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Laws on sawing barrel off????

rscoleman88
A friend has a 20 ga with a bulged barrel. Can it be sawed off and still legal? What exactly are the laws on Barrel length and overall Length Front sights Etc?
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Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • NOAH
    18 1/4 inches long from where you load shell to end of bbl. . sights have nothing to do with being legal.but you better check the laws in your state,county, city. ,and it would not hurt to check with BATF.
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  • countryfarmer
    Shotguns must have a minimum length of 18" from the bolt/breech face. It is better to go with 18 1/4-18 1/2" just to give yourself a little margin for error. Shotguns must have a minimum overall length of 26" which isnt hard to do with most of them. Sights have no bearing on it, a firearm doesnt have to have sights but they sure come in handy.
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  • b0400879
    Advise the "friend" that he will need @ minimum:
    1) A very good reason to post it here
    2) 32 tpi hacksaw blade
    3) 10 yrs of free time
    4) $20-25K in loose kash
    5) Large jar of Vaseline
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  • Nwcid
    As the others have stated legal length for a Shotgun is 26" OAL with 18" barrel(s). An extra 1/4-1/2" in length is a very good idea. How you change barrel length (ie hack saw, dremel, ect) does not matter.

    Barrels are measured by putting a dowel down the barrel on a closed action.

    You can legally make a shorter version called a SBR (short barreled shotgun) but you will need to follow NFA rules.
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  • Nwcid
    quote:Originally posted by b0400879
    Advise the "friend" that he will need @ minimum:
    1) A very good reason to post it here
    2) 32 tpi hacksaw blade
    3) 10 yrs of free time
    4) $20-25K in loose kash
    5) Large jar of Vaseline



    I read your post several times and am trying to figure out what it has to do with the OP's question.

    I think you might be trying to imply he is doing something illegal. If that is what you are trying to say what law is being broken?
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  • leeblackman
    Maybe he was just trying to be funny?
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  • gruntled
    Ask Randy Weaver how funny it is.
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  • Ned Fall
    Everybody has already given you the minimum lengths for the barrel and overall length of the gun. Now have you considered repairing or replacing the barrel instead of sawing it off? Bulged barrels can be repaired by a competent shotgun smith or replacement can be done inexpensively.
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  • tsr1965
    quote:Originally posted by Ned Fall
    Everybody has already given you the minimum lengths for the barrel and overall length of the gun. Now have you considered repairing or replacing the barrel instead of sawing it off? Bulged barrels can be repaired by a competent shotgun smith or replacement can be done inexpensively.


    A DENTED barrel can be fixed by a gunsmith. A BULGED one cannot. The only way to get rid of the bulge is to remove the area in which it exists.

    Good advice has been rendered. The minimum legal length is 18" barrel, with 26" overall length. I would stay at least 1/4" above it.

    Best
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  • nononsense
    rscoleman88,

    Bulged barrels need to cut off or replaced with replacing being the better solution since you generally cut off the choke where the bulge occurs.

    If you opt to cut off the bulge, pay close attention to barrel length and overall length. The muzzle needs to be perpendicular to the bore with the burrs removed. We use special tools to insure both perpendicularity and centered chamfers.

    Remember that you will have removed the choke and something should be done to correct this whether you add screw in chokes or hone a choke into the barrel. Neither is for the amateur, take it to a gunsmith.

    Good Luck!

    Best.

    Please remember that this is Ask the Experts not General Discussion. Comments and opinions should reflect that.

    Best.
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