Shot Gun length

Discussion of rifles, shotguns, and muzzleloaders

Shot Gun length

Postby LarryP on Tue Oct 20, 2020 10:12 am

What's the shortest shot gun you can buy for home defense? Not looking for a NFA weapon
Last edited by LarryP on Tue Oct 20, 2020 11:28 am, edited 1 time in total.
LarryP
 
Posts: 1180 [View]
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2011 3:57 pm

Re: Shot Gun length

Postby xd ED on Tue Oct 20, 2020 10:29 am

LarryP wrote:What's the shortest shot gun you can buy for home defense?


Mossberg Shockwave has a 14 -3/8" barrel; ~26" overall length.

The Taurus Judge comes as short as 3".

Then there's a bunch of NFA stuff out there I'm not familiar with.
LET'S GO BRANDON
User avatar
xd ED
 
Posts: 9016 [View]
Joined: Fri Jun 18, 2010 6:28 pm
Location: Saint Paul

Re: Shot Gun length

Postby ex-LT on Tue Oct 20, 2020 10:29 am

From the ATF website...

A shotgun is a firearm subject to the NFA if the shotgun has a barrel or barrels of less than 18 inches in length. A weapon made from a shotgun is also a firearm subject to the NFA if the weapon as modified has an overall length of less than 26 inches or a barrel or barrels of less than 18 inches in length.
DNR Certified Firearms Safety Instructor
NRA Certified Range Safety Officer
NRA Certified Instructor - Pistol, Rifle, and Shotgun
NRA Endowment Life Member
MN Gun Owners Caucus Life Member
Member Post 435 Gun Club
User avatar
ex-LT
Inspector Gadget
 
Posts: 3470 [View]
Joined: Sat Nov 15, 2008 1:49 pm
Location: Lakeville

Re: Shot Gun length

Postby Holland&Holland on Tue Oct 20, 2020 12:58 pm

So do you actually mean a shotgun or a firearm that can shoot shot shells is the question.
User avatar
Holland&Holland
 
Posts: 12479 [View]
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 9:17 am

Re: Shot Gun length

Postby linksep on Tue Oct 20, 2020 3:36 pm

I guess the short answer is 26-26.5" I don't think the half-inch will break you one way or the other.

You could go with a 26" "Pistol Grip Firearm". See example: https://blackacestactical.com/product/p ... automatic/

https://www.mossberg.com/defining-a-shotgun/
Pistol Grip Firearms (PGF), or “pistol grip only” firearms as they are sometimes called, are another category of non-shotgun “shotguns.” This category includes firearms that have a smooth barrel, are more than 26 inches in overall length, but don’t have a buttstock and therefore can’t be shotguns. They aren’t really handguns either. Instead, the ATF has created this middle-ground category for firearms that are long enough to be a shotgun but don’t have buttstocks.


You could go with a 26" Bullpup shotgun: https://www.keltecweapons.com/firearms/shotguns/ksg/

If you go with a traditional shotgun you're probably going to be 10" or more longer (in the range of 34"-40"). https://www.mossberg.com/category/series/ati-tactical/
Last edited by linksep on Tue Oct 20, 2020 8:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Science: noun, Whatever answer will help to advance communism.
linksep
 
Posts: 741 [View]
Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2012 10:41 pm

Re: Shot Gun length

Postby OldmanFCSA on Tue Oct 20, 2020 3:56 pm

Shotgun must have a minimum barrel length of 18.125" and an overall length of 26.75" - extra 1/8" on barrel is because of different methods to measure barrel length. A friend got burned on this one.
OldmanFCSA
 
Posts: 3216 [View]
Joined: Sat Sep 24, 2011 9:55 pm
Location: Osceola, WI.

Re: Shot Gun length

Postby LarryP on Tue Oct 20, 2020 7:49 pm

A regular shot gun would be best.




Holland&Holland wrote:So do you actually mean a shotgun or a firearm that can shoot shot shells is the question.
LarryP
 
Posts: 1180 [View]
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2011 3:57 pm

Re: Shot Gun length

Postby Holland&Holland on Tue Oct 20, 2020 10:24 pm

LarryP wrote:A regular shot gun would be best.




Holland&Holland wrote:So do you actually mean a shotgun or a firearm that can shoot shot shells is the question.

So then you have your answer. 18.125 if you cut it yourself. It will be 18.5 if you buy it.

Others are pointing out that there are shorter options that are not NFA items that will look and function just like a shotgun.
User avatar
Holland&Holland
 
Posts: 12479 [View]
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 9:17 am

Re: Shot Gun length

Postby Ghost on Wed Oct 21, 2020 5:59 am

I recently bought a youth shotgun. It would would work for HD but is uncomfortable for extended shooting sessions.

Why shotgun when AR is better?
User avatar
Ghost
 
Posts: 8246 [View]
Joined: Wed Feb 05, 2014 8:49 pm

Re: Shot Gun length

Postby Holland&Holland on Wed Oct 21, 2020 6:29 am

Ghost wrote:I recently bought a youth shotgun. It would would work for HD but is uncomfortable for extended shooting sessions.

Why shotgun when AR is better?

Why AR when a belt fed with pre-set claymores are better?
User avatar
Holland&Holland
 
Posts: 12479 [View]
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 9:17 am

Re: Shot Gun length

Postby Ghost on Wed Oct 21, 2020 7:07 am

Holland&Holland wrote:
Ghost wrote:I recently bought a youth shotgun. It would would work for HD but is uncomfortable for extended shooting sessions.

Why shotgun when AR is better?

Why AR when a belt fed with pre-set claymores are better?

Cost and ease of cleanup
User avatar
Ghost
 
Posts: 8246 [View]
Joined: Wed Feb 05, 2014 8:49 pm

Re: Shot Gun length

Postby Holland&Holland on Wed Oct 21, 2020 10:26 am

Good points. That is why I have a cleaning lady.
User avatar
Holland&Holland
 
Posts: 12479 [View]
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 9:17 am

Re: Shot Gun length

Postby Drizzle on Thu Oct 22, 2020 6:20 pm

Pistol grip shotguns are much less use than stocked models.


Having said that, I have a pistol grip on my Ithaca.

Plus, I keep finding ammo around the house. I had no idea I stashed all of it earlier.
User avatar
Drizzle
 
Posts: 697 [View]
Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2008 10:13 am
Location: Como Park


Return to Long Guns

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 11 guests

cron