Shotty a little TOO short!

[Badger Arms]

Walked into a local pawn shop and noticed a recent addition to the shelf, it was a Mossberg 500 that looked like it had a factory 18" Barrel on it. When they handed it to me, I noticed it was a vent-rib chop-job. The chop job was uneven and VERY poor quality. As I was looking at the gun, it occurred to me that the barrel looked shorter than I was used to. I asked the clerk for a tape measure and, sure enough, it measured 17 7/8" when I put the tape down the bore. I took the barrel off and measured from what looked like the back of the barrel and it measured 18 1/8" there. The bolt is recessed into the barrel and SOMEBODY had measured from the back of the barrel, not the face of the bolt.

Needless to say, the clerk pulled the shotgun. Lesson learned: MEASURE FROM THE BOLT FACE! Also, DON'T CUT IT ALL THE WAY TO 18", LEAVE A HALF INCH FOR GOOD MEASURE! As the store owner was measuring, I watched him run the tape measure along the SIDE of the barrel! BAD, BAD, BAD, Randy Weaver! The best thing they could do would be to get a long wooden rod and mark EXACTLY were 18" is and have it behind the counter. Run it down every shotgun barrel and if you see the mark you know it's illegal.

[Dave McCracken]

Amen!! Don't give them an excuse....

So everyone knows, the official BATF method is to measure from the face of the breech or bolt to the closest part of the muzzle.

[OF]

How disgusting is it that they have to pull that gun off the shelf and risk prosecution for 1/8" of metal.

Sick. :barf:

- Gabe

[foghornl]

Probably why the shortest "factory" barrels are 18-1/2". As I understand the measurement, it is taken with the action closed, from the bolt/breech face to shortest dimension of the muzzle.

Sooooo, if you have an 'angle-cut' barrel, it MAY NOT be legal.

I like the idea of the pre-marked 'measuring stick'. [Gun shop I visit uses this method] Take a dowel rod, and paint 18" of it bright red/orage/yellow [your choice of color]. Stand shotty in question vertically, and drop in the colored end of the rod. If any of the color part is visible...

WARNING! WARNING! "Danger, Will Robinson." BATF(E) ON THE WAY.

[Badger Arms]

How disgusting is it that they have to pull that gun off the shelf and risk prosecution for 1/8" of metal.This is a law that has been around, what nearly 80 years now? Whether we agree with it or not, it's there, clear, and unambiguous. There is no interpreting this rule, you obey it. And when did the BATFE start prosecuting people? I thought they just shot you in the arm, killed your dog, shot your son (in the back), your wife (in the head while she's holding a loaded baby), etc. In this case, I think as a store owner they would call the BATFE and explain what happened. The cut was obviously old and rusted. It was obviously an honest mistake. That, or just remove the barrel and destroy it. I'm planning on revisiting the store in a week to get an update.

Now, for ambiguous and constitutionally vague laws, look here:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=45461

[sm]

Thank you for sharing this !

That old rule "measure twice -cut once" is really important and serious!

Anyone have a camera and willing to post a picture to show the proper way to measure for the new folks?

I think this is Important Enough to show a pic and later add to the top of Forum

And

ADD to the THR LIBRARY

please

What about other firearms as well...The Library could be a great place to have not only shotguns, but handguns, and rifles. For instance some Regulations stipulate the min bbl length for handguns for hunting...we may keep some folks out of trouble.

:)

[Bix]

Foghornl:

I am pretty sure Remington will turn out factory barrels which are 18" in length. I've got a factory 870 police barrel that measures 18" even from boltface to muzzle.

Remington's webpage advertises an 18" factory express model, though I've not had occasion to measure one of those.

[Wildalaska]

And when did the BATFE start prosecuting people? I thought they just shot you in the arm, killed your dog, shot your son (in the back), your wife (in the head while she's holding a loaded baby), etc.

Not all ATF agents are like that, just like all gun onwers are like the thugs posting about RKBA issues on the Stormfront Board....

And speaking as someone who deals with the ATF at least once a week, I find the Agents and regulatory people up here helpful, cooperative and pro gun.


WildtiredofslursAlaska

[cpileri]

WildAlaska-
Y'know i have to admit the few ATF guys i have spoken with at any length struck me as A-OK guys as well. One guy, in the "E" part of the agency (i.e. explosives) said he "loved" to shoot and hoped my paperwork for my 22 supressor went through quickly.
I see him periodically as he is a patient in one of our clinics.
And no, i am still waiting for my paperwork to go through.
But back to the point, he was a nice guy.
C-