Pistol Gripped Shotguns

[G McBride]

Are shotguns with at least an 18 inch barrel with pistol grips installed considered pistols or shotguns and are they a controlled firearm?

 

[shooter521]

Are shotguns with at least an 18 inch barrel with pistol grips installed considered pistols or shotguns and are they a controlled firearm?

"Controlled" in what way? NFA? Nope.

I believe the pistol-grip-only shotguns (Mossberg 500 Cruiser, etc) are classified as a handgun under the definition given in the Indiana Code (specifically paragraph 1):

IC 35-47-1-6
"Handgun"
Sec. 6. "Handgun" means any firearm:
(1) designed or adapted so as to be aimed and fired from one (1) hand, regardless of barrel length; or
(2) any firearm with:
(A) a barrel less than sixteen (16) inches in length; or
(B) an overall length of less than twenty-six (26) inches.

Thus, they require an LTCH to carry (even in your vehicle) and cannot be sold in such a configuration to persons under 21 years of age. At least, those are the rules we operate under at the shop where I work.

 

[NateIU10]

All I know is that I cannot purchase one under 21 because they are not rifles or shotguns. I BELIEVE they are still just title 1 guns though.

 

[indyjoe]

I've often wondered about this. When I purchased my shotgun, a Mossy 500, it had a full stock on it but a pistol grip in the box.

 

[NateIU10]

I've often wondered about this. When I purchased my shotgun, a Mossy 500, it had a full stock on it but a pistol grip in the box.

I think they just sell that as a shotgun, with an extra buttstock, so anyone over 18 can buy it.

 

[melensdad]

The issue is not as simple as just the 18" barrel, as noted earlier there is also the 26" overall length. With a pump gun like a Mossberg 500, or Rem 870, the 26" limit is not a big issue because you have the receiver length that adds to the overall length.

Now where its really easy to get into trouble with shotguns is when you have a gun that has a very short receiver, like an old side-by-side, and you cut the barrels down and pistol grip it, it is very easy to get yourself into a "too short" situation where the LOA is less than 26".

So you have to deal with BOTH limits unless you want to file all sorts of extra paperwork.

 

[4sarge]

"Controlled" in what way? NFA? Nope.

I believe the pistol-grip-only shotguns (Mossberg 500 Cruiser, etc) are classified as a handgun under the definition given in the Indiana Code (specifically paragraph 1):

IC 35-47-1-6
"Handgun"
Sec. 6. "Handgun" means any firearm:
(1) designed or adapted so as to be aimed and fired from one (1) hand, regardless of barrel length; or
(2) any firearm with:
(A) a barrel less than sixteen (16) inches in length; or
(B) an overall length of less than twenty-six (26) inches.

Thus, they require an LTCH to carry (even in your vehicle) and cannot be sold in such a configuration to persons under 21 years of age. At least, those are the rules we operate under at the shop where I work.

Bingo, Good Answer, you are absolutely correct and the same answer that I gave in another thread. asking the very same question

 

[42769vette]

i guess i need to pay more attention before i post a add i never even thought of all this im good though my overall length is 27.5 inch

 

[4sarge]

i guess i need to pay more attention before i post a add i never even thought of all this im good though my overall length is 27.5 inch

It's never wrong to ask a question That's a benefit of the forum

 

[Clay]

referring to the pistol definition........ is a pistol grip shotgun really designed to fire with just one hand????? I mean it still has a fore grip right?

 

[indyjoe]

referring to the pistol definition........ is a pistol grip shotgun really designed to fire with just one hand????? I mean it still has a fore grip right?

You can try it. When you get back from the ER, let us know how it went.

I don't see how you could, except but with the lightest loads. With real shotgun loads, a pistol griped shot gun is a hand full. (By that I mean two hand fulls. )

 

[NateIU10]

I know some think they're handguns, but I'm pretty sure they're not. They're still non-NFA, but not handguns, rifles or shotguns. They're just an "other" title 1 firearms that are not exceptions to the under 21 age requirement (only rifles and shotguns) as set forth in the GCA.

 

[Clay]

You can try it. When you get back from the ER, let us know how it went.

I don't see how you could, except but with the lightest loads. With real shotgun loads, a pistol griped shot gun is a hand full. (By that I mean two hand fulls. )

exactly!

so does it meet the requirements set forth for a pistol? I wouldn't think so.

 

[bigcraig]

I have fired my Serbu one handed with standard 12ga birdshot, sjstill has as well, it wasn't that bad at all, really!

As far as the original question, shooter521 nailed it.

 

[42769vette]

with mine you can fire it one handed ONCE i do think i fired it one handed a time or 2 but its not real plesant i shoot it from the hip pretty well ive learned when shooting from the hip to aim about where you think it should be then pick up about a foot and let her rip

referring to the pistol definition........ is a pistol grip shotgun really designed to fire with just one hand????? I mean it still has a fore grip right?

 

[4sarge]

I know some think they're handguns, but I'm pretty sure they're not. They're still non-NFA, but not handguns, rifles or shotguns. They're just an "other" title 1 firearms that are not exceptions to the under 21 age requirement (only rifles and shotguns) as set forth in the GCA.

Here is what I do know from personal experience. The Indiana State Police were making arrests on individuals who did not possess an LTCH and had the Mossberg's in their vehicle. I do not know if this is still being done or if policy has changed or what happened at Court. This was many years ago and maybe their enforcement practice has changed.