help me understand the legalities of shortening a barrel
- Thread starter wood hog
- Start date
Wondering why do you say 'Cannot" & Illegal" to cut it down shorter than 18.1". 457mm is just slightly less than 18" {17.99} That is the exact number in the regs/law. Not 18.1. Shorter than 18.1" would be 18", which is {Still} legal.
OK, sure, being careful & all & .1 inch is nothing, but still, your wording saying 'It's Illegal' etc. when it's not. It's illegal to cut it Under 457mm or 17.99 inches on a manual action rifle or shotgun, or single/double shot etc. If it's cut to 18" on the dot, it is not Illegal, as you say.
To have a buffer, ya, smart, even if it's just a 1/10th of an inch, but still, it's not necessary or illegal. That's how it's written/worded. It doesn't say 18.1 in the regs.
A stick with fire ash and a bow drill.
not sure if this is a fact or the gunsmith was looking for work but I had cut a barrel to 19 inches leaving the off cut just over 3 inches, he claimed that cut off piece was a prohibited item, regardless turned it into shavings
A little piece of barrel like that has no legal status. An under 105mm barrel from a 12(6) handgun is a prohibited device, unless it is part of a registered 12(6) pistol.
As far as I know, a rifle barrel under 105mm would not be a prohibited device, if there were such a thing.
A sawed off rifle barrel, cut to less than the specified legal minimum is not prohibited all by itself - but if assembled to the rifle, the rifle becomes prohibited firearm.
I bet that baby put 5 shots under a dime at 500 yards after a good bottle of scotch !
I have done that a few times with shotgun barrels. Good one Dan 
Whaaa... whaaa... who cares... find someone to cut a barrel shorter than 18.1"... good luck with that. I am saying, stick to "A LITTLE" over 18" and be safe... you want to cut to 17.999", knock yourself out.
Wondering why do you say 'Cannot" & Illegal" to cut it down shorter than 18.1". 457mm is just slightly less than 18" {17.99} That is the exact number in the regs/law. Not 18.1. Shorter than 18.1" would be 18", which is {Still} legal.
OK, sure, being careful & all & .1 inch is nothing, but still, your wording saying 'It's Illegal' etc. when it's not. It's illegal to cut it Under 457mm or 17.99 inches on a manual action rifle or shotgun, or single/double shot etc. If it's cut to 18" on the dot, it is not Illegal, as you say.
To have a buffer, ya, smart, even if it's just a 1/10th of an inch, but still, it's not necessary or illegal. That's how it's written/worded. It doesn't say 18.1 in the regs.
Nope, power drill and a brass screw, with a little valve grinding compound I had in the tin the toolbox. Actually worked well. Tested it after and it shot as well as before the emergency surgery. - dan
It was a Win 88. 1.5 moa was all it was capable of before the surgery, and the same after. Friend had gotten muck in the muzzle, didn't notice and took a shot at a moose. It bulged the barrel just behind the front sight. I cut it the pipe cutters width behind that. - danI bet that baby put 5 shots under a dime at 500 yards after a good bottle of scotch !
I couldn't even make that work back in my cub scout days, and I had a lot more energy then. - dan
That's a far cry from saying less than 18.1" is illegal. As I said earlier, it is prudent to leave a cushion, but that doesn't change what the law actually says.
Mark
There is a difference between theoretical and hyperscrupulous. My GP100 has a 4.1" barrel. Seems silly for a gun made in the US; yet here 100mm is the minimum. We all know what he ment. What we wright here does not matter, what the law actually says is important. Let's not get our panties in a knot over what most of us see as minutiae.
Since the topic came up...
I was wondering this too regarding a factory 18" 22lr, one of those Derya Tm22 feathers, they look stupid with the M4 style and 18" barrel, would look right with a 14.5", but I guess it's the same #### right.
I was wondering this too regarding a factory 18" 22lr, one of those Derya Tm22 feathers, they look stupid with the M4 style and 18" barrel, would look right with a 14.5", but I guess it's the same #### right.
You are correct that what the law actually says is most important. hoytcannon should not go around saying 18.1" is the legal limit when it's not. Precision matters when doing it wrong can land you in prison.
Yes, same sh!t. The law makes no distinction on firearms type/calibre for barrel cutting on a long gun.
Mark
If you're/who ever's into firearms, & can't 'shorten' their own barrel, within legal specifications, esp. a shotgun, well lol.
Why would I have, or anyone with a couple brain cells, need to 'find' someone to cut/touch my/their rifle, to do an ez laymans job..?.
+ Do you comprehend well? You are saying/arguing your point, but saying the exact same thing I did,{& others!} but dense
lol Mehh~ Have a Good day!OK, here's a 'dumb/dense question: Well, maybe not really. I remember having a conversation a loong time ago on this.
On this Mossberg 500 barrel, it extends past{into} the receiver. You can see the vent rib barrel flush with the receiver, then the other pic, shows what you can't see.
So, is that inner part, part of the barrels measurement? If one wants to shorten their 500 barrel to 18", on the outside it would {only} be 17.25", as per the extra part that goes beyond what you can see, into the receiver{is 3/4"}...
Is this correct?
On this Mossberg 500 barrel, it extends past{into} the receiver. You can see the vent rib barrel flush with the receiver, then the other pic, shows what you can't see.
So, is that inner part, part of the barrels measurement? If one wants to shorten their 500 barrel to 18", on the outside it would {only} be 17.25", as per the extra part that goes beyond what you can see, into the receiver{is 3/4"}...
Is this correct?
