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**44 AMP** · October 19, 2013, 11:04 AM

My understanding is the ATF operates under the concept of "once a machinegun, always a machinegun", generally. Even DEWATS are machineguns, just in a special category that does not require tax, license and other rules applied to "live" guns.

It may be other things, C&R, SBR, etc., but if it is a machinegun, then machine gun laws apply, first.

A shorty M16 (select fire = machine gun) is a machine gun under the law, and its barrel length is essentially immaterial.

The exact same gun as an AR-15 (semi auto only) is not a machinegun, its an SBR (short barrel rifle), and different rules are applied.

A 1914 Vickers gun is a machine gun, and well beyond the qualifying age for C&R status. But its a machine gun, and this legal status trumps all others.

I believe your friend is wrong. C&R does NOT exempt a gun from machinegun status and regulations.

October 19, 2013, 11:04 AM	#10
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,846	My understanding is the ATF operates under the concept of "once a machinegun, always a machinegun", generally. Even DEWATS are machineguns, just in a special category that does not require tax, license and other rules applied to "live" guns. It may be other things, C&R, SBR, etc., but if it is a machinegun, then machine gun laws apply, first. A shorty M16 (select fire = machine gun) is a machine gun under the law, and its barrel length is essentially immaterial. The exact same gun as an AR-15 (semi auto only) is not a machinegun, its an SBR (short barrel rifle), and different rules are applied. A 1914 Vickers gun is a machine gun, and well beyond the qualifying age for C&R status. But its a machine gun, and this legal status trumps all others. I believe your friend is wrong. C&R does NOT exempt a gun from machinegun status and regulations. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.