Short Barrel Shotgun questions

gringogigante · September 23, 2009, 07:52 PM

Does anyone know what the deal is with ATF and short barrel shotguns?

1. What is considered legal length and what length requires and ATF stamp?

2. What is a good place to go to find short barrelled shotguns?

3. What's a good price for a short barrelled 870?

Thanks,

Chris

colostomyclown · September 23, 2009, 07:56 PM

Minimum legal barrel legngth is 18". Most guns are at 18.5" just to be safe. You can look into a Serbu Shorty. They're based off the 870 Express platform. They're also highly limited on shell capacity. That short of a gun and I'd rather have a SBS SxS (short barrelled side by side). If I went the SBS route I'd manufacture/modify my own and cough up the extra 200. and cut a gun right to it's magazine tube.

Mossberg has 14" class 3 590a1's which would probably be your best bet for ready made guns.

dondavis3 · September 23, 2009, 07:59 PM

It's my understanding here in Texas that the barrel of a shotgun needs to be at least 18".

You can buy them everywhere with the short barrels or if you find a steal on a long barrel 870, almost any gunsmith can cut it off and "finish" the new barrel end.

There are a lot of short barreled stage coach side by side shotguns for sale - these short shotguns are used in SASS cowboy shooting matches and are easy to find too.

oneounceload · September 23, 2009, 08:07 PM

Quote:

It's my understanding here in Texas that the barrel of a shotgun needs to be at least 18".

That is federal law, and since Texas IS still part of the US, it applies there as well.

For shorter than that, it will either be an AOW or a SBS. Different tax stamps apply; either $5 or $200. Either case requires paper work. Not a lot of value since you lose capacity as previously mentioned, along with adding recoil and noise.

Willie Lowman · September 23, 2009, 08:55 PM

Have you read the NFA FAQ? http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs.cmu.e...st/nfa_faq.txt

colostomyclown · September 23, 2009, 09:00 PM

I should also mention where I'm at AOW shotguns are marked up to what it'd cost to go SBS. I could make a far better SBS than a Serbu.

gringogigante · September 23, 2009, 10:25 PM

Don Davis said, "You can buy them everywhere with the short barrels..."

Can you be more specific? I'm having trouble finding a good 870 anywhere online with a 14" barrel.

Those tiny little 10" spray and pray deals with pistols grips don't really appeal to me.

Any ideas where, specifically, I can get one?

Thanks in advance guys,

Chris

b.thomas · September 24, 2009, 04:37 AM

18"on the barrel and 26" over-all!
This is federal law regardless of what state you live in and whatever type of junk you have hanging on it (like a collapsible stock).

LanceOregon · September 24, 2009, 04:40 AM

Short barreled shotguns cause their owners to go deaf.

--

dondavis3 · September 24, 2009, 06:16 AM

gringogigante

I don't believe you can buy a civilian 10" or 14" barrel - it's against the law.

I was speaking of Coach double barrels & 870's with 18" or longer barrels are available at gun stores & gun shows.

I'm sorry I can't be more specific, I don't know where you live & shop.

dondavis3 · September 24, 2009, 06:26 AM

+1 oneounceload

Who says we're still part of U.S.

just kiddin' , but we sure don't like what's happening right now.

hogdogs · September 24, 2009, 06:36 AM

To the OP, ask this question in the NFA section 'tween shotguns and hunting

Guys will have all the info you need.

Quote:

I don't believe you can buy a civilian 10" or 14" barrel - it's against the law.

No it ain't!!!

it is "controlled via the tax stamp! Full auto rifles and silencers are also legal...
Look into the NFA and Class III dealers.

Brent

dondavis3 · September 24, 2009, 06:41 AM

I stand corrected, you're right - what I meant is that the usual everyday civilians don't want or have a need for most 10" / 14" /full auto/ ect. weapons - a few special situation gun owners do.

gringogigante · September 24, 2009, 08:39 AM

Don,

Sorry for the confusion. I assumed you were referring to the short barreled (less than 18") shotguns and had seen those "everywhere". :-) I was thinking, "Where's this Everywhere store?!"

I'm assuming there are some gunsmith outfits out there that do some pretty cool stuff with SBS's and am looking for anyones knowledge of those.

THanks,

Chris

Willie Lowman · September 24, 2009, 08:57 AM

www.impactguns.com/store/WIL-870-15.html

oneounceload · September 24, 2009, 09:11 AM

Gringo - Serbu makes their "Shorty"

http://www.serbu.com/top/superShorty.php

gringogigante · September 24, 2009, 08:04 PM

I saw that little thing on youtube....definitely fun! I think it's more of a novelty than the 14" 870 or mossberg, but i'd like to get one to play with.

If you watch the guy on the youtube video shooting that thing at only 7-10 yards, he is ALL OVER THE PLACE. looks like fun though!

September 23, 2009, 07:52 PM	#1
gringogigante Junior Member Join Date: February 23, 2009 Location: RIchardson, TX Posts: 9	Short Barrel Shotgun questions Does anyone know what the deal is with ATF and short barrel shotguns? 1. What is considered legal length and what length requires and ATF stamp? 2. What is a good place to go to find short barrelled shotguns? 3. What's a good price for a short barrelled 870? Thanks, Chris __________________ Thanks! Chris McCollum CHL & Firearms Instuctor www.metroplexchl.com

September 23, 2009, 07:59 PM	#3
dondavis3 Senior Member Join Date: August 20, 2009 Location: Dallas / Fort Worth Area Posts: 678	It's my understanding here in Texas that the barrel of a shotgun needs to be at least 18". You can buy them everywhere with the short barrels or if you find a steal on a long barrel 870, almost any gunsmith can cut it off and "finish" the new barrel end. There are a lot of short barreled stage coach side by side shotguns for sale - these short shotguns are used in SASS cowboy shooting matches and are easy to find too. __________________ Don Davis

September 23, 2009, 10:25 PM	#7
gringogigante Junior Member Join Date: February 23, 2009 Location: RIchardson, TX Posts: 9	Don Davis said, "You can buy them everywhere with the short barrels..." Can you be more specific? I'm having trouble finding a good 870 anywhere online with a 14" barrel. Those tiny little 10" spray and pray deals with pistols grips don't really appeal to me. Any ideas where, specifically, I can get one? Thanks in advance guys, Chris __________________ Thanks! Chris McCollum CHL & Firearms Instuctor www.metroplexchl.com

September 24, 2009, 06:16 AM	#10
dondavis3 Senior Member Join Date: August 20, 2009 Location: Dallas / Fort Worth Area Posts: 678	gringogigante I don't believe you can buy a civilian 10" or 14" barrel - it's against the law. I was speaking of Coach double barrels & 870's with 18" or longer barrels are available at gun stores & gun shows. I'm sorry I can't be more specific, I don't know where you live & shop. __________________ Don Davis

September 24, 2009, 06:26 AM	#11
dondavis3 Senior Member Join Date: August 20, 2009 Location: Dallas / Fort Worth Area Posts: 678	+1 oneounceload Who says we're still part of U.S. just kiddin' , but we sure don't like what's happening right now. __________________ Don Davis

September 23, 2009, 07:56 PM	#2
colostomyclown Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2009 Posts: 613	Minimum legal barrel legngth is 18". Most guns are at 18.5" just to be safe. You can look into a Serbu Shorty. They're based off the 870 Express platform. They're also highly limited on shell capacity. That short of a gun and I'd rather have a SBS SxS (short barrelled side by side). If I went the SBS route I'd manufacture/modify my own and cough up the extra 200. and cut a gun right to it's magazine tube. Mossberg has 14" class 3 590a1's which would probably be your best bet for ready made guns.

September 23, 2009, 08:55 PM	#5
Willie Lowman Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2009 Location: Uh-Hi-O Posts: 3,006	Have you read the NFA FAQ? http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs.cmu.e...st/nfa_faq.txt

September 23, 2009, 09:00 PM	#6
colostomyclown Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2009 Posts: 613	I should also mention where I'm at AOW shotguns are marked up to what it'd cost to go SBS. I could make a far better SBS than a Serbu.

September 24, 2009, 04:37 AM	#8
b.thomas Senior Member Join Date: October 8, 2006 Posts: 461	18"on the barrel and 26" over-all! This is federal law regardless of what state you live in and whatever type of junk you have hanging on it (like a collapsible stock).

September 24, 2009, 04:40 AM	#9
LanceOregon Junior member Join Date: May 10, 2008 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,774	Short barreled shotguns cause their owners to go deaf. --

September 24, 2009, 06:41 AM	#13
dondavis3 Senior Member Join Date: August 20, 2009 Location: Dallas / Fort Worth Area Posts: 678	I stand corrected, you're right - what I meant is that the usual everyday civilians don't want or have a need for most 10" / 14" /full auto/ ect. weapons - a few special situation gun owners do. __________________ Don Davis Last edited by dondavis3; September 24, 2009 at 06:56 AM.

September 24, 2009, 08:39 AM	#14
gringogigante Junior Member Join Date: February 23, 2009 Location: RIchardson, TX Posts: 9	Don, Sorry for the confusion. I assumed you were referring to the short barreled (less than 18") shotguns and had seen those "everywhere". :-) I was thinking, "Where's this Everywhere store?!" I'm assuming there are some gunsmith outfits out there that do some pretty cool stuff with SBS's and am looking for anyones knowledge of those. THanks, Chris __________________ Thanks! Chris McCollum CHL & Firearms Instuctor www.metroplexchl.com

September 24, 2009, 08:57 AM	#15
Willie Lowman Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2009 Location: Uh-Hi-O Posts: 3,006	www.impactguns.com/store/WIL-870-15.html

September 24, 2009, 09:11 AM	#16
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	Gringo - Serbu makes their "Shorty" http://www.serbu.com/top/superShorty.php

September 24, 2009, 08:04 PM	#17
gringogigante Junior Member Join Date: February 23, 2009 Location: RIchardson, TX Posts: 9	I saw that little thing on youtube....definitely fun! I think it's more of a novelty than the 14" 870 or mossberg, but i'd like to get one to play with. If you watch the guy on the youtube video shooting that thing at only 7-10 yards, he is ALL OVER THE PLACE. looks like fun though! __________________ Thanks! Chris McCollum CHL & Firearms Instuctor www.metroplexchl.com