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Can This Weapon Be Considered a Machine Gun in Most States?!?

Smurfologist

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Jul 25, 2006
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Springfield by way of Chicago, Virginia, USA
All,

My cousin asked me to look into the Arsenal Firearms' Double Barrel Pistol (AF2011-A1) to find out if there are some states (other than CA, MD, IL, and DC - Not a State) where this gun may be considered illegal because of it's funtionality (shooting more than 1 round with 1 pull of the trigger). Thanks in advance for your input and I apologize if this has been asked about already.

http://www.gizmag.com/arsenal-firearms-double-barrel-pistol/21806/
 

nuc65

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Lynchburg, Virginia, USA
All,

My cousin asked me to look into the Arsenal Firearms' Double Barrel Pistol (AF2011-A1) to find out if there are some states (other than CA, MD, IL, and DC - Not a State) where this gun may be considered illegal because of it's funtionality (shooting more than 1 round with 1 pull of the trigger). Thanks in advance for your input and I apologize if this has been asked about already.

http://www.gizmag.com/arsenal-firearms-double-barrel-pistol/21806/

It fires only one round per trigger pull. It has two triggers, two barrels, and looks like it weighs more than I would want to carry.
 

skidmark

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I thought it had two distinct triggers. If not, it is a machine gun in all 57 states, all the territories and all the commonwealth trusts. Also in Puerto Rico.

stay safe.
 

scouser

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Taken from the OP's link,

http://www.gizmag.com/arsenal-firearms-double-barrel-pistol/21806 said:
... It can however be customized to use a single trigger or two separate triggers, so the left and right barrel can be fired independently ...

I don't think I'm going to rush to buy one just yet
 

MAC702

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Even if you get the version with two triggers to be legal in the US, it is one slide, which means it has no choice but to reload both barrels, even if you only fire one (assuming one round has enough energy to cycle its action). Or am I not seeing something?
 
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skidmark

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.... Or am I not seeing something?

What you and davidmcbeth and peter nap are not seeing is that it is "2 kewel 4 skul". Dontcha know we are all supposed to become instant fanbois just because it is different and new and not bother our silly little minds about the fact this might actually be best useable as a boat anchor. [/sarcasm]

stay safe.
 

Riana

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Fairfax County, VA
I thought it had two distinct triggers. If not, it is a machine gun in all 57 states, all the territories and all the commonwealth trusts. Also in Puerto Rico.

I thought more than one round fired per trigger pull = machine gun. The headline does say that it fires two shots with each trigger pull.

Now why someone would want this is beyond me. Give me two cheap 1911's and some superglue, and I can make one. And it would be about as useful.
 

nuc65

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I thought more than one round fired per trigger pull = machine gun. The headline does say that it fires two shots with each trigger pull.

Now why someone would want this is beyond me. Give me two cheap 1911's and some superglue, and I can make one. And it would be about as useful.

Technically it is one round per trigger pull. However, the marketing would truthfully say that it is one fingerpull = 2 triggerpull = 1 pull all the same in the marketing world. I have no doubt it could be modified to tie the two triggers together which would make it a machinegun after modification. I imagine that the single slide design renders both barrels inoperable on a single side jam and without knowing the spring constants in use I couldn't hazard a guess as to the ability to recycle on a single barrel discharge. I also don't know why you would want to only fire a single barrel at a time with a sidearm this "kewl."
 

MAC702

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All the pictures I've seen are of a model with a single hammer. Doesn't matter which trigger fires it, that double-wide hammer is going to fire both. If there is a model with separate hammers, you still have the issue of a single slide, which would just waste a loaded round in order to legally fire only one of them.

This concept is best left as it is, as a fantastic piece of clever engineering and craftsmanship, designed to be relegated to coffee table book lore.

The reader comments at the end of the article are disturbing. People complaining about handguns in general, and saying this one is perfect for schoolyards and blaming America for it. They apparently didn't bother to see that the pistol is NOT designed/made in America, and is in fact illegal here.

Also to the OP, regardless of some states' laws, this gun is federally illegal to import or manufacture here for civilian use, since the Hughes Amendment.
 
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mobeewan

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Hampton, Va, ,
Okay.

If one trigger pull fires 2 separate barrels but no other shots are fired until the trigger is pulled again it is a machine gun.

If so, then a double barrel shotgun is a machine gun since pulling the second trigger can fire both barrels at once.

I guess derringers and pepper boxes are machine guns too.

Sounds logical to me.
 
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MAC702

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Such a double-barreled shotgun (like my Ward's SxS 16) has two independent triggers/hammers. You cannot fire both barrels with one trigger pull.
 
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mobeewan

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You can on my dad's JC Higgins side by side.

Pull front trigger first and only left barrel fires. Pull rear trigger first and both barrels fire at the same time.
 
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MAC702

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Is that by design, or is it broken? I'm assuming the latter. If so, and probably either way, you CAN get in big trouble from the BATF if it is not repaired and they are willing to go after you.
 

ocholsteroc

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Aug 4, 2010
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Virginia, Hampton Roads, NC 9 miles away
What about those M4 stocks where it wobbles so when you fire, it "bump fires/wobbles" and goes full auto. I seen this stuff on youtube, they sell you a M4 stock to place on any rifle. I heard the ATF doesn't like those rubber band tricks, so how did they get approved to sell such a product as this?
 

MAC702

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What about those M4 stocks where it wobbles so when you fire, it "bump fires/wobbles" and goes full auto. I seen this stuff on youtube, they sell you a M4 stock to place on any rifle. I heard the ATF doesn't like those rubber band tricks, so how did they get approved to sell such a product as this?

The rubber band or shoe string actually becomes part of the trigger/sear mechanism while it is attached. The stock just lets the rifle bounce off your trigger finger at a nice cadence, the same as when you bump fire from your hip using a belt loop.

I'm not defending their rules, but I do understand them, most of the time.
 

T Dubya

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Richmond, Va, ,
Yesterday I saw a guy at the range with a Desert Eagle. They had their sail phone cameras out video-taping how cool they were. It was jamming up and the range boss had trouble clearing the jams. Same type of clientele for this gun. The cool types. No doubt 2 will simultaneously make it's way to a gangsta rap video being held sideways right beside each other. When I find that video I'll post it in the general discussion forum.
 
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