AK-47 - Mosin Nagant - Powder Keg

Go Back   Gun and Game Forums > Firearms > General Firearms > Shotguns

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 04-07-2008, 08:43 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
Big Tool's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: MS
Posts: 483
Legal barrel length

I was thinking about getting a used 870 and cutting the barrel down shorter. Where can I find out what the legal limit is. I don't want to be doing anything illegal, but I like the full size stock without the extra barrel length. it would be a truck/ snake gun.
Big Tool is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-07-2008, 08:47 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
sell33's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Ohio
Posts: 839
mossberg JIC has 18 1/2" and i know i can buy that at the local shop so i would say that at least is legal??? thats in ohio though i would bet states are different but not sure
sell33 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-07-2008, 08:53 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
lefty o's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: mn
Posts: 4,546
18"
lefty o is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-07-2008, 09:18 PM   #4
Super Moderator
 
Mooseman684's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Alaska Wilderness
Posts: 8,919
You should actually go at least 18 1/4 " due to Different ATF agents way of measuring...That is what They Told me at BATFE...better to be on the safe side, because the measurement is supposed to be from the breech Face, not the rear of the barrel which can vary between Models...18-1/4 to 18-1/2 " is A safe bet...I cut most of mine to 19 or 20" just in case it ever needs a recut!
18 inches is what the law reads...Canada will not let that gun in the country ,FYI.
Rich
__________________
You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!
Mooseman684 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-07-2008, 11:18 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
lefty o's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: mn
Posts: 4,546
i agree, better safe than sorry.
lefty o is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2008, 03:26 AM   #6
Senior Member
 
Otter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Vermont
Posts: 919
18 inches measured down the bore with the bolt closed for shotgun.
16 inched measured down the bore with the bolt closed for rifle. Are the legal minimum.
__________________
Life is too important to be taken seriously.
Otter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2008, 04:07 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Big Tool's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: MS
Posts: 483
Thanks for the quick responses guys. I'm thinking a 870 express I believe they have a 26-28" barrel so I would be able to take off quiet a bit.

What would be necessary. Just hack saw and go, then file it down smooth.
Big Tool is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2008, 04:17 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: 10 paces south of Canada
Posts: 738
A hack saw would do fine. I once cut down an old doublebarrel with just a hacksaw. It took only a minute.
Bookman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2008, 06:25 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
lefty o's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: mn
Posts: 4,546
20" barrels are easily available for the 870.
lefty o is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-09-2008, 10:27 AM   #10
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Indiana
Posts: 547
The Mossberg barrel is 18.25 for a different reason. With a factory pistol grip installed the over-all length had to meet the 26" min.

-UR
__________________
"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed"--Amendment II, Bill of Rights

"He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself."--Thomas Paine

"He that hath no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one." - Jesus, Luke 22:36
Uncle Red is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-09-2008, 08:09 PM   #11
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: charlotte
Posts: 3
first time post: I have a Mossberg pump and a rifled barrel, dont care much for the rifled barrel but I need a short barrel for home defense, etc, what would happen if I sawed off the rifled barrel and shot buckshot/birdshot through it? clearly the rifling is toast but I dont care, it wont explode will it?
3sonstotin'guns is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-09-2008, 09:15 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
lefty o's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: mn
Posts: 4,546
rifled barrels dont generally pattern shot very well, buy a new barrel. they are not that expensive for most mossbergs.
lefty o is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-09-2008, 09:25 PM   #13
Banned
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Knoxville, TN
Posts: 1,086
Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Tool View Post
Thanks for the quick responses guys. I'm thinking a 870 express I believe they have a 26-28" barrel so I would be able to take off quiet a bit.

What would be necessary. Just hack saw and go, then file it down smooth.
I'd get it in a vice and cut as square as possible. Getting the bead on right is a stone b**ch for us guys without the right gear. Got help for my Ithaca from a machinist. Not too hard if you are chopping a barrel with a rib, though.

Or just buy another in 18" and have both. They are easily interchangable and if the ATF gripes, and they don't just shoot you, you will have purchased the barrel from a manufacturer instead of a bob job. They just cost about $100.
mitch_mckee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-09-2008, 09:34 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
jimkim's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: eastman GA
Posts: 1,355
advertise someone will trade you for it. I know I would. Or sell it and buy an 18" barrel.
__________________
Jan. 4, 2007...Gasoline $2.10/gallon HMMM?
Jim
jimkim is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-11-2008, 09:00 AM   #15
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 51
Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Tool View Post
I was thinking about getting a used 870 and cutting the barrel down shorter. Where can I find out what the legal limit is. I don't want to be doing anything illegal, but I like the full size stock without the extra barrel length. it would be a truck/ snake gun.
I think a better bet would be to buy an 18.5" barrel for it, or buy an 870 express with an 18.5" barrel. You should be able to get it for under $300.

Last edited by perdidochas; 04-11-2008 at 09:18 AM.
perdidochas is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-11-2008, 09:08 AM   #16
Senior Member
 
ArkansasHunter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: South Arkansas
Posts: 10,159
Havlin sales sells Mossberg made Rem. 870 barrels at a very reasonable price.
Take a look.


Remington® 870 Accessories
Headlined by the barrels that Mossberg® makes for the Remington® 870™, this section features both sporting and tactical items for your Remington® 870™ offered at bargain prices. Barrels are new, discontinued SKUs or surplus special order stock.

REMINGTON® 870™ BARRELS by MOSSBERG® Your Choice $89.99
Remington® 870™ Specialty 18.5” LE/Tactical Home Defense

Blue finish, cylinder bore rifled front and folding rear slug sight, 18.5”
Item: 870LE185
$89.99

Remington® 870™ Smooth Bore Slugster

Blue finish, cylinder bore rifled front and folding rear slug sight, 24”
Item: 870RS24
$89.99

Remington® 870™ Accu-Choke Vent Rib 28” Sporting Barrel

Blue finish, one modified accu-choke, 28” vent rib bead front and mid sight bead
Item: 870VR28 $89.99


I didn't copy all the barrels they offer...A.H

Last edited by ArkansasHunter; 04-11-2008 at 09:10 AM.
ArkansasHunter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2008, 09:04 PM   #17
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: In the Boonies
Posts: 63
hmm, i just got an 870 today but it has 28" barrel. i think im going to order that first barrel there, the home defense one. looks pretty sweet, and under 100 bux.

Last edited by EviL; 04-12-2008 at 09:25 PM.
EviL is online now   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

 
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:27 PM.

[Output: 92.20 Kb. compressed to 84.76 Kb. by saving 7.43 Kb. (8.06%)]