Chopping .22lr barrels...

[G37]

Do the same rules apply to semi-auto rimfire as they do semi-auto centerfire:

Could I chop a .22lr barrel short (under 18.5") as long as the OAL remains over 26"?

Or,

Must I keep the barrel over 18.5" (only being able to buy a barrel new from factory less than 18.5")?

Thanks.

 

[coltfan]

Could I chop a .22lr barrel short (under 18.5") as long as the OAL remains over 26"?

NO

Must I keep the barrel over 18.5" (only being able to buy a barrel new from factory less than 18.5")?

YES....MAYBE



It gets even trickier though..............

("Barrel and Firearms Lengths")
An excerpt:
"CC s. 84(1) "prohibited firearm" (b): This is another clause of the same law -- the one cited immediately above -- and it applies in the same way. If the firearm ARRIVES at the "less than 26"/660mm in overall length" condition by "sawing, cutting" etc., then it is forced into the "prohibited firearm" class. If it left the factory at that too-short length, the limit does NOT apply. It is non-restricted, UNLESS it is semi-automatic AND centrefire."

"Example: A Remington Model 870 pump-action shotgun that has been fitted with a Scattergun Technologies 12"/305mm barrel and a Pachmayr pistol grip is less than 26"/660mm in overall length, but is NOT "prohibited." It is a "prohibited firearm" if this was done to a Remington 870 that left the factory with those parts, but it is non-restricted if it was re-manufactured and left the Scattergun Technologies factory with them."

It talks about a complete firearm...not just owners buying short barrels and swapping them for the original long ones.............

 

[tiriaq]

The lower limit for cutting any .22rf barrel is 18". OAL must remain over 26".

 

[elimsprint]

The lower limit for cutting any .22rf barrel is 18". OAL must remain over 26".

Not to sound ignorant or start a war but where exactally does it say that? A friend just got a 16.5" barrel in from the US and nobody said Boo. Obviously checked at customs as there was a Canada Customs sticker on the package and he had to pay tax on it at the PO.
Kim

 

[horseman2]

Made with a 16.5" barrel is the answer.

 

[Johnny G1]

Not to sound ignorant or start a war but where exactally does it say that? A friend just got a 16.5" barrel in from the US and nobody said Boo. Obviously checked at customs as there was a Canada Customs sticker on the package and he had to pay tax on it at the PO.
Kim

If its a factory barrel Yes but you can't cut your own down to 16 ins. You can buy lots of guns with a 16 in. barrel.

 

[elimsprint]

Where exactaly does it say that I cannot cut a semi-auto .22 rimfire barrel down to any length I want as long as the guns overall length is legal? I have looked all through the CFC website and I cannot find this rule anywhere. Can I send a barrel to a gunsmith to do it? Is it not then remanufactured just like the 870 example?
Kim

 

[VanIsle]

Where exactaly does it say that I cannot cut a semi-auto .22 rimfire barrel down to any length I want as long as the guns overall length is legal? I have looked all through the CFC website and I cannot find this rule anywhere. Can I send a barrel to a gunsmith to do it? Is it not then remanufactured just like the 870 example?
Kim

Perhaps if he "made" the barrel.. its a good question, I'll try to find something on it.

 

[coltfan]

Where exactaly does it say that I cannot cut a semi-auto .22 rimfire barrel down to any length I want as long as the guns overall length is legal? I have looked all through the CFC website and I cannot find this rule anywhere. Can I send a barrel to a gunsmith to do it? Is it not then remanufactured just like the 870 example?
Kim

Criminal Code Section 84 (1)

 

[elimsprint]

coltfan,
If 84(1) is what you quoted in your first post here what does that have to do with what G37 wants to do? He asked if he could cut the barrel shorter than 18" as long as the gun remained over 26" OAL. As far as what I see all that section is about is guns under 26" from the factory. I fail to see a connection between the two.
Kim

 

[flip1]

Just to muddy the waters ...

I was speaking with a gunsmith about this very subject, and his understanding is that if the gun started with a barrel under 16" (ie: a trapper model 94, or a 10/22 youth model) it is legal to shorten it further.

However, at that point the overall length becomes the issue. With an AR, it's already restricted anyway, but with a factory 16" N/R gun, it doesn't become restricted unless the overall length goes below 26".

I'm not an expert, I'm just telling you what a licensed gunsmith said and was willing to do.

Assuming he is correct, take a 16" factory 10/22 barrel and do what you want, but be mindfull of the overall length.

 

[coltfan]

coltfan,
If 84(1) is what you quoted in your first post here what does that have to do with what G37 wants to do? He asked if he could cut the barrel shorter than 18" as long as the gun remained over 26" OAL. As far as what I see all that section is about is guns under 26" from the factory. I fail to see a connection between the two.
Kim

From the CFC website:

rifles and shotguns that have been altered by sawing or other means so that their barrel length is less than 457 mm (about 18 inches) or their overall length is less than 660 mm (about 26 inches);

You could strap a 10-22 with a home made cut down barrel to an 8 foot 2x4 and it would be illegal because of the cut off barrel

 

[coltfan]

However, at that point the overall length becomes the issue. With an AR, it's already restricted anyway, but with a factory 16" N/R gun, it doesn't become restricted unless the overall length goes below 26".

You cannot make a non restricted into a restricted...it goes straight to the prohibited class..............

You can however make some restricteds into a non restricteds..like the Beretta storm for example....

 

[elimsprint]

Well, after over an hour wait I got to talk to a Firearms Tech? It would be nice to talk to somebody that works for the federal government that isn't ESL! Anyways, this is FYI and is what he told me. It is a Federal Offence under the Criminal Code to cut the barrel of any rifle or shotgun to under 18" including rimfires. And according to him that includes gunsmiths, maybe B. Montague should have cut down 10/22 barrels instead of converting guns to fulll auto. I can put any barrel I want of any length as long as the gun is over 26" and the barrel is "Factory made" it will remain non-restricted. He could not define "factory made". I asked him if it had to be Ruger factory and he said no. He couldn't or wouldn't comment on what the law was regarding buying a barrel off RFC or CGN that was 16.5 or whatever and how anyone would decide if it was "Factory". He also said that even though my Registration says Barrel Length 470mm or greater I do not have to re-register it if I don't want to as I am not changing it's classification.
This is more assinine than I could ever imagine.
Hopefully my 16.5" Factory BC from some guy at RFC whose name and address I can't remember arrives soon:bthum
Kim