Flash Hiders

[furyous68]

What's the rule with flash hiders? I want to order a complete upper, but want to make sure a threaded barrel w/ flash-hider or compensator is legal. Does it need to be pinned AND welded... or just pinned?

Thanks!

[dvs762]

if you use a bullet button its fine. If you go featureless you cant use it. It doesnt have to be pinned unless the barrel is under 16 inches before you attach it. Like a 14.5 inch with an extended FH to make it over 16...

[furyous68]

So there is no restriction having a threaded barrel so long as (a) I have a BB, & (b) a 16"+ barrel?

[sean714]

Its ok if its threaded, just as long as its 16" or longer.

[ar15barrels]

So there is no restriction having a threaded barrel so long as (a) I have a BB, & (b) a 16"+ barrel?

No threaded barrel restriction on a rifle.
Rifle barrels just need to be over 16"
If a muzzle device is permanent attached, then the legal barrel length includes the muzzle device.
This is how people have 14.5" barrels that legally measure over 16" long.
If the muzzle device is not permanent attached, then the actual barrel needs to be over 16" long as the muzzle device length would not be part of the legal barrel length.

Threaded barrel on a semi-auto handgun makes it an assault weapon in California.

[supermario]

How long does the Flashider need to be to make that OAL on a 14.5" barrel?
Will a standard A2 FH be long enough or would I need something longer like a Vortex?

No threaded barrel restriction on a rifle.
Rifle barrels just need to be over 16"
If a muzzle device is permanent attached, then the legal barrel length includes the muzzle device.
This is how people have 14.5" barrels that legally measure over 16" long.
If the muzzle device is not permanent attached, then the actual barrel needs to be over 16" long as the muzzle device length would not be part of the legal barrel length.

Threaded barrel on a semi-auto handgun makes it an assault weapon in California.

[furyous68]

Gotcha. Thanks guys! I'm very new to the AR game. Figured it'd be cheaper to build one than try to buy a complete one.

[ar15barrels]

How long does the Flashider need to be to make that OAL on a 14.5" barrel?

2.25"

You need a 14.7" barrel to reach 16" with a standard A2 flash suppressor.

[stix213]

Gotcha. Thanks guys! I'm very new to the AR game. Figured it'd be cheaper to build one than try to buy a complete one.

You need to read the flow chart if you're asking about a need to pin a flash hider. Go to the top of the page, open the "CA Semiauto Ban(AW)ID Flowchat" and follow it through with your expected build.

[furyous68]

You need to read the flow chart if you're asking about a need to pin a flash hider. Go to the top of the page, open the "CA Semiauto Ban(AW)ID Flowchat" and follow it through with your expected build.

I read the flow chart. It doesn't say ANYTHING about flash-hiders other than defining them & listing them as one of the "Evil Features" requiring a mag-lock to use. The flow chart does not cover whether or not a barrel under 16" requires a flash hider/ compensator to be welded to the barrel to make the OAL of the barrel 16".

[ar15barrels]

The flow chart does not cover whether or not a barrel under 16" requires a flash hider/ compensator to be welded to the barrel to make the OAL of the barrel 16".

16" barrel length is federal and state law that predates all state AW legislation.

[furyous68]

Well... I understand that.

My question wasn't if the flash hider is legal, it was if the flash hider needed to be welded/ pinned to the barrel. The flow chart does not address that, even if it's being attached to a <16" barrel (to total 16")... which does require welding.

I understand if you have one, the rifle needs to have a fixed mag. I just wanted to know how it needs to be attached for when I order my complete upper.

[ar15barrels]

Well... I understand that.

My question wasn't if the flash hider is legal, it was if the flash hider needed to be welded/ pinned to the barrel. The flow chart does not address that, even if it's being attached to a <16" barrel (to total 16")... which does require welding.

I understand if you have one, the rifle needs to have a fixed mag. I just wanted to know how it needs to be attached for when I order my complete upper.

The choice to perm attach or not to perm attached only has to do with barrel length.
Since the barrel length is not a factor of assault weapon status, the flow chart does not cover barrel length.

The mere presence of a muzzle device IS a factor of assault weapon status and the flow chart covers that.

If you want a barel less than 16" length on a rifle, it needs to have something perm attached to get over 16".
It does not matter what you attach to exceed 16" as long as you do exceed 16".
The choice of what you attach MAY play into assault weapon status though.

[E Michael]

Lol "it does not matter what you attach"

[ar15barrels]

Lol "it does not matter what you attach"

It's true.
You could attach one of these as long as it is permanent: