Fore grip on handgun?

[Lefty1911]

What are the laws on fore grips for ar pistols? I thought I rad somewhere that you couldn't be able to hold the pistol anywhere other then the pistol grip?

[Quiet]

Just say no to necrothreading...

What are the laws on fore grips for ar pistols? I thought I rad somewhere that you couldn't be able to hold the pistol anywhere other then the pistol grip?

Federal laws/regulations restricts having a vertical forward grip on a Title 1 Handgun and requires BATFE approval to do so (this process makes the Title 1 Handgun into a Title 2 AOW). Failure to obtain BATFE approval to make a Title 2 AOW is a Federal felony.


CA assault weapons laws for handguns prohibits a "second handgrip" on a semi-auto pistol that accepts detachable magazines. [PC 30515(a)(4)(B)]

A "second handgrip" is any type of grip (can be angled, horizontal, or vertical) that allows the shooter to grip the handgun with their non-shooting hand. [11 CCR 5471(gg)]



Penal Code 30515
(a) Notwithstanding Section 30510, “assault weapon” also means any of the following:
(4) A semiautomatic pistol that does not have a fixed magazine but has any one of the following:
(A) A threaded barrel, capable of accepting a flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer.
(B) A second handgrip.
(C) A shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles, the barrel that allows the bearer to fire the weapon without burning the bearer’s hand, except a slide that encloses the barrel.
(D) The capacity to accept a detachable magazine at some location outside of the pistol grip.
(5) A semiautomatic pistol with a fixed magazine that has the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.

Calfornia Code of Regulations Title 11 Section 5471
Explanation of Terms Related to Assault Weapon Designation.
For purposes of Penal Code section 30900 and Articles 2 and 3 of this Chapter the following definitions shall apply:
(gg) “Second handgrip” means a grip that allows the shooter to grip the pistol with their non-trigger hand. The second hand grip often has a grip texture to assist the shooter in weapon control.

[Lefty1911]

so if I built a AR-15 pistol I would not be able to put rails on it to attach a light or laser or anything like that, right?

[CAL.BAR]

so if I built a AR-15 pistol I would not be able to put rails on it to attach a light or laser or anything like that, right?

NO. We are only talking about front pistol grip. No mention of lights or lasers or front rails.
You just can't put the forward pistol grip on it.

[Laurence927]

Federal laws/regulations restricts having a vertical forward grip on a Title 1 Handgun and requires BATFE approval to do so (this process makes the Title 1 Handgun into a Title 2 AOW). Failure to obtain BATFE approval to make a Title 2 AOW is a Federal felony.

Not in relation to CA PC, but having an AR "pistol" with an OAL over 26" allows you to have a forward pistol grip as it becomes an "Other" "firearm" as per BATFE and not an AOW. Again, may or may not apply to CA, as I'm not sure. Franklin Armory even makes the XO-26-S which has a VFG and which the 26" OAL applies too.

Edit: Added ATF letter in regards to 26" OAL very last page on the bottom https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B0qy...GU3/edit?pli=1

[Quiet]

Not in relation to CA PC, but having an AR "pistol" with an OAL over 26" allows you to have a forward pistol grip as it becomes an "Other" "firearm" as per BATFE and not an AOW. Again, may or may not apply to CA, as I'm not sure. Franklin Armory even makes the XO-26-S which has a VFG and which the 26" OAL applies too.

Edit: Added ATF letter in regards to 26" OAL very last page on the bottom https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B0qy...GU3/edit?pli=1

In regards to CA laws...

A firearm with a barrel length of less than 16" is considered a "handgun". [PC 16530(a)]

So, a Title 1 Other with a barrel length of less than 16" and an overall length of greater than 26" can legally have a vertical forward grip under Federal laws, the resulting firearm is still considered a "handgun" under CA laws and needs to be configured so that it complies with all CA laws (unsafe handgun, assault weapons, SBR/SBS, unconventional pistol, etc).

[Lefty1911]

In regards to CA laws...

A firearm with a barrel length of less than 16" is considered a "handgun". [PC 16530(a)]

So, a Title 1 Other with a barrel length of less than 16" and an overall length of greater than 26" can legally have a vertical forward grip under Federal laws, the resulting firearm is still considered a "handgun" under CA laws and needs to be configured so that it complies with all CA laws (unsafe handgun, assault weapons, SBR/SBS, unconventional pistol, etc).

So a hand guard is fine so long as it does not have a pistol grip.

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

[Quiet]

So a hand guard is fine so long as it does not have a pistol grip.

Under CA laws...

A "handguard" (horizontal forward grip) is illegal on a semi-auto pistol that accepts detachable magazines. [PC 30515(a)(4)(B)]

A "handguard" is legal on a semi-auto pistol with a fixed magazine, a manually operated (bolt-action, lever-action, pump-action) pistol, a single-shot pistol, and a revolver.