Legal Barrel Length

[dispatch55126]

What is the legal barrel length of a shotgun and where do you measure from. I have a Savage Model 720 and I would like to get a spare barrel and cut it down for HD.

Also, the serial number is 59xxx with deep cut checkering and pheasant or grouse reliefs cut into the receiver. Does anyone know roughly when it was built?

 

[ke6guj]

18" for a shotgun barrel unless you want to pay the tax for a short-barrel shotgun.

Measured down the barrel from the breech face to the end of the barrel.

 

[Davandron]

I'd read the way its measured is:
* close the breach
* drop a wood dowel rod down the barrel till it hits the bolt
* mark the rod, remove and measure marking.

The recommendation you see online is to but the barrel to 18.5" just to be safe.