barrel length

[misser]

does a muzzle brake legally make a barrel longer ?

 

[jak67429]

only if it is permanently attached.

 

[Texas10mm]

only if it is permanently attached.

That means pinned AND welded.

 

[TonyAngel]

Permanently attaching a muzzle brake to a barrel will make it "legal" in the sense that you don't need to SBR it, if attaching the muzzle device brings the length of the barrel up to 16". Just be aware that if you are doing this on an AR and taking measurements, you do not include the barrel extension in the length of the barrel. It is not permanently attached, in the legal sense. In other words, pinning a muzzle device to a 7.5" barrel isn't going to make it legal unless it's a really long muzzle device.

On the other hand, if you are building from a virgin lower receiver, just build it as a pistol and use a brace instead of a stock and not worry about the length of the barrel.

 

[MedWheeler]

TonyAngel writes:

On the other hand, if you are building from a virgin lower receiver, just build it as a pistol and use a brace instead of a stock and not worry about the length of the barrel.

And then you get into this mud pit..


https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...ays-atf-planning-to-ban-pistol-braces.870254/

 

[Theohazard]

This is from page 5 of the ATF’s NFA Handbook:

“The ATF procedure for measuring barrel length is to measure from the closed bolt (or breech-face) to the furthermost end of the barrel or permanently attached muzzle device. Permanent methods of attachment include full-fusion gas or electric steel-seam welding, high-temperature (1100°F) silver soldering, or blind pinning with the pin head welded over. Barrels are measured by inserting a dowel rod into the barrel until the rod stops against the bolt or breech-face. The rod is then marked at the furthermost end of the barrel or permanently attached muzzle device, withdrawn from the barrel, and measured.”

https://www.atf.gov/firearms/docs/guide/atf-national-firearms-act-handbook-atf-p-53208/download

 

[12Bravo20]

This is from page 5 of the ATF’s NFA Handbook:

“The ATF procedure for measuring barrel length is to measure from the closed bolt (or breech-face) to the furthermost end of the barrel or permanently attached muzzle device. Permanent methods of attachment include full-fusion gas or electric steel-seam welding, high-temperature (1100°F) silver soldering, or blind pinning with the pin head welded over. Barrels are measured by inserting a dowel rod into the barrel until the rod stops against the bolt or breech-face. The rod is then marked at the furthermost end of the barrel or permanently attached muzzle device, withdrawn from the barrel, and measured.”

https://www.atf.gov/firearms/docs/guide/atf-national-firearms-act-handbook-atf-p-53208/download

This is the correct answer straight from the source. A muzzle device only counts towards OAL if permanently attached by any of the methods mentioned in the above quote. The blind pin and weld seams to be the most popular method.