[illusion11]

So, I never really understood. Are sawed off shotguns now legal? I keep hearing it but I don't really understand it as they are pretty... umm... dangerous...

[Drake]

Originally Posted by illusion11

So, I never really understood. Are sawed off shotguns now legal? I keep hearing it but I don't really understand it as they are pretty... umm... dangerous...

Sawed-off is not legal. The gun must be at least 18 inches in length unless you're a law enforcement officer, in which case you can buy stock 14 inch pieces. However even law enforcement cannot use sawed off weapons, nor is it a wise choice. The scatter makes them useless beyond point blank ranges.

[chorlton]

Yes, you must have an 18" barrel or more. You can see some of the LE 14" guns on gunbroker etc.
Shotguns were usually cut down for concealment purposes, but with the modern range available to us, I can't think of a use that another weapon doesn't fit.

[allmons]

accuracy and effectiveness essentially disappear with the shortest barrels.

Most stagecoach security guards shortened their barrels some to get better follow through and to get the weapon into action sooner.

The truly short sawed offs were carried under coats or in holsters by those who were poor shots with pistols for up close work, usually in anticipation of sudden altercations.

Remember that the early blackpowder shotguns often had long barrels for game-getting, but were cumbersome for self defense. As someone else noted, the plethora of firearms today make a truly short shotgun pointless -
and VERY illegal.

[allmons]

with a blue tax stamp ( again depending on whether you live in America or in one of the socialist states).

I just don't know why you would spend all that money and time on a short barrelled shotgun when there are so many more fun toys out there!

[BrassMonkey]

"sawed off shotguns" or SBRs as their legal term names them are legal with a ATF tax stamp, and a one time tax of $200 dollars. You must live in a state that allows sbr weapons, and submit a form for approval to the ATF prior to cutting down your barrel.

[Navy4087]

There are however revolvers (Tauras comes to mind) that chambers a .410 shotgun shell. I think 3-4" bbls. Would be good out to 5-7 feet with large sized shot like 4's or 2's

[marmac]

Originally Posted by Navy4087

There are however revolvers (Tauras comes to mind) that chambers a .410 shotgun shell. I think 3-4" bbls. Would be good out to 5-7 feet with large sized shot like 4's or 2's

The only reason I can see ANYONE having a sawed off shotgun is for personal protection. That's why I'm thinking on buying one of the Taurus the combination pistol/shotgun. I saw it in a Taurus catalog and was intrigued. I asked my dealer about it and he told me that he was thinking about carrying one. He said he was going to order one to see how it went, saleswise. It will probably be my "carry" gun.

MarMac

[BrassMonkey]

The only reason I can see ANYONE having a sawed off shotgun is for personal protection. That's why I'm thinking on buying one of the Taurus the combination pistol/shotgun. I saw it in a Taurus catalog and was intrigued. I asked my dealer about it and he told me that he was thinking about carrying one. He said he was going to order one to see how it went, saleswise. It will probably be my "carry" gun.

MarMac

.410 comming out of such a short barrel is a poor choice for self defence IMHO.

[Splatter]

14" and 12" barrels are legal on manually operated (pump-bolt-lever-SxS-etc) firearms here. (they have to be factory made barrels we can't cut them down ourselves)
A 14" barrel is no more or less accurate than an 18" barrel of the same configuration, tho you do give-up some velocity.
I've seen 14" barrels used to shoot skeet fairly sucessfully.

http://www.marstar.ca/gf-norinco/N870-14.00.shtm