a sweet Bush rifle

 

[carverk]

nothing makes sense with the firearms laws

I can buy a NR shotgun with 8" barrel, but I cannot shorten one to look exactly the same....

a gunsmith can buy a barrel blank, cut it in half, turn it, thread it, chamber it and install it and Voila, a handi short barrreled rifle.

as I said, the law is odd, in that as long as the barrel is not finished at a specific length, the wording in the act become moot

where this really becomes troublesome is this:
According to the Criminal Code, a prohibited firearm is:
...
b.a firearm that is adapted from a rifle or shotgun, whether by sawing, cutting or any other alteration, and that, as so adapted, ◦is less than 660 mm in length, or
◦is 660 mm or greater in length and has a barrel less than 457 mm in length,

so, by THIS definition, buying a 14" barrel, putting onto a Rem870 would make a prohibited weapon, and yet when I talked to the CFC, they said as long as the barrel was originally made 14" and the total length of the shotgun was over 26" it was all good....

and if you buy one of those 14" barrelled 410 single shot shotguns, and move the barrel to another receiver, you have made it a prohibited weapon, yet the CFC told me it was OK to do so...

it is very frustrating when the CFC gives information that appears to contradict the published info

The CFC is correct
you can install the shorter barrel on your shotgun and it will still be nonrestricted as long as it is still over 26 inches overall
You can buy a aftermarket short barrel for a rifle or shotgun and have it installed and it will still be nonrestricted as long as it's still over 26 inches
Call back the CFC and phrase your question that way
It is only gets confusing when you start getting into semi auto and restricted firearms