Illegal Pistol Barrel Length?

[Beeser]

While doing some online research of my newly acquired Pardini, SP target pistol I came across some information that suggests that this gun is illegal in some states because the barrel length is too short. Looks are somewhat deceiving with this pistol (picture attached) in that the overall size of the gun seems quite large but the actual barrel length is only 4 3/4" long. I don't want to start a political discussion (please don't) but what possible logic prevents this gun from being legal? It's used for Olympic shooting and other very respectable events. I'm new to guns in general and would really like to know.
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[robertrwalsh]

Assuming it has a rifled barrel, which it should, I don't see a federal issue. The front magazine would make it illegal in some states, such as the peoples republic of California, so that might be an issue.

 

[OKFC05]

I think you are operating on a false assumption. What is this information you have?
Canada restricts barrels 4" or less. Front magazine is an issue in some.
If there are US states that would prohibit ownership solely on the 4 3/4" barrel, I'd like to know about it.

 

[Beeser]

I think you are operating on a false assumption. What is this information you have?
Canada restricts barrels 4" or less. Front magazine is an issue in some.
If there are US states that would prohibit ownership solely on the 4 3/4" barrel, I'd like to know about it.

I also read something about the front magazine being illegal too. What's the logic for that?

 

[OKFC05]

I read your post on MA. Trigger and forward magazine are the obvious problems, plus MA need to "approve" the gun you can buy.
Barrel length, per se, is not likely the problem.

 

[OKFC05]

I also read something about the front magazine being illegal too. What's the logic for that?

The word "logic" does not belong in the same sentence with state gun laws, including (perhaps especially) MA, NY, NJ, CA, DC, and the other usual suspects.

 

[Beeser]

I read your post on MA. Trigger and forward magazine are the obvious problems, plus MA need to "approve" the gun you can buy.
Barrel length, per se, is not likely the problem.

Posts 5 and 7 specifically talks about the barrel length.

 

[OKFC05]

Posts 5 and 7 specifically talks about the barrel length.

We are working to change the barrel length requirement to 4 inches, which is not law but a regulation in the target gun roster criterium, no need for a vote, just a signature at the sec. Of public safeties office.

So is the only chance to buy used in MA? Are there any around for sale?

Yup,

See. It's not a state law, it is just an arbitrary determination of what the state board will approve for sale. It is NOT illegal to own, just the board will not approve the sale, because...well, who knows why?
This illustrates the fallacy of having petty bureaucrats approve how you may exercise your Constitutional Rights today.

Having spent many years traveling to MA for Raytheon contracts, I never cease to be amazed at what the MA residents put up with.
Good luck. I retired in Oklahoma, and can own a machine gun if I want it.

 

[Glenn H]

Front mags are used in things like Tec-9 et al. That's why they're limited in some jurisdictions.

 

[g8rb8]

It's very state specific.

You can own that Pardini in most states. However I interpret the New York gun laws would prohibit it. Here is an excerpt of the law in New York (my emphasis on the portion of the law that would apply to that Pardini).

The NY SAFE Act, signed into law by Governor Cuomo on January 15, 2013, amended various provision of New York law in relation to firearms, long guns, assault weapons and ammunition. The Act was intended to enhance public safety by:
• Expanding the classification of those weapons considered to be Assault Weapons and restricting their access, possession and transfer.
As of January 15, 2013, the term “Assault Weapon” has been redefined as:
• A semiautomatic pistol, able to accept a detachable magazine and has at least one of the following characteristics:
a. Folding or Telescoping Stock
b. Thumbhole Stock
c. Second Handgrip or Protruding Grip that can be held by non-trigger hand
d. Capacity to accept an ammunition magazine that attaches to the pistol outside the pistol grip
e. A threaded barrel capable of accepting a barrel extender, flash suppressor, forward hand grip or silencer
f. A shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles, the barrel and that permits the shooter to hold the firearm with the non-trigger hand without being burned
g. A manufactured weight of fifty ounces or more when the pistol is unloaded

 

[FIA44]

I also read something about the front magazine being illegal too. What's the logic for that?

The "logic"........ or LACK of.... is that if they make any HANDGUN with a magazine forward of the trigger guard illegal, they can keep UZI's, Mac10's, and AR Pistols off the streets.
And in their infinite wisdom, it makes anything at all that falls into that criteria "illegal" in those places.

Makes a lotta sense huh?

 

[Beeser]

The "logic"........ or LACK of.... is that if they make any HANDGUN with a magazine forward of the trigger guard illegal, they can keep UZI's, Mac10's, and AR Pistols off the streets.
And in their infinite wisdom, it makes anything at all that falls into that criteria "illegal" in those places.

Makes a lotta sense huh?

It may not make sense but it goes to explain the thought process. This is the sort of thing I wanted to know when I first asked the question. I didn't know that a magazine forward of the trigger was a characteristic of the often talked about assault type weapons. You might say then that one of the unintended consequences of this type of legislation is a Pardini type pistol getting caught in the crossfire, no pun intended. That also explains why there is also a list of guns that are exempted from the ban, the ones they didn't intend to put in their crosshairs, also no pun intended.

 

[Gunhacker]

Assuming it has a rifled barrel, which it should, I don't see a federal issue. The front magazine would make it illegal in some states, such as the peoples republic of California, so that might be an issue.

Not if it is on the CA DOJ list of Exempt Olympic Competition Pistols, and many of the Pardini models are found on it (as well as the S&W M41).

Being on the Olympic Pistols Exemption list exempts them from being classified and banned as an assault weapon due to that front mag well, and it also exempts them from needing to be on the DOJ safe handgun roster.

 

[BigBoy99]

d. Capacity to accept an ammunition magazine that attaches to the pistol outside the pistol grip

According to that definition, the Mauser Military Pistol (C96) with its front magazine is a legal pistol because it does NOT have a detachable magazine but it is loaded with stripper clips from the top of the pistol. However, there were models of this pistol which were made with detachable magazine so these models are illegal?

Leave it to politicians if you really want to screw things up!

 

[LVSteve]

Ask an Egyptian FN-49 owner in California about how stupid things can get. ONE fairly rare variant of that rifle (Argentine) has a detachable magazine. None of the others do and they cannot be converted without an engineering shop. Didn't stop CA banning them all.

 

[2152hq]

According to that definition, the Mauser Military Pistol (C96) with its front magazine is a legal pistol because it does NOT have a detachable magazine but it is loaded with stripper clips from the top of the pistol. However, there were models of this pistol which were made with detachable magazine so these models are illegal?

Leave it to politicians if you really want to screw things up!

The Mauser C96 in it's common form is not an A/W (pistol) under the SAFE Act because of the non-detachable nature of the magazine,,dispite it being forward of the pistol grip itself.

IF you have a C96 WITH a detachable magazine,,it could fall under the 'Antique" provision of the SAFE Act.
If the pistol is at least 50yrs old or older (I know it sounds like C&R,,but they call it Antique),,both the pistol in this instance and it's original magazine would be exempt from the registration deadline already passed of 4-15-14.
You could still register such an A/W and could still transfer it to another resident because of the 'Antique' designation.
The magazine if more than 10rd capacity would also require (separate)registration and like the pistol, at this late date could only be done if the mag itself were 'Antique' status (50yrs old or older).

No modification need be done to limit the Antique magazine to 10rds,,though you can't load it w/more than 10rds and be legal.


I feel SAFEr now.

 

[Qball]

You can own that Pardini in most states. However I interpret the New York gun laws would prohibit it. Here is an excerpt of the law in New York (my emphasis on the portion of the law that would apply to that Pardini).

The NY SAFE Act, signed into law by Governor Cuomo on January 15, 2013, amended various provision of New York law in relation to firearms, long guns, assault weapons and ammunition. The Act was intended to enhance public safety by:

e. A threaded barrel capable of accepting a barrel extender, flash suppressor, forward hand grip or silencer

That would make the Sig/Neuhausen P210 LongSport illegal to?
One of the best 9mm target pistols in the world.

 

[0le]

QUOTE]I don't want to start a political discussion (please don't) but what possible logic prevents this gun from being legal?[/QUOTE]

How can you possibly discuss why some firearms, and certain aspects of other firearms are arbitrarily legal and some are not, without discussing political agendas? Firearms laws are passed by people who are scared of guns. Because they are unable to ban all firearms, they will ban any aspect of any firearm which they feel they can single out as "not sporting" or "threatening". All too frequently, they are playing on people's emotions, and not rationality.

 

[Muss Muggins]

Forward magazines are scary, especially on matte finished pistols . . .

 

[0le]

The "logic"........ or LACK of.... is that if they make any HANDGUN with a magazine forward of the trigger guard illegal, they can keep UZI's, Mac10's, and AR Pistols off the streets.

Would not apply to Uzis and Macs, because their magazines are inside the pistol grip. Would apply to TEK, AR, and AK pistols.