VA gun laws on shotguns with P-grips??

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Zack

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Hi, I saw somewhere and now I can not find it... Gun laws on shotguns for state of VA about having a pistol grip, something it can not be shorter than 26/28 ove all lenght? I need help on this, I want to place a pistol grip on my shotgun but I do not know if its legal

(and age I know some states say pistol grip shotguns are "pistol class" so you would need to be 21):confused:
 
Can't help ya (not a shotgun guy), but I was out at the gun store the other day and the owner was alternately raising hell/scratching his head at some new federal? regulations AFA short shotguns-better do a LOT of research on this one!

BTW-are you SURE you want a pistol grip? I thought 'bout getting one of the Mossberg Just In Case series of shotguns-did some research at the gun shop-they say everybody they know of that's tried a pistol grip has gone back with a stock.

If you go this route, be sure to learn how to properly use one-there are a lot of YouTube videos of folks trying to use it like a conventionally stocked gun and losing a lot of teeth!
 
re:pistol grip

I've got a Remington 870 Tactical Magnum. It has a pistol grip. Best shooting Shotgun I own. Given the option I'll take the pistol grip over none anyday.

YMMV
 
The applicable VA statutes are:

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+18.2-299

§ 18.2-299. Definitions.

When used in this article:

"Sawed-off shotgun" means any weapon, loaded or unloaded, originally designed as a shoulder weapon, utilizing a self-contained cartridge from which a number of ball shot pellets or projectiles may be fired simultaneously from a smooth or rifled bore by a single function of the firing device and which has a barrel length of less than 18 inches for smooth bore weapons and 16 inches for rifled weapons. Weapons of less than .225 caliber shall not be included.

"Sawed-off rifle" means a rifle of any caliber, loaded or unloaded, which expels a projectile by action of an explosion of a combustible material and is designed as a shoulder weapon with a barrel or barrels length of less than 16 inches or which has been modified to an overall length of less than 26 inches.

"Crime of violence" applies to and includes any of the following crimes or an attempt to commit any of the same, namely, murder, manslaughter, kidnapping, rape, mayhem, assault with intent to maim, disable, disfigure or kill, robbery, burglary, housebreaking, breaking and entering and larceny.

"Person" applies to and includes firm, partnership, association or corporation.

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+18.2-300

§ 18.2-300. Possession or use of "sawed-off" shotgun or rifle.

A. Possession or use of a "sawed-off" shotgun or "sawed-off" rifle in the perpetration or attempted perpetration of a crime of violence is a Class 2 felony.

B. Possession or use of a "sawed-off" shotgun or "sawed-off" rifle for any other purpose, except as permitted by this article and official use by those persons permitted possession by § 18.2-303, is a Class 4 felony.

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+18.2-308.7

§ 18.2-308.7. Possession or transportation of certain firearms by persons under the age of 18; penalty.

It shall be unlawful for any person under 18 years of age to knowingly and intentionally possess or transport a handgun or assault firearm anywhere in the Commonwealth. For the purposes of this section, "handgun" means any pistol or revolver or other firearm originally designed, made and intended to fire single or multiple projectiles by means of an explosion of a combustible material from one or more barrels when held in one hand and "assault firearm" means any (i) semi-automatic centerfire rifle or pistol which expels single or multiple projectiles by action of an explosion of a combustible material and is equipped at the time of the offense with a magazine which will hold more than 20 rounds of ammunition or designed by the manufacturer to accommodate a silencer or equipped with a folding stock or (ii) shotgun with a magazine which will hold more than seven rounds of the longest ammunition for which it is chambered. A violation of this section shall be a Class 1 misdemeanor.

This section shall not apply to:

1. Any person (i) while in his home or on his property; (ii) while in the home or on the property of his parent, grandparent, or legal guardian; or (iii) while on the property of another who has provided prior permission, and with the prior permission of his parent or legal guardian if the person has the landowner's written permission on his person while on such property;

2. Any person who, while accompanied by an adult, is at, or going to and from, a lawful shooting range or firearms educational class, provided that the weapons are unloaded while being transported;

3. Any person actually engaged in lawful hunting or going to and from a hunting area or preserve, provided that the weapons are unloaded while being transported; and

4. Any person while carrying out his duties in the Armed Forces of the United States or the National Guard of this Commonwealth or any other state.
 
Has anyone tried to fire one of these pistol/shotgun things with one hand? I'd be curious regarding their experiences.
 
Well, I have shot a 30/30 Contender, Taurus Judge with shotgun slugs, and a S&W .460. I didn't find any of those to be very annoying at all, so I wouldn't think a PG shotgun would be. Like someone pointed out earlier, though, I think people have a tendency to hold it too close for some reason. Push it out there at full arms length.
 
Hey NavyLT, I'd missed the ATF newsletter announcing their re-evaluation of PGOs as handguns.

Seems like they'd have to dance a little with that one to avoid ending up "accidentally" reclassing them all into Title II territory, thought I'm sure they're flexible enough with their interpretations to make it work however they want it to...

I thought I remembered that these things were classified simply as "firearms" before (not handguns, not shotguns intended to be fired from the shoulder) in the same way that semi-auto versions of belt-fed weapons are. Does that still apply? Have they reclassified everything now into rifle, handgun, and shotgun?

Just curious.

(Oh, and yes, I've fired a PGO shotgun with 3" Brenneke slugs one-handed. It is a pain. Mostly a pain to hold up because the weight and length are rather enormous. But the weight and length held the recoil to a dull roar so it wasn't pain-FUL.)
 
It IS perfectly legal for you to have a pistol grip shotgun. If you are under 21, it is illegal for you to purchase such a shotgun in the pistol grip configuration from an FFL. That is the only prohibition. It is perfectly legal for you to buy a shoulder stock shotgun from an FFL at 18+. It is also perfectly legal for you to purchase the pistol grip separately. It is also perfectly legal for you to purchase the shotgun already in the pistol grip configuration from a private party at 18+.

Somebody can also give you the shotgun and/or pistol grip as gifts.
 
Sam1911 said:
I thought I remembered that these things were classified simply as "firearms" before (not handguns, not shotguns intended to be fired from the shoulder) in the same way that semi-auto versions of belt-fed weapons are. Does that still apply? Have they reclassified everything now into rifle, handgun, and shotgun?

Just curious.

No, they have not reclassified everything. For instance, a stripped AR-15 lower receiver is still an "any other weapon". Which, basically, causes it to fall into the handgun category anyway - the Federal restrictions are all the same.
 
How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?

How long is a piece of string?
 
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