Minimum barrel length

CoverFire

CoverFire

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So I modified a barrel to 18.375"
466.725mm

I spoke to two different cfo people over the phone.
One quoted me the firearms code word for word and made it seem ok to cut a barrel even a factory barrel of 18.5" aslong as its above the 17.992" mark or 457mm

But the second person was going on about 18.5 is the maximum length which is why factory barrels come that length. So I was slightly confused by that when there are 14" barrels aslong as overall length is 26"

What the flip is the actual rule here !
 
Doing a alteration to the bbl can only be 18.5 if it’s a factory production bbl on the new gun it can be as short 14” 8” as long as it conforms to the 26” oal
 
the 18.5 inch minimum length is for semi auto. the 18 inch length is for manual action. factory barrels can be any length as there are some as short as six inches .
 
farmer47 said:
the 18.5 inch minimum length is for semi auto. the 18 inch length is for manual action. factory barrels can be any length as there are some as short as six inches .
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To be precise: less than 18.5" semi-auto centerfire is restricted. Cutting any long gun barrel under 18" creates a prohib. Factory barrel can be any length but the 18.5" semi-auto centerfire rule still applies to make such a gun a restricted firearm.

The RCMP seems to treat replacement barrels the same as factory barrels. So far. By the way the law is written, they COULD decide it's prohib if you swap a shorter barrel onto a gun.
 
Unless you are a manufacturer, and licensed as such, you can only trim down to 18" for any action other than semi-auto, which has the 18.5" rule (centrefire).
 
I tired reading through the firearms act but couldn't find the subsection in regards to barrel length and classification. I was on my phone and possibly scrolled passed the section but either way I need to see the actual firearms act word for word.
 
gunrunner100 said:
Unless you are a manufacturer, and licensed as such, you can only trim down to 18" for any action other than semi-auto, which has the 18.5" rule (centrefire).
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Nowhere does the Firearms Act differentiate between a manufacturer and an individual when it comes to shortening a barrel. Once a barrel is manufactured, it's manufactured. This is generally accepted to occur at the moment the barrel blank is machined to mount on the receiver. If a manufacturer makes a 20" barrel and then later shortens it to 16", installing that barrel back on to the firearm makes it a prohibited firearm. Exactly the same as if it's done by an individual.

Interestingly, the shortened barrel isn't a prohibited device on its own (unless it's a handgun barrel 105mm or less) and the barrel-less receiver is also not prohibited. But put them together and you have a prohibited firearm. The law technically refers to modifying the *firearm*, not the barrel. That's why I said that the horse cops could probably start enforcing a barrel change as creating a prohib firearm.

It doesn't have to make sense; it's the government.
 
CoverFire said:
I tired reading through the firearms act but couldn't find the subsection in regards to barrel length and classification. I was on my phone and possibly scrolled passed the section but either way I need to see the actual firearms act word for word.
Click to expand...

You have your answer, as a firearms verifier, I can verify that, I have the act on hard copy, but I am not going to dig it out and scan it.
If it is a pump action you can cut to 18 inch, but I never go that short, because if you screw up the cut or have damage down the road, you have no room left to fix it.
Semi auto same thing, other than the min. is 18 1/2 inch. 20 inch is good
I asked why the 1/2 difference years ago , the answer I got was so "they" would know what the barrel was for. That is the mentality of Ottawa thinking, Could be the water they drink??
BTW You never said if you chopped a semi auto or a pump ( manual ) action. I am presuming it is not a semi auto.
 
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