Clarification on the 26" OAL requirement?

[bluetrane2028]

These rules sound like they were transcribed from a Joe Biden speech.

It's even more absurd when you truly consider the origin. The grand prize that Roosevelt was after with the NFA wasn't suppressors or full auto, but rather any firearm that could be concealed at all. Pistols were meant to go on it. SBR/SBS/AOW rules were made to keep people from legally shortening a rifle to skirt the pistol ban.

But, there wasn't enough political capital to burn to get rid of pistols so that got dropped off... and the rest stayed in the law that passed.

So, we have to jump through hoops because of "them" not wanting us to have concealable weapons... but pistols are sold at every gun counter...

It's even more demented than truennanashavedepresure.

[DK23]

It's even more absurd when you truly consider the origin. The grand prize that Roosevelt was after with the NFA wasn't suppressors or full auto, but rather any firearm that could be concealed at all. Pistols were meant to go on it. SBR/SBS/AOW rules were made to keep people from legally shortening a rifle to skirt the pistol ban.

But, there wasn't enough political capital to burn to get rid of pistols so that got dropped off... and the rest stayed in the law that passed.

So, we have to jump through hoops because of "them" not wanting us to have concealable weapons... but pistols are sold at every gun counter...

It's even more demented than truennanashavedepresure.

Good info, thanks for posting.

[buckengr]

If you're building a pistol, don't get hung up on the 26" OAL. OAL for a pistol, even an AR style pistol does not come into play.

As long as the fore grip is not a vertical handgrip, you are ok. Putting a vertical foregrip on a pistol makes it an NFA weapon (AOW - Any Other Weapon) because the addition of a second vertical grip to a pistol (or revolver) makes the fiream not meet the definition of a pistol (or revolver) and makes you responsible for a tax stamp.

To clarify, firearms with rifled barrel <16" in length but OAL at least 26" in length that do not have a stock can have vertical foregrips without being considered an AOW or requiring the tax stamp. That is why OAL still matters in some instances. These firearms don't meet the definition of pistol or rifle or SBR or AOW. They are just firearms.

Under 26" OAL and a vertical foregrip is a no-no because then it is AOW if it doesn't have a stock, or SBR if it does.

As Xring said, angled foregrips like the magpul AFG are fine on pistols and don't make them into AOWs.

[XavierBK]

Just to jump in and muddy the waters even more...

Everything discussed up until this point has been in regards to FEDERAL firearms law.

According to PA Title 18 § 6102:

"Firearm." Any pistol or revolver with a barrel length less than 15 inches, any shotgun with a barrel length less than 18 inches or 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. The barrel length of a firearm shall be determined by measuring from the muzzle of the barrel to the face of the closed action, bolt or cylinder, whichever is applicable.

Does this provide two paths to have an AR-15 style pistol? One with a barrel less than 16" or a total OAL under 26".

If you meet one of those two measurements then you could technically carry a loaded AR pistol in a vehicle, right?

[TacticalSpeed]

Just to jump in and muddy the waters even more...

Everything discussed up until this point has been in regards to FEDERAL firearms law.

According to PA Title 18 § 6102:

Does this provide two paths to have an AR-15 style pistol? One with a barrel less than 16" or a total OAL under 26".

If you meet one of those two measurements then you could technically carry a loaded AR pistol in a vehicle, right?

So Federal says measure from end of barrel to end of stock & PA says that? What a headache

[Sgt.K]

I had a question about length issues with a Thompson, but I gave it its own thread here:

https://forum.pafoa.org/showthread.php?t=379698