Movie shotguns and the O/U sawed off

[DammitBoy]

Over the years, I've always been enamoured of the various sawed off shotgun pistols you see in movies from Westerns to modern day action movies.

My favorite has always been a variation of a sawed off O/U shotgun pistol.



I've always wondered if there was any advantage to an O/U sawed off as compared to a SBS sawed off.

The movies almost always show a 12ga sawed off pistol, which I think would be very difficult to control. A 16ga or a 20ga seem much more reasonable and feasible.

 

[627PCFan]

This thread just uspet my stomach.

 

[Jon_Snow]

I think I just died a little inside.

But, to answer your question, a O/U is thinner than a comparable SxS and thus easier to conceal. I don't know how effective it would be though since the top barrel is going to produce a LOT of torque. Personally, I don't think I'd want to shoot ANY pistol-shotgun larger than .410.

 

[CoRoMo]

What movies are you referring to?
Which movie was that O/U used in?

 

[DammitBoy]

The two I posted first are from the movie 'The Spirit', used by a bad guy played by Samuel L. Jackson.





Above is one used in a horrible Chuck Norris movie called 'Hitman'.

Arnold Schwarzenegger used one as John Kruger in 'Eraser'.



Sidney Poitier in 'Buck and the Preacher' (probably blackpowder or howdah pistols)

You can find more sawed off shotgun links at this page on the IMFDB site.

 

[gunnie]

gotta wonder at the velocities these would(n't) produce, and how effective the round would be on the most dangerous species. even at bad breath ranges. anyone got muzvel numbers available for AOW shotguns in the "derringer" versions?

gunnie

 

[CoRoMo]

Thanks DB, I've seen exactly one of the movies you listed, and i barely recall those SGs from Eraser.

...how effective the round would be on the most dangerous species.

They are not intended for big game hunting, dangerous game hunting, or any type of hunting. Unless that's not what you meant.

 

[gunnie]

if you feel big or dangerous game are the most dangerous species, i am jealous of your lifestyle.

gunnie

 

[RyanM]

gotta wonder at the velocities these would(n't) produce, and how effective the round would be on the most dangerous species. even at bad breath ranges. anyone got muzvel numbers available for AOW shotguns in the "derringer" versions?

My Serbu Super Shorty has an even shorter barrel, at 7.2" (I think people were having problems with burning their knuckle hair off with the 6.5" ones). Standard 2-3/4" 1 oz. slugs chrono at about 1120 to 1150 fps (compared to 1400-1450 from an 18" barrel). Other ammo only loses about 20% velocity as well. So basically, full power ammo goes at the same speed as reduced recoil ammo from a full size gun.

Spread with buckshot isn't that different from a full size gun, either, as long as you stick with decent quality ammo with a shot cup wad (a surprising number of buckshot loads only have a fiber base wad) and buffered pellets. Maybe 25% bigger, just on average. Some loads (Federal Flitecontrol) are almost indistinguishable, some (cheap-o Wolf, etc.) spread twice as much.

Shorty shotgnus are very underrated. Basically the only thing that makes them impractical is the 2 foot wide, 6 foot long fireball (not exaggerating at all, check out this youtube video at 2:05 if you don't believe me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cb6SnaPPH-Q ), and the correspondingly deafening blast. Definitely an outdoors only, double hearing protection gun.

 

[gunnie]

very suprised at the minimal loss. would likely work well at those numbers!

gunnie

 

[CoRoMo]

if you feel big or dangerous game are the most dangerous species...

Well, speak clearly then. If you are referring to humans, this type weapon would be horribly effective.

 

[gunnie]

didn't mean to offend your delicate sensibilities...

gunnie

 

[CoRoMo]

What makes you think you could?

 

[VA27]

Don't forget the Jimmy Dean movie 'Big Bad John'. He played the sheriff and had a 'double' O/U! Those 4 barrels were pretty impressive from the front.

 

[gunnie]

..."What makes you think you could?"...

perhaps your defensive response after you realized that RyanM didn't have any problems understanding what i meant?

gunnie

 

[Conqueror]

The biggest problem with these O/U "pistols" is they would be really difficult to open. Those of you who have O/Us, try cocking the thing while holding only the pistol grip, and the barrels just ahead of the action. Most people don't realize how much extra leverage you get with a longer barrel.

 

[tt600]

seems this is what gangsters in England would use. Or any other place that handguns are banned. Take a cheap stoeger O/U , a hacksaw, and a belt sander and you are in business.

 

[DammitBoy]

How would you go about having one made legally?

 

[natman]

How would you go about having one made legally?

http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/national-firearms-act-firearms.html

Check with your state Department of Justice as well.

 

[DammitBoy]

Yeah, that really doesn't answer my question. The ATF site isn't very helpful.

Can I make it myself or does it have to be made by a manufacturer? Would it be considered an AOW or a short barrelled shotgun? I'm assuming this would involve a $200 tax stamp, is that right?

This would be altering an existing shotgun, which classification is that? It's not the same as buying a Serbu Shooty, because those were never long guns, right?

 

[PTK]

Recoil really isn't too bad, I have a SBS double barrel, side by side.

You can make it yourself, it would be a SBS, not an AOW, it does indeed need to have a $200 stamp paid and received PRIOR to working on the gun.

It's easy.


http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=521287

 

[DammitBoy]

So, I buy the gun to be modified. I apply for the tax stamp through any FFL or does it have to be a Title II FFL, or do I apply directly to the ATF?

Thanks for your help!

 

[PTK]

You apply for the stamp yourself via a Form 1 application to make and register a firearm, available from www.titleii.com (electronic version, and good instructions) or www.atf.gov (paper version)

 

[WoofersInc]

You can buy one from a dealer already made, or make one yourself on a form 1.

Buying from the dealer means doing all the paperwork and waiting to get it back before you pick up the gun.

If making one, you send in the paperwork first and then wait till it comes back. You can then shorten the barrels down.

So, I buy the gun to be modified. I apply for the tax stamp through any FFL or does it have to be a Title II FFL, or do I apply directly to the ATF?

If you already have the gun you want to modify, you apply straight to ATF on a form 1 and then do the mods once you are approved and have the paperwork back from ATF.

 

[MagnumDweeb]

I've been wondering about the O/U. Folks have said that the O/U are just as strong as most SxS. I want to do the paperwork sometime after I get admitted to the state bar and I've yet to decide which route to go. There are plenty of $300 and less SxS but O/U are harder to find at inexpensive prices.