AOW Shotgun

[ar15barrels]

On firearms with a folding pistol brace, is the OAL measured in the shortest or longest configuration, per federal law?

Federally, firearms are measured with the stocks extended or braces folded so you need to be under 26" WITH the brace collapsed to make an AOW.

[ar15barrels]

Any new updates on approvals?

I have heard that the ATF has a new method of dealing with AOW applications and transfers in CA.
Rather than accepting or denying, they are simply holding them or bouncing them back with neither an acceptance or a denial.
This is possibly because without denying, you don't have a way to go after them through legal channels.

The rumor I heard is that CA told the ATF that shotgun AOW's are illegal in CA because of the CA SBR/SBS definition.
I am sure they would have left out the specific exemption for registered AOW's not being considered SBR/SBS in CA.

A neat solution that solves this problem is that you can make (form 1) an AOW in a different state and then bring it to CA because AOW's don't require permission to move across state lines.
You need to do this with a firearm that you already own in CA first so you do not need to form4 transfer the gun into CA because California Form4s are supposedly getting the same treatment as California form1s.

[Capybara]

I have heard that the ATF has a new method of dealing with AOW applications and transfers in CA.
Rather than accepting or denying, they are simply holding them or bouncing them back with neither an acceptance or a denial.
This is possibly because without denying, you don't have a way to go after them through legal channels.

The rumor I heard is that CA told the ATF that shotgun AOW's are illegal in CA because of the CA SBR/SBS definition.
I am sure they would have left out the specific exemption for registered AOW's not being considered SBR/SBS in CA.

A neat solution that solves this problem is that you can make (form 1) an AOW in a different state and then bring it to CA because AOW's don't require permission to move across state lines.
You need to do this with a firearm that you already own in CA first so you do not need to form4 transfer the gun into CA because California Form4s are supposedly getting the same treatment as California form1s.

I've kind of lost interest. I already magically have two supposedly not legal AOWs here and the tax stamps to prove them. I am just going to wait until I move to America and am going to SBR my proposed AR Pistol AOW that they keep turning down here.
I agree with AR15 barrels, it feels as if CADOJ got some sway with the ATF or some bull**** and ATF is shutting the door on this without passing specific legislation.

[ar15barrels]

I've kind of lost interest. I already magically have two supposedly not legal AOWs here and the tax stamps to prove them. I am just going to wait until I move to America and am going to SBR my proposed AR Pistol AOW that they keep turning down here.
I agree with AR15 barrels, it feels as if CADOJ got some sway with the ATF or some bull**** and ATF is shutting the door on this without passing specific legislation.

Don't wait until you move.
You can SBR that AR pistol now while it's free.
You need an address outside CA to do this, but it does not need to be your address as you can have NFA items at other peoples addresses in other states.
I have 4 SBR's in AZ but I keep them configured as title 1 pistols while they are in CA.
They happen to be registered AW pistols in CA as well.
As title 1 configured firearms, there is no need to request permission to move them out of the state they are registered in.
The requirement to obtain permission only applies when they are in a title 2 configuration which would be a short barrel and a stock for an SBR.
Either installing a barrel over 16" OR removing the stock makes them into title 1 firearms which can travel freely around the country.

I say to do this now because I suspect that when democrats get back in power that the NFA tax will be reinstated at an adjusted rate appropriate to $200 in 1932 dollars.
That's $4700ish in 2026 dollars.

Something to know is that the same firearm can NOT be both an AOW and an SBR/SBS.
SO the AOW exemption goes away when you SBR that pistol IF that pistol was previously AOW registered.
I don't know if there is also a federally registered SBR/SBS exemption to the CA SBR/SBS laws that would also exempt a registered SBR in the same manner that the AOW exemption does.

Something else to know.
You can AOW that pistol in another state.
The feds do not require permission to transport AOW's all around the country like they do with title 2 SBR/SBS/MG.

[splithoof]

As an AOW owner, I agree, nearly useless, I only bought mine because I could, one of the new NFA weapons one can own in Commifornia. It is interesting that one can add a brace, even a folding brace to an AOW though and an AOW is immune from Commifornia's SBS and SBR regulations.
A brace isn't as good as a stock but it's a lot better than PGO. Of course, in many areas of Commifornia, law enforcement will seize an AOW with a brace, and arrest the owner, thinking it's an illegal SBS or SBR, when legally, it's not.

I totally see that happening by ignorant cops.
When that does happen, it can only be very expensive to get the situation straightened out legally, let alone getting the weapon back. On top of that, the victim will forever have an arrest on their record I believe. Please correct me if I am wrong.

[Capybara]

You both bring up some good points to think about.