Author Topic: home defense shotgun (Read 1463 times)

bubbadad · « **on:** April 26, 2010, 01:15:23 PM »

does anyone know for sure what the minium barrel length for a shotgun legally is?

v-man · « **Reply #1 on:** April 26, 2010, 01:24:42 PM »

Bubbadad, I have always be under the impression that it is 18" and some makers go 18.5" just to be safe. But your question asks if I "really know" and that makes me hesitate cause it seems the powers that be can find a way to make you a "criminal" anytime they want to. Maybe someone has a reference to some federal reg or statute that will nail it down for us all.

bubbadad · « **Reply #2 on:** April 26, 2010, 01:31:44 PM »

kind of a trick question.is the judge legal by taurus?or a contender with a 10" hot shot barrel? not being a smart*** ,i did need to know how short i could cut my mossburg barrel to for camp gun. thanks

sachel.45 · « **Reply #3 on:** April 26, 2010, 02:27:20 PM »

the legal length for a shotgun is 18" if your going to cut your own your best bet is 18.5" just to be safe. the way taurus and TC get around that rule is the barrel is rifled making it not a shotgun also since it fires a pistol round (.45LC) in addition to a shotgun round they consider it a pistol

bubbadad · « **Reply #4 on:** April 26, 2010, 03:41:47 PM »

thank you for clearing that up.

Foxfire Rod and Gun · « **Reply #5 on:** May 29, 2010, 04:51:00 AM »

According to the BATFE Manual the separation of a Judge & like handguns verses a legal shotgun (minimum 18 inch barrel / minimum 26 inches overall) is that one is designed to be fired from the hand and the other is designed to fired from the shoulder. However, a recent BATFE ruling has classified a pistol grip shotgun as a friearm designed to be fired from the hand, but has not classified it as a "handgun". I know........this is a claer as mud, but this is typical of most any Federal Agency.

With that said..............IF you were to attach a stock of some sorts that would enable a Judge, or like handgun with a barrel length less than 16 inches, to be fired from the shoulder, then............it would be considered a short barreled rifle/shotgun and would require a Federal Tax Stamp (&200.00 I believe) and associated local & Federal paperwork. A rifle barrel must be a minimum of 16 inches long and have an overall length of 28 inches (if I remember correctly).

I can quote chapter & verse but I am short on time now. Below are a couple pictures of one of my defense shotguns. Mossberg 500 Cruiser/Persuader. Eight shot / 20 inch barrel.

FR&G