[War Squirrel]

Ok, so I'm an avid camper. I've got an old Maverick 88 that I want to shorten up. I'm going to put an 18 1/2 inch barrel on it and a folding stock to keep with me while camping. Out of the way ya know? Sooo... by doing so, will it violate the "overall length" law? Do they measure the stock folded or open?

[dfariswheel]

As I recall, its stock folded, and the overall length must be at least 26".
Since the Mossberg is sold with a pistol grip-only setup, the gun will be at least that with the stock folded.

[Zach S]

IIRC the 18.5" PGO guns are right around 29" long.

I dont know if the ATF ever addressed weather the stock had to be open or folded, but as a general rule to CYA, if it will shoot, it should be 26" long.

[ReloaderFred]

I had my FFL for 18 years, and there was a flyer out to dealers from ATF that a firearm was to be measured at the shortest configuration. They said if there was a folding or collapsible stock, the total length was to be measured with the stock in the shortest possible position.

Hope this helps.

Fred

[TexasRifleman]

Since the Mossberg is sold with a pistol grip-only setup, the gun will be at least that with the stock folded.

Mossberg PGO's are not "shotguns". They are "firearms". But even the PGO models are 28 inches overall length.
PGO's cannot be shotguns because of the definition in GCA, and ATF has warned dealers to sell these with the same age limits as handguns because of it.
Someone posted a scan of the letter a while back but I didn't keep a copy.

Same thing applies to odd weapons like Browning 1919 semi's, they are not rifles, they are "firearms".

Shotgun. A weapon designed or redesigned, made or remade, and
intended to be fired from the shoulder

With a stock the shotgun must have an 18" barrel and a 26" overall length measured with the stock extended.

I had my FFL for 18 years, and there was a flyer out to dealers from ATF that a firearm was to be measured at the shortest configuration. They said if there was a folding or collapsible stock, the total length was to be measured with the stock in the shortest possible position.


From a Tech Branch letter on this, you can google around for the pdf of the document. Dated June 2008.

This is in reply to your correspondence which was received by the Firearms Technology Branch, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), on January 30, 2008. In your letter you inquire about the attachment of a folding stock to a pistol having a barrel length of 16 inches or greater.

As background, 27 CFR Sec. 479.11 (Meaning of Terms) states, in part:

The overall length of a weapon made from a shotgun or rifle is the distance between the extreme ends of the weapon measured along a line parallel to the center line of the bore.

Based on this description of overall length and its correct measurement, ATF has taken the position that firearms having folding or collapsible stocks are properly measured for overall length with the stock fully extended.


The rest of that particular letter warns about making an SBR out of a pistol, but the description of how ATF interprets measuring folding stocks has been repeated by them many times as being with the stock fully extended.

[oneounceload]

To answer the OP - 18" minimum barrel length, 26" minimum overall length. Most folks prefer 18.5 to allow for measuring errors.

A typical pump PGO will meet those requirements

[War Squirrel]

Alright, sweet! Thanks guys, I really appreciate the help. I'll post pics in a few months when it's all done and ready! :D

[Quiet]

18" minimum barrel length.
26" minimum overall length.

The Feds measure overall length with the stock extended/open.
Some states measure overall length with the stock collapsed/cloased.

So, it is possible to be legal Federally, but be illegal under state law. Check you state's laws.

[ReloaderFred]

I looked back through the boxes of handouts from when I had my FFL, and it was a state DOJ circular that stated the measurement was with the stock collapsed. I stand corrected.

That's just another reason why I'm glad I moved out of that state.

Hope this helps.

Fred

[janobles14]

depending on where you are you can classify a shorter shotgun as a smoothbore handgun. here in alabama you can pay the tax and do so.