permanent barrel extension on shotgun

bkjeffrey · Jan 9, 2012

Got into a discussion at work today about barrel lengths on shotguns to maintain the 18" after seeing the huge muzzle break mossberg put on that roadblocker.

I know that a muzzle break can be permanently attached to a rifle barrel of less than 16" to reach the overall length of 16" Can that same theroy be applied to the shotgun?

We specifically discussed the permanent installation of a bayonet or dagger blade to a shotgun barrel, say a 10" barrel with a 8"+ bayonet welded or silver soldered to the barrel to create a permanently attached barrel extension to meet length reqs.

I know that sounds absurd but it was a topic of discussion that I was ultimately curious about just for general understanding.

rcmodel · Jan 9, 2012

I never heard of a ruling from the ATF.
But I seriously doubt a welded on bayonet would meet the requirement of a 18" "Barrel" length. When they say barrel, I am pretty sure they mean barrel or resulting muzzle device with a round hole in the end.

Anyway, if you just gotta have 18", why not make it all barrel and reap the benefits of better ballistic performance?

Course, I feel the same way with rifle barrels.
I feel it is counterproductive to cut off a rifled barrel and replace it with a bloop tube to get legal length.

If you are going to have to be that long anyway, get all the velocity you can get out of it.

rc

o Unforgiven o · Jan 9, 2012

Barrel length is measured by inserting a dowel into the barrel until it reaches the bolt face, then marking the dowel at the furthermost point of the barrel and measuring. Flash hiders, muzzle brakes etc. are mounted in a way that they become a part of the barrel. If you were to take one of those 5" flash hiders (or in this case a blade) and weld it to the side of the barrel, you still have an SBR/SBS.

rcmodel said:
I feel it is counterproductive to cut off a rifled barrel and replace it with a bloop tube to get legal length.

If you are going to have to be that long anyway, get all the velocity you can get out of it.

I feel the same way.

bkjeffrey · Jan 9, 2012

I feel the same way you guys do as well about extensions. Useless.

This pretty much is the answer I think is correct:

Flash hiders, muzzle brakes etc. are mounted in a way that they become a part of the barrel. If you were to take one of those 5" flash hiders (or in this case a blade) and weld it to the side of the barrel, you still have an SBR/SBS.

But just for conversations sake:

Barrel length is measured by inserting a dowel into the barrel until it reaches the bolt face, then marking the dowel at the furthermost point of the barrel and measuring

You could argue that the measuring method which you describe (which is the correct method BTW) actually would give the length of the actual barrel's bore, but the exterior length of the barrel would still be longer if it had a blade attached . The law reads "barrel length" not "bore length". If I had an 18" barrel and cut 10" off the top half of the barrel's muzzle end it would still have a overall barrel length of 18", just a bore of 8". Do we measure the bore or the entire steel barrel assembly?

Hmmm..........

o Unforgiven o · Jan 10, 2012

bkjeffrey said:
You could argue that the measuring method which you describe (which is the correct method BTW) actually would give the length of the actual barrel's bore, but the exterior length of the barrel would still be longer if it had a blade attached . The law reads "barrel length" not "bore length". If I had an 18" barrel and cut 10" off the top half of the barrel's muzzle end it would still have a overall barrel length of 18", just a bore of 8". Do we measure the bore or the entire steel barrel assembly?

Hmmm..........

Well, if that measuring method was used on a barrel with a brake or flash hider installed, the dowel would have to be inserted through them. Which to me would mean they would become a part of the measurable barrel. It might sound a bit odd but to me for something to be a legitimate barrel extension, the dowel/bullet would have to utilize it in a way very similar to the actual barrel. In other words I would think the bullet has to pass through.

Now cutting off the top portion of the barrel lengthwise, I have no clue. All I can say is I have never even considered that before, and it would most certainly make for an interesting opinion letter.

JohnBT · Jan 10, 2012

"You could argue"

No I couldn't. I know perfectly well what a barrel is and what they meant when they wrote the word barrel.

John

edited to add: So you're saying if the top of the barrel was cut off all the way back to the receiver the shotgun would still have a barrel? No it wouldn't, it would have this useless thing hanging on it.

permanent barrel extension on shotgun

bkjeffrey

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rcmodel

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