Legality regarding shortened shotgun

[Jordan]

I have a mossberg 500c cruiser. It came from the factory with a pistol grip - it never had a stock mated to it. Now, as I understand it, according the ATF, the gun, having come from the factory without a stock - technically it is not classified a "shotgun". Also, as explained by the Shockwave Technologies people that sell these nifty birds heads grips I got, as long as the overall length remains 26", you can legally shorten the barrel (without tax stamp) because the weapon is not a shotgun and therefore non-NFA. You also then keep from being classified AOW due to the overall length. Anywho... what say you INGO? Is this BS or not? There are letters from the ATF that seem to confirm it, but how does that stand up to Indiana law now that we are synced with NFA regarding shotguns?

If this holds up, and considering I bought and installed one of the bird head grips; I really want to trim about 2.5" from the end of my barrel (evening it up with the mag tube), which would keep me at/above 26" but still lend to an increased degree of compactness.

 

[ScouT6a]

It sounds to me, in my mind, that you would be fine in your endeavor, as long as you keep things above 26". I learned something new about measuring for that magical 26" number during my recent AR pistol build. It is not measured in a straight line from muzzle to butt, as I assumed. You lay it on the edge of a table and slide it to the edge until the rear most part of the butt and the end of the barrel are at the edge of the table. In other words, the gun looks like it is measured at an angle, if that makes sense to you.
With that being said, don't know if I would go to too much trouble for 2 1/2" but for some guys that may make a huge difference.

 

[Jordan]

Depends on cost. If it's too costly to lop off 2.5 inches and drill and tap for a new bead - then I probably won't worry with it. But I do very much like the idea of getting the shotgun as compact as I can remaining both legal and unregistered.

 

[Indycar:v1.1]

Pretty much everything is cool if you meet these two things:

1. OAL < 26"
2. Barrel < 18"

Anything under those measurements = NFA, either AOW or SBSG

 

[M67]

Pretty much everything is cool if you meet these two things:

1. OAL < 26"
2. Barrel < 18"

Anything under those measurements = NFA, either AOW or SBSG

Not necessarily. All you need to be is over 26" if the firearm left with a pistol grip from the factory (Scattergun link in the OP)

14? Mossberg Non-NFA Scattergun - The Firearm Blog

The 14? Mossberg 500 That ISN?T NFA! | Shockwave Technologies

 

[chezuki]

Pretty much everything is cool if you meet these two things:

1. OAL < 26"
2. Barrel < 18"

Anything under those measurements = NFA, either AOW or SBSG

FYI, "<" means "less than". I assume you meant ">".

 

[Jordan]

Now my only concern is if a gunsmith will actually do the cutting and drill/tap for me. I am worried they won't want to cut the barrel and I don't have the tools to do it myself - nicely anyway.

 

[nipprdog]

My first necropost???

Did some searching before posting a new thread. Got to shoot this today. Has all the shockwave parts installed.

Pretty sweet!

With the angled grip instead of a vertical grip, its not hard on the hand. Granted, I only shot birdshot loads, and not buckshot. The owner fired a few slugs through it. BRUTAL. The owner installed the parts himself. I'm intrigued by this. I don't see a need for a front sight bead. I'm thinking finger activated laser. Even if it's not a practical home defense gun, or truck gun, it is a fun range gun.