Heavy Barrel?

[crabjoe]

Is there a spec to determine if a barrel is lite, normal, or heavy? I ask because I was at a gun shop in WV today and noticed all their AR style rifles had their business names. What I mean is, I asked if they were manufacturing their own AR style rifles, and they answered yes. I then asked if they had any H-Bar rifles on display, because I didn't see one that looked like it had a heavy barrel. Their answer was "You must live in Maryland. Most all out AR style rifles are MD legal. The ones that aren't are marked as Lite barrel." I then said "all the non-lite barrel rifles look like normal AR barrels.." Their reply was, "MD law says only heavy barrels are legal. The catch is that the manufacture determines what's heavy or not and we consider all out barrels as heavy and mark the non heavy as lite."

Is there truth to this? I guess it's another "loophole" like with the what MD considers large capacity mags, if what he said is true.

 

[rseymorejr]

Stop saying "Loophole" No loopholes, just following the law.

Anyway, for 223/5.56 AR barrels they have to be either marked or marketed as HBAR or Heavy. So if they say it;s heavy, it's heavy. There are no measurements or specifications in the law.

 

[Melnic]

SOME shops will only sell an AR (or transfer) if the profile of the barrel matches a colt HBAR profile.
I have been into some shops where they pulled the hand guard off to inspect that the barrel did not reduce down on the inside.
Yes, its a bit ambiguous.

 

[Biggfoot44]

The specification isn't ambiguous , there simply isn't one .

Marked as HBAR/ Heavy or so advertised by the Mfg IS the rule .

 

[Worsley]

Is there a spec to determine if a barrel is lite, normal, or heavy? I ask because I was at a gun shop in WV today and noticed all their AR style rifles had their business names. What I mean is, I asked if they were manufacturing their own AR style rifles, and they answered yes. I then asked if they had any H-Bar rifles on display, because I didn't see one that looked like it had a heavy barrel. Their answer was "You must live in Maryland. Most all out AR style rifles are MD legal. The ones that aren't are marked as Lite barrel." I then said "all the non-lite barrel rifles look like normal AR barrels.." Their reply was, "MD law says only heavy barrels are legal. The catch is that the manufacture determines what's heavy or not and we consider all out barrels as heavy and mark the non heavy as lite."

Is there truth to this? I guess it's another "loophole" like with the what MD considers large capacity mags, if what he said is true.

yes.

 

[King Chicken]

The specification isn't ambiguous , there simply isn't one .

Marked as HBAR/ Heavy or so advertised by the Mfg IS the rule .

Do you have to have a FFL to be considered a manufacturer? What if I identify as one...and have marketing materials for "my" barrels...

I thought at home building was technically manufacturing to the ATF

 

[outrider58]

The specification isn't ambiguous , there simply isn't one .

Marked as HBAR/ Heavy or so advertised by the Mfg IS the rule .

Are you trying to tell me that nothing has changed in 10 years?

 

[Snardo]

Related question: is it only .223/5.56 rifles that have the heavy barrel requirement? Would I avoid that issue with a .300BLK or similar AR rifle?

 

[outrider58]

Related question: is it only .223/5.56 rifles that have the heavy barrel requirement? Would I avoid that issue with a .300BLK or similar AR rifle?

Yes . Specifically semi auto 5.56/.223 rifles.

I believe gas piston rifles in 5.56/.223 are exempt from required heavy barrels.

 

[DutchV]

The fine folks at Centurion Arms will engrave "HBAR" on most of their barrels for $25 extra. They're great barrels, too.

 

[calicojack]

Is there a spec to determine if a barrel is lite, normal, or heavy? I ask because I was at a gun shop in WV today and noticed all their AR style rifles had their business names. What I mean is, I asked if they were manufacturing their own AR style rifles, and they answered yes. I then asked if they had any H-Bar rifles on display, because I didn't see one that looked like it had a heavy barrel. Their answer was "You must live in Maryland. Most all out AR style rifles are MD legal. The ones that aren't are marked as Lite barrel." I then said "all the non-lite barrel rifles look like normal AR barrels.." Their reply was, "MD law says only heavy barrels are legal. The catch is that the manufacture determines what's heavy or not and we consider all out barrels as heavy and mark the non heavy as lite."

Is there truth to this? I guess it's another "loophole" like with the what MD considers large capacity mags, if what he said is true.

It is really a carve-out, not a loophole.

 

[calicojack]

The fine folks at Centurion Arms will engrave "HBAR" on most of their barrels for $25 extra. They're great barrels, too.

Works for me.

 

[Lafayette]

What about SBR 5.56 barrels… do they have to be HBAR or are they exempt? Because finding a 11.5 HBAR ain’t easy.

 

[Growler215]

What about SBR 5.56 barrels… do they have to be HBAR or are they exempt? Because finding a 11.5 HBAR ain’t easy.

If it's braced MD considers it a pistol, so should be gtg.

I'm thinking I need a 14.5" 5.56 pistol. . .

 

[whistlersmother]

Related question: is it only .223/5.56 rifles that have the heavy barrel requirement? Would I avoid that issue with a .300BLK or similar AR rifle?

Only 223/556 must be HBAR.

 

[Biggfoot44]

What about SBR 5.56 barrels… do they have to be HBAR or are they exempt? Because finding a 11.5 HBAR ain’t easy.

It's been discussed at length here , and the result is ....... inconusive .

 

[Boats]

Stop saying "Loophole" No loopholes, just following the law.

Anyway, for 223/5.56 AR barrels they have to be either marked or marketed as HBAR or Heavy. So if they say it;s heavy, it's heavy. There are no measurements or specifications in the law.

This

 

[Lafayette]

It's been discussed at length here , and the result is ....... inconusive .

That’s what I’ve gathered.

 

[Vile Shadow]

SOME shops will only sell an AR (or transfer) if the profile of the barrel matches a colt HBAR profile.
I have been into some shops where they pulled the hand guard off to inspect that the barrel did not reduce down on the inside.
Yes, its a bit ambiguous.

Thats the best way to prove it

Any idiot can stamp any barrel they want and say” well this is how I got it”

 

[Cool_Moo5e]

so the way I look at it is if the barrel is not stamped or marketed as being a heavy barrel it's not compliant and that's 10 years if the police notice it.
2 barrels from the same manufacturer can be the exact same in spec down to the T, if they didn't stamp it as heavy or state so on their website just don't buy it save yourself now so you don't have to waste 10 years later and yes it only applies to 5.56 and 223 barrels, if you get a 16+" 9mm barrel it can be a normal barrel