Is a shotgun with a rifled barrel firing slugs still a shotgun, or is it a rifle?

[The Kurgan]

I ask this because it would appear that a "slug gun" has more in common with a rifle.

 

[fiddler]

Its shoots Sabot slugs only out of a rifled barrel. You cannot use bird shot, regular slugs, or buckshot. These are made for smooth bore only.

 

[steveb67]

It's still a shotgun. Ive been stopped by the OPP Save Unit, and conservation officers, during the controlled deer hunts over the years, which you can only use shotguns, if I was carrying a rifle I would have been busted, of course. But I carry a Rem 870, with a rifled barrel and iron sites. There has never been an issue.

 

[just having some fun]

Want to get confused ?
this is the basic information from when shotguns became shotguns

a ball the same diameter as the inside diameter of the barrel is used

10g = 10 round lead balls that weigh 1 pound
12g = 12 round lead balls that weigh 1 pound
16g = 16 round lead balls that weigh 1 pound
20g = 20 round lead balls that weigh 1 pound

.410 is a caliber and is .410 in diameter

 

[mlehtovaara]

It is still a registered shotgun, and is sold as such.

Stop giving the anti's and CO's ideas....

There has been talks of changing the hunting regs in the past due to the tragectory of modern Sabots, but so far we are still good.

 

[blasted_saber]

Its a shotgun with a rifled barrel. Not a rifle.

 

[guntech]

In my thoughts it's always a shotgun because it is chambered for a shotgun shell. A rifled shotgun barrel not only shoots 'slugs' it can fire shot shells (they won't pattern well) but I don't know of any rifle cartridges you could use in it.

 

[Juster]

Is a shotgun with no barrel a shotgun? Is a pistol with no barrel a pistol? Therein lies the correct answer.

 

[snoopycda]

ri·fle
noun /ˈrīfəl/ 
rifles, plural

A gun, esp. one fired from shoulder level, having a long spirally grooved barrel intended to make a bullet spin and thereby have greater accuracy over a long distance.

Sounds like a rifle to me. there is no mention of power or method of loading/chambering.
bul·let
noun /ˈbo͝olit/ 
bullets, plural

A projectile for firing from a rifle, revolver, or other small firearms, typically of metal, cylindrical and pointed.

Cant see any real difference here either.
However with the way some of our gun laws are written, they dont need to make sense.

 

[SHELL SHUCKER]

In my thoughts it's always a shotgun because it is chambered for a shotgun shell. A rifled shotgun barrel not only shoots 'slugs' it can fire shot shells (they won't pattern well) but I don't know of any rifle cartridges you could use in it.

Like the man says. The key being "Chambered for shotshell." In the good old days, shotguns with partially or fully rifled bores were refered to as Paradox guns and Jungle guns. These were trade names used by the British gunmakers that supplied these shotguns to hunters in Africa and India. You could still shoot shot through them, but they worked best with ball or conical projectiles.

 

[Duffy]

I can fire a "shot shell" from my .22 cal rifle.

I can fire a .45 colt from a .410 single shot firearm.

When a 12 gauge slug gun with a rifled barrel shoots a single projectile (not shot) I have a hard time calling it a SHOTgun.

 

[regulate34]

if you shoot a 22 smooth bore is it a 22 slug gun?
just like a 45 colt is not a shot gun .