Short-Barreled Shotgun
UNITED STATES v. MICHAUD
United States Court of Appeals, 1st Circuit
Id. § 921(a)(5). As used in section 924(c)(1)(B)(i), the statute defines a "short-barreled shotgun" as:
a shotgun having one or more barrels less than eighteen inches in length and any weapon made from a shotgun (whether by alteration, modification or otherwise) if such a weapon as modified has an overall length of less than twenty-six inches.
"Short" Answer
18" Barrel
26" Overall Length
Talking Points
- Federal Law defines a legal shotgun as having a minimum barrel length of 18" (not 18½ as some people claim) and an overall length (including buttstock) of at least 26".
- To possess a shotgun below the lengths define in the previous talking point, you must apply for and receive a Class III tax stamp (it is like a special permit issued by the BATF). You need one stamp per short barreled shotgun.
- Often manufacturers, such as Mossberg, will not manufacture a shotgun barrel shorter than 18½" as to have a "legal safety buffer" or to meet minimums in certain more restrictive states.
- Your state may have further restrictions superseding federal law. A shotgun legal in one state may be illegal in another jurisdiction.
- Has a smooth bore (non-rifled) barrel. Exemptions apply to rifled barrel firearms that can also chamber non-shotgun ammo.
- Other legal restrictions apply (such as on Felons and so on.)
Law
Federal law defines a shotgun, "a weapon designed or redesigned, made or remade, and intended to be fired from the shoulder and designed or redesigned and made or remade to use the energy of an explosive to force through a smooth bore either a number of ball shot or a single projectile for each single pull of the trigger."
