Is my Shotgun legal?
When I was 12 my dad took me to the local gun dealer, the local game warden, to order my first shotgun. Since I was a little lad the game warden and my dad decided to order me a little 20 guage shotgun, I ended up getting a Law Enforcement model Mossberg 500 Persuader 20 guage shotgun. A few years went by and the little plastic safety button broke so I took it to the local gun shop to have him order the parts and fix it. He immediately took out his tape mearsure and measured the barrel and said 'Get this the hell out of my shop". Well I was shocked and wrote Mossberg and they sent me a replacement part free of charge. Now I am active duty military and have hunted with this shotgun for years but now only keep it for home defense. Since the barrel is short and I guess is illegal for civilian ownership- am I in violation of state or federal laws? What would you do with the gun?
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If the barrel is less than 18" you are in violation of federal law. First thing to do is get rid of the barrel, then buy a replacement barrel that is at least 18 1/2". My books show that the Mossberg 500 Persuader came with a 18 1/2 barrel. Has yours been sawed off? It doesn't mention a Law Enforcement model, that maybe the difference. 0 -
Ever since the 1920's the minimum shotgun barrel length has been 18 inchs, measured from the closed breach face to the end of the barrel. There is also a provision (in the same law) concerning the minimum overall length (26 inchs if I remember correctly)
Unless your the gun has been cut down since you've owned it it's perfectly legal and the shopownder that tossed you out is a idiot.
Some guys like a mag full of lead, I still prefer one round to the head.0 -
On the SP4-113 white from there is a section about shotguns with barrel lenght of less than 18" could this gun be registured that way? 0 -
On the SP4-113 white form there is a section about shotguns with barrel lenght of less than 18" could this gun be registured that way? 0 -
The barrel is less than 18 inches from the factory and has interchangeable chokes. It has a poor shot pattern with either of the chokes and is useless for hunting turkey. 0 -
This is a modern LEO short-barrel shotgun from Mossberg, 12 gauge. The barrel length is 14". Is yours about the same proportions? Maybe the game warden sold you something he shouldn't have. It seems unlikely though. Did the store owner tell you what number he came up with when he measured? 0 -
Disregard my last post, the barrel is 18.5", Thanks all for the help! 0 -
amazing how fast a barrel can grow. Get rid of that short barrel and get a new one....he he he gunut 0
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