Sawed off shotgun

[Blitzkrieg]

The NFA laws are stupid and meant to be so. The guy should cut the barrel at the chamber so it cannot ever be used to convict him

 

[Hamilton Felix]

If "they" want to convict you, they will. Remember the infamous Ruby Ridge entrapment? Randy Weaver swore that the shotgun he cut was at legal length. Now both the guy supplying it, and the guy wanting to buy it (both wanted him to cut it) were ATF plants. Somehow, after all the shooting was over and the shotgun was taken out of ATF evidence storage and measured, it had a legal 18" barrel but was almost 3/8" short of the 26" overall length. Gee, think Randy is too stupid to use a tape measure (he seemed both intelligent and pleasant when I met him)? I mean, gee, the ATF would NEVER have whittled a fraction of an inch off of EVIDENCE, would they? BTW, that's the ONLY thing he was ever convicted of. It helped that he had the word's greatest defense attorney (working for free after he heard what had been done), but the jury still did not fully understand their duty.

Frankly, if I see something like that illegal gun, I don't touch it, I say why I think it's illegal, then I LEAVE. I don't talk about it, don't post on an internet forum, don't do ANYTHING to draw attention to myself. I just try to make sure the owner understands the law before I leave. THere are many thousands of laws that apply to us every day, yet the courts will always say "ignorance of the law is no excuse."


"Did you really think we want those laws observed?" said Dr. Ferris. "We want them to be broken. You'd better get it straight that it's not a bunch of boy scouts you're up against... We're after power and we mean it... There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What's there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced or objectively interpreted – and you create a nation of law-breakers – and then you cash in on guilt. Now that's the system, Mr. Reardon, that's the game, and once you understand it, you'll be much easier to deal with."

--Ayn Rand ('Atlas Shrugged' 1957)

 

[Blitzkrieg]

Hamilton, agreed which is why I said cut the chamber in half.. if they really want you they will just Weaver you and supply a cut off barrel but at the least don't get volunteer to get hoisted on your own petard

 

[Modly]

Pardon my low post count (I'm a lurker, though my roomie does post on here a bit), but if the barrel is for a Mossberg, I do have the tax stamp to cover a short barrel if he would like to get rid of it to somebody that can legally have it.

My 14" barrel is beyond beat up. It's ~20 years old, and has quite possibly 10k shells through it.

 

[mjbskwim]

Pardon my low post count (I'm a lurker, though my roomie does post on here a bit), but if the barrel is for a Mossberg, I do have the tax stamp to cover a short barrel if he would like to get rid of it to somebody that can legally have it.

My 14" barrel is beyond beat up. It's ~20 years old, and has quite possibly 10k shells through it.

Nice idea,but a PM may have been the way to do this.But I'm sure any ATF agents have large post counts than 3,unless they're new agents.

 

[Joe13]

Sorry, to dredge up an old thread but I wanted to see if I could get some clarification about shortening and pistol gripping a shotgun.

---- Background ----

I bought a 1976 Marlin Goose Gun in 12gauge. It's been in an accident and while I knew the stock was broken, I did not find out that the 36" barrel had a slight bend to it until I was at the meeting place to buy it.

So now I have a shotgun that will cost almost as much to replace the barrel and stock as it would be to buy a used one in good condition.

I do plan on repairing it to like new, so replacing the stock and the barrel are on the "project list" but I want to take my time and find good parts for as little $$ as possible.


---- So in the mean time ----

I was wondering about converting the broken stock to a pistol grip and cutting the barrel behind the bend.

It's my understanding that the barrel needs to be 18"+ AND the overall length needs to be 26"+.

Are there any other stipulations? The barrel and overall length are easily doable - do I need to re register it or declare it in any way as long as I follow those dimensions?

Thanks a ton!

 

[deadeye]

thread cleaned
Lets stay on topic shall we.

 

[ZigZagZeke]

My understanding is that 18" for the barrel and 26" overall are the only requirements. The actual barrel check is done by dropping an 18" dowel into the upright barrel, and the top of the dowel needs to be below the top of the barrel. I have a 20 ga. single shot I'm considering shortening.

 

[Hamilton Felix]

I'd keep it a fraction over minimum, just in case a fedcop's ruler doesn't exactly match yours. On that goose gun, is there a chance of finding an old gunsmith who straightens shotgun barrels?

Memory flashback: I seem to recall once seeing a cheap single 20 gauge that had been cut down, barrel over 18" but overall length a fraction under 26" or so recall. Was thinking, if I ever run into him again I'll suggest carefully and SECURELY grafting a bit more wood onto the butt of his pistolgrip to make it legal. That should be as legal as those 10" barrels with permanently attached 6" flash hiders that Bushmaster used to sell.

 

[Joe13]

A good friend of mine suggested going for 18" plus a quarter to half inch on the off chance I have to files or grind on it any.

Seems like sound advice.

I asked a gunsmith that is local and this was the response:

If I can straighten it, it may cost more then just buying a new/used barrel.


If anyone knows of a smith that can do this for cheap (I think there is maybe a 5 degree curve in it), I would rather have a 50" goose gun then a 26" play toy.

But I think it may be fun just to do it while I'm waiting to find replacement parts.

 

[Hamilton Felix]

The smith is right, I'm sure. While I have seen photographs of barrel straighting in a Howa factory (if memory serves), that's a specialist with a specialized tool. And the old goose gun probably isn't worth all that much.

Have you looked closely enough to determine the maximum barrel that would remain if you cut the minimum necessary to get rid of the bend? For some reason I'm visualizing sort of a "shotgun carbine," with shorter than average barrel, maybe an inch or two off the stock with heavy duty recoil pad & bead, but little more, sort of a shotty "truck gun" to knock around in the pickup.

 

[Joe13]

I've eyeballed it and I believe I can just get my 18 1/2 - 19" in behind the curve.

Beyond that, just the receiver and bolt take up the rest of the 26" lol. It's humongous!

The stock is a wreck, I'm not 100% I can fix it (it has a big chunk missing from a bad place). I was thinking to dig deep into my roots and carve out a grip of some sort with what is left and attach it to the end.

And I'm thinking it'll be a good trunk gun as well - I have plenty of home protection options.

My buddy thought it might be awkward cycling the bolt in that config, but it seems fairly natural to me and would be a quick reloader.

 

[Hamilton Felix]

Sounds like you have the right idea - just have fun and don't take it too seriously.

 

[drewp]

I had an old cresent from like 1910. it was calling for some attention
I cut the barrel to 18 3/4" and overall to 26 3/4"

I still need to blue it and varnish the furniture

 

[Certaindeaf]

Howdah!

 

[semperfi68to70]

Would you like to buy a black ski mask to complete the ensemble?

 

[jbett98]

I thought .410 was a caliber and not a gauge so was not considered a shotgun. Am I wrong I have a snakecharmer that is shorter than 18 inches and a smoothbore.

Are you talking about a "Handy Gun" the one with the 12"barrel?

 

[jebediah]

The difference it rifled barrel. Put a 16" rifled barrel on a .410 that came with a pistol grip (no stock) and you will be legal.

Each gun has specific descriptions. Find the description the gun fits and that is what it is. It does not mean it makes sense from a stand point of what you can with them, but it does at least make sense they fit the description.

 

[Certaindeaf]

Would you like to buy a black ski mask to complete the ensemble?

Oh you. I find it interesting that someone would buy a shorty pumpgun (oh my!) that only holds two in the tube and one up the pipe. I think they cost like twelve million dollars for that "extra" shot. so precious

 

[mkwerx]

Oh you. I find it interesting that someone would buy a shorty pumpgun (oh my!) that only holds two in the tube and one up the pipe. I think they cost like twelve million dollars for that "extra" shot. so precious

View attachment 94489

That guy makes me want to go see a dentist!