Many jurisdictions have a legal minimum length for shotgun barrels[2] so these more hidden shotguns are not available for criminal use. Many gun manufacturers in the United States have not offered sawed-off shotguns to the public since 1934, when shotguns with a barrel length of less than 18 inches were restricted, even if they had already been sold. To comply with NFA regulations, anyone can fill out a Form 1 and have the $200 tax stamp purchased and approved for the shotgun in question to legally reduce the length of its barrel to less than 18 inches by cutting the barrel or replacing it with a shorter barrel. [2] [3] In the United States, shotguns originally manufactured without shoulder rests (and therefore not legally shotguns) with a total length of less than 26 inches are classified by BATFE as «any other weapon» and have a $5 transfer tax if manufactured by a manufacturer who holds the appropriate Class 2 Federal Firearms Licence for Special Professional Taxpayers. To convert an existing shoulder shotgun to a short-barreled shotgun or an existing pistol-grip shotgun to «any other weapon,» an individual must pay the standard $200 tax. [2] A shotgun under the National Firearms Act as a shoulder gun. One thing you`ll notice about all of the above weapons is that they don`t have traditional butts — and were never intended — to allow shoulder shooting. If a gun that happens to be modeled after a traditional shotgun but never has a butt attached, then it is not a shotgun. Firearms such as the Mossberg 590 Shockwave, Remington 870 Tac-14, Henry Axe, Black Aces Tactical Pro Series and others are often housed in common shotguns such as the 12 Gauge and .410, but their barrels are shorter than 18 inches. So they are short-barreled shotguns, aren`t they? False. They require nothing more than a traditional 4473 and a background check as they are not Title 2 weapons.
Under the National Firearms Act (NFA), it is illegal for an individual to possess a modern smokeless powder gun with a sawed-off barrel (a shotgun with a barrel length of less than 18 inches (46 cm) or a minimum total length of the firearm, total, including the minimum barrel of 18 inches, less than 26 inches (66 cm)) (according to U.S.C. Title II), without tax registration with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which requires a background check and a $200 or $5 tax on each transfer, depending on the specific manufacturing conditions of the particular modern sawed-off shotgun transferred. Gun trusts have become an increasingly popular way to register SBSs with BATTE. [11] Short-barrelled muzzle-loading black powder shotguns are not illegal under federal law and do not require a tax-stamped license, although they may be illegal under state law. As with all NFA-regulated firearms, a new tax stamp must be purchased prior to each transfer. Interstate transfers must be facilitated by a federal firearms license holder (FFL), while domestic transfers can be between two individuals. [12] In modern parlance, minimum length and barrel length restrictions apply only to civilian use; Military and police services may display short-barreled shotguns, and major manufacturers offer special models with barrels ranging from 10 to 14 inches (25 to 36 cm) as riot guns or combat rifles for use in areas where space is limited. These are commonly referred to as «entry-level shotguns» because they are often used for forced entry into buildings where easy and short handling is more important than the increased ammunition capacity of a longer shotgun.
Penetrating ammunition offers another use for very short shotguns. These cartridges are usually made of sintered powdered metal, but a normal shot or bird shot also works. A shotgun is used to pierce the gun by placing the gun next to a door lock (0 to 2 inches away, 0 to 5 cm) and firing at a 45-degree angle downward through the door between the lock or latch and the door frame. The impact of the projectile(s) opens a hole through the door and removes the lock or bolt. If the sintered metal or shot quickly detaches through the door and because it has been pointed downwards, the risk of injuring the occupants on the other side of the broken door is minimized. Revolutionary weapons used by the police and military can have barrels up to 25 cm (10 inches), and they often have only a pistol grip and no full stock. Some models use a special cup-shaped mouth extension to further minimize the risk of debris injuring the shooter. Since only a few cartridges are fired, any sportrifle with a capacity of 3 rounds can be shortened and used as a shotgun. A shotgun barrel must be at least 18 inches long, as described in the NFA. Shorter (seriously – a little bit shorter) than that and it`s considered SBS.
If this is the case and your shotgun barrel is less than 18 inches long, it is an SBS and must be registered as an NFA item to comply with the law. If it weren`t for the threat of hefty fines and/or jail time, these seemingly random quirks and decisions would actually be funny. But of course, it`s not funny, because there are actually different length requirements for SBRs and SBS. Short-barrelled and manually operated (non-semi-automatic) shotguns are not limited as long as the barrel remains unchanged from the original factory length. There is no legal minimum for shotgun barrels as long as they are not handguns; Shotguns as small as 8.5 inches are available in Canada. [5] [6] I have not seen anything in the law that says that a shotgun is a 12ga that was EVER designed to shoot from the shoulder. It is just called designed to be pulled from the shoulder. Also, if you trade barrels and stocks and then come back, how would they know? Semi-automatic and shotguns, whether equipped with a shotgun or firearms certificate, must always meet the minimum barrel length specifications of 24 inches and minimum total length of 40 inches. [8] Compared to a standard shotgun, the sawed-off shotgun has a shorter effective range due to a lower muzzle velocity; However, its reduced length makes it easier to maneuver and hide. Powerful and compact, the weapon is particularly suitable for use in small spaces, such as close combat in a military context. Military vehicle crews use short-barreled combat rifles as auxiliary weapons.
In urban combat zones, military response teams often use shotguns to force and enter gates. In the 1930s, the United States, Great Britain and Canada required a permit to possess these firearms. [1] They are subject to legal restrictions depending on the jurisdiction. They are used by armed forces and law enforcement authorities around the world. Muzzle-loading firearms held on firearms licences are exempt from all barrel and total length restrictions. A smoothbore muzzle magazine with a shotgun certificate is subject to the standard minimum barrel length of 24 inches. A crucial element in keeping this firearm only as a firearm and not as a shotgun of any kind is to never attach a butt to it. There are two reasons why you shouldn`t attach a butt to your gun. First, if you attach a stock while the weapon has a 14-inch barrel, it becomes an unregistered short-barreled shotgun. Doing this without proper NFA documentation is a federal crime and carries hefty fines and a lengthy prison sentence. A sawed-off shotgun with exposed and manually stretched hammers and double triggers is known in Italy as lupara («wolf shooting») and, although associated with organized crime, was originally used by Sicilian farmers and herders to protect their vineyards and herds of animals.
[14] In rural areas of northern India, where it is considered a weapon of authority and prestige, it is known as the Dunali, which literally means «two pipes.» It is particularly common in Bihar, Purvanchal, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab. A shotgun is considered a short-barrelled shotgun if it has a barrel length of less than 18 inches. A rifle is considered a short-barreled rifle if it has a barrel length of less than 16 inches. Government bureaucrats love to cut hair, and barrel length measurements are no exception. Make sure you measure correctly, as any deviation can cause problems. In the UK, side-by-side, above, bolt-action and lever shotguns must meet the specification of a minimum barrel length of 24 inches when held on a shotgun certificate.
