What does the law say....

[00gt1]

Ok really stupid, really noob question.. so bully's back off please. Is a carbine considered a long gun? I am asking this b/c my buddy who is 20 wants to buy one and i didn't know he answer to his question if he could buy one. I realize i could walk into any store and ask or make a phone call but i wanted to know the reasoning behind why they are classified one way or the other so i thought i'd consult the gurus.

Thanks in advance,

[LorDiego01]

hmm... yes... what exactly is the different between a carbine and a rifle?


I suppose its size.. or maybe a carbine is a rifle that fires handgun rounds..

[SGTUSArmy]

A carbine's main distinquishable characterstic is it is shorter in most versions. That is the only way I can usually visually determine them. It is still a long gun though.

The M4 is the carbine version of the M16.

[avizpls]

For PA law, It depends on barrel length.

a "Firearm" as covered by a liscnse to carry firearm includes any rifle with a barrel length less than 16 inches, or any pistol, revolver, rifle or shotgun with an overall length of less than 26 inches

A rifle therefore is having a barrel greater than 16inches. In general, a carbine will be considered a rifle.

I am not a lawyer, and this is as I interperate it since there is no specific definition of "rifle"

[MiniDevil]

There's two types of firearms, Pistols or Longarms.

Rifles/Shotguns/etc is a Longarm.

For the most part, length is a factor, but I have heard of people building/buying AR-15 'Pistols'. I *believe* the criteria for a pistol is that it can't have a stock, and has to never have had a stock attached (ie. you can't turn a rifle into a pistol by reregistering it, but you can register a pistol as a rifle permanantly)

As far as federal law goes, a Longarm has to have a minimum barrel length of 16", and an overall length of at least 26". Unless, of course, you get an SBR tax stamp on it for $200.00. If you turn a pistol into a SBR, you can always remove the offending features later and turn the SBR back into a Title 1 pistol.

A carbine, if you mean a rifle like an AR-15 type, yes it's a longarm. 18 to purchase in PA. If you mean an AR-15 PISTOL, no, must be 21.

I hope this was somewhat useful.

[00gt1]

There's two types of firearms, Pistols or Longarms.

Rifles/Shotguns/etc is a Longarm.

For the most part, length is a factor, but I have heard of people building/buying AR-15 'Pistols'. I *believe* the criteria for a pistol is that it can't have a stock, and has to never have had a stock attached (ie. you can't turn a rifle into a pistol by reregistering it, but you can register a pistol as a rifle permanantly)

As far as federal law goes, a Longarm has to have a minimum barrel length of 16", and an overall length of at least 26". Unless, of course, you get an SBR tax stamp on it for $200.00. If you turn a pistol into a SBR, you can always remove the offending features later and turn the SBR back into a Title 1 pistol.

A carbine, if you mean a rifle like an AR-15 type, yes it's a longarm. 18 to purchase in PA. If you mean an AR-15 PISTOL, no, must be 21.

I hope this was somewhat useful.

that'll do it, thanks for the info. I think he was looking at a bushmaster M-4. I think thats the .223. I know nothing about carbines but they seem like they could be fun.