Shotgun Barrel lenght????

Cyric13 · December 6, 1999, 04:01 AM

Hey, I was wondering if you guys who know could tell me something. When you shorting a shotgun barrel the minimum length is 18 inches right? Also is this 18 inches the barrel length or is it total gun length from end of butt to the end of the barrel?

Thanks in advance, Cyric13

Espresso · December 6, 1999, 04:49 AM

I wish it was from the end of the butt to the end of the barrel!

Dave McC · December 6, 1999, 05:38 AM

As I understand,the barrel has to be at LEAST 18" from the muzzle to the breech face and the overall length HAS to be at least 27".

Less than that either requires a special permit from BATF,and IMO, not worth it.

Art Eatman · December 6, 1999, 02:32 PM

Yeah, 18" from the face of the bolt to the muzzle. Warning: If you're going to cut a barrel to this minimum legal length, make it 18-1/4". If you cut to 18" and THEN recrown the muzzle, you might wind up with 17.999 inches, which is just as illegal as, say, 6"...This will keep you out of trouble with BATF, should you ever get checked.

FWIW, Art

oberkommando · December 8, 1999, 12:12 AM

A little off topic but this law is bs, maybe if miller or his lawyer showed up at the supreme court this law wouldnt even exist. Yes leave about 1/4" just in case.

December 6, 1999, 04:01 AM	#1
Cyric13 Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 1999 Location: Statsboro Posts: 159	Hey, I was wondering if you guys who know could tell me something. When you shorting a shotgun barrel the minimum length is 18 inches right? Also is this 18 inches the barrel length or is it total gun length from end of butt to the end of the barrel? Thanks in advance, Cyric13

December 6, 1999, 04:49 AM	#2
Espresso Senior Member Join Date: September 4, 1999 Posts: 119	I wish it was from the end of the butt to the end of the barrel!

December 6, 1999, 05:38 AM	#3
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	As I understand,the barrel has to be at LEAST 18" from the muzzle to the breech face and the overall length HAS to be at least 27". Less than that either requires a special permit from BATF,and IMO, not worth it.

December 6, 1999, 02:32 PM	#4
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	Yeah, 18" from the face of the bolt to the muzzle. Warning: If you're going to cut a barrel to this minimum legal length, make it 18-1/4". If you cut to 18" and THEN recrown the muzzle, you might wind up with 17.999 inches, which is just as illegal as, say, 6"...This will keep you out of trouble with BATF, should you ever get checked. FWIW, Art

December 8, 1999, 12:12 AM	#5
oberkommando Senior Member Join Date: September 25, 1999 Posts: 1,158	A little off topic but this law is bs, maybe if miller or his lawyer showed up at the supreme court this law wouldnt even exist. Yes leave about 1/4" just in case.