May 14, 2011, 12:27 AM | #1 |
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Is 18" legal?
I always see 18.5" barrels but the FN SLP has an 18" barrel. I am wondering if thje SLP TActical is LE only I know SLP stands for Self Loading Police.
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May 14, 2011, 12:49 AM | #2 |
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ATF.gov NRA.org....
To my legal knowledge(and I don't have a JD ), 18.5" is the legal min.
You may want to check www.ATF.gov or maybe www.NRA.org . Clyde |
May 14, 2011, 01:03 AM | #3 |
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It is my understanding that 18" is the legal limit. However most makers will leave the extra 1/2" to be sure not to be too short. That is the advice I would also give if you are planning to cut one down yourself.
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May 14, 2011, 01:24 AM | #4 |
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Federal legal minimum is 18 inches.
It's best to leave a little extra in case your muzzle is damaged, so it can be dressed. |
May 14, 2011, 06:08 AM | #5 |
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I bought an 18" remington police barrel at Cabela's. It had better be legal!
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May 14, 2011, 06:32 PM | #6 | |
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Just messing with your head, Bill and big al are correct. |
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May 14, 2011, 06:46 PM | #7 |
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Take note that the measurement is done from the inside of the barrel from the bolt face. Easily checked with a tape measure inside the barrel.
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May 14, 2011, 06:55 PM | #8 |
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The federal minimum is 18"; however Maryland has an 18 1/2" minimum. Your state may have a similar law.
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May 14, 2011, 08:27 PM | #9 | |
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I guess the same sort of thing is going on in NJ and CA, but I don't see how it could stand up in court. Not even from a 2nd Amendment stanpoint but just from an Interstate Commerce standpoint. You generally shouldn't be able to buy a product legally in one state - be it an automobile, or a drill press or whatever and have it be illegal in another state. |
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May 14, 2011, 08:31 PM | #10 | |
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May 14, 2011, 08:44 PM | #11 |
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Its a half inch, to the naked eye its almost impossible to notice a 18" barrel to a 18.5" barrel. I dont see what the deal is.
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May 14, 2011, 08:47 PM | #12 |
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Well I know plants & animals are exceptions to this, there are types of flora & fauna you can't bring into or take out of certain state. And obviously firearms are like that also.
But if the state of California tried to something like that with computers or power tools - the manufacturers would probably take them to court and I am guessing they win. Firearms are different because like transportation cases like regulations on trucks, the states can show an interest in regulating safety matters. The Interstate Commerce Clause was used in a gun case however - it was used to strike down a federally mandated national gun law. In United States v. Lopez (1995), Congress enacted the Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 (GFSZA) prohibiting the possession of firearms in school zones. Lopez brought a loaded handgun to school and was charged under the Act. The Supreme Court held that the commerce power only grants Congress the ability to regulate the use of the channels and instrumentalities of interstate commerce, and other activities having a substantial relation to or a substantial effect on interstate commerce. The Act was held to unconstitutional for exceeding the power of Congress under the Commerce Clause. |
May 14, 2011, 08:52 PM | #13 | |
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May 14, 2011, 09:09 PM | #14 |
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There is also a minimum overall length, 26" I think. It would be possible to have a barrel of legal length, and still be in trouble with some pistol grip only shotguns.
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May 14, 2011, 09:47 PM | #15 |
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JMR40:
You are correct on the 26" overall length minimum... Also, keep in mind that they measure the bbl using a 18" rod dropped down the barrel when it is mounted to the firearm... Thus, where the bolt face is relative to the barrel plays into the determination of length... Don't just measure the outside and guess where the chamber begins...
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May 15, 2011, 12:06 AM | #16 |
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Door breechers or recoil comps?...
If you added a door breeching device or a ported recoil comp to a 18" stock 12ga barrel would that also meet the legal requirements if it became 19" or 20" with the add ons?
I have seen a few spec ops Mossberg & Remington shotguns with these features. CF |
May 15, 2011, 02:36 AM | #17 |
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Making the barrel longer is not a problem.
You can make a too-short barrel longer by adding a muzzle device, but it must be hard-soldered or welded in place. |
May 15, 2011, 09:00 AM | #18 |
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The barrels start out at 18.5 because manufacturers realize them feds use their tape measures alot and with low budgets, are not replaced nor calibrated often enuff!
Lots of stretched out tapes in use by the feds... Just like stretched out lobster gauges in the hands of Fish and Game... Brent |
May 15, 2011, 09:15 AM | #19 | |
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States should have the power to regulate any item produced and sold within their borders. The Feds should have no say until products are produced in one state and sold in another, "interstate commerce". Several states have recently attempted to re-assert their constitutional rights by passing laws stating that the federal government has no say over items specifically made and sold within their borders. Actually, the Feds should not be controlling individuals entities or people, essentially, at all. They were to regulate the states, which were to regulate the people, who were supposed to maintain control of the states.... Hasn't worked out well.
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May 15, 2011, 09:50 AM | #20 | |
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May 15, 2011, 10:11 AM | #21 | |
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May 15, 2011, 10:21 AM | #22 |
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Inthecountry; it was a big deal to me. It cost me a barrel. I had an old SXS 28" shot gun and it had a bevel(not sure if that is the right word) in the barrel so instead of having it fixed at Browning's gunsmith I sawed it off, but by the time I was finished it was 181/4 inches(just below the bevel) so legal in most states, but illegal in mine. I guess I should have just sprung for the smith opps. Anyone know where or if I can get a new barrel, for an old SXS made in spain for richmond arms? It was made around 1970. I have the serial if that will help? Don't have the model number it was on the barrel I tossed opps, I couldn't find anything about it when I goggeled it.
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May 15, 2011, 10:44 AM | #23 | |
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A few years ago nearby, there was a case where a city was choking off the sales of a fireworks stand because customers had to cross an area that was in the city limits to get to the out of city limits fireworks stand. The courts ruled in faver of the fireworks stand. The school zone law as written made it technically illegal to take your hunting rifle to your ranch if there was a school zone in the way. Similarly, a dry county can't stop beer trucks from passing through on their way to a wet county. |
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May 15, 2011, 10:45 AM | #24 | ||
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May 15, 2011, 11:19 AM | #25 |
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Your tape measure reads 18'' and ATF's measure reads is 17.9''. You also see a lot of rifles with 16.25'' barrels.
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