Legality of Cutting Down Barrel on AR

TRG-42

TRG-42

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Just want to verify before I go ahead ( I'm pretty certain its legal ) but here is my dilemma

With all the problems with getting in shorties ( export permits for SBR from the US ) what is keeping me from taking a existing car length upper and cutting down to 11.5 , recrowning and rethreading .


Since uppers aren't registered what would CFC care ?

Thanks !
 
I don't think the 105mm rule applies because the AR is shoulder fired, only handguns need to be over that, a rifle would be legal at 2" if you could make it work.
 
you can not (legaly) cut down a rifle or shotgun barrel to less than 457mm, read the Criminal Code definition for "Prohibited Firearm" (the whole definition). It does not matter that the AR is "restricted" to begin with.
 
if you read the Criminal code it says you can't cut down a barrel to less than 457mm (rifle or shotgun) without making it into a prohibited firearm and that is what TRG-42 asked about. All of the barrels less than 457mm are perfectly legal if they came from the factory that way. That's why everyone wants a factory 14" bbl for their 870, they know they can't just cut down an exisiting 26". same applies to rifle barrels.
 
I had heard of what BJP is talking about but I cannot comment on it's legal merit. Other options without cutting down barrels, and this would solve your export issues: 1) I bought 11.5" Armalite barrels from Wolverine (but may only be available with M4 ramp cuts). 2) Dlask can make your barrel (Canadian made).
 
BJP said:
if you read the Criminal code it says you can't cut down a barrel to less than 457mm (rifle or shotgun) without making it into a prohibited firearm and that is what TRG-42 asked about. All of the barrels less than 457mm are perfectly legal if they came from the factory that way. That's why everyone wants a factory 14" bbl for their 870, they know they can't just cut down an exisiting 26". same applies to rifle barrels.
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BJP's point has been brought up several times. While I do not agree with him, he is correct as to the wording of the Firearms Act.

The issue that muddies the water is that the gun is proscribed as restricted. As a restricted, the barrel length isn't an issue. The question is if the wording of the act regarding altering barrel lengths applies. I am of the opinion that in the case of a proscribed restricted, the prohibition does not apply, but I'll be honest in that it is unclear.

If the prohibition regarding barrel length applies to the AR-15, then one has to conclude that so would the prohibition regarding reducing the OAL below 26 inches. As that does not seem to be the case, I tend to believe that either the prohibitions do not apply, or the Crown have choosen to ignore this exception to the norm.
 
My opinion is similar to Canuck223's. Best thing to do is call the CFC, get patched through to the legal section, and get a written ruling. You may or may not agree with the official interpretation, but at least you would get the official position.
 
BJP said:
if you read the Criminal code it says you can't cut down a barrel to less than 457mm (rifle or shotgun) without making it into a prohibited firearm and that is what TRG-42 asked about. All of the barrels less than 457mm are perfectly legal if they came from the factory that way. That's why everyone wants a factory 14" bbl for their 870, they know they can't just cut down an exisiting 26". same applies to rifle barrels.
Click to expand...

Does that assume all barrels are longer than 457mm to start? What if it is shorter than 457mm to start with? What if you have a factory Remington 14" barrel and want to shorten it to 12"..or 14.5" AR and want an 11.5" AR?

I expect it would still be illegal ...but it really shows the lack of reason behind the rule. I am going to have to ask the CFC to get their take.

Cheers
 
The criminal code quote from prohibited firearm definitions:

a rifle or shotgun that has been altered to make the barrel length less than 457 mm (18 inches) where the overall firearm length is 660 mm (26 inches) or more;
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It seems to me if you take a commonly available 16 inch (406.4mm) barrel and cut it down to ... whatever ... you are not "altering it to make it" less than 457mm ... because it was already less than 457mm. The alteration has not affected it being under that length. So maybe you would run into legal difficulties if you started with a 20 inch barrel, but then I've never heard of a 20" AR with the carbine gas system that would be needed to make your shorty run. I say you should be good to go. As they say, though, I am not a lawyer, and I don't play one on the Internet either.

Does anyone know how long a barrel you need to stay over the magic 26" overall length number with a typical fully collapsed M4 style stock?
 
One would hope that common sense would prevail with the rule-makers but their track record so far is not that good in regard to common sense. I never assume anything with them, I will call and ask them on Monday.
Cheers
 
the cutting of barrels rules only applies to NONrestricteds. a restricted doesn't have a 26OAL length rule.

chop it to your hearts content. rember, when you go less than 11 inches you may get cycling problems that would have to be addressed
 
Cutting the barrel wouldn't affect the rifle twist of it?
In Manner of stabilise the bullet? Guess you have to start at the correct point or something like that.

If not, it may be an interresting option.
 
The upper is not the registered part, no? If you have a registered lower it should not matter what upper you have on it as it is just a gun part. Therefore, buy an upper and cut it to whatever... who's to say it did not come that way?
 
P0WERWAGON said:
the only special license WE need is a PAL
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Not so that project was built under a FBL that has the manufacturing and possession of prohibited devices and if you Check the law barrels under 4" are prohibited devices and cannot not be imported or manufactured for possession or sale to general public
 
Wrong -- pistol barrel are prohibs under 105mm - since the AR is a restricted RIFLE - the prohibt on BBL length does not affect it

I still have that barrel BTW -- flame spitter extrodinare...
 
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