"Legal" rifling question

[scbair]

The answer to this is probably written in a statute somewhere, but I'm "research-challenged" . . .

OK, here's my question:

WHEREAS a weapon of handgun (probably should say "tradtional" handgun) size must have rifling in the bore to avoid any unnecessary legal "whole loops" (I like that term MUCH better than the converse "loopholes"!!), and

WHEREAS traditional rifling plays hob with the pattern of any shotshell fired through the barrel,

IS THERE any requirement that the rifling be spiral?? Cutting "straight" rifling grooves, similar to those used in some add-on chokes for delivery of extra-tight patterns from shotguns, would have no detrimental effect on the pattern of the handgun shotshells. This could turn a centerfire handgun into a much more effective vermin-remover / close range small game-getter. It would still be safe with conventional ball ammo (although I wouldn't want to compete in any silhouette matches . . . As an across-the-room HD arm, though, that tumbling bullet could still be effective (I think!).

My "vision": a lightweight .357 or .44 revolver, capable of 10-12 yard small-game patterns with shot, capable of "knuckle-balling" a sizeable chunk of leat=d "at speed" into the vital zone of a silhouette target 10 yards or less. I am NOT recommending replacement of a conventionally-rifled arm as primary HD piece; more of a versatility consideration for a handgun whose primary purpose is shotshell-use; only use ball ammo if necessary, "but it is safe to do so."

So, THR legal beagles, what say ye? Clever idea? Dumb idea? Or would this violate a law?

 

[mete]

That's a question for the ATF. I suppose that if they say straight cut 'rifling 'is not legal , you could cut the rifling with a very shallow twist such as 1 in 50" that would probably help but then bullets wouldn't stabilize..

 

[Southern Raider]

The statute is at 26USC5845(e). The rifling in a handgun prevents an "Any Other Weapon" designation under the NFA.

http://straylight.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode26/usc_sec_26_00005845----000-.html

Any other weapon The term “any other weapon†means any weapon or device capable of being concealed on the person from which a shot can be discharged through the energy of an explosive, a pistol or revolver having a barrel with a smooth bore designed or redesigned to fire a fixed shotgun shell, weapons with combination shotgun and rifle barrels 12 inches or more, less than 18 inches in length, from which only a single discharge can be made from either barrel without manual reloading, and shall include any such weapon which may be readily restored to fire. Such term shall not include a pistol or a revolver having a rifled bore, or rifled bores, or weapons designed, made, or intended to be fired from the shoulder and not capable of firing fixed ammunition.


The question as to what legally constitutes "rifling" is a question you have to direct to the ATF. On a 45LC/410 shotgun derringer I saw, there wasn't much there.

 

[ktd]

If I remember correctly, TC had a special choke for their .410/45 barrel, it had regular rifling twist in the barrel, but the choke had straight rifling to correct the wad.

k

 

[RyanM]

a pistol or revolver having a barrel with a smooth bore designed or redesigned to fire a fixed shotgun shell

What about a pistol or revolver with a rough bore?

 

[Hkmp5sd]

On a 45LC/410 shotgun derringer I saw, there wasn't much there.

IIRC, it is about there is about .75-1", but it does spiral.

 

[scbair]

Well, I wasn't actually planning to build one; just sorta wondered if any specific "spiral" requirement existed re: rifling. This would be interesting as a PRD*.



*Pest Removal Device

 

[unspellable]

History of Rifling requirement in handguns

I once dug up the history of the requirement for rifling in handguns and it isn't at all what you woulda thought.

A few years prior to any federal firearms restrictions there an excise tax on firearms was imposed to finance conservation efforts. At this time Marble sold the Marble Game Getter. It was a cheap low end item and Marble wanted to evade the federal tax so they went to the feds and argued that the game getter was not a fire arm but an agricultural implement since it was used for agricultural purposes such as eliminating rats,coons, and skunks around the barn. The feds went along with the argument. Marble paid no tax and everybody was fat dumb and happy.

Comes the federal firearms restrictions bit in circa 1932 or so. The clasification of "other' firearms is created to include palm squeezers, shooting canes, and the like. Since the Game Getter is not a "firearm" but does discharge a shot shell it gets lumped in with "other" and along with it any pistol with a smooth bore.

Now we have the smooth bored pistol classified as "other" more or less by accident and not for any pretence of any reason relating to illicit use what so ever.

At the time there was such a thing as a coach gun which was essentially a sawed off shotgun. (Factory made, Ithica among others.) It would have been simple enough to distinguish between a sawed off shotgun and a smooth bored pistol simply by limiting the bore size. Today, at least as far as hanguns are concerned, the restriction accomplishes nothing since it's possible to fire a shot charge from a pistol any way, and the pattern is irrelevant at belly gun ranges, the only range likely to be involved in any illicit usage. And probably no more effective than a good bullet.