If you’re looking to customize your rifle, you might be wondering “are folding stocks legal?” In this blog, we answer that question and more!
Folding stocks, also known as collapsible stocks, have the ability to make your weapon 20 to 40% shorter than normal by allowing you to fold the stock. This makes the gun substantially easier to carry and transport, and it can be deployed just before shooting for better control. Depending on the desired usage, a high-quality folding stock can be quite useful. However, just like with any firearm or firearm accessory, folding stocks come with rules and regulations.
Are folding stocks legal?
The first concern of purchasing folding stocks is the legality of the accessory, which can be murky because the federal laws on guns do not have any explicit regulations on them. Following this logic, folding stocks are not illegal to own.
On the other hand, federal gun laws regulate the overall length and barrel length of rifles and shotguns. For shotguns, it is illegal to knowingly possess or manufacture a gun with a barrel length less than 18 inches or an overall length of less than 26 inches. For rifles, you’re going to find yourself in legal trouble if you possess a firearm with a barrel length less than 16 inches or an overall length less than 26 inches. So, when it comes to purchasing a folding stock, it is important to make sure that the overall length of your firearm, when open, is longer than 26 inches.
Beyond making your firearm easier to carry, collapsible stocks also make your weapon extremely light. This lightness can give you better control of your gun and reduce the strength of the kickback you experience when you fire. While there are no specific rules about owning folding stock, it’s important to make sure that your weapon is no smaller than 26 inches when extended.