Threaded barrel question

[Grkpilot]

I was reading the California Gun Laws and all I could find on the subject is the mention of a threaded barrel as a definition for an AW. My question is: Is it illegal in California to own a threaded barrel (not installed on the handgun)? Is it illegal to order and buy one (for the collection value)?

What are your thoughts?

[chillincody]

use the handgun flow chart at the top of the page and it will show you a threaded barrel on a pistol is illegal

having the barrel IMO is just waiting for the DA to get you for constructive possesion or what ever its called

[keenkeen]

Yes, you can own a threaded handgun barrel in CA.

[trevorlc]

There was a thread on this recently, if I recall correctly there was no direct law that covered owning a threaded barrel that works in a gun you own provided its not installed in the gun while in California.

Many people cautioned against it as its better safe than sorry but I also don't recall anyone actually linking a specific court case or arrest for this specific situation ether.

Personally I don't see it ever being an issue unless there is a search warrant executed on your house and one of the LEO's notices the threaded barrel fits one of your guns... Then you might have to deal with it which could cost some money but other than that how would anyone ever know you have it?

[Grkpilot]

There was a thread on this recently, if I recall correctly there was no direct law that covered owning a threaded barrel that works in a gun you own provided its not installed in the gun while in California.

Many people cautioned against it as its better safe than sorry but I also don't recall anyone actually linking a specific court case or arrest for this specific situation ether.

Personally I don't see it ever being an issue unless there is a search warrant executed on your house and one of the LEO's notices the threaded barrel fits one of your guns... Then you might have to deal with it which could cost some money but other than that how would anyone ever know you have it?

I can see how being cautious, you would not want to have it, but the same can be said about high capacity magazine rebuild kits. Owning disassembled parts does not break the law. I think the difference between the letter of the law and the intent needs to be emphasized.

[Roland Deschain]

I can see how being cautious, you would not want to have it, but the same can be said about high capacity magazine rebuild kits. Owning disassembled parts does not break the law. I think the difference between the letter of the law and the intent needs to be emphasized.

In some cases owning disassembled parts DOES break the law. For instance you are most likely fine owning a KPOS G2 kit for a Glock UNLESS you happen to also own a Glock that will fit into it. See Librarian's thoughts (post #3) here.

Granted I know the KPOS is in reference to an SBR and not an AW and I'm not entirely sure if the 'constructive possession' also applies to AW. Either way I'd definitely proceed with caution

Edit: Also I believe a threaded barrel with a pinned thread protector on it is perfectly legal installed in your gun. IANAL so I'd look into it more but that might be your "safest" option.

[JeremyS]

use the handgun flow chart at the top of the page and it will show you a threaded barrel on a pistol is illegal

So having a threaded barrel installed on a semi-automatic pistol WITH detachable magazine is illegal. I know nobody puts a bullet button on their Glock, but you could. This is also why AR pistols are fine with threaded barrels. They must have a mag lock (bullet button) no matter what, since the magazine does not insert into the pistol grip and that alone would make it an AW if the mag wasn't locked.

Anyway, I just wanted to say this to make it perfectly clear. If you have a revolver or lever action or other type of handgun that is not semi-auto, you're fine with using a threaded barrel. If you have a magazine lock or an internal (non-removable without using a tool) magazine, then you can have a threaded barrel installed.

having the barrel IMO is just waiting for the DA to get you for constructive possesion or what ever its called

There ARE certain things that can get you hit with constructive possession (in this realm, I have only heard of that applying to NFA-regulated stuff, like what Roland Deschain linked above). A threaded barrel, even if it fits a pistol you own, does not fall under this category. California specifically does not ban the ownership/possessing, selling, ordering/buying, manufacturing, etc of threaded barrels. The law only bans having one installed on a semi-auto pistol w/ removable mag. Nothing about having the ability to install one, just having one actually installed.

If you want to play it EXTRA safe that's totally fine and I would never ever tell someone that's "wrong." That's 100% your choice and feel free to go nuts with it.

BUT... In answer to OP's direct, clear questions:

Is it illegal in California to own a threaded barrel (not installed on the handgun)?
Is it illegal to order and buy one (for the collection value)?

...the only correct answer is an absolute NO. It is NOT illegal to own or purchase one. It is, therefore, legal.

[Grkpilot]

So having a threaded barrel installed on a semi-automatic pistol WITH detachable magazine is illegal. I know nobody puts a bullet button on their Glock, but you could. This is also why AR pistols are fine with threaded barrels. They must have a mag lock (bullet button) no matter what, since the magazine does not insert into the pistol grip and that alone would make it an AW if the mag wasn't locked.

Anyway, I just wanted to say this to make it perfectly clear. If you have a revolver or lever action or other type of handgun that is not semi-auto, you're fine with using a threaded barrel. If you have a magazine lock or an internal (non-removable without using a tool) magazine, then you can have a threaded barrel installed.




There ARE certain things that can get you hit with constructive possession (in this realm, I have only heard of that applying to NFA-regulated stuff, like what Roland Deschain linked above). A threaded barrel, even if it fits a pistol you own, does not fall under this category. California specifically does not ban the ownership/possessing, selling, ordering/buying, manufacturing, etc of threaded barrels. The law only bans having one installed on a semi-auto pistol w/ removable mag. Nothing about having the ability to install one, just having one actually installed.

If you want to play it EXTRA safe that's totally fine and I would never ever tell someone that's "wrong." That's 100% your choice and feel free to go nuts with it.

BUT... In answer to OP's direct, clear questions:



...the only correct answer is an absolute NO. It is NOT illegal to own or purchase one. It is, therefore, legal.

Thank you, I think that clears it. I could not find any verbiage to the contrary anywhere. So I figured men smarter than me would know!

[Quiet]

CA summary of threaded barrels + handguns:
Threaded barrel by itself = legal
Threaded barrel installed on a semi-auto pistol that accepts detachable magazines = illegal [PC 30515(a)(4)(A0]
Threaded barrel installed on a semi-auto pistol with a fixed magazine = legal
Threaded barrel installed on a single-shot pistol = legal
Threaded barrel installed on a bolt-action pistol = legal
Threaded barrel installed on a lever-action pistol = legal
Threaded barrel installed on a pump-action pistol = legal
Threaded barrel installed on a revolver = legal

[Grkpilot]

CA summary of threaded barrels + handguns:
Threaded barrel by itself = legal
Threaded barrel + semi-auto pistol that accepts detachable magazines = illegal [PC 30515(a)(4)(A0]
Threaded barrel + semi-auto pistol with a fixed magazine = legal
Threaded barrel + single-shot pistol = legal
Threaded barrel + bolt-action pistol = legal
Threaded barrel + lever-action pistol = legal
Threaded barrel + pump-action pistol = legal
Threaded barrel + revolver = legal

Ok, California PC 30515 a4:

(4) A semiautomatic pistol that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine and any one of the following:
(A) A threaded barrel, capable of accepting a flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer.

The way I read that, is that the pistol, in order to be considered an AW needs to have a threaded barrel ON it. Do constructive possession laws for SBR apply to AW too? If so, is it mentioned anywhere?

[Quiet]

The way I read that, is that the pistol, in order to be considered an AW needs to have a threaded barrel ON it.

For the summary I posted eariler, the + symbol equates to installed.
Sorry, if that was not clear.

Do constructive possession laws for SBR apply to AW too? If so, is it mentioned anywhere?

Kinda.

Unlike SBR/SBS/MG, there is no direct penal code stating constructive possession is illegal.

However, the outcome of several Court cases* would indicate that some type of "constructive possession" of an assault weapon is illegal.
*People have been convicted for possessing "broken" assault weapons. One such "broken" assault weapon case involved a FAL style semi-auto rifle with restricted features and the firearm's bolt/bolt carrier group removed from the firearm but stored with the firearm.
*CA Appeals Court recently upheld an assault weapons conviction for possessing an unassembled parts kit.

Therefore due to recent Court cases, I think it would be prudent to not transport or store a threaded barrel with a semi-auto pistol that accepts detachable magazines.
IMO... you can legally own both items, just don't store/transport them together.

[Grkpilot]

For the summary I posted eariler, the + symbol equates to installed.
Sorry, if that was not clear.


Kinda.

Unlike SBR/SBS/MG, there is no direct penal code stating constructive possession is illegal.

However, the outcome of several Court cases* would indicate that some type of "constructive possession" of an assault weapon is illegal.
*People have been convicted for possessing "broken" assault weapons. One such "broken" assault weapon case involved a FAL style semi-auto rifle with restricted features and the firearm's bolt/bolt carrier group removed from the firearm but stored with the firearm.
*CA Appeals Court recently upheld an assault weapons conviction for possessing an unassembled parts kit.

Therefore due to recent Court cases, I think it would be prudent to not transport or store a threaded barrel with a semi-auto pistol that accepts detachable magazines.
IMO... you can legally own both items, just don't store/transport them together.

Thank you for the clarification. I did think you ment owning both items. Also it makes sense, not to store, transport items that could "construct" an AW.