minimum legal overall length of a rifle?

[Kharn]

TexasRifleman:
US v TC was decided by the Supreme Court in 1992, the ATF's only changed their pistol -> rifle -> pistol stance relatively recently (within the past two years, IIRC).

Kharn

 

[TexasRifleman]

I understand, but they have made it clear that they believe that case to ONLY apply to Thompsons.

There was a relatively quiet period where SBRs didn't come up often, mainly due to the Klinton Krime Bill. Once that went away folks were SBR'ing right and left and all of a sudden ATF decides to change their interpretations. With the change regarding pistol to rifle back to pistol they force folks down the NFA path. How convenient.

 

[Loomis]

"...they force folks down the NFA path"

I wonder, are they just dirtbag scum thugs, or are they simply looking for more funds?

 

[TEDDY]

length

m1 carbines=erly ones had a 15.5"barrel so that is why the carbine has exemption.based on muzzel blast I wouldnot want one too short.I have a stevens crack shot it has 32 in over all.but seem like it is shorter.my carcano
7.35 is a horror to shoot with the muzzel blast.

 

[rcmodel]

The M1 Carbine has, and always has had, a nomimal 18" barrel.
They actually measure about 17.9".

My M1-A1 measures 25 1/8" folded, standing on the pistol grip with the barrel exactly vertical.

It measures 35 1/2" unfolded.

rcmodel

 

[Clermont]

The Uzi Model A/B carbine measures 24" with stock folded and 31.5" with stock extended. This information comes from the owner's manual.

 

[Zoogster]

Is there another state where this would be illegal based on length alone ... as opposed to simply being illegal because of an AWB?

Yes in CA a rifle is automaticly an 'assault weapon' (ever changing term that reinvents itself to ban new things) if under 30" long.
Since legaly all "assault weapons" had to be registered years ago (in a special AW registration, not just a standard registration) that means making any rifle under 30" is a serious offense. It puts you in possession of an illegal unregistered assault weapon (and you cannot register them anymore.)

So it has nothing to do with the type of rifle, just by being under 30" long it automaticly becomes an "assault weapon".
So if you traveled out to CA with your 28" long rifle that was the most pro fudd hunting rifle, the kind loved by Zumbos across the world, and came into contact with law enforcement you could find yourself with a felony charge for having an illegal unregistered 'assault weapon'.

 

[Quiet]

The CA assault weapon definition for 30" OAL applies to centerfire semi-auto rifles.

Centerfire/rimfire bolt-action, centerfire/rimfire pump-action, centerfire/rimfire lever-action, centerfire/rimfire single-shot & rimfire semi-auto rifles abide by 26" OAL.

However, unlike the feds (which measure OAL with the firearm's stock extended/open), CA measures OAL with the firearm's stock collapsed/closed.



CA Penal Code 12276.1
(a) Notwithstanding Section 12276, "assault weapon" shall also mean any of the following:
(3) A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has an overall length of less than 30 inches.

 

[Art Eatman]

ATF regs are stickied at the top of this forum's page.