legal shotgun.

longtooth · Post by **longtooth** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 8:32 am

Got asked a Q yesterday & dont know the answer.Legal barrel length on a shotgun is 18". What is the legal length overall???

stevie_d_64 · Post by **stevie_d_64** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 8:37 am

I know I am probably wrong, but I thought it was 16" or more, barrel length, and unless the BATFE folks have something on the "overall", you'd have me stumped...

My knee-jerk is that there may not be an "overall" specification...

You see all those shotgun models with just the pistol grip and nothing else...No stock...And those seem to be available all over the place...And they are pretty short overall in length...But the barrels are still legal...

I dunno...The BATFE website may have more data...

longtooth · Post by **longtooth** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 8:43 am

I thought rifes & shotguns both had a minium overall length. I did think of the pistol grip only shotguns.
Now you have me really confused. I mess up so regular that is easy & I could be wrong on this too.
I thought 16 inches was the minium on rifles.
Come on txi we need your help again.
KB, what say ye.

Greybeard · Post by **Greybeard** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 9:03 am

Methinks y'all correct with 16" min. on rifles and 18" on shotguns. The reason that you see so many legal pistol grip shotguns is the OVERALL length can be as little as 26".

Texasdoc · Post by **Texasdoc** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 9:04 am

For a Shotgun its 18" for the barrel and over all is 26", for a rifle its 16" for barrel and 28" lengh

300shooter

longtooth · Post by **longtooth** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 9:13 am

Thank you gentlemen. The barrels was all I could remember.

txinvestigator · Post by **txinvestigator** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 9:16 am

Texas Penal Code

46.01
(10) "Short-barrel firearm" means a rifle with a barrel
length of less than 16 inches or a shotgun with a barrel length of
less than 18 inches, or any weapon made from a shotgun or rifle if, as
altered, it has an overall length of less than 26 inches.

16 inch barrel rifle
18 shotgun barrel

26 inch overall for each.

longtooth · Post by **longtooth** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 9:23 am

Thank you sir. I knew I would get it in print. Have a great day.
How is progress coming on studies?

Post by **Skiprr** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 1:32 pm

Ya know, that raises a question I hadn't considered. Not that I'd ever want to try to shoot one, but what about Derringers that fire a 410 shotgun shell?

http://www.amderringer.com/new.html

American Derringer is based in Waco, so I assume the little buggers are legal in Texas. I wonder how the versions that fire a 410 get around not being a shotgun? It's not that they're single-round devices; the Model 4 holds two rounds, like any over-under shotgun. I guess I'm now a bit confused about what makes a shotgun a shotgun...

barres · Post by **barres** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 3:18 pm

Skiprr wrote:Ya know, that raises a question I hadn't considered. Not that I'd ever want to try to shoot one, but what about Derringers that fire a 410 shotgun shell?

http://www.amderringer.com/new.html

American Derringer is based in Waco, so I assume the little buggers are legal in Texas. I wonder how the versions that fire a 410 get around not being a shotgun? It's not that they're single-round devices; the Model 4 holds two rounds, like any over-under shotgun. I guess I'm now a bit confused about what makes a shotgun a shotgun...

The same way Thompson Center markets their Contender and Encore. It's a handgun, not a rifle or shotgun.

txinvestigator · Post by **txinvestigator** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 3:24 pm

Its not about how many shots it can fire or the caliber (or gauge) or the weapon; rather the definition of the weapon;

Texas Penal Code

46.01

(3) "Firearm" means any device designed, made, or adapted to
expel a projectile through a barrel by using the energy generated by
an explosion or burning substance or any device readily convertible to
that use.
(5) "Handgun" means any firearm that is designed, made, or
adapted to be fired with one hand.

The below is a handgun;

So is this; http://www.thunder5.com/docs1.html

Post by **carlson1** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 3:41 pm

txinvestigator wrote:Texas Penal Code

46.01
(10) "Short-barrel firearm" means a rifle with a barrel
length of less than 16 inches or a shotgun with a barrel length of
less than 18 inches, or any weapon made from a shotgun or rifle if, as
altered, it has an overall length of less than 26 inches.

16 inch barrel rifle
18 shotgun barrel

26 inch overall for each.

It took me three days to find this about 4 months ago. I had my mini 14 cut down and wanted to make sure I was legal. I wished I would have just asked.

txinvestigator · Post by **txinvestigator** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 3:53 pm

carlson1 wrote:
txinvestigator wrote:Texas Penal Code

46.01
(10) "Short-barrel firearm" means a rifle with a barrel
length of less than 16 inches or a shotgun with a barrel length of
less than 18 inches, or any weapon made from a shotgun or rifle if, as
altered, it has an overall length of less than 26 inches.

16 inch barrel rifle
18 shotgun barrel

26 inch overall for each.
It took me three days to find this about 4 months ago. I had my mini 14 cut down and wanted to make sure I was legal. I wished I would have just asked.

Picture!!

Post by **carlson1** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 5:06 pm

txinvestigator · Post by **txinvestigator** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 5:43 pm

Nice. How does it handle?