Short barreled shotgun build questions

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DrDremel

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Dec 28, 2002
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Mt. Clemens, MI
I am in the process of building a short barreled shotgun. As I am waiting for the paperwork to return, I am contemplating the barrel length. For an 870 shotgun, does anybody have experiences with 12 and 14 inch barrels? Which would you prefer and why? I want portability but not to the point of being useless. I also am looking at stocks. If there is a good folder, I might get one as it makes it more portable. Right now I have been considering a non-folder such as a Hogue short stock, or a Knox recoil absorbing stock. I used to think the AR15 stock adapters were goofy but as I consider the in-line position to the bore, I wonder if recoil might be easier to handle with this type of setup. Let me know your experiences and thoughts.
 
I was under the impression that only C&R short-barreled shotguns are legal in Michigan?
 
You are correct, this 870 was made in 1950. That combined with my C&R status will get an approved form 1 in MI. I also did a Sistema pistol and added a stock. It was approved as well.
 
Right now my 870 is set up with a 14" barrel, +1 magazine extension, factory stock, and R3 recoil pad. So far I haven't been tempted by any of the folding stocks I've looked at.
 
Thanks, it took a long time to figure out a way to get SBS/SBR in MI. Since I can, I figured I would do the 870 and if I didn't like it short, I can swap the barrels back and I wasted $200. I've spent money on worse items. For some reason, the fact that MI has limited me from having something makes me want one so much more when I can find a way to do it legally.
 
I am going with a 14" barrel on my Winchester 1300. 14" goes just past the mag tube on my kind of gun.
Since you going for a Short barreled shot gun you might as well go even or extend just past the mag tube. If your going to make it short go all the way.
I want some thing compact so I'm having the pistol grip on there to make it a grand total of 23" OAL.
I too am waiting on the return of my paper work.
 
Did you ever get your paperwork back approved? How would a C&R gun modified to a SBS still be considered a C&R when modifications automatically remove it from the C&R catagory?
 
I went with 10.5 inches on my Benelli. I had to cut the mag back by one round. 14" seems like a good compromised between mag cap and handiness.
 
Sorry for not updating this thread.
Yes, I got the paperwork approved, and the shotgun should be returning from Wilson Combat any day. I decided to go with a 12.5" barrel.

As for C&R status, there are two items here. According to Federal law, if a firearm is 50 years old or older it is a C&R. Now if it is a military firearm and is imported, it must be in the original configuration in order to be imported. That requirement is only for Military firearms that are imported.

Michigan law says that short barreled rifles and shotguns are illegal unless the Secretary of the Treasury, (ATF) considers the firearm to be a curio, relic, antique or collectors items not likely to be used in a crime. So the law basically says that if the firearm is considered a C&R, you can put a short barrel on it. They leave the determination up to ATF. ATF says in the case of my shotgun, yes it is a C&R, since MI only cares that it is a C&R to begin with, it is approved.

I have three items approved right now. The first one was approved over 6 months ago. A Sistema pistol that I added a stock, a Canadian centennial Ruger 10/22 now with a 6 1/2 inch barrel, and a 1952 Remington 870 with a 12.5" barrel. I have the Michigan "safety inspection" green cards required for pistols and longarms under 30" in length. So the state knows about them and they didn't have a problem with it. (Well they did make me bring the 10/22 back in to verify the serial number since it is only 3 digits, they thought some digits were missing on the form.) I made sure to list the category as short barreled rifle or shotgun and had the barrel length listed.
I have a Marlin 336 that is next. So far I am the first person in Michigan to find this route toward ownership of these NFA firearms in MI.
 
I would think Michigan would be very hard to get a CLEO signature. Did you form a living trust instead? I want to make a SBS before I move because I think anywhere I move in the future will not be as easy to get as here in AZ.

BTW, 12.5" puts the barrel basically flush with a 5 shot tube right? Those looks sick. That is exactly what I plan to do, or maybe 1/2" longer than the tube. I will leave the stock on because I like that. I can't think of a better house gun.
 
I'm getting a Benelli M4 with a colapsable stock and 14" barrel. Can't wait to get it. Shooting my dad's Serbu super shorty made me realize I needed a shotgun too.
 
No trust, I wanted to make absolutely sure that the state was aware of what I was doing and wanted a CLEO signature. It also will make it easier when I am shooting and some cop questions the legality. I wrote a letter explaining that I had this pistol that I wanted to put a wood stock on the back. I had copies of the relavent MI law, and pages from the C&R list showing it's status. My CLEO is reasonable. He has signed for AOWs and machineguns as well.

I chose the pistol first, because it was more benign to ask to attach a chunk of wood to a pistol. I also had the pistol laying around already so I was not buying a gun that I would be stuck with. I had to be sure that emotion was left out and every decision was based on following the law. The risk was ATF. They will not approve something if it is not legal in your state. If hey are unsure they will verify with the state which they did. I didn't really go public with it until I had all three approved as I wanted to be sure the first was not a mistake or misunderstanding.

I may get a second barrel later but I figured for $200 I wanted something short. It is going to be a very handy piece. If I get it back in time I would like to get a deer with it to show that it has sporting purpose as well.
 
I like what you did but I'm a little confused because you said you want to hunt deer with it. With such a short barrel I would think it's only good to hunt BG's who are dumb enough to enter your home unannounced.
 
(Canadian resident)

I'm running a Norinco 870 clone with
- factory 14" brl
- Knoxx Compstock
- Surefire forend
- Weaver rail added
- Aimpoint H-1
- aftermarket magazine follower

Using the factory-length tube (usual 4+1 capacity).

The Surefire forend tends to abuse my support hand index finger,
I'm acquiring some sorbothane to try and cushion that.

Overall I'm happy with this setup. Very handy. I used reduced slugs and reduced buckshot loadings.
 
Actually I worked with a Californian that posts on Calguns about this issue. The man from Michigan he mentions is me. As for how to determine, read the Remington Society of Americas site on how to read the barrel dates. This is only good if the barrel is original. A C&R 870 usually has a corncob shaped forend, no checkering and the serial numbers did not have letter prefixes until 1968.
 
The left side of the barrel will have a two or three digit code. That will date the barrel. I have a 1950 and a 1953 870 so I could teel if it is before or after them by the serial number. Just the first 3 or 4 digits of the serial number should be enough.
 
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