Barrett .50 cal and the ATF

[exoduster18]

My question is this: What set of specific rules does the Barrett M82A1 fall under per ATF laws? I always thought that it was like a normal rifle and that you could go into any gunshop and buy one......but my conciousness says otherwise.....So what exactly are the laws governing this gun?

Thanks!!

 

[cslinger]

Federally it is just like any other rifle. Go in plunk down a couple grand and bring your thirty pound rifle home.

State by state however, things get a little stickier. California, for example, just passed laws banning the big .50. California, huh go figure.

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

In most states .50BMG is a perfectly legal Title I gun. Some states like California banned them because as everyone knows they can bring down aircraft and knock railcars off the tracks. I heard Pluto was declassified as a planet because someone with a .50 shot it in half.
I think anything over .50" bore becomes a DD (with the exception of 12 gauge). Dang I want a .60BMG!
BTW, although it's Title I, expect to pay Title II type prices for a M82A1. Last I checked they were around $7500!

 

[exoduster18]

Ok, thanks.....I just wasn't sure. But I already knew that they were expensive....but I sure still like to own one though!!!

 

[GregGry]

State by state however, things get a little stickier. California, for example, just passed laws banning the big .50. California, huh go figure.

Partially incorrect. Cali people can rejoice http://www.serbu.com/50bmg/ca50.php

 

[Hoppy590]

oh the fact that a rifle is still available isnt lost on gun owners. its lost ont he sheeple who thing a 50 cal and a 44 are comparable. they dont understand they just know numbers

 

[50 Shooter]

Greg,
It gets better then that. http://www.serbu.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=372

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

oh the fact that a rifle is still available isnt lost on gun owners. its lost ont he sheeple who thing a 50 cal and a 44 are comparable. they dont understand they just know numbers

An acquaintance saw a video of some long range 50BMG shots and told someone it was a .50 caliber like Wyatt Earp and those old cowboys carried in their six shooters. I tried to find a picture comparing .50 handgun rounds to .50BMG rifle rounds but couldn't. That's like comparing a VW Jetta TDI to a Greyhound bus. Sure they are both diesels, but thats where the similarities end.
I like educating people about guns though if they want to learn.
I really want an M82A1/M107, but only because I can't have an XM109 *drooool*

 

[beerslurpy]

Why not just pay the DD tax and buy one from barret?

 

[PvtPyle]

Because they wont sell it to you. And if they did, the only rounds you would be able to buy are the ball rounds as the ammo manufacturers wont sell the HE stuff outside of .gov sales. So why even waste the time?

As for the .50, as stated the ATF considers it a normal title 1 firearm. Other than a few state laws, there are no other restrictions on the sale of .50's.