Texas-Book-Gun Law Armed And Educated - Flipbook - Page 74
designed or redesigned and made or remade to use the energy of the
explosive in a fixed metallic cartridge to fire only a single projectile
through a rifled bore for each single pull of the trigger.” See 27 CFR
§ 478.11. In addition, a legal rifle must have a barrel length of 16
inches or greater, and includes any weapon made from a rifle that
is at least 26 inches overall in length. Texas law does not provide
a definition for a rifle under the Penal Code, but it does classify
illegal short-barreled firearms, including rifles, in the same manner
as the federal definition. See Tex. Penal Code § 46.01(10).
Minimum lengths
In order for a rifle to not be subject to the National Firearms Act
or classified as a short-barreled firearm under Texas law, it must
have a barrel of at least 16 inches in length. The ATF procedure
for measuring barrel length is accomplished by measuring from
the closed bolt (or breech-face) to the furthermost end of the barrel
or permanently attached muzzle device. Below is an example of
a rifle that does not meet the minimum barrel length requirement
after measurement.
The barrel is measured by inserting a dowel rod into the barrel
until the rod stops against the bolt or breech-face. The rod is then
marked at the furthermost end of the barrel or permanently attached
Legal Definitions And Classifications Of Firearms: What Is Legal? | 63
