This is a legal question. Is there a minimum barrel length on a shotgun for hunting? I know all about cutting the barrel vs buying a manufactured barrel, and the oal not being less than 26". Example! Can I hunt legally with my 14" barrelled 870, providing it isn't under 26" oal? Thanks!
Shotgun barrel length for hunting
- Thread starter sinawalli
- Start date
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
What province are you in? This can determine what you can or cannot use for hunting, for example in B.C. anything shorter than 305mm or 12” is not legal to hunt with. Check your provincial hunting regs, they should have the answer to your question.
What province are you in? This can determine what you can or cannot use for hunting, for example in B.C. anything shorter than 305mm or 12” is not legal to hunt with. Check your provincial hunting regs, they should have the answer to your question.
I am in Alberta, and I don't see anything in the regs regarding barrel lenght.
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- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
Generally the hunting synopsis or regs will tell you what is not allowed, if you can’t find any mention of it then it’s likely you’re good to go. Would be worth a call to your provincial conservation officers or game wardens for clarification, doubtful that any federal rules under the wildlife act will mention barrel length. It will most likely fall onto the province to put a rule in place if they see fit to do so.
Generally speaking a short barrelled shotgun with the short sight radius is a poor choice for flying birds... a longer barrel with the longer sight radius also swings smoother... the farther the target is away, the better you would do with a longer barrel providing the chokes are the same.
If you just want to mess around and look cool get a 14 inch barrel...
If you just want to mess around and look cool get a 14 inch barrel...
If not a .22, I like a 20" barrel Ithaca 37 for getting in among the cedars with the bunnies. Light, short, and just perfect for fleeting shots at snowshoes. I don't know that a 14" barrel would be an improvement, but it's not completely insane.
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And yet, the Ranch Hand with a 9" barrel is Restricted. Go figure. (the NR ones have a 13" barrel IIRC)
Gotta love classification laws that have any logic to them...
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
Lots of other hunting goes on aside from wing shooting, nor did the OP specifically mention what type of hunting he was thinking of doing with his 14” barrel. He only wanted to know if it was legal to do so. From my own experience a short barrel with chokes and proper sights is about as versatile as it gets for shooting small game and a good choice for large game with slugs in thick cover.
It works great, I’ve a lot of small game with my 12.5”, 14” and 20” barrels. Can’t say the same for the paperweight of a 28” barrel I have, it’s a great dust collector though.
Oh is it? I guess it falls under the "designed to be fired with one hand" criteria. Not that that makes much sense, I dunno how any Win 92 variant is designed to be fired by one hand, but there you go.
I sure don't need another bunny gun, but one of the Remington Tac 14s in 20 gauge with a full buttstock wouldn't make the worst snowshoe getter.
Funny, but I have a paperweight 28" tube in front of me that's about to get chopped to 24" for grouse...
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
Yeah a Tac14 would be a fun bunny gun, I’m obviously a big fan of short shotgun barrels provided they have screw in chokes. I don’t waterfowl hunt so that negates the need for a 28” barrel on a pump gun for me, I don’t pass up on road grouse when I’m heading out to walk old trails and the 28” is too long for the truck. 14” or 20” is perfect, I have successfully wing shot with my 20” barrel and mod choke.
Been on the fence for awhile about selling my 28” barrel but I’m sure if I sold it I’d all of a sudden need it for something, so I’ll just let it collect dust for now. I’ve got a full rifled barrel as well that’s a paperweight till I find a use for it as well.
