Legality of Cutting Down Barrel on AR
- Thread starter TRG-42
- Start date
The intent of the cutting barrel length thing was to prevent a NON-RESTRICTED firearm's barrel to be "home cut" shortened to a barrel length less than the 18.5 (457mm). And is described as such in the definition section of the Code. Whereas you are taking a non-restricted firearm, changing it's characteristics, and as such making it prohibited.
« arme à feu prohibée »
“prohibited firearm” means
( a) a handgun that
(i) has a barrel equal to or less than 105 mm in length, or
(ii) is designed or adapted to discharge a 25 or 32 calibre cartridge,
but does not include any such handgun that is prescribed, where the handgun is for use in international sporting competitions governed by the rules of the International Shooting Union,
( b) a firearm that is adapted from a rifle or shotgun, whether by sawing, cutting or any other alteration, and that, as so adapted,
(i) is less than 660 mm in length, or
(ii) is 660 mm or greater in length and has a barrel less than 457 mm in length,
HOWEVER the intent of the legislation is that once a rifle is registered as RESTRICTED by virtue of the characteristics it being semi-auto, and having a barrel less than 18.5" (470mm) then that is all that is of concern. It is now restricted, and as such condition to all things/permits/locations, restricted. In other words, if it's restricted already with a barrel less than 18.5", then the barrel length is no longer a concern.
The restricted definition does not address the issues surrounding the non-restricted prohibition of "cutting/adapting etc" the barrel. Once the rifle is restricted, who cares what the barrel length is, or how it got to be that length.
« arme à feu à autorisation restreinte »
“restricted firearm” means
( a) a handgun that is not a prohibited firearm,
( b) a firearm that
(i) is not a prohibited firearm,
(ii) has a barrel less than 470 mm in length, and
(iii) is capable of discharging centre-fire ammunition in a semi-automatic manner,
Bottom line, in my humble opinion, is;
- non-restricted firearm CANNOT cut the barrel less than 18.5". Non-restricted can use a FACTORY short (less than 18.5") but not cut. (Still must maintain the 26.5" T.O.L.)
- restricted, do what you want to the barrel.
« arme à feu prohibée »
“prohibited firearm” means
( a) a handgun that
(i) has a barrel equal to or less than 105 mm in length, or
(ii) is designed or adapted to discharge a 25 or 32 calibre cartridge,
but does not include any such handgun that is prescribed, where the handgun is for use in international sporting competitions governed by the rules of the International Shooting Union,
( b) a firearm that is adapted from a rifle or shotgun, whether by sawing, cutting or any other alteration, and that, as so adapted,
(i) is less than 660 mm in length, or
(ii) is 660 mm or greater in length and has a barrel less than 457 mm in length,
HOWEVER the intent of the legislation is that once a rifle is registered as RESTRICTED by virtue of the characteristics it being semi-auto, and having a barrel less than 18.5" (470mm) then that is all that is of concern. It is now restricted, and as such condition to all things/permits/locations, restricted. In other words, if it's restricted already with a barrel less than 18.5", then the barrel length is no longer a concern.
The restricted definition does not address the issues surrounding the non-restricted prohibition of "cutting/adapting etc" the barrel. Once the rifle is restricted, who cares what the barrel length is, or how it got to be that length.
« arme à feu à autorisation restreinte »
“restricted firearm” means
( a) a handgun that is not a prohibited firearm,
( b) a firearm that
(i) is not a prohibited firearm,
(ii) has a barrel less than 470 mm in length, and
(iii) is capable of discharging centre-fire ammunition in a semi-automatic manner,
Bottom line, in my humble opinion, is;
- non-restricted firearm CANNOT cut the barrel less than 18.5". Non-restricted can use a FACTORY short (less than 18.5") but not cut. (Still must maintain the 26.5" T.O.L.)
- restricted, do what you want to the barrel.
- Location
- Sudbury, On
Suputin said:
Where's the sign-up sheet?
Four inches... Man. How many round counts through it?
Disaster Monkey
Regular
- Location
- Victoria, BC
Worst case scenario, if it is only legal for a licenced manufacturer to create a short barrel, would there be anything preventing them from creating that short barrel out of a longer barrel (i.e., cut, crown and thread a 16"er)? Is there any distinction between manufacturing a barrel out of a steel bar as opposed to out of a longer barrel?
Also, the law says "a firearm that is adapted", not "a barrel that is adapted". Especially in the case of an AR-15, the barrel could be adapted before being affixed to the lower receiver, and you would not technically have adapted the firearm by cutting ... especially if the barrel had not been attached to that receiver before. You would merely have modified the barrel (legal), and attached that modified barreled upper to your lower (legal).
On the other hand ... that "or any other alteration" line could include swapping out a longer upper for a shorter one ... even if that shorter one came from the factory like that!
If you bought a lower receiver that had never had an upper attached to it, then affixed a chopped barrel, you would not have "altered or adapted" the firearm with a shorter barrel, no matter how your barrel was created.
Oooh, it's a mind-boggling maze, and you just know that's how they want it.
I am inclined to agree with KevinB's assessment, because when you look at all these factors you realize that this law really can't apply to restricted firearms. The law is ridiculous all around, but pretty much unenforceable when it comes to restricteds. I'd be hesitant to put too many of these questions past the CFC or RCMP gun classifiers, 'cause if they rubbed both their brain cells together hard enough to come up with an answer, their heads would explode. Then they'd have to ban all restricted long guns!
Also, the law says "a firearm that is adapted", not "a barrel that is adapted". Especially in the case of an AR-15, the barrel could be adapted before being affixed to the lower receiver, and you would not technically have adapted the firearm by cutting ... especially if the barrel had not been attached to that receiver before. You would merely have modified the barrel (legal), and attached that modified barreled upper to your lower (legal).
On the other hand ... that "or any other alteration" line could include swapping out a longer upper for a shorter one ... even if that shorter one came from the factory like that!
If you bought a lower receiver that had never had an upper attached to it, then affixed a chopped barrel, you would not have "altered or adapted" the firearm with a shorter barrel, no matter how your barrel was created.
Oooh, it's a mind-boggling maze, and you just know that's how they want it.
I am inclined to agree with KevinB's assessment, because when you look at all these factors you realize that this law really can't apply to restricted firearms. The law is ridiculous all around, but pretty much unenforceable when it comes to restricteds. I'd be hesitant to put too many of these questions past the CFC or RCMP gun classifiers, 'cause if they rubbed both their brain cells together hard enough to come up with an answer, their heads would explode. Then they'd have to ban all restricted long guns!
