Sawed Off Shotgun

BarryLee · September 11, 2011, 07:16 PM

My Father passed away a couple of years ago and I inherited some of his long guns. One of the guns is an older double barrel shotgun that he got from my Grandfather. At some point the barrel was sawed off by my Grandfather.

So, I have no plans to ever carry this anywhere and will most likely never fire it. However, is simply having it in my home a violation of any law? I guess I am referring to Federal regulations, but if anyone knew of specific Georgia regulations that would be helpful.

**hogdogs** · September 11, 2011, 07:19 PM

There is no "sentimental exemption" to the federal gun regs...

Possession is all it takes...

Destroy the barrels... The only way I would own it is to remove or gind off the firing pins too short to strike the primer and weld plugs in the breech... Might be legal if completely unable to hold a shell...

Brent

oneounceload · September 11, 2011, 07:26 PM

First things first - sawed off means nothing, barrel length and overall length do minimum of 18 inch barrels with an overall of 26" - not a hair's width shorter..................

BarryLee · September 11, 2011, 07:31 PM

Quote:

First things first - sawed off means nothing, barrel length and overall length do minimum of 18 inch barrels with an overall of 26"

Darn. I have had this thing for awhile and really never thought about the legal issues. So, can you provide the specific regulation for me to review? Is it something in the Federal Register or somewhere else? The shotgun was shortened, but it may meet the specifications you gave me, but need to dig it out of storage to check.

BarryLee · September 11, 2011, 07:47 PM

Quote:

So, can you provide the specific regulation for me to review?

Never mind I think I found what I need at the ATF WEB site.

Thanks-

shortwave · September 11, 2011, 07:51 PM

Note, FWIW, the Fed. regs for sawed off shotguns do not apply to Black Powder shotguns.

**hogdogs** · September 11, 2011, 07:52 PM

Yes, as long as of legal length, who did the job is mute... If legal, length, keep it in fire-able condition and ENJOY it.

I assumed you had already verified under legal minimums... If legal length, I apologize for jumpin' to conclusions

Brent

BarryLee · September 11, 2011, 07:59 PM

Quote:

I assumed you had already verified under legal minimums... If legal length, I apologize for jumpin' to conclusions

No, my fault for not providing more specifics. I have got to get off line now and handle some family issue, but in the next day or so I’ll dig the gun out and check. If it is too short then I guess that brings up a whole different set of question.

secret_agent_man · September 11, 2011, 08:54 PM

Quote:

I have got to get off line now and handle some family issue

LOL, put the sawed off shotgun away for the time being. Family issues are common instigators of gun violence.

kozak6 · September 12, 2011, 03:54 AM

Remember- drop a dowel down the bore, mark it, and measure it.

winkytink · September 13, 2011, 06:26 PM

Something you might not have thought of...if the barrels are too short, you might be able to find suitable replacements (and then destroy the short ones). Make note of any markings on the gun and search on-line. There are collectors for just about everything and there's bound to be someone out there that can point you in the right direction.

madmag · September 13, 2011, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kozak6

drop a dowel down the bore, mark it, and measure it.

That's the important part of this thread. If the dowel measures more than 18" to the closed breech then you are ok, otherwise you have an illegal gun........period.

**hogdogs** · September 13, 2011, 06:42 PM

Cock the hammer to use dowel... No sense wasting that precious 1/15th inch

Brent

oneounceload · September 13, 2011, 08:19 PM

Doesn't matter if the barrels are 20 inches - if it is cut so that the overall length is less than 26, it is still subject to NFA rules

**hogdogs** · September 13, 2011, 08:28 PM

Many folks do not realize how crucial that 26" number is until they cut a single/double down to 18 inch barrels and hack off the stock to a PGO...

Most pumps cut to 18 inches and PGO still exceed that 26 inch number.

Brent

oneounceload · September 13, 2011, 09:32 PM

Exactly, Brent - because that action adds a nice 3" to make it legal

**44 AMP** · September 14, 2011, 01:49 PM

It was the Fed's handling of a charge over a sawed off shotgun that started the whole Ruby Ridge fiasco back then.

One of the things reported was that while the barrels were of legal length, the stock was 1/4" short of the legal limit. (over all length)

Measure the gun carefully, and if it fails to meet ALL the legal requirements, destroy it, or surrender it to the police (check with a lawyer first, there may be legal complications).

It is remotely possible that there may be a legal way to keep the gun, but you need to speak with a legal professional, and one well versed in firearms law, not just take well meant internet advice.

You have potentially violated Federal law, just by having the gun in your posession (IF it does not measure to legal lengths). Contact a lawyer, and see what your options really are. Do it today!

Closing this thread, for the good of all concerned.

September 11, 2011, 07:16 PM	#1
BarryLee Senior Member Join Date: July 29, 2010 Location: The ATL (OTP) Posts: 2,110	Sawed Off Shotgun My Father passed away a couple of years ago and I inherited some of his long guns. One of the guns is an older double barrel shotgun that he got from my Grandfather. At some point the barrel was sawed off by my Grandfather. So, I have no plans to ever carry this anywhere and will most likely never fire it. However, is simply having it in my home a violation of any law? I guess I am referring to Federal regulations, but if anyone knew of specific Georgia regulations that would be helpful. __________________ A major source of objection to a free economy is precisely that it ... gives people what they want instead of what a particular group thinks they ought to want. Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself. - Milton Friedman

September 11, 2011, 07:19 PM	#2
hogdogs Staff Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 10,691	There is no "sentimental exemption" to the federal gun regs... Possession is all it takes... Destroy the barrels... The only way I would own it is to remove or gind off the firing pins too short to strike the primer and weld plugs in the breech... Might be legal if completely unable to hold a shell... Brent __________________ Finally have designs going up in the Hogdogs Outdoor Apparel online store. http://www.cafepress.com/hogdogsoutdoorapparel Thanks for lookin'...

September 11, 2011, 07:52 PM	#7
hogdogs Staff Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 10,691	Yes, as long as of legal length, who did the job is mute... If legal, length, keep it in fire-able condition and ENJOY it. I assumed you had already verified under legal minimums... If legal length, I apologize for jumpin' to conclusions Brent __________________ Finally have designs going up in the Hogdogs Outdoor Apparel online store. http://www.cafepress.com/hogdogsoutdoorapparel Thanks for lookin'...

September 13, 2011, 06:42 PM	#13
hogdogs Staff Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 10,691	Cock the hammer to use dowel... No sense wasting that precious 1/15th inch Brent __________________ Finally have designs going up in the Hogdogs Outdoor Apparel online store. http://www.cafepress.com/hogdogsoutdoorapparel Thanks for lookin'...

September 13, 2011, 08:28 PM	#15
hogdogs Staff Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 10,691	Many folks do not realize how crucial that 26" number is until they cut a single/double down to 18 inch barrels and hack off the stock to a PGO... Most pumps cut to 18 inches and PGO still exceed that 26 inch number. Brent __________________ Finally have designs going up in the Hogdogs Outdoor Apparel online store. http://www.cafepress.com/hogdogsoutdoorapparel Thanks for lookin'...

September 11, 2011, 07:26 PM	#3
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	First things first - sawed off means nothing, barrel length and overall length do minimum of 18 inch barrels with an overall of 26" - not a hair's width shorter..................

September 11, 2011, 07:51 PM	#6
shortwave Senior Member Join Date: December 17, 2007 Location: SOUTHEAST, OHIO Posts: 5,009	Note, FWIW, the Fed. regs for sawed off shotguns do not apply to Black Powder shotguns.

September 12, 2011, 03:54 AM	#10
kozak6 Senior Member Join Date: June 17, 2005 Location: AZ Posts: 2,274	Remember- drop a dowel down the bore, mark it, and measure it.

September 13, 2011, 06:26 PM	#11
winkytink Member Join Date: February 7, 2010 Posts: 93	Something you might not have thought of...if the barrels are too short, you might be able to find suitable replacements (and then destroy the short ones). Make note of any markings on the gun and search on-line. There are collectors for just about everything and there's bound to be someone out there that can point you in the right direction.

September 13, 2011, 08:19 PM	#14
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	Doesn't matter if the barrels are 20 inches - if it is cut so that the overall length is less than 26, it is still subject to NFA rules

September 13, 2011, 09:32 PM	#16
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	Exactly, Brent - because that action adds a nice 3" to make it legal

September 14, 2011, 01:49 PM	#17
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 8,971	It was the Fed's handling of a charge over a sawed off shotgun that started the whole Ruby Ridge fiasco back then. One of the things reported was that while the barrels were of legal length, the stock was 1/4" short of the legal limit. (over all length) Measure the gun carefully, and if it fails to meet ALL the legal requirements, destroy it, or surrender it to the police (check with a lawyer first, there may be legal complications). It is remotely possible that there may be a legal way to keep the gun, but you need to speak with a legal professional, and one well versed in firearms law, not just take well meant internet advice. You have potentially violated Federal law, just by having the gun in your posession (IF it does not measure to legal lengths). Contact a lawyer, and see what your options really are. Do it today! Closing this thread, for the good of all concerned. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.