May 1, 2006, 05:49 PM | #1 |
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Is this legal?
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthrea...=1#post2420693
Owner says he was deleted from TFL for having too short an overall length. According to this link(which I got from a TFL member): http://www.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs/usr/wba...st/nfa_faq.txt "A short barreled rifle is a rifle (which is defined as a shoulder fired, rifled bore firearm) with a barrel length of less than 16", or an overall length of less than 26", or any weapon made from a rifle falling into the same length parameters (like a pistol made from a rifle). In measuring barrel length you do it from the closed breech to the muzzle, see 27 CFR sec. 179.11. To measure overall length do so along, "the distance between the extreme ends of the weapon measured along a line parallel to the center line of the bore." 27 CFR sec. 179.11. On a folding stock weapon you measure with the stock extended, provided the stock is not readily detachable, and the weapon is meant to be fired from the shoulder." He says it is 23" folded and was told that it is illegal, but if the above is true, then measurements are only taken with stock extended, correct? So what is the truth? I'm not trying to stir up anything, I just want to know for my own curiosity. |
May 1, 2006, 07:15 PM | #2 |
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I just went out to the government website and read 27 CFR 179.11.
It's almost the same as the cite you posted from whatever nongov website. The only difference is that the gov site doesn't mention the " On a folding stock weapon you measure with the stock extended " bit. At least not that I could find. Here's the site I was using - (notice it's .gov site, not .edu) http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/w...cfr179_01.html Dean |
May 2, 2006, 08:23 AM | #3 |
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On the federal level, OAL is with extended stock. Some states IIRC have SBR definition tweaked to measure OAL with stock collapsed.
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May 2, 2006, 10:10 AM | #4 | |
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MisterPX,
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I don't doubt that it may be somewhere, but I can't find it. Federal Regulations seem to be spread all over the place and don't all agree with each other. I have found that when this happens, a researcher needs to go to Case Law to find which one they have decided to enforce. If 5 regs say no (or aren't clear), and 1 says yes, at least you would have something to base a defense on. Dean |
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May 2, 2006, 12:43 PM | #5 |
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A short barreled rifle is a rifle (which is defined as a shoulder
fired, rifled bore firearm) with a barrel length of less than 16", or an overall length of less than 26", or any weapon made from a rifle falling into the same length parameters (like a pistol made from a rifle). In measuring barrel length you do it from the closed breech to the muzzle, see 27 CFR sec. 179.11. To measure overall length do so along, "the distance between the extreme ends of the weapon measured along a line parallel to the center line of the bore." 27 CFR sec. 179.11. On a folding stock weapon you measure with the stock extended, provided the stock is not readily detachable, and the weapon is meant to be fired from the shoulder. from http://www.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs/usr/wba...st/nfa_faq.txt
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May 2, 2006, 01:45 PM | #6 |
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Tommy,
Been there, Done that. From what I can see at that site is that is somebody named James O. Bardwell at the Carnigie Mellon School of Computer Sciences interpretation of a Federal Statute. It is also full of disclaimers. I am asking for a cite from a Federal Statute that states the measurement is taken with the stock extended. Dean |
May 2, 2006, 03:52 PM | #7 | |
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That IS the federal statute
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May 2, 2006, 04:40 PM | #8 |
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Typical "grey" government wording. Why can't they just say "with stock deployed" rather than all of the BS ?
The only way I feel comfortable with this is the fact that there are commercial carbines (ex. the IMI Uzi Carbine Model A) that are less than 26" folded. The wording in 27 CFR Part 478.11 (The one that affects the most of us) only mentions "modified". Short-barreled rifle. A rifle having one or more barrels less than 16 inches in length, and any weapon made from a rifle, whether by alteration, modification, or otherwise, if such weapon, as modified, has an overall length of less than 26 inches. I believe that the Feds could try to make a case that when the stock is folded, the rifle has been "modified" into an SBR and therefor requires registration and a tax stamp. BTW: Chapter 27 Title II Part 479 is the description of an NFA firearm which are illegal to own without all of the paperwork as required by law. |
May 2, 2006, 08:54 PM | #9 |
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Modification would entail adding or removing components. Folding a stock is like working a bolt. All my info deals with "extreme ends".
Anyhow, if you're worried that the ATF will get get you for folding your stock, you better make sure you don't wear any shoes with laces. |
May 3, 2006, 11:50 AM | #10 |
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OK, now that we've determined that the 26" overall minimum length is measured with the folding stock extended, that means that one could build a rifle whose "folded" length would be 16 inches plus the action length. I think a decent action could be devised that would be, say, 4 inches giving and overall stowed length of 20 inches.
Now you've given me an idea. How about a telescoping barrel? I believe it is ok to extend a barrel with a "permanently' attached flash hider or such. It doesn?t need to be rifled, just nonremovable. So build a unit that has a sliding "flash hider" that can't be removed, just slid back. This would allow the use of an 8 inch rifled barrel and an 8 inch "nonremovable" extension. Over all length collapsed would be 8 inch barrel and a 4 inch receiver. Total length 12 inches. Slide out the 8 inch the "flash hider" and unfold the 6 inch plus stock and you have a perfectly legal 16 inch barreled, overall 26 inch plus rifle. Right? Dean |
May 3, 2006, 03:55 PM | #11 |
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I think they already invented it. It's called a handgun.
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May 3, 2006, 05:02 PM | #12 |
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Last time i looked you can't put a buttstock on a handgun without registration. (Unless it's on the C&R list)
Dean |
May 3, 2006, 05:24 PM | #13 | |
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Quote:
These type kits have been available for years in one form or another, but usually with a fixed stock instead of a folder. Adding a stock without a 16" or longer barrel would be a no-no. I got a message from the poster on THR and he found out it was legal in Oregon where he is from as long as extended length was 26" or more. |
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May 3, 2006, 06:15 PM | #14 |
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I guess I didn't make myself clear. I'm not talking about a handgun here. I'm talking about a rifle, using a rifle receiver.
Let's change the premise just a little. Instead of a rifle, we will extend the barrel and "flash hider" by 1 inch each. This will give an 18 inch barrel when extended and now it can be smoothbore. (shotgun). Smoothbore handguns are definitely non-reg. The T/C Encore thing took some kind of a special case by the Supreme Court to make them legal, but as far as I know, it was only for specific T/C models. I've always wondered about the carbine conversion kits you mentioned.(I even had one years ago. It made a crappy carbine.) Apparently you can convert a pistol into a rifle, but not the other way around. Dean |
May 3, 2006, 06:35 PM | #15 |
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That "secret rule" about measuring with the stock extended was made for one firearm, the M1A1 carbine, some of which were sold by the Army through DCM back in the 50's. Since the government cannot break its own laws, those guns must have been legal (like the 17 7/8" barrel carbines sold the same way - the law was changed), hence the "stock extended" rule, which BATFE does not publish but which they have acknowledged in writing.
IIRC, they say if the gun cannot be easily fired with the stock folded, the measurement is with the stock extended. The M1A1 carbine, they say, is not easily fired with the stock folded. But that is not true of some other folding/collapsible stocks, so the whole thing becomes a matter of interpretation. Of course, interpretation can only come from a court, which means the guy with the folder gets arrested, put in jail, pays through the nose for bond, etc., etc., and picks up an arrest record even if he is not convicted. Not really worth it for 1" of barrel or stock. Part of the problem is that what the lawmakers had in mind was not folding or collapsible stocks but sawed off stocks. They never even thought of folding stocks, since in 1968 those were mainly encountered in submachineguns, which are controlled by another part of the law. (MG's, incidentally, are not subject to any of those rules.) If building a rifle/shotgun, it is easier to just add any difference onto the barrel and forget about it. Unless, of course, you are just going to play games and get thrills by skating close to the edge and thumbing your nose at BATFE. If so, get ready to mortgage the house to make bail. Jim |
May 3, 2006, 08:36 PM | #16 | |
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Quote:
Also confused on where a 17 7/8" barrel vs. the 16" legal minimum from GCA'68 applies? Thanks. |
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May 3, 2006, 08:53 PM | #17 |
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Jim,
Don't worry, I have no intention of becoming a poster boy for the BATFE. I'm just trying to raise some discussion about the rules and the lack of clairity therein. In fact, I called my District office and asked about the folded/extended measurement. I was told they are measured extended. No mention of whether or not it would be easy to fire when folded. (Of course, as we know, a "ruling" over the phone isn't worth a bucket of warm snot.) As you said, the only thing that really counts is a court decision. And even that can be viewed differently by different courts. My point being: If they will allow what would otherwise be a SBR to fall out of that category by merely extending a collapsible stock, would they be willing to accept the same type of alteration on the other end. i.e. a collapsible barrel? My guess would be no, but maybe there has been a precedence set with the stock. Now all we need is for someone to step forward and become the sacrificial lamb. Dean |
May 4, 2006, 12:10 AM | #18 | |
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May 4, 2006, 06:31 PM | #19 |
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DUH! I completely forgot about the '34 ACT.
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May 4, 2006, 11:06 PM | #20 |
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One thing I never understood in these threads.
People discuss how to tiptoe around the law. How to invent stuff that gets around the law. People discuss the exact meaning of various laws etc. People, we are talking about $200 here. Just get a tax stamp and it is the end of discussion. You don't have to worry about any of this. More importantly you don't have to worry about losing everything you own and spending 10 years in prison because you were trying to be cute. It's only $200 bucks. FWIW, I own a 7.5" barreled .223 AR15, a 10.5" barreled .223 AR15, a 9mm AR15 with two uppers: 11.5" and 7"+integral suppressor, a 12" HK .308, and a 14" Remington 870 shotgun. I am in the process of buying a Serbu Super Shorty 870 shotgun with a 6" barrel. It isn't complicated to do and it is only $200.
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May 4, 2006, 11:44 PM | #21 | |
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However I do enjoy the intellectual excercise of discussing something, in theory, that may or may not be "within the law". (If for no other reason than to point out how unclearly and poorly the "law" is written in the first place.) So, tell you what, I won't slam what turns you on and, in return, you won't belittle what I enjoy. OK? Dean |
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May 4, 2006, 11:51 PM | #22 |
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You can lead a horse to water...........
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You know the rest. In the books you have read How the British Regulars fired and fled, How the farmers gave them ball for ball, From behind each fence and farmyard wall, Chasing the redcoats down the lane, Then crossing the fields to emerge again Under the trees at the turn of the road, And only pausing to fire and load. |
May 4, 2006, 11:56 PM | #23 |
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??????????
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May 5, 2006, 12:25 AM | #24 |
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The law is like a fence. If I am leaning on the fence and still on my side I am fine. The fence is there for a reason, if the fence is a few feet off of my side and I lean on it they really can't say I am trespassing until they move the fence to the right spot. So if they screwed up putting the fence in and I take advantage of it I have not done anything wrong, once the fence is fixed I wont do it anymore. But until they do something I am still on my side.
Another one. If the speed limit is 75 MPH do I have to do 55? If they give out tax tags for 200.00 that let me do over 75 do I have to get one to go 69? NO I can go right up to 74.99 MPH and have never done a thing wrong. If my barrel is 18.05 inches long it is longer than 18 right? If I can have a rifle with a 16.05 inch barrel, an over all length of 26.05 with the stock open and a length of 19 closed. I am within all the laws and I do not have to pay the 200.00 tax (that should not be). WHY WOULD I GIVE AWAY EXTRA MONEY??? |
May 6, 2006, 08:13 AM | #25 |
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Deadin- The flaw with your logic on the telescoping barrel shroud, is that barrels aren't measured at "extreme ends". If your shroud is retracted, then your barrel is no longer a minimum 16".
CC- I'm not exactly sure what your post means in regards to SBR's. If you've got a 16" barrel and a 26" OAL, you're not dealing with an SBR. |
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