Open Bolt Design Legality Check

[CmdrSlander]

Me and my friend have designed a magnetic accelerator (coilgun) based anti-material rifle. I won't go into the details (because we haven't patented it yet) but prototypes are ready to be assembled as soon as we get a solid answer to the question I am about to ask. Without giving too much away, I can say that the design uses a spring loaded bolt to push a spheroid, magnetically attractable projectile into the magnetic field(s) that then accelerate it to lethal velocity. This is done in order to get around a problem that exists with most basic magnetic accelerator weapons (and people do home build them) which is that once the magnetic field is engaged, the projectile will 'fire' (which, in this case, means engage the magnetic field and travel down the barrel) without the actuation of a trigger, in order to allow the shooter to fire at will with a round loaded and the field active, we designed a system wherein a 'bolt' holds the projectile at the far end of the gun, outside the field, until the trigger is pulled, this then sends the 'bolt' forward toward the magnetic field and the barrel/rails at which point magnetic attraction takes over and grabs the projectile. To reload, the bolt is pulled to the rear of the gun again another projectile is dropped into place, the bolt does not travel forward until the trigger is pulled.

This is, effectively, an open bolt design. As I understand it, open bolt weapons are no-no in the US because they (in the case of traditional, cartridge firearms) are easy to convert to full auto. However, since my Mag. Rifle is single shot, and not a 'firearm' in the traditional sense would this be legal to construct?

 

[Kush]

As it doesn't use an explosion to propel the bullet it is not a firearm and therefore isn't regulated (at least on the federal level). Even if it was a firearm, it is only illegal to make new open bolt guns because they can be converted to full auto by removing the trigger mechanism and because your design is single shot it would still be legal. There are actually several full auto air guns. Also, you say that this would be an anti material rifle, out of pure curiosity how large of a capacitor bank are you using?

 

[CmdrSlander]

As it doesn't use an explosion to propel the bullet it is not a firearm and therefore isn't regulated (at least on the federal level). Even if it was a firearm, it is only illegal to make new open bolt guns because they can be converted to full auto by removing the trigger mechanism and because your design is single shot it would still be legal. There are actually several full auto air guns. Also, you say that this would be an anti material rifle, out of pure curiosity how large of a capacitor bank are you using?

We are using a several thousand uf, adjustable capacitor. It is high uf to work off lower voltage to allow for a smaller, lighter battery (to make it semi-man portable).

As an aside, we are looking at around 6,000 fps with a 450 grain projectile, like I said, anti material

It's about 25 pounds all told. With a 24" barrel.

 

[michaelbsc]

It's probably important to note that just because the BATFE may not regulate it because it falls outside the traditional "rules" doesn't mean you won't attract attention pretty quickly.

A full auto paint ball gun isn't exactly the same thing as a full auto deadly weapon. How much noise does it make at the range?

 

[Art Eatman]

It's a single-shot, not full-auto. And paint-ball guns are off-topic to this thread. Don't go veering off into la-la land...

 

[56hawk]

I built a magnetic coilgun for my senior project. There was no question about legality, and this was at a state university.

 

[michaelbsc]

I was thinking air guns, not paint ball. Brain snafu there.

Sorry.