The CFC is correct
you can install the shorter barrel on your shotgun and it will still be nonrestricted as long as it is still over 26 inches overall
You can buy a aftermarket short barrel for a rifle or shotgun and have it installed and it will still be nonrestricted as long as it's still over 26 inches
Call back the CFC and phrase your question that way
It is only gets confusing when you start getting into semi auto and restricted firearms
but as you can see, installing a 17" barrel onto a Rem870, making the OAL (say for argument's sake) 28" would be an "other alteration, and that, as so adapted,.....
◦is 660 mm or greater in length and has a barrel less than 457 mm in length,
commone sense would say, changing a barrel is making an alteration, BUT the CFC doesn't see it that way
as the Cliche goes... it doesn't have to make sense, it is government policy
I'm reasonably certain that I already know the answer but it never hurts to double check before making an irreversable alteration.
Semi auto centerfire cannot be altered below 18.5".
18 TO 18 1/2 RESULTS IN RESTRICTED STATUS.
Pump or lever centerfire cannot be altered below 18".
YES.
I believe that the same holds true for semi auto rimfire but just want confirmation for my own piece of mind. So the question is, what is the shortest length that I can cut my semi auto rimfire barrel? 18, or 18.5"?
18"