Sorry, I meant AOW, not SBR. (Thanks for keeping me from confusing myself.
) 16" bbl <26" OAL = AOW. Right?
My point on the "retractable section" of the barrel is that this isn't really addressed in the regs. You are allowed to add length to a barrel (i.e. weld on a tube) as long as it isn't "removable". My contention is that my flashhider isn't removable from the gun. An argument would be that by sliding it back you would be "removing" it from the barrel length requirement and thereby making a SBR.
I contend that this is, in theory, no different than allowing a 23" OAL (with stock folded) to become OK when the stock is extended.
To confuse the issue even more. Let's take the example that started this discussion. (A M1911 with a "carbine kit" installed, 16" bbl, 23" OAL folded and greater then 26" extended.) This is legal. You can remove the stock completely and you are still legal. Just a long barreled pistol. You could even put my barrel on it and remain legal. When you reinstalled the buttstock, maybe, maybe not.
Now, take basically the same thing, only based on a 10/22 (rifle)action,16" bbl, 23" OAL folded and greater then 26" extended.) Still legal. Remove the buttstock and you're in trouble. i.e. AOW. Add my barrel and who knows? (Probably illegal. The "powers that be" don't like change and would probably automatically say "NO". After once saying "no" trying to get them to admit they might have been wrong is almost impossible.
)
Another question for the regulation experts. What happened to the part of the regs that read something like "designed to fired from the shoulder"?
I understand how even with the stock folded the argument can be made that it is "designed" to be fired from the shoulder, but what about things like the Plainfield Enforcer and the Mossberg Camper? These are 16" (18" for the Camper) barrels and over 26" OAL but have no buttstock of any kind. Just a pistol grip.
Dean