DraftDraft definitions, under editorial review. Informational content is not legal advice.
Draftclassification
A dimensional criterion used in several firearm statutes with different thresholds and scopes. [1][2] Penal Code section 30515(a)(3) specifies less than thirty inches for a semiautomatic centerfire rifle, and subdivision (a)(11) uses that threshold for the specified other-firearm category. [1] Section 17170 separately includes an overall length below twenty-six inches in its short-barreled-rifle definition. [2] A number appearing in one classification should not be substituted for a threshold appearing in another. [1][2]
- 1. California Penal Code assault weapon and .50 BMG definitionsretrieved 2026-10-04
- 2. California Penal Code general definitionsretrieved 2026-10-04
See also
- semiautomatic centerfire rifleDraft
A combined description drawing on three concepts: DOJ’s reproduced definitions describe semiautomatic operation as firing one cartridge, ejecting its case and reloading the chamber for each trigger cycle; centerfire identifies a primer at the cartridge-case base center; rifle refers to a shoulder-fired firearm using a rifled bore and a single projectile per trigger pull.
- short-barreled rifleDraft
Under the National Firearms Act, covered categories include a rifle with a barrel shorter than 16 inches and a weapon made from a rifle whose resulting barrel is shorter than 16 inches or overall length is shorter than 26 inches.
Terms that use overall length
- .50 BMG cartridge
- featureless
- other semiautomatic centerfire firearm
- short-barreled rifle
- short-barreled shotgun
- telescoping stock
About this glossary
This entry is one of 153 defined terms in the CalGunHub glossary of California and federal firearm-law vocabulary. The 11 core terms are short plain-English definitions; the extended terms are cited research drafts, labelled as drafts, with their statutory sources listed under each entry. Every definition here is informational only and is not legal advice.
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