Why are 14" barrel shotguns so common?

Super-Dave · January 3, 2010, 09:00 PM

It seems most manufactures make a 14" barrel shotgun for police/

Why 14"?

A remington could easily be done at 12" and I think a Benelli could go to 12" a mossberg could go to 13" all of these can be done with a standard magazine tube.

So why 14"? I looked up vellocities and the velocity difference between a 14" barrel and a 12 barrel is less than 20 fps.

hogdogs · January 3, 2010, 09:07 PM

Capacity is likely the reason...
They ain't just for police, you can own one too.

Quote:

standard magazine tube

Not the 500... I am looking at my 18.5 inch barrel 500 and it appears to be 4 inches from muzzle to tube. So 14 may go but 12 or 13 wouldn't.
Brent

LukeA · January 3, 2010, 09:13 PM

I've seen the Mossberg 590A1 14 inchers and they're 14 inches because that's how long the 5rd mag tube is.

There's a tradeoff between capacity and maneuverability. Seems 14 inch barrel and flush mag tube is a decent compromise.

There's always the Serbu Super Shorty.

oneounceload · January 3, 2010, 09:18 PM

IIRC, 14 is legal in Canada - seems ironic to me

Super-Dave · January 4, 2010, 11:20 AM

So in yalls opinion there is nothing special about the 14" barrel? More than likely the manufacturers make a 14" barrel gun so they can sell it in canada and this is the only reason for the majic 14" barrel gun?

hogdogs · January 4, 2010, 06:07 PM

NO... The 14 is the barrel length minimum to maintain a factory mag tube...
Brent

gyvel · January 4, 2010, 07:02 PM

And the age old question rears its ugly head once again: If you put a 16" rifled barrel on your shotgun, is it illegal?

dogtown tom · January 4, 2010, 08:31 PM

Quote:

gyvel And the age old question rears its ugly head once again: If you put a 16" rifled barrel on your shotgun, is it illegal?

It's not an age old question.
It's also not illegal.

Putting a rifled barrel on a SHOTGUN does not change the fact it is a shotgun.
The NFA of 1934 says any SHOTGUN with a barrel length of less than 18" requires a tax stamp for a short barrelled shotgun.

Short barrelled shotguns are perfectly legal.........with a tax stamp.

David Hineline · January 4, 2010, 10:58 PM

Rem 870 can go 12" with the 4+1 capacity Mossberg goes 14"

LukeA · January 4, 2010, 11:09 PM

The mossberg 14" inch shotguns are 5+1.

January 3, 2010, 09:00 PM	#1
Super-Dave Senior Member Join Date: February 1, 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 795	Why are 14" barrel shotguns so common? It seems most manufactures make a 14" barrel shotgun for police/ Why 14"? A remington could easily be done at 12" and I think a Benelli could go to 12" a mossberg could go to 13" all of these can be done with a standard magazine tube. So why 14"? I looked up vellocities and the velocity difference between a 14" barrel and a 12 barrel is less than 20 fps. __________________ If you want a vision of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face - forever. George Orwell

January 4, 2010, 11:20 AM	#5
Super-Dave Senior Member Join Date: February 1, 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 795	So in yalls opinion there is nothing special about the 14" barrel? More than likely the manufacturers make a 14" barrel gun so they can sell it in canada and this is the only reason for the majic 14" barrel gun? __________________ If you want a vision of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face - forever. George Orwell

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January 3, 2010, 09:13 PM	#3
LukeA Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2009 Posts: 542	I've seen the Mossberg 590A1 14 inchers and they're 14 inches because that's how long the 5rd mag tube is. There's a tradeoff between capacity and maneuverability. Seems 14 inch barrel and flush mag tube is a decent compromise. There's always the Serbu Super Shorty.

January 3, 2010, 09:18 PM	#4
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	IIRC, 14 is legal in Canada - seems ironic to me

January 4, 2010, 06:07 PM	#6
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	NO... The 14 is the barrel length minimum to maintain a factory mag tube... Brent

January 4, 2010, 07:02 PM	#7
gyvel Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2009 Location: Northern AZ Posts: 7,172	And the age old question rears its ugly head once again: If you put a 16" rifled barrel on your shotgun, is it illegal?

January 4, 2010, 10:58 PM	#9
David Hineline Senior Member Join Date: December 23, 1999 Location: South Sioux City, Nebraska Posts: 704	Rem 870 can go 12" with the 4+1 capacity Mossberg goes 14"

January 4, 2010, 11:09 PM	#10
LukeA Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2009 Posts: 542	The mossberg 14" inch shotguns are 5+1.