Revolver barrel length changes and caliber conversions

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whiskeywillow

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Can anyone comment on what's involved to legally re-barrel, re-chamber or alter the barrel lengths of revolvers here in Canada? I've searched the cfc & rcmp pages only to come up with literature regarding the minimums for barrel length before a restricted would re-class as prohib. Nothing regarding shortening (say a 7.5" to a 5.5") etc etc... and nothing on caliber conversions either. (Going from 45 to 44 per say)

Have any gunnutz here on the forum done conversions before, barrel changes, or be able to say how a person would rightly go about it up here?

Thought that possibly this forum may have some answers.
 
If you're going from a restricted length (ie 7.5 to a 5.5) to a restricted length you'd need to have a barrel mounted then notify CFP. Calibre change is similar, but may involve action parts changing, in order to time the cylinder correctly. Then notify. If it's prohib to restricted, the hardware has to change and then has to be verified by a verifier and paperwork sent to CFP to change the category from prohib to restricted.
 
So in other words, if I was to shorten a damaged 7.5" Ruger Vaquero barrel for example, to a 5.5" by cutting & recrowning it's existing barrel, all that's needed is a phonecall to the firearms center to have them change the barrel length on their paperwork? (& afterward get a reissued/updated registration on it?)

Have I got that correct?? Actually sounds realistically fair if it's that simple.
 
Not sure about that - if you replace the barrel, that's the path. If you're cutting a barrel and it ends up shorter than 18 inches, it's technically illegal - yes, I know it was shorter than 18 before you cut it, and its status under the law hasn't changed, but that's not the most common interpretation of the way the rules are written. New barrel good - chopped barrel - jail.
 
Barrel less than 18 inches only refers to firearms adapted from a rifle or shotgun. A handgun barrel must exceed 105 mm to remain legal (or unregulated). A handgun barrel equal to or less less than 105 mm is a prohibited device on and to itself.

s 84. (1) In this Part,
...
“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,
(c) an automatic firearm, whether or not it has been altered to discharge only one projectile with one pressure of the trigger, or
(d) any firearm that is prescribed to be a prohibited firearm;


...
”prohibited device" means
(a) any component or part of a weapon, or any accessory for use with a weapon, that is prescribed to be a prohibited device,
(b) a handgun barrel that is equal to or less than 105 mm in length, but does not include any such handgun barrel that is prescribed, where the handgun barrel is for use in international sporting competitions governed by the rules of the International Shooting Union,
(c) a device or contrivance designed or intended to muffle or stop the sound or report of a firearm,
(d) a cartridge magazine that is prescribed to be a prohibited device, or
(e) a replica firearm;
 
Last edited:
dusted target said:
Barrel less than 18 inches only refers to firearms adapted from a rifle or shotgun. A handgun barrel must exceed 105 mm to remain legal (or unregulated). A handgun barrel equal to or less less than 105 mm is a prohibited device on and to itself.

s 84. (1) In this Part,
...
“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,
(c) an automatic firearm, whether or not it has been altered to discharge only one projectile with one pressure of the trigger, or
(d) any firearm that is prescribed to be a prohibited firearm;


...
”prohibited device" means
(a) any component or part of a weapon, or any accessory for use with a weapon, that is prescribed to be a prohibited device,
(b) a handgun barrel that is equal to or less than 105 mm in length, but does not include any such handgun barrel that is prescribed, where the handgun barrel is for use in international sporting competitions governed by the rules of the International Shooting Union,
(c) a device or contrivance designed or intended to muffle or stop the sound or report of a firearm,
(d) a cartridge magazine that is prescribed to be a prohibited device, or
(e) a replica firearm;
Click to expand...

I completely agree. That doesn't mean that you won't run into a different interpretation. OP - consult your local gunsmith.
 
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