Pump Shotgun with Rifled Slug Barrel: Rifle or Shotgun?

[barneyrw]

Is a pump shotgun with a rifled slug barrel considered a shotgun or a rifle as far as Federal regulations are concerned? Would a Mossberg Cruiser with a pistol grip only and a rifled slug barrel be considered a pistol, and therefore would a rifled slug barrel length less than 18" and overall length less than 26" be legal? The Taurus Judge Revolver has a rifled barrel and shoots .410 shotgun shells and is considered a revolver.

 

[Virginian]

It's a shotgun and all the length requirements like 18" and 26" are in full effect. The Taurus has a rifled barrel and is classified a revolver.

Oops - typo on 26" .

 

[War Squirrel]

My understanding of the Taurus is that it shoots .45LC as it's designated ammunition. The .410 is just a "side effect". Just like the .357 being able to use .38SPL rounds.

 

[barneyrw]

<<"The Taurus has a rifled barrel and is classified a revolver.">>

A Mossberg shotgun with a rifled barrel seems to me to fall into the rifle classification. It is made to shoot slugs (bullets) not buckshot.

<<"My understanding of the Taurus is that it shoots .45LC as it's designated ammunition. The .410 is just a "side effect". Just like the .357 being able to use .38SPL rounds.">>

The Taurus has an extra long cylinder to intentionally be able to shoot .410 shotshells. Being able to also shoot .45 Colt seems to me to be the "side effect".
This is something that has been running through my mind since I read about the Taurus Judge. It seems to me the Taurus Judge should be classified as a short barrel shotgun as the cylinder is intentionally made extra long to accomodate .410 shotshells.

 

[ReloaderFred]

The ATF is the agency that decides how a firearm is classified, not personal opinion. I suggest you ask them, but your question has been correctly answered here, with the exception of the overall length, which is 26".

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[ishida]

By regulation, a longarm DESIGNED with a smooth bore for shot is a shotgun. The receiver is the same regardless of the barrel. It is MODIFIED with a rifled barrel--which keep it a shotgun. Because the original design was a smooth bore.

 

[Virginian]

Yep, BATF decides, and we don't get to vote.

 

[ReloaderFred]

"Yep, BATF decides, and we don't get to vote. "

Judging by some of the things I see posted on forums, it's probably a good thing there isn't a vote. Besides, look what happened in 2008, when one was allowed...........

Fred