Why are barrel shrouds illegal

Centerfire Rifles - Semiautomatic or Gas Operated Centerfire rifles, carbines and other gas operated rifles.

07-24-2021, 6:39 PM

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AR-15 Barrel Shroud Legal?

I didn't know where to post this, so I just posted it here. I am in the process of finishing up my latest AR build. Though there is no doubt that it will be a great functioning rifle, it was built to be more of a gucci gun with a focus on form rather than function. Ive decided I want to finish the look of the rifle with a barrel shroud that extends back into the handguard. The question is are barrel shrouds legal in California? I've searched around online and the waters are pretty murky. Some say they are, some say they are not, and some say its a gray area. I personally don't see why such an item wouldn't be legal, but then again this is California so I must beg the question before proceeding. Below are links to the barrel shrouds Im considering

https://www.tacticool22.com/product/...roud-threaded/

http://www.kineti-tech.com/barrel-shroud-ar-15-22/ Id really like this one and Im thinking it would be legal here because its simply a compensator built into a barrel shroud. It does not lend anything to the suppression of flash or sound

https://guntecusa.com/product/ar-15-...-muzzle-brake/

Last edited by Diversity210; 07-24-2021 at 7:10 PM..

07-24-2021, 7:13 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Diversity210

The question is are barrel shrouds legal in California? I've searched around online and the waters are pretty murky. Some say they are, some say they are not, and some say its a gray area. I personally don't see why such an item wouldn't be legal, but then again this is California so I must beg the question before proceeding.

"Shrouds" are CA legal on rifles, shotguns, revolvers, manually operated repeating pistols, single-shot pistols, semi-auto pistols with fixed magazine, rimfire firearms that are not pistols or rifles, manually operated repeating centerfire firearms that are not pistols or rifles, single-shot centerfire firearms that are not pistols or rifles, and semi-auto centerfire firearms with fixed magazine that are not pistols or rifles. "Shrouds" are restricted items on semi-auto pistols that do not have a fixed magazine [PC 30515(a)(4)(C)] and on semi-auto centerfire firearms that do not have a fixed magazine that are not pistols or rifles [PC 30515(a)(9)(I)]. Per CA DOJ BOF, the forward handguard on an AR15 style firearm is considered a "shroud". Bottom line... If you are assembling a rifle, then it is CA legal to have a "shroud" on it.

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: (A) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon. (B) A thumbhole stock. (C) A folding or telescoping stock. (D) A grenade launcher or flare launcher. (E) A flash suppressor. (F) A forward pistol grip. (2) A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has a fixed magazine with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds. (3) A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has an overall length of less than 30 inches.

(4) A semiautomatic pistol that does not have a fixed magazine but has any one of the following:

(A) A threaded barrel, capable of accepting a flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer. (B) A second handgrip.

(C) A shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles, the barrel that allows the bearer to fire the weapon without burning the bearer’s hand, except a slide that encloses the barrel.

(D) The capacity to accept a detachable magazine at some location outside of the pistol grip. (5) A semiautomatic pistol with a fixed magazine that has the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds. (6) A semiautomatic shotgun that has both of the following: (A) A folding or telescoping stock. (B) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon, thumbhole stock, or vertical handgrip. (7) A semiautomatic shotgun that does not have a fixed magazine. (8) Any shotgun with a revolving cylinder.

(9) A semiautomatic centerfire firearm that is not a rifle, pistol, or shotgun, that does not have a fixed magazine, but that has any one of the following:

(A) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon. (B) A thumbhole stock. (C) A folding or telescoping stock. (D) A grenade launcher or flare launcher. (E) A flash suppressor. (F) A forward pistol grip. (G) A threaded barrel, capable of accepting a flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer. (H) A second handgrip.

(I) A shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles, the barrel that allows the bearer to fire the weapon without burning the bearer’s hand, except a slide that encloses the barrel.

(J) The capacity to accept a detachable magazine at some location outside of the pistol grip. (10) A semiautomatic centerfire firearm that is not a rifle, pistol, or shotgun, that has a fixed magazine with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.

(11) A semiautomatic centerfire firearm that is not a rifle, pistol, or shotgun, that has an overall length of less than 30 inches.

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Last edited by Quiet; 07-24-2021 at 7:19 PM.. Reason: PC cites

07-24-2021, 7:25 PM

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If you are using the “barrel shroud” to make barrel longer than 16” it needs to be pin/weld

07-24-2021, 7:44 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Quiet

Penal Code 30515

(4) A semiautomatic pistol that does not have a fixed magazine but has any one of the following:

(A) A threaded barrel, capable of accepting a flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer. (B) A second handgrip.

(9) A semiautomatic centerfire firearm that is not a rifle, pistol, or shotgun, that does not have a fixed magazine, but that has any one of the following:

(11) A semiautomatic centerfire firearm that is not a rifle, pistol, or shotgun, that has an overall length of less than 30 inches.

This is not a featureless AR. Im using a maglock on it so that I can use a regular pistol grip and vertical forward grip. So the barrel shroud should be fine on this setup correct? Im just not trying to go to jail over a barrel shroud haha

07-24-2021, 7:46 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by naz

If you are using the “barrel shroud” to make barrel longer than 16” it needs to be pin/weld

No Im not using it to extend the length of my barrel. The barrel is already 16 inches. The barrel shroud is strictly for cosmetic reasons.

07-24-2021, 8:11 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Diversity210

If you are assembling a rifle, then it is CA legal to have a "shroud" on it.

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07-24-2021, 8:27 PM

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Legal. Besides, it's simply a shoulder thing that goes up. What's the harm in that?

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Librarian

What compelling interest has any level of government in knowing what guns are owned by civilians? (Those owned by government should be inventoried and tracked, for exactly the same reasons computers and desks and chairs are tracked: responsible care of public property.)

If some level of government had that information, what would they do with it? How would having that info benefit public safety? How would it benefit law enforcement?

07-24-2021, 8:40 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by The Gleam

Legal. Besides, it's simply a shoulder thing that goes up. What's the harm in that?

There is no harm in it all. For my application it would not even have a functional purpose, only cosmetic. Functionally they are used as heat shields and even then there is no harm in it, but ironically enough California gun control laws lack the common sense in which they are supposed to be based on. Its like how does a fin grip keep anyone safe? Why cant you have a flash hider on a featureless rifle but can on a maglocked rifle? Non of it makes any kind of sense, but its still law here in this screwed up state. So any time Im going to be modifying something or adding something to one of my guns that I have not done before. I always ask so I can be clear I am not crossing that legal line. I have a family to provide for. I cant do that from prison, and definitely don't want to go to prison over something as trivial as a barrel shroud. You know

07-24-2021, 8:42 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Diversity210

CA gun control laws are not based off of logic, they are created as a result of an emotional reaction to "do something".

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07-24-2021, 9:16 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Diversity210

Apparently my comment was lost on you, which is to no fault of your own, but stands as testimony to that magical leap in time where up-and-coming generations or those new to guns by way of a sudden increase in cultural growth (similar to what we saw in the last 2 years) will not get certain long-time common references or jokes, and those then fall into a realm of esoteric obscurity. Then I suppose the generation that has long fallen on their sword with these, likewise misses out on the new emerging guffaws, what the new generations have in their contemporary toolbox, in which to lob a jibe. Such is the remorse of realizing mirth of the past, no matter how much impact it enjoyed, is not forever, and you are the past, your cascades are no longer recognized for what they are, and even X's and O's on a chalkboard no longer work. Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and auld lang syne? But hey, we'll always have Google - right? ---

For the uninitiated: the ending pays off in pure gold.

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Librarian

If some level of government had that information, what would they do with it? How would having that info benefit public safety? How would it benefit law enforcement?

Last edited by The Gleam; 07-25-2021 at 10:05 AM..

07-25-2021, 6:20 AM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Quiet

CA gun control laws are not based off of logic, they are created as a result of an emotional reaction to "do something".

This is very true and it makes it hard to understand the regulations on AR15 or AK 47 firearms when they are so poorly written.

07-25-2021, 6:38 AM

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Honestly, when the law was being determined they had the MAC-10 in mind. Gangster rap and that culture was the bane of society at the time, and in the movies you always saw drive bys with a MAC-10 out the window. This is where our leaders get inspiration for their idiocy, you tube got us the bullet button ban.....

07-25-2021, 8:10 AM

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As always, Quiet is the wealth of information. Thanks sir.

07-25-2021, 8:49 AM

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the way the PC is written, the AR handguard is already shroud so your build already has one. Can't make it more assaulty by adding a second. If you were building an AR pistol, I'm not sure your "shroud" would even actually qualify as a "shroud" under (a)(4)(C) - since it would go under the rail you can't actually physically grip it, and it would still get hot a.f. with anything more than slow fire so you wouldn't want to touch it anyway if you could.

07-25-2021, 8:52 AM

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Everyone should own at least one "Ove Glove".

07-25-2021, 9:50 AM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by SharedShots

Everyone should own at least one "Ove Glove".

We have two in our kitchen, but they're not "tacticool" enough to bring to the range. Maybe in a camo print?

07-25-2021, 11:20 AM

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My only question is, what the heck is a slide? As in, "...except a slide that encloses the barrel." I can't imagine what they're talking about, not in reference to a semi-auto anything.

I know that some pump-action weapons are sometimes referred to as "slide-actions". Especially in reference to a .22cal rifle.

08-02-2021, 1:35 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by The Gleam

Legal. Besides, it's simply a shoulder thing that goes up. What's the harm in that?

Love this classic when Tucker backed her into a corner.

08-02-2021, 2:04 PM

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Why would you choose to shroud the barrel of an AR15 instead of just installing a slightly longer rail?

08-02-2021, 5:34 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by NorCalRefuge

Why would you choose to shroud the barrel of an AR15 instead of just installing a slightly longer rail?

OP said it’s purely for cosmetic reasons. Aesthetics of the shroud look better than a slightly longer rail, at least to my eyes, and is cheaper than buying another rail.

08-03-2021, 9:36 AM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Echidin

OP said it’s purely for cosmetic reasons. Aesthetics of the shroud look better than a slightly longer rail, at least to my eyes, and is cheaper than buying another rail.

To each their own. I imagine OP wants one of the ones that looks like a suppressor or something. A longer rail typically goes hand-in-hand with that "style" anyway, to cover part of the fake suppressor and give it that tacticool look and all.