Odd SBR question

[Dolomite_supafly]

I have a friend who owns a modern muzzle loader. It is a ML700. It wasn't cleaned very well the last time it was used and as a result the muzzle end of the barrel is very rusted and pitted. I tried cleaning it us the best I can but the bore is miserable.

I know a rifle that uses self contained catridges that has a barrel less than 16" must be registed through the NFA.

Question I have is does the same rule apply to muzzle loaders?

We were discussing possible fixes and I though cutting the barrel back to an area where the rust no longer is might help the rifle accuracy. Problem is when cut back to there the barrel is going to be less than 16".

Thanks

Dolomite

[Photoguy67]

This is an interesting question, I remember reading a ruling that some pistols (black powder) could have shoulder stocks since they were not likely to be used in the commission of a crime however I don't know of any rule about rifles. I will follow this, I am curious to hear what others knowledgeable in this have to say.

[Reservoir Dog]

Muzzle loaders are not typically classified as firearms, unless it is one of those that can be readily converted to fire centerfire cartridge ammunition. As long as your muzzle loader model does not fall under that exception, I don't see how it would be subject to the GCA or NFA.

That is my take on it. Maybe someone else can chime in with their view, as well.

[Jasongar8]

2.1.3 Rifle

. A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder and designed to use the energy of

an explosive in a fixed cartridge to fire only a single projectile through a rifled barrel for each single pull

of the trigger.11

http://www.atf.gov/publications/download/p/atf-p-5320-8/atf-p-5320-8-chapter-2.pdf

That is from ATF's NFA handbook, Chapter 2, What are "firearms" under the NFA? And by that definition a muzzle loader is not a rifle (unless it can accept a centerfire barrel) and therefore I wouldn't think it would fall under the NFA.

This is a good topic, I had never even thought about it.

[Dolomite_supafly]

The part that concerned me is that it is a modern design.

I went back and did a little more research.

The ATF did make a ruling that inline muzzle loaders would in fact fall under the GCA. Mostly because they used modern components to start the ignition. Then they redefined what was considered antiques firearms and again the inlines are no longer a GCA item.

http://www.atf.gov/publications/newsletters/ffl/ffl-newsletter-2005-02.pdf

We frequently receive questions concerning the sale

of modern in-line muzzle loading rifles. Several

years ago ATF determined that an in-line muzzle

loading rifle using #209 shotgun primers for

ignition was not an antique firearm and was subject

to all provisions of the Gun Control Act (GCA).

However, the GCA was amended in 1998 and

many in-line muzzle loading rifles are now antique

firearms and are excluded from the provisions of

the GCA.

Thanks for the input, I guess it is time to cut the barrel back. It should make for a handy little gun considering the barrel is likely going to be 14"-15" long.

Dolomite

[DaveTN]

I always assumed muzzle loaders had long barrels because they needed the length to get velocity and accuracy. Regardless of what the law is what will happen ballistically if you cut the barrel short?

[Jasongar8]

Regardless of what the law is what will happen ballistically if you cut the barrel short?

Generally you will just loose velocity. The length of the barrel doesn't affect accuracy in most cases. There are guys shooting past 1000 with 16" and 18" barrels with no problems. Now this doesn't hold true when you go to extremes, most barrels longer than 15" will shoot pretty good groups.