Building a muzzle loader?

**mokwepa** · 22-07-2012, 21:55

Hi guys

I am interested in building a muzzleloader from scratch.

I would like to enquire as to wheather this is legal or not?

I do have the necessary competency and BP permit.

Thanks in advance

**prepare2win** · 22-07-2012, 22:03

I would suspect you'd need a gunsmithing license or something like that. Also consider the danger/safety aspect and if buying is not a better option overall

**mokwepa** · 22-07-2012, 23:40

Thanks for the reply. I do own quite a few firearms including muzzleloaders. I have emailed Mkonto to ask if they will suply the barrel. If the barrel is proofed then I'm good to go.

Just need to find out if its legal or if a gunsmith needs to check it and give a letter or what?

**mokwepa** · 22-07-2012, 23:41

Oh yes, I doing this as a project not because I'm cheap.

**gunsports** · 24-07-2012, 19:15

The FCA has recently been amended to include muzzle loading guns under the auspices of firearms in the Act. This means that all work on nitro guns prescribed in the Act now also apply to muzzle guns. So technically, only a gunsmith may build/make a muzzle gun.

But, this is a grey area. Barrels and components can be freely imported by private individuals and nothing prvents you from assembling these parts into a working gun. Whether this is because the authorities have not woken up; or are just to stupid to undestand their own laws; one will never know.

As to making/boring and or rifling a barrel; this is verboten. Fact is; on the face of it; untill a barrel is breeched with a plug; there is nothing diffrentiating it from any other barrel; ntro barrels included and possession of such unbreeched barrel will land you in deep trouble. So, if importing; insist that the barrel is breeched, and plugged before it reaches our shores.

BTW: there is no requirement for muzzle gun barrels to be proofed. In fact; proofing, is not correctly done, is dangerous and can come back later and bite you.

**ARM505** · 26-07-2012, 10:16

I've always been curious about this - if this is the case, then technically any steel tube is illegal? Or am I missing something? What differentiates a random, appropriately strong steel tube from a muzzle loading FA bore?

**gunsports** · 29-07-2012, 08:55

Legality vests in its use. A steak knife is not illegal (not yet annyway) if used for cutting your steak. But use it to attack another human and it becomes a dangerous weapon. Same with steel pipes.

**ARM505** · 29-07-2012, 15:53

Well, that's the problem with firearms - unlike knives, they ARE illegal if you just suddenly make one and it isn't registered. It's use is irrelevant. Hence my curiosity. I agree, it's a silly point, but I've always wondered. :)

**Dick** · 09-12-2012, 20:31

If tubes with polished bores are illegal, that would apply to all hydraulic cylinders and probably other tubes I don't know about. The difference is the rifling.

**gunsports** · 10-12-2012, 21:15

Hydrolic cyliners used as such are legal. Breech it and add a vent or a nipple and you've made a barrel. Then it is verboten. Rifling has nothing to do with it.