Here's a thought...
If the argument that this shotgun needs two hands to operate, does that mean that there is a way to make bolt-action "very short barreled rifles" currently classed as handguns non-restriected?
Yes, within the laws. It's not specific to shotguns. But - you cannot do it by cutting down the stock. you'd have to have a custom made pistol grip stock I guess, and of course a barrel manufactured by a licensed manufacturer like dlask.
Interestingly enough - lever and pump rifles would also be fair game. Because the remmy 7600 will accept some pistol grips made for the 870 (such as the knox) you could do it with that if you could get a barrel made.
However - you'd really want a licensed manufacturer to produce it i think.
If the argument that this shotgun needs two hands to operate, does that mean that there is a way to make bolt-action "very short barreled rifles" currently classed as handguns non-restriected?
That was 'MY' argument, not 'THE' argument. My argument was that it's not a pistol, because it takes two hands to OPERATE.
My thinking was this - a pistol, once loaded, requires only one hand to fire and operate until the firearm is empty and needs to be reloaded. A pump action requires two hands - you COULD fire the first one one handed (heck you can with a full sized rifle i guess.) but to continue to fire you would need to use two hands to rack the next round in. And really it requires two hands to aim and control.
A bolt action rifle would be the same. Bang.. now what? you have to use two hands to cycle the action to continue. Same with a lever.
This was what I put forward as a reasonable answer to 'It's a pistol'. No - it's a small rifle. Why? It cannot be properly operated with one hand. A pistol is a 'hand' gun.
It would also apply to other actions that require more than one hand, such as levers. I guess singles would be out, but lets face it.. a single shot rifle with a pistol grip and an 8 inch barrel is a pistol. It can be entirely operated until it needs to be reloaded with one hand.