Question about threading a barrel.

Lurch37 · April 9, 2009, 05:52 PM

So I'm a month into waiting for my first suppressor and I got to talking to my local, (non NFA) dealer about threading a Ruger MKIII barrel. He said he had done a couple and then was told by somebody with a badge that he maybe shouldn't be doing that. He thought that by having the papers from the owner of the suppresor was good enough to thread the barrel, but was told no.

I was just confused as to why he can't. Any thoughts?

James K · April 9, 2009, 06:08 PM

I have heard the same thing, but have never seen anything from BATFE that says a gunsmith can't thread a barrel for a "thing" (brake, suppressor or whatever). The suppressor itself is the controlled item, so threading is not
manufacturing an NFA firearm as, say drilling a receiver for a FA sear would be. Let me check with a local Class III dealer and manufacturer and see what his take is.

If in doubt, write BATFE and ask. Write, do not e-mail or phone, to HQ in Washington, not to a field office. This sounds like one of those questions that each BATFE agent has a different answer for. The letter will be the straight scoop and any agent has to accept whatever it says.

Jim

David Hineline · April 9, 2009, 08:13 PM

I would reccomend finding a gunsmith in Nebraska who is not an idiot.

Threading your pistol is not a legal violation.

jmorris · April 9, 2009, 10:19 PM

Quote:

I would reccomend finding a gunsmith in Nebraska who is not an idiot.

+1

Threads can be used for several things only one off the top of my head needs a tax stamp.

Zak Smith · April 9, 2009, 10:22 PM

+1.

Outside of any funny state laws (that I don't think NE has), there are no restrictions on threading the muzzle of a pistol.

Wiskey_33 · April 10, 2009, 06:28 AM

Quote:

told by somebody with a badge

Since local LEO know all laws pertaining to NFA rules/regulations.

Nothing wrong with threading a barrel. People are morons, especially in gunshops.

hknut · April 10, 2009, 08:54 PM

You can buy pre threaded barrels from a number of places with out have the can paperwork. Unless this is a VERY new law, that no one has heard of yet????

James K · April 11, 2009, 06:48 PM

As I said I would, I checked with a local Class III manufacturer. He knows of no law, rule, or regulation regarding anyone threading barrels for whatever reason, and he has done several. People don't mention what they want the threads for and he assumes it is for a legal muzzle brake.

I do have to add that it would take a real idiot to tell a gunsmith or anyone else that he wants the barrel threaded so he can make and install an illegal suppressor. And if a gunsmith were told that, he might inform BATFE; if he did not, he would be an accessory to a federal felony.

Jim

Zak Smith · April 11, 2009, 06:54 PM

NFA manufacturing is a Class 2 SOT. Class 3 SOT is an NFA dealer.

Lurch37 · April 12, 2009, 01:32 AM

Interesting thoughts...

I liked the part about the gunsmith being an idiot. Please save that for some other forum. It would have been just fine to post that there is no legal violation in the threading of a barrel and leave it at that.

Also, the guy with the badge was not a local authority.

With that out of the way, I thank you for your opinions.

James K · April 12, 2009, 09:50 PM

Hi, Zak,

Yes, I know, but had I said a Class 2 SOT, I would have been told that it should be Class 3.

Jim

April 9, 2009, 05:52 PM	#1
Lurch37 Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2006 Location: Middle of Nebraska Posts: 944	Question about threading a barrel. So I'm a month into waiting for my first suppressor and I got to talking to my local, (non NFA) dealer about threading a Ruger MKIII barrel. He said he had done a couple and then was told by somebody with a badge that he maybe shouldn't be doing that. He thought that by having the papers from the owner of the suppresor was good enough to thread the barrel, but was told no. I was just confused as to why he can't. Any thoughts? __________________ I reject your reality and substitute my own.

April 9, 2009, 10:22 PM	#5
Zak Smith Senior Member Join Date: December 12, 1999 Location: Fort Collins, Colorado, USA Posts: 2,682	+1. Outside of any funny state laws (that I don't think NE has), there are no restrictions on threading the muzzle of a pistol. __________________ Zak Smith . DEMIGOD LLC . THUNDER BEAST ARMS CORP . COLORADO MULTI-GUN *My PM inbox full? Send e-mail instead.*

April 10, 2009, 08:54 PM	#7
hknut Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2005 Location: Olympia, Wa. Posts: 535	You can buy pre threaded barrels from a number of places with out have the can paperwork. Unless this is a VERY new law, that no one has heard of yet???? __________________ "Gun control is like trying to reduce Drunk Driving by making it tougher for sober people to own cars" Walk softly and carry a big SIG.

April 11, 2009, 06:54 PM	#9
Zak Smith Senior Member Join Date: December 12, 1999 Location: Fort Collins, Colorado, USA Posts: 2,682	NFA manufacturing is a Class 2 SOT. Class 3 SOT is an NFA dealer. __________________ Zak Smith . DEMIGOD LLC . THUNDER BEAST ARMS CORP . COLORADO MULTI-GUN *My PM inbox full? Send e-mail instead.*

April 12, 2009, 01:32 AM	#10
Lurch37 Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2006 Location: Middle of Nebraska Posts: 944	Interesting thoughts... I liked the part about the gunsmith being an idiot. Please save that for some other forum. It would have been just fine to post that there is no legal violation in the threading of a barrel and leave it at that. Also, the guy with the badge was not a local authority. With that out of the way, I thank you for your opinions. __________________ I reject your reality and substitute my own.

April 9, 2009, 06:08 PM	#2
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	I have heard the same thing, but have never seen anything from BATFE that says a gunsmith can't thread a barrel for a "thing" (brake, suppressor or whatever). The suppressor itself is the controlled item, so threading is not manufacturing an NFA firearm as, say drilling a receiver for a FA sear would be. Let me check with a local Class III dealer and manufacturer and see what his take is. If in doubt, write BATFE and ask. Write, do not e-mail or phone, to HQ in Washington, not to a field office. This sounds like one of those questions that each BATFE agent has a different answer for. The letter will be the straight scoop and any agent has to accept whatever it says. Jim

April 9, 2009, 08:13 PM	#3
David Hineline Senior Member Join Date: December 23, 1999 Location: South Sioux City, Nebraska Posts: 704	I would reccomend finding a gunsmith in Nebraska who is not an idiot. Threading your pistol is not a legal violation.

April 11, 2009, 06:48 PM	#8
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	As I said I would, I checked with a local Class III manufacturer. He knows of no law, rule, or regulation regarding anyone threading barrels for whatever reason, and he has done several. People don't mention what they want the threads for and he assumes it is for a legal muzzle brake. I do have to add that it would take a real idiot to tell a gunsmith or anyone else that he wants the barrel threaded so he can make and install an illegal suppressor. And if a gunsmith were told that, he might inform BATFE; if he did not, he would be an accessory to a federal felony. Jim

April 12, 2009, 09:50 PM	#11
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Hi, Zak, Yes, I know, but had I said a Class 2 SOT, I would have been told that it should be Class 3. Jim