Are flash hiders illegal?

[that one guy]

I bought a Galil ace 5.45X39,it has a fixed stock and a fin grip. But when I bought it I did not notice there was no muzzle device attached at all. It was just bare threads exposed. What can I put on the end? Would a standard A2 birdcage be illegal? If so what can I put on it?

[CGZ]

To remain featureless, you can not put a flash hider on. You can instead, install a muzzle brake and remain featureless.

If you want a flash hider (and regular pistol grip and a folding/ telescopic stock) you need to find a magazine lock option.

[Quiet]

I bought a Galil ace 5.45X39,it has a fixed stock and a fin grip. But when I bought it I did not notice there was no muzzle device attached at all. It was just bare threads exposed. What can I put on the end? Would a standard A2 birdcage be illegal? If so what can I put on it?

Under CA laws...

Flash suppressors are a restricted feature on semi-auto centerfire rifles that do not have a fixed magazine [PC 30515(a)(1)(E)] and on semi-auto centerfire firearms, that are not pistols, rifles, or shotguns, that do not have a fixed magazine [PC 30515(a)(9)(E)].

If you install a flash hider/suppressor to a featureless semi-auto centerfire rifle, then you will be making an illegal assault weapon. [PC 30600(a)]

In order to remain featureless, the muzzle device can not be considered a "flash suppressor". [PC 30515(a)(1)(E) and 11 CCR 5471(r)]



Penal Code 30515
(a) Notwithstanding Section 30510, ?assault weapon? also means any of the following:
(1) A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that does not have a fixed magazine but has any one of the following:
(E) A flash suppressor.

California Code of Regulations Title 11 Division 5 Chapter 39 Article 2 Section 5471
(r) "Flash suppressor" means any device attached to the end of the barrel, that is designed, intended, or functions to perceptibly reduce or redirect muzzle flash from the shooter's field of vision. A hybrid device that has either advertised flash suppressing properties or functionally has flash suppressing properties would be deemed a flash suppressor. A device labeled or identified by its manufacturer as a flash hider would be deemed a flash suppressor.

[M1NM]

You can use a thread protector or brake. There is no state definition of a brake. They go by what the manufacturer calls it.
You'll need to find out what the thread dia/pitch is - prob 5/8x24 most AR 223/556 are 1/2x20.

[Featureless]

I just use a knurled thread protector on mine. Because I want to be totally featureless.

[jayhuh]

^^^. This is what I did on my last build. Really didn?t want to spend the bucks on a brake in case a certain judge wakes up from hibernation and does away with the AW ban.

[ar15barrels]

I bought a Galil ace 5.45X39,it has a fixed stock and a fin grip. But when I bought it I did not notice there was no muzzle device attached at all. It was just bare threads exposed. What can I put on the end? Would a standard A2 birdcage be illegal? If so what can I put on it?

Flash hiders are not illegal but they are a "feature" so you can not use one on a rifle that is made legal by being "featureless" as installing a feature on a featureless semi-auto centerfire firearm without a fixed magazine turns it into an assault weapon.

If you fi the magazine into your Galil so that it can not be removed without disassembly of the action, then you can add features like a flash hider.

[Sailormilan2]

As AR15 said, possession of a FS is not illegal, but installing it on a gun would make the rifle illegal.
Your options are:
#1. Installing a fake FS, if you want to maintain the original look.
#2. Put on a thread protector. Cheapest option. Almost all of mine have this.
#3. Install a brake. I generally don't go this route, as it increases the sound, and I have enough hearing issues as it is.
#4. Leaving the threads exposed.

[IVC]

The easiest way to think about features, and flash hider is a feature, is to think of their legality as if they were a pistol grip. You can have one when you can have a pistol grip.

Note that there are other laws that regulate threaded barrels, suppressors, barrel length and alike, but flash hider only shows up as a feature in the CA AW law. By itself, it's not particularly naughty.

[The Gleam]

When I couldn't find some good looking muzzle-brakes or thread-protectors that would not bastardize the "look" of my MarColMar CETME-L(s) I made my own. The CETME-L flash-hider is unique in size/shape, it's not just an AR birdcage or other prong flash-hider.

I ordered some surplus extra flash-hiders from APEX, kept my original flash hiders (for when I make my final move to homes in AZ and/or NV) and welded into the slots, refinished, and they ended up doing the job on the cheap.

As ordered and cleaned up:



Wax casting of the slots to get the shape of the "fill" correct:



Made the fill from non-hardened carbon steel machine-screws:



Held them in place with a clamp with the prong retained in place around a ring, for welding them in place evenly, in one shot.





Parkerizing them and seen here in the oil-soak:



And fini....





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[russ69]

Nicely done.

[Joe Register]

Very nice

[ARDude]

You can use a thread protector or brake. There is no state definition of a brake. They go by what the manufacturer calls it.
You'll need to find out what the thread dia/pitch is - prob 5/8x24 most AR 223/556 are 1/2x20.

Standard AR is 1/2x28

[BrokerB]

nice work