barrel length

[rmocarsky]

Gunners,

What is and where is the shortest legal barrel available for a 12 Ga. Remington 870 Express?

Rmocarsky

[hogdogs]

You can legally have a 6-10 inch barrel if you go about it legally...
Thru the ATF and the NFA stamp. For this you can hit the NFA section right above this one...

For regular way to go it can only be 18 or longer. the ones you find will be 18.5 inches to compensate for stretched out federal/state/local leo tape measures...
Brent

[LanceOregon]

Short barrels are generally not recommended for shotguns, for they cause numerous serious problems.

First, they are dramatically louder. This both makes shooting them difficult, since the loud blast increases perceived recoil. Even worse, the loud noise does horrible damage to your hearing, and will over time cause you to suffer hearing loss.

Short barrels also have a negative impact on accuracy in shooting. Longer barrels on a gun help to smooth and even out the swing of a shotgun. Short barrels don't have that affect at all. One has to be a more skilled shooter to keep a swing going smoothy with a short barrel.

Short barrels come in handy in some law enforcement scenarios. This is especially true if the gun is stored in a vehicle, or being used in a forced entry into a home. However, civilians don't ever face those scenarios, so there really is no advantage at all to using a short barrel.

And when you consider all the drawbacks that a short barrel has, it clearly make it a very bad decision to go with.

-

[zippy13]

>What is and where is the shortest legal…

Under what jurisdiction?
It depends where you are and where you're planning to go. IRRC, Canada generally allows shorter barrels than the USA (without special approval).

[Dfariswheel]

Assuming you live in the USA, most locations go by the Federal law, which is for nothing less then 18".
(Note that some areas may have different laws).

You have two choices on 18" barrels, Mossberg and Remington.
Mossberg make a barrel to fit the 870.

For good sources of 18" barrels, you can buy direct from Remington:

http://www.remington.com/sitecore/co...ls-tables.aspx

Item number 24620, Express, Bead Sight 12 gauge, 18" Blue, Cylinder choke.
They also sell 18" Police Barrels.

You can also buy new Mossberg and Remington 870 barrels from Midway:

http://www.midwayusa.com/browse/Brow...143***11373***

[lefteyedom]

Short barrels come in handy in some law enforcement scenarios. This is especially true if the gun is stored in a vehicle, or being used in a forced entry into a home. However, civilians don't ever face those scenarios, so there really is no advantage at all to using a short barrel.

And when you consider all the drawbacks that a short barrel has, it clearly make it a very bad decision to go with.

For the same reason law enforcement officials find short barrel shotguns useful so to will law abiding citizens employing them in the defense of home and hearth.

Short barrel shotguns do not swing on birds like their long barrel brethren. There are many other uses for shotguns than hunting birds on the wing. Deer, turkey, rabbit, other dangerous mammals and reptilians to name a few.

[oneounceload]

The shortest barrel length is 18" and the shortest overall length of the gun must be 26"

[hogdogs]

OOL... That is not true... you could word it differently... "The shortest barrel attainable without using the NFA "tax stamp" of 1934 is 18 inches." For $200 bucks, you can own a 2 inch barrel if it trips your trigger... the same $200 will allow a 12 gauge to be shorter than a Ruger Blackhawk revolver if you so desire...

Not to mention you forgot to qualify the statement with "In the USA..." canada allows short barrels far shorter than the USA...
Brent

[oneounceload]

Absolutely correct Brent - my last two days at Beverly Beach must have fried my brain along with my skin!

Although, certain assumptions are usually made - IIRC, Canada is 14", and yes certain differences with the proper paperwork can be obtained - like the Serbu shorty for a $5 AOW stamp

[hogdogs]

But then there are the legal POODLE HOOPS to jump through as well...

Hope you had fun at Bev beach... nice place to loaf around for sure!

BTW... plenty of pigs just a mile or so west of the dunes too!
Brent

[oneounceload]

BTW... plenty of pigs just a mile or so west of the dunes too!
Brent

Wish I had known THAT!..................

[spacecoast]

Short barrels are generally not recommended for shotguns, for they cause numerous serious problems.

Hopefully they cause serious problems for whatever is on the receiving end.

However, civilians don't ever face those scenarios, so there really is no advantage at all to using a short barrel.

What ??? Civilians don't ever face an intruder in their own home? Short barrelled shotguns are extremely helpful for maneuverability in situations where that is a prime concern, namely moving easily and quietly into a position where you can defend yourself and your property.

[mathman]

I think that a short barreled shotguns are great for home defense...however, when it comes to maneuverability (sp?) a handgun is even better...and it won't damage your house nearly as bad if you miss.

[spacecoast]

when it comes to maneuverability (sp?) a handgun is even better

No argument there, but no handguns have a 12-gauge's potential payload either. A rock, a grenade or a glass of ice water is even more maneuverable, but each has certain drawbacks.