shotgun barrel length minutia

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Grizz
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shotgun barrel length minutia

Post by Grizz »

does the legal shotgun barrel length measurement include the chamber ? this is for legal compliance compliance...
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gamekeeper
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Re: shotgun barrel length minutia

Post by gamekeeper »

I don't know about US law but in the more anal UK the chamber is part of the overall length.
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Scott Tschirhart
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Re: shotgun barrel length minutia

Post by Scott Tschirhart »

Yes, it is measured from the breach face to the muzzle.
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Grizz
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Re: shotgun barrel length minutia

Post by Grizz »

thanks Guys... time to cut to the line...
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Re: shotgun barrel length minutia

Post by jeepnik »

Grizz wrote: Sun Nov 29, 2020 3:09 pm thanks Guys... time to cut to the line...
Maybe give it 1/4" TO 3/8" of fudge just to be safe. The only barrel I've ever had cut down the smith suggested 1/2". I went with that and did have it measured once by a game cop.
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765x53
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Re: shotgun barrel length minutia

Post by 765x53 »

There is also an over-all length requirement. I believe it is 28 inches.
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Re: shotgun barrel length minutia

Post by gamekeeper »

I always allow a bit extra, I have in the past had my barrels measured by the police .
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Grizz
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Re: shotgun barrel length minutia

Post by Grizz »

Thanks guys. I gave a quarter inch over. Overall length is well over the minimum. Single shot 20 Ga that will be a slug gun when I find the 63 cal balls or buy a mold . . . the good thing is that the barrel and action both fit into any size rough-tote with any crosswise diagonal shinanigans.

speaking of which, not only are nearly all the Tx stores I visited out of nearly all ammo, none of them had 20Ga slugs, and None of them carried any muzzle loading components, like, you know, round balls.

of course the sample size is terribly small, but the reactions of the counter guys was priceless. :roll:
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marlinman93
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Re: shotgun barrel length minutia

Post by marlinman93 »

According to the BATF website OAL is 26" minimum, and the 18" barrel.
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Ray
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Re: shotgun barrel length minutia

Post by Ray »

Deleted.
Last edited by Ray on Fri Apr 29, 2022 4:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Buck Elliott
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Re: shotgun barrel length minutia

Post by Buck Elliott »

Breech (or bolt-) face to muzzle...
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Grizz
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Re: shotgun barrel length minutia

Post by Grizz »

Ray wrote: Wed Dec 09, 2020 7:36 pm
Grizz wrote: Wed Dec 09, 2020 7:00 pm Thanks guys. I gave a quarter inch over. Overall length is well over the minimum. Single shot 20 Ga that will be a slug gun when I find the 63 cal balls or buy a mold . . . the good thing is that the barrel and action both fit into any size rough-tote with any crosswise diagonal shinanigans.

speaking of which, not only are nearly all the Tx stores I visited out of nearly all ammo, none of them had 20Ga slugs, and None of them carried any muzzle loading components, like, you know, round balls.

of course the sample size is terribly small, but the reactions of the counter guys was priceless. :roll:
Round balls.....

https://www.trackofthewolf.com/List/Item.aspx/127/3
I saw that Ray, but didn't see any .63 size, which I thought would fit the shot cup the way the .69 fits the 10Ga shot cup. Maybe the .628 are a good fit, will order some. I might just buy a mold and finally start casting something. That way I can cast hard balls . . .
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Re: shotgun barrel length minutia

Post by 3leggedturtle »

Too bad you werent closer i have 6 boxes of Brenneke .20 gauge slugs..
30/30 Winchester: Not accurate enough fer varmints, barely adequate for small deer; BUT In a 10" to 14" barrelled pistol; is good for moose/elk to 200 yards; ground squirrels to 300 metres

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Ray
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Re: shotgun barrel length minutia

Post by Ray »

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Grizz
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Re: shotgun barrel length minutia

Post by Grizz »

Thanks for the links Ray, good resource.

I think steel might be a little light in 20, a lead ball runs around 325Gr... but I'll probably give the steel load a try.
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6pt-sika
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Re: shotgun barrel length minutia

Post by 6pt-sika »

I think the shortest shotgun barrel I have is on my Benelli Montefeltro it’s either 22 or 24 inches . All my double barrels are 26 inch or above so the ATF can kiss my ....... well you get the idea .
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Re: shotgun barrel length minutia

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marlinman93
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Re: shotgun barrel length minutia

Post by marlinman93 »

Lee offers slug molds for various shotgun sizes, so if you cast you can cast the correct hollowbase slugs for your 20 ga. I'm going to order one for my 12 ga. as the prices on 12 ga. slugs are stupid high.
But I'm also going to buy some .23" round balls (or larger) from Track of the Wolf to make up some buckshot loads too. At around $10 per 100 it's cheaper than buying buckshot loads too.
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Re: shotgun barrel length minutia

Post by AJMD429 »

765x53 wrote: Sun Nov 29, 2020 9:17 pmA local gunsmith was entrapped by an undercover agent with a trick tape-measure.
Wow....there is an uncomfortably warm and eternal place in the next life for a cop who would do that...
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Re: shotgun barrel length minutia

Post by piller »

Unfortunately, it has happened. Most local and State LEOs are good folks in my opinion, but I do not trust the Feds at all. As in, if they told me it was dark outside at midnight, I would go check to see if I were suddenly up near the Arctic Circle in the Middle of Summer.
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Re: shotgun barrel length minutia

Post by Sixgun »

piller wrote: Most local and State LEOs are good folks in my opinion, but I do not trust the Feds at all.
No reason to trust the Feds...the last four years has taught me .....and I learned.....that 90% of the State Dept, FBI, CIA, DOJ, ATF, and the rest of the Feds are democrats... .....Adam schiff, Pelosi, Schumer, etc.... ...they all cheat......

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Re: shotgun barrel length minutia

Post by JB »

I had a local cop, who assumed he was an expert on all things legal just because he spent a few weeks in an academy, tell me my shotgun was illegal once. It had an 18.5" barrel, but he though the chamber didn't count. After we debated the topic a bit, he never would admit he was wrong, but finally told me "I'm not going to make a big deal of this, buy you need to have that barrel destroyed before you're caught with it." I didn't destroy my shotgun and I never heard anymore on the subject.

As a side note, I had a the local sheriff tell me at a flea market that I wasn't allowed to sell guns. I had two old gusn lying on the table beside all the baby clothes and other junk. I was respectful but told him that it wasn't against any state or federal law. He told me that he wasn't going to have guns sold in flea markets in HIS county. He finally took my information and told me that he couldn't make me put the guns away, but he would be turning my information over the the BATF and they would be contacting me. I never did hear from the BATF.
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Re: shotgun barrel length minutia

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There are a few in any profession who shouldnçt have any authority.
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marlinman93
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Re: shotgun barrel length minutia

Post by marlinman93 »

Funny that manufacturers would build so many defense shotguns with 18.5" barrels (including the chamber) if they were illegal? No offense to knowledgeable cops, but a good number know nothing about firearms, or firearms regulations.
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