I'm lazy question. Cutting down to 18"

It 's legal. I would go 18.5" so you will have room for errors. If the muzzle is ever damaged there would be 1/2" to work with.

On shotguns that can accept tube extensions that extra 1/2" can allow 7+1 capacity without the tube ext extending past the muzzle.


GC

Just maks sure you measure ATF style, fron the front of the closed bolt. I have done it several times. Too easy. If it is an auto, though, you may have to adjust teh gas system, which is very complicated. what kind of gun is it?

measure twice, cut once.

"shoot" for 18.5"

You failed to mention what sort of shotgun this soon-to-be abbreviated barrel is on, other than 28" 12 ga. Care to enlighten us? It might make a difference, f'rinstance if it's a gas gun. Or something priceless.

lpl

I suggest buying a factory 18" barrel and selling the 28" barrel, if you have no use for it.

you could just buy a norinco 982 6+1 capacity and they are fairly shortbarreled.

I have a Mossberg 500 pump. I'd highly recommend just buying a 18" barrel. I do know that in several states it is currently illegal (like you said) to grind off any length from a barrel of any length.

I have often wondered about this procedure. If you cut the barrel off above the forcing cone, with a pipe cutter, can it cause an erratic pattern?

I do know that in several states it is currently illegal (like you said) to grind off any length from a barrel of any length.

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I'm not aware of any state that regulates this over the federal law - am I missing something ? As long as the barrel cut remains at least 18" long from the rear of the chamber to the muzzle, cutting off the access over that 18" is legal as far as I know in every state.

If you cut the barrel off above the forcing cone, with a pipe cutter, can it cause an erratic pattern?

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The forcing cone is just foward the chamber (within the rear 4 inchs of the barrel) so if you cut any portion of the barrel off it will be above the forcing cone. This does not make it erratic unless your cut is perhaps very crooked. It does however in most cases remove the choke ,making the barrel into a straight cylinder bore. This would then open the pattern up sooner without any choke restriction.

Thanks mnrivrat. I was clearly confused.

There are two measurements that have to be noted. One is the barrel length, which must be at least 18", and the second is the overall length of the firearm, from buttplate to muzzle, which must be at least 26". If you're going to put a pistol grip stock in place of the regular stock, it still must measure 26" in length.

Hope this helps.

Fred