I've read on here quite a bit about reducing the length of your shotgun barrel (to within non-restricted limits still) but I'd like to know if I can do it myself or does it HAVE to be done by a gunsmith? I'd still want to keep the barrel of my autoloader shotgun more than 18.5" of course but I'd like to do it myself. Anyone done this?
Chopping my shotgun barrel myself, legal?
- Thread starter oddballted
- Start date
sillymike
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Just be prepare to have to thinker with your shotgun...
Many (if not most) semi automatic shotgun will not like the shorter barrel. As the semi-automatic mechanism was calibrated to work with the longer barrel. Something to do with the operating pressure and recoil.
Many (if not most) semi automatic shotgun will not like the shorter barrel. As the semi-automatic mechanism was calibrated to work with the longer barrel. Something to do with the operating pressure and recoil.
killer1963daddy
Regular
- Location
- peace river country B.C.
so what about cutting it to under 18.5 and have the overall lenth over 26?
If you cut a centerfire semi-auto to 18" (still legal and not prohibited) it becomes a restricted firearm.
Mark
sillymike
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I thought the barrel became a prohibited device?
To make non-restricted into a restricted, don't you have to use a "factory" barrel?
- Location
- Airdrie, Alberta
Is this the same with a pump?
i believe you are correct.
an altered barrel to less than 18/18.5 becomes a prohib
The barrel must have left the factory short. Not done by you or a gunsmith.
op - with an autoloader, you may have short stroking problems with a shorter barrel.
I believe the solution is to slightly enlarge the gas port? and run heavy loads. (depending on the model)
For firearms to remain non-restricted:
Manually operated with a cut barrel: bbl must exceed 18", oal must exceed 26".
Semi-auto with a cut barrel: bbl must exceed 18 1/2", oal must exceed 26".
A manually operated firearm stays non-restricted with a barrel of any length, as long as the barrel was made that length, and is not a shortened previously finished barrel, as long as oal is over 26".
If the barrel on a longarm is cut to less than 18", the firearm becomes prohibited. The cut barrel itself, detached from the longarm, has no legal status; does not become a prohibited device.
Manually operated with a cut barrel: bbl must exceed 18", oal must exceed 26".
Semi-auto with a cut barrel: bbl must exceed 18 1/2", oal must exceed 26".
A manually operated firearm stays non-restricted with a barrel of any length, as long as the barrel was made that length, and is not a shortened previously finished barrel, as long as oal is over 26".
If the barrel on a longarm is cut to less than 18", the firearm becomes prohibited. The cut barrel itself, detached from the longarm, has no legal status; does not become a prohibited device.
If a semi-auto shotgun came from the factory with a 14" barrel, it would be a restricted firearm.
If you took a 28" barrel semi-auto, and cut the barrel to 18.1", you would have to reregister the shotgun as restricted.
If you cut the barrel to 17.9", the shotgun would become a prohibited firearm, and could not be possessed or registered as such.
If you took a 28" barrel semi-auto, and cut the barrel to 18.1", you would have to reregister the shotgun as restricted.
If you cut the barrel to 17.9", the shotgun would become a prohibited firearm, and could not be possessed or registered as such.
- Location
- your wife knows...
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That really makes a lot of sense doesn't it?? You can buy a Grizzly shotgun with a 12 inch barrel and it is not restricted.
If I cut the barrel on my Rem 870 to 12 inches, it is prohib and I go to jail.
Really, who comes up with this crap??? Obviously people who have nothing to do with firearms.
If I cut the barrel on my Rem 870 to 12 inches, it is prohib and I go to jail.
Really, who comes up with this crap??? Obviously people who have nothing to do with firearms.
Laws created on visceral beliefs by definition will not make sense.
