Frankbrickbats Posted January 18, 2012 Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 Can ay one please tell me what the legal stance is on a gun owner reducing the length of a shotgun barrel. Regards Frank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickmep Posted January 18, 2012 Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 as far as i am aware you are ok doing it as long as barrel remains over 24" long. HOWEVER my understanding is that if you want to sell or gift the gun after you've done it it will need proof house certificating. so in summary my understanding is if its for you to keep its legal. BUT this is just my understanding of the law. best advice would be to speak to your gunsmith or FEO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notsosureshot Posted January 18, 2012 Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 I can imagine that phone call. "Hello, can you tell me if sawing off the barrel of my shotgun is legal, please?" <loud thump as feo falls off chair> "Hello, hello?" <sirens in distance> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cookoff013 Posted January 18, 2012 Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 i wouldnt get a hacksaw and have a go. more of a gunsmith kind of thing. i would also point out, that it can alter the poi and poa, depending on how it is cut, the rib may need attaching if it isnt solid. then comes the point that it is fixed on cylinder choke. it reduces its usefulness. you`d end up proofing it to sell it. or it wont get any use at all. 24" is a minimum length barrel, but you should keep it 1/4" above 24". so after all that you could end up with a gun that doesnt shoot right, cant use it fo most shooting diciplines (trap, dtl,dt ), a bill for the work, and have to send it away to sell it, or you have to scrap it. but that is worse case scenario. best case, you`ll have a seriously light gun / fast gun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haggis Posted January 18, 2012 Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 There's also a minimum overall length 68" springs to mind Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Breastman Posted January 18, 2012 Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 There's also a minimum overall length 68" springs to mind It's 40" for shotguns ATB Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy H Posted January 18, 2012 Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 (edited) There's also a minimum overall length 68" springs to mind That's 5 foot 8 inch you must have long arms. It's 40" overall length for a pump or auto and 24" for a break barrel or bolt action ,so as long as the barrel is 24" you are good to go. Edited January 18, 2012 by Andy H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Breastman Posted January 18, 2012 Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 That's 5 foot 8 inch you must have long arms. It's 40" overall length for a pump or auto and 24" for a break barrel or bolt action ,so as long as the barrel is 24" you are good to go. Its 40" overall no matter the action for a Section 2 shotgun. A non-'repeating' (i.e. not a pump action, semi-auto, lever action etc) shotgun can be shorter if held on an FAC which complies with the 12" barrel 24" overall Section 1 rules though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RC45 Posted January 18, 2012 Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 How would you cut a barrel? Would the heat not damage it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deershooter Posted January 18, 2012 Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 By shortning the barrel of a shotgun it will be as much use as if you shortened your penis :blush: Deershooter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haggis Posted January 18, 2012 Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 That is a bit long 68" oh well I thought there was a max length so I was halfway,well 28" off¡ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy H Posted January 18, 2012 Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 An excerpt from the relevant law 2.6 While overall length is not a relevant factor in regard to the classification of traditional single and double-barrelled smooth-bore guns and repeating shot guns with a bolt or lever-action, any such guns with barrels under 24 inches in length are subject to control under section 1 of the 1968 Act. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilR Posted January 18, 2012 Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 My mate bought for peanuts what had once been a 32" gun with factory multi-chokes that couldn't be removed. The PO sawed the multi choke length off the barrels before realising he'd bitten off more than he could chew. My mate sent it down to Nigel Teague who took a bit more off to 28" and then multi-choked it again. Sorted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cant hit rabbits 123 Posted January 18, 2012 Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 So if I cut my 28" SxS down to 25 inches, it could be multi choked and re proofed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilR Posted January 18, 2012 Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 So if I cut my 28" SxS down to 25 inches, it could be multi choked and re proofed? I assume so, but if that was the route you wanted to go I'd be inclined to let the company who was going to fit the multi chokes wield the hacksaw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
39TDS Posted January 18, 2012 Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 (edited) I cut 5-6 inches off the end of my SxS. Just did it with a hacksaw and tidied it up with a file. This was possibly 30 years ago and it is still my favourite gun by far. If anyone says it can't be done just ignore them. I didn't go down to 24" though, can't remember exactly but 25-26" I guess. Never did bother putting a bead back on it either. I can hit clays, pigeons and rabbits with it quite easily. Edited January 18, 2012 by 39TDS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted January 18, 2012 Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 What he said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankbrickbats Posted January 19, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 Hi all , solved the problem, my local RFD has some second hand barrels, I got a 25" one it will do the job ok. Thanks for the interest and support. Regards Frank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankbrickbats Posted January 19, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 By shortning the barrel of a shotgun it will be as much use as if you shortened your penis :blush: Deershooter Have you tried it??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clayman Posted January 20, 2012 Report Share Posted January 20, 2012 The regulations are either min 24" barrel ( sec 2.4) and the 40" min applies in addition to self loading ( sec 2.5 - ie pump and S-Auto guns that have a moving breech face and the design does not allow for ready calculation of the barrel length and the actual barrel is longer than the working length from the closed breech face.) 2002 Home Office Guidance to Police 2.4 “Shot gun” means a smooth-bore gun (not being an air gun) which: a) has a barrel not less than 24 inches in length and does not have any barrel with a bore exceeding 2 inches in diameter. In law, the length of the barrel is measured from the muzzle to the point of ignition (breech face). For a muzzle-loading gun, the point of ignition may be taken as the touch-hole or nipple that is nearest to the breach; B) either has no magazine or has a nondetachable magazine incapable of holding more than two cartridges. (A gun that has been adapted to have such a magazine only meets this criterion if the magazine bears an approved mark and the adaptation has been certified in writing either by one of the two Proof Houses or by such other person as the Secretary of State has designated, as having been carried out in a manner approved by the Secretary of State – see paragraphs 2.10 and 2.11 below); and c) is not a revolver gun (that is, a gun containing a series of chambers which revolve when the gun is fired). 2.5 When considering the classification of smooth-bore guns, special attention must be paid to the length of the barrel and the overall length. With the exception of those chambered for .22 rimfire cartridges, the 1988 Act raised to the prohibited category (see Chapter 3) all self-loading and pump-action models which are either short-barrelled (under 24 inches) or short in overall length (under 40 inches). For the purpose of calculating overall length any detachable, retractable or other movable butt-stock should be disregarded. References to “shot guns” in the 1968 Act may be taken generally to mean section 2 shot guns, rather than those subject to sections 1 and 5 of the 1968 Act, unless otherwise stated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deershooter Posted January 20, 2012 Report Share Posted January 20, 2012 Please tell me why you would want to Deershooter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankbrickbats Posted January 20, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2012 (edited) Please tell me why you would want to Deershooter Hi Deershooter. As I am in preference of shorter barrels and I am not endowed with long legs as others are and 65 years old, the gun will be lighter and is less prone to fouling i.e geting poked into muck or snow (an experience I have had with my 30" Browning), gives a sense of faster handling and is hide friendly. 'With this post I was exploring the options'. Not preparing for a bank job or an assination, for which one gets a very long holiday at the queens pleasure and no breaks for the game season. Hence exploring the legalities. I have costed a new barrel from the importer of Escorts which turned out to be much more than I am willing or can afford to pay, I have and intended to retain the 28" barrel which came with the gun although it was sold as a 26" barrel, none the less I had a gun at a reasonable cost, I had seen another barrel offered at a price I could afford and thought of passing the shortening idea past the PW members, yes I would loose all choke in the barrel but from past experience open chokes have been beneficial in the locations where I shoot so that was not an issue, (where I to sell the gun the cut barrel would have been placed in a fire and then flattened,) if I required the choke option for say inland goose shooting I then have the option of the multi choke 28" barrel or the 31/2" chambered Browning which incidentaly seems to weigh a ton. I have now aquired a 25" barrel from my local gun dealer W Richards who was able to supply a second hand one at an extremly good price, ok it used and a bore barrel according to my choke gauge which will do me fine, and no I do not intend fireing slugs or ball. I hope that satisfies your curiosity and please keep in mind although other people do have different oppinions they are as valid as yours. Regards Frank Have a good weekend all Edited January 20, 2012 by Frankbrickbats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted January 20, 2012 Report Share Posted January 20, 2012 Hi Deershooter. As I am in preference of shorter barrels and I am not endowed with long legs as others are and 65 years old, the gun will be lighter and is less prone to fouling i.e geting poked into muck or snow (an experience I have had with my 30" Browning), gives a sense of faster handling and is hide friendly. 'With this post I was exploring the options'. Not preparing for a bank job or an assination, for which one gets a very long holiday at the queens pleasure and no breaks for the game season. Hence exploring the legalities. I have costed a new barrel from the importer of Escorts which turned out to be much more than I am willing or can afford to pay, I have and intended to retain the 28" barrel which came with the gun although it was sold as a 26" barrel, none the less I had a gun at a reasonable cost, I had seen another barrel offered at a price I could afford and thought of passing the shortening idea past the PW members, yes I would loose all choke in the barrel but from past experience open chokes have been beneficial in the locations where I shoot so that was not an issue, (where I to sell the gun the cut barrel would have been placed in a fire and then flattened,) if I required the choke option for say inland goose shooting I then have the option of the multi choke 28" barrel or the 31/2" chambered Browning which incidentaly seems to weigh a ton. I have now aquired a 25" barrel from my local gun dealer W Richards who was able to supply a second hand one at an extremly good price, ok it used and a bore barrel according to my choke gauge which will do me fine, and no I do not intend fireing slugs or ball. I hope that satisfies your curiosity and please keep in mind although other people do have different oppinions they are as valid as yours. Regards Frank Have a good weekend all Underdog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardH Posted January 26, 2012 Report Share Posted January 26, 2012 So if I cut my 28" SxS down to 25 inches, it could be multi choked and re proofed? Yes very straightforward Ich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankbrickbats Posted January 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2012 (edited) Yes very straightforward Ich HI Any ideas who can do this and what the costs would be. I also have a SBS Sidelock which could do with a bit off the end to make it handle better, ( added explanation for deershooter )also covering the same criteria as the auto. Frank Edited January 26, 2012 by Frankbrickbats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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