Is a slug gun a shotgun?
- Thread starter LAR-15
- Start date
- Status
VARifleman
Member
Yes...although I'm in a rush and don't have time to look up the clarifications on that.
Duke Junior
member
mgkdrgn
Member
IMHO,
By that definition ... no, because it would have a rifled barrel, not a smooth bore, and would not be designed to fire shot.
They have decided to declare that slug guns are shotguns currently if they are chambered in a shotgun caliber.
You are right in your understanding that they are technicaly rifles. They are simply a rifle operating at low pressures with a large bore.
Many of these things are decided by what policies the ATF chooses to adopt. They can change thier policies on a whim, and thier policies have the force of law without being law. A shoestring can be made a machinegun by declaration of a policy change, and then reversed later. They have numerous laws they can choose to interpret in different ways, and since they are given the authority to interpret the existing laws, they can create whatever reality they wish. A single law can be the basis of 10 official interpretations or 100 interpretations that are given the power of law.
Of course if they step too far outside reality and a court of law corrects them, a precedent is set on that subject. There is then case law on that subject and they must abide by it under 'Stare decisis' (or interprete it in ways not specificly opposed by the court once again, until those interpretations are addressed in a future case.) So they usualy stay within a version of reality that is generaly acceptable so as to not be corrected by a court and lose some power of discretion on a given issue.
Currently slug guns are considered shotguns. They will probably continue to be considered shotguns for the forseeable future. People have written them and recieved replies that yes they are shotguns. So the industry considers them shotguns.
Under the law however you are right, they could be considered rifles with bores illegaly in excess of .50 caliber.
Besides the law they are also rifles under the plain english meaning of the word. They are portable long arms with rifled bores designed to fire a single projectile that is imparted a spin by that rifling. So yes they are rifles.
You are right in your understanding that they are technicaly rifles. They are simply a rifle operating at low pressures with a large bore.
Many of these things are decided by what policies the ATF chooses to adopt. They can change thier policies on a whim, and thier policies have the force of law without being law. A shoestring can be made a machinegun by declaration of a policy change, and then reversed later. They have numerous laws they can choose to interpret in different ways, and since they are given the authority to interpret the existing laws, they can create whatever reality they wish. A single law can be the basis of 10 official interpretations or 100 interpretations that are given the power of law.
Of course if they step too far outside reality and a court of law corrects them, a precedent is set on that subject. There is then case law on that subject and they must abide by it under 'Stare decisis' (or interprete it in ways not specificly opposed by the court once again, until those interpretations are addressed in a future case.) So they usualy stay within a version of reality that is generaly acceptable so as to not be corrected by a court and lose some power of discretion on a given issue.
Currently slug guns are considered shotguns. They will probably continue to be considered shotguns for the forseeable future. People have written them and recieved replies that yes they are shotguns. So the industry considers them shotguns.
Under the law however you are right, they could be considered rifles with bores illegaly in excess of .50 caliber.
Besides the law they are also rifles under the plain english meaning of the word. They are portable long arms with rifled bores designed to fire a single projectile that is imparted a spin by that rifling. So yes they are rifles.
usmarine0352_2005
member
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2005
- Messages
- 2,796
By definition, no. However, by most (probably all) current state laws, yes they are.
Slug guns have become increasingly popular to hunt with in areas that are ever becoming more populated and being designated "Shotgun Only" hunting areas.
Although shotguns and muzzleloaders continue to become increasing more lethal at farther ranges because of new technology, they are still considered shotguns and muzzleloaders.
Shotguns can shoot "sabots" out of a smooth bore, rifle slugs out of a smooth bore, sabots out of a rifle bore and other types of slugs.
State laws say despite all of these variations a shotgun is a shotgun.
This is a Savage 110 shotgun with a rifled barrel.
It is considered a shotgun and can be used in all "Shotgun Only" hunting zones.
usmarine0352_2005
member
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2005
- Messages
- 2,796
Shotgun shotshell lengths are 2 3/4", 3", 3 1/2".
You can shoot a bigger modern shotgun, 10 gauge being the biggest, but if you want to go old school you can shoot a 4 bore, but I'm not sure how many of those are even around or safe enough to shoot.
Sunray
Member
"...Is a rifled bore slug gun a 'shotgun'?.." It is in Ontario. Makes no sense, but as far as our hunting laws are concerned a rifled barrel on a shotgun action is legal for use in 'shotguns only' areas for deer.
You should contact your Fish and Game(or whatever it's called where you are) types.
You should contact your Fish and Game(or whatever it's called where you are) types.
usmarine0352_2005
member
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2005
- Messages
- 2,796
Perhaps some states, but every state I know of, it doesn't have to be a "smooth bore".
MatthewVanitas
Member
Is this pretty much comparable to the who PGO (pistol-grip only) shotgun issue? My understanding is that a PGO shotgun, like a Mossberg Cruiser, is technically an AOW requiring a $5 NFA stamp, but that the ATF has had a policy of treating them like shotguns rather than smoothbore pistols.
Is that about right?
Is that about right?
- Status
