Threaded Barrels Explained
Threaded barrels are parts of firearms that have grooves arranged in a spiral pattern along the length of the muzzle end of the gun barrel. The threading is typically created by cutting a helical groove in the barrel using a lathe or similar tool. Threaded barrels are most commonly found on pistols and rifles. They may also be present on shotguns, muzzleloaders, airguns, and paintball guns.
Threaded barrels are typically used to attach muzzle accessories such as flash suppressors, compensators, and silencers (suppressors). These accessories can accomplish several things. A flash suppressor reduces the visible signature of the flash produced when firing, while a compensator reduces recoil and allows for more consistent shot placement. A silencer minimizes the noise generated during operation.
Silencers are perhaps the most well-known option, which is a shame because they have received a misunderstood reputation thanks to movies. Although this device does reduce the noise of firing, it will only work with subsonic ammunition. This means using "low noise" ammunition such as "Colibri" rounds for .22 caliber firearms, which are common in Europe but less so in the US. Subsonic ammunition is available, but it is generally more expensive than normal ammunition, so the average person would generally not find this option practical.
Some states, including Connecticut, impose restrictions on the sale and use of threaded-barreled firearms because they can be easily and cheaply adapted to accept suppressors. These restrictions vary widely from state to state, and so if you want to buy a threaded-barreled firearm in Connecticut, you should know if the purchase is allowed.
Connecticut’s firearm laws state that sellers: "shall not sell or transfer a firearm that is assault weapon as defined in section 53-202w or large-capacity magazine as defined in section 53-202a unless such firearm or large capacity magazine possesses. . . a threaded barrel designed to accommodate a silencer or silencer . " This law sounds straightforward, but unfortunately is complicated by the fact that Connecticut has a definition of semi-automatic pistols that it considers to be "assault weapons".
The only place in Connecticut law where threaded barrels are discussed is in the list of exempt assault weapons that are not subjected to the state ban on the sale and transfer of firearms and magazines.
Connecticut law defines assault weapons as any firearm that has "any of the following: a barrel shroud." This means that threaded barrels are banned on all semi-automatic pistols that are not considered "assault weapons". The issue here is that certain pistols are exempted from the state ban on the sale of large-capacity magazines. The question is whether or not those pistols have "a barrel shroud".
Smith & Wesson offers almost a dozen different models of their M&P line. Some models have a threaded barrel, and some just don’t. For a more visual example, try any barrel of a Ruger 10/22. When the gun does not have a barrel shroud, the whole barrel is visible without having to remove anything. This means that the entire barrel is open to the elements. On the other hand, models such as Browning Silver or Miroku MK11 XR are an example of a barrel with a "barrel shroud". On these guns, the muzzle has either a square profile or is covered by a removable shroud.
This is a somewhat convoluted way of saying that the law does not explicitly state whether a threaded barrel pistol will have a barrel shroud. On a pistol such as the Smith & Wesson Shield, the only difference between models with and without a threaded barrel is whether there is a threaded muzzle.
An easy way around this technicality is to purchase a muzzle break with no threaded hole. These compressed metal tubes function like the old WWII break designs by releasing gas under pressure to reduce the noise of firing. The difference is that the muzzle is blunted to be easier on the eyes and to prevent ricochet. This accounts for any concerns over the integrity of the muzzle.
If you own a pistol with a threaded barrel and want to buy a silencer, you should check the local laws before making a purchase.
Gun Laws in Connecticut
Connecticut has fairly strict gun laws and gun ownership restrictions. Certainly, the State imposes far more restrictions than those that are merely the result of Federal law. Here are the most important aspects of Connecticut gun law that apply to the possession of threaded barrel firearms.
As you may have read elsewhere on this blog, Federal law does not limit the sale or possession of threaded barrel firearms. However, Connecticut law (33-205) does bar the sale (and possession) of any firearm with a threaded barrel or "grip . . . designed to permit a silencer to be fired while attached." (See C.G.S. 53-202(q)(3)).
As you may have read on this blog, Federal law does not prevent an out-of-state resident from purchasing a threaded barrel. However, Connecticut law bars out-of-state residents from acquiring a threaded barrel firearm. C.G.S. 53-202(q)(4).
Here, too, Federal law permits the sale and/or transfer of threaded barrel firearms to a Connecticut resident. By contrast, Connecticut law bars a licensed dealer (the only sort of dealer permitted to sell threaded barrel firearms) from transacting such a deal. C.G.S. 53-202(q)(5).
It is permissible to possess threaded barrel firearms in Connecticut. Exceptions include: thread protectors, which are legal under State law; threaded barrels where the internal threading is completely removed or disabled; and firearms otherwise legally registered in Connecticut prior to October 1, 2013. Connecticut law permits the continued possession of such firearms if the State Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection issued a certificate before October 1, 2015. C.G.S. 53-202(q)(2).
"Threaded barrel firearm" has a broad meaning in Connecticut and includes pistols, revolvers, rifles, shotguns, or other guns, as well as frames or receivers for each gun. C.G.S. 53-202(p).
Threaded Barrels and Their Specific Legality in Connecticut
In Connecticut the legality of threaded barrels depends on how they are used. Unlike some other states that clearly allow for their use on certain firearms, Connecticut has no law related to threaded barrels. The Connecticut statute that prohibits shotguns and rifles that are "assault weapons" simply prohibits "Any shotgun with a revolving, rotating or detachable magazine of any size." Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 53-202a(7) (C). Any rifle with "a folding or telescoping stock or a pistol grip, or a thumbhole stock or vertical handgrip, or a forward grip." Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 53-202a(9)(B) (D); Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 53-202w(b).
However, there are no laws or regulations that specifically prohibit the use of threaded barrels to connect a suppressor on handguns under the Connecticut General Statutes or the Connecticut Regulations of State Agencies. Instead, the Connecticut legislature only prohibits the use of a suppressor as follows: No person shall use or possess any silencer, muffler, or similar device to silence a firearm, except: (1) as used at a target shooting range facility; (2) by a law enforcement officer in the performance of such officer’s official duties or by a member of any military establishment of the United States or of the National Guard while such member is on duty; (3) to conduct scientific research approved by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection; or (4) to conduct service testing of such device in the manner authorized by the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection. A violation of this section shall be an infraction. Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 53-207(b). As noted, there are exceptions to the prohibition on silencer use, but only when used at a target shooting range, by law enforcement, military personnel, or for scientific research. Nowhere does the statute prohibit threaded barrels. Nor is there any applicable exception under the Connecticut Regulations of State Agencies. Conn. Agencies Regs. Section 26-86-3. Silencers and "similar devices" are prohibited but there is no mention of threaded barrels.
In 2012 the Connecticut legislature passed an "assault weapons ban." Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 53-202a et seq. But that statute likewise does not specifically address threaded barrels. There are references to "barrel shrouds," or heat shields, Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 53-202a(7), "detachable magazine," Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 53-202a(9)(B), and "pistol grips," Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 53-202a(9)(A), but not threaded barrels. Despite the absence of any law or regulation prohibiting the use of threaded barrels, Connecticut gun owners have been advised to register them if they currently own them. In addition, the State of Connecticut appears to be actively seeking to ban threaded barrels (in conjunction with pistol grips) in 2019. S.B. 191, LCO No. 328, entitled "AN ACT CONCERNING REVISIONS TO THE SPECIAL REVISED STATES’ ATTORNEY PROVISIONS OF THE GENERAL STATUTES", introduced January 23, 2019, would add to the definition of an "assault weapon" as follows: (22) A shotgun or rifle which has a folding or telescoping stock or a pistol grip or a thumbhole stock or a vertical handgrip or a forward grip, or (B) any shotgun or rifle with a fixed magazine capacity in excess of ten rounds in violation of a regulation adopted pursuant to section 29-36f. Therefore, we can expect the idea of banning threaded barrels in Connecticut to be an issue this session.
Penalties for Unlawful Possession
If found to be in possession of an illegal threaded barrel, one could be charged with a class D felony which could entail a prison term of up to five years and a fine of up to $5000. Essentially all illegal modifications or enhancements of weapons that are defined by statutes are similarly legally vulnerable to criminal penalties. Although the courts have not yet evaluated or ruled on this issue in Connecticut, it is highly likely that one violating the intent of the statute prohibiting threaded barrels would fall under the categorical ruling that was established by the Connecticut Supreme Court in State v. DeJesus, 250 Conn. 88 at 99 (1999).
Exceptions and Special Conditions
Generally, threaded barrels are universally prohibited in Connecticut unless otherwise permitted. For example, law enforcement officers and members of the military are authorized to carry and possess threaded barrels, subject to the following provisions.
Permits from the Connecticut Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection is required prior to the shipment of any equipment or component parts for assembling a silencer and the actual assembly or use of a silencer. Permits are limited to members of the Armed Forces of the United States or those persons exempt from permits under section 26-27. In order to be exempt from permits, the individual must be a member of the armed forces while on duty in Connecticut or an employee of the state or U . S. government not covered by the above-mentioned duties.
In December 2016, several law enforcement agencies received written approval from Commissioner Dora B. Schriro, now retired, to possess and use threaded-barreled guns in connection with certain elite tactical operations, including SWAT teams. Approval is limited to current or retired members of certain law enforcement agencies. The approval, even though it is specific to certain elite tactical units, potentially covers other current or retired police officers. At the same time, approval has not been extended to federal law enforcement agencies in Connecticut.
These exception or special cases are rare and should be preceded by thorough research.
Comparative Analysis with Other States
The final comparison we will make with other states’ laws is to discuss how threaded barrels are treated in Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey. Nobody should be surprised that all three states are much more restrictive than Connecticut with regard to the possession of threaded barrels. In Massachusetts, the gray area remains because while the Massachusetts Gun Control Act does not mention either threaded or suppressors, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety has an opinion on the matter. The E.O.P.S. as it is called, states that threaded barrels fall under the classification of accessories for silencers, which would fall under the ban for the possession of anything related to suppressors. New Jersey slightly differs with regard to the Massachusetts idea of the opinion of the E.O.P.S. The State of New Jersey prohibits silencers, suppressors, and "the parts thereof designed and intended for use in assembling or fabricating a silencer or suppressor." New York is a weak similar to New Jersey in the way that it prohibits ownership of silencers and possesses the same opinion that anything that is needed to fabricate a suppressor is also prohibited.
Legal Representation and Resources
Connecticut residents seeking specific legal terms and guidance particular to threaded barrel legality can look toward the state for some help. For those who are new gun owners, the Attorney General of Connecticut itself has a Gun Primer guide which explains terms like "assault weapons," for instance. But a primer guide is no substitute for proper and specific legal counsel, which is where we come in .
We have always stressed that with the ever-changing nature of gun laws, it’s vital for people to stay in touch with a local gun lawyer. To know when your firearm purchase runs afoul of the law is a question that is best answered by someone well-versed in the field of gun laws — and there’s just no substitute for a local attorney for specific legal questions you may have.