colin lad Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 i am in the process of re vamping a folding 410 i got as a project it has 28inch barrels and was going to shorten it to 24 so when it folds it will fit in my shooting bag as its a tad too long when i mentioned it earlier someone said that it may effect the pattern if i cut the choke out but as its for close up ratting and squirrel work will it make too much difference most of the shots will be within 20 yards?? colin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bedwards1966 Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 I'd have thought for rat's and squirrels it would be better cut down anyway, lighter and easier to swing as well as more shot spread. If in doubt, why not try taking only say 2 inches off and trying it, then do more if you want to take it a bit further. Just a thought Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bakerboy Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 Or buy a bigger bag :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beretta28g Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 Be very carefull as 24'' is the legal minimum, better to say 24.5/25'' to be safe with a snotty copper/FEO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin lad Posted January 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 Be very carefull as 24'' is the legal minimum, better to say 24.5/25'' to be safe with a snotty copper/FEO yeah was thinking 24 inch then a little extra to be safe, its a 3" magnum so have got some 19g carts if i do need some slightly longer shots colin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nabbers Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 Thinking of doing this, where does the " barrel" start. at the breach or at the chamber end/cone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
compo90 Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 whats the overall legal length of a shotgun? i have a single barrel 12g that is quiet handy and light.....was thinking it could be better for close moving targets (bolting rabbits) with a shorter barrel, and perhaps a shorter stock.....i understand if you shorten the barrel yourself and keep the gun for yourself you dont need to have it re-proofed, so i could lose a couple of inches legally there......but i thought there was a legal length that the whole gun had to meet? Thinking of doing this, where does the " barrel" start. at the breach or at the chamber end/cone? i believe it starts at the end of the chamber....so a 3inch chambered gun and the whole barrel needs to be 27inchs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin lad Posted January 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 whats the overall legal length of a shotgun? i have a single barrel 12g that is quiet handy and light.....was thinking it could be better for close moving targets (bolting rabbits) with a shorter barrel, and perhaps a shorter stock.....i understand if you shorten the barrel yourself and keep the gun for yourself you dont need to have it re-proofed, so i could lose a couple of inches legally there......but i thought there was a legal length that the whole gun had to meet? i believe it starts at the end of the chamber....so a 3inch chambered gun and the whole barrel needs to be 27inchs. my gun was advertised as 28" and it measures 28" including chamber colin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
compo90 Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 my gun was advertised as 28" and it measures 28" including chamber colin haven't a clue to be honest............think this is a question for a gunsmith my gun was advertised as 28" and it measures 28" including chamber colin haven't a clue to be honest............think this is a question for a gunsmith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cant hit rabbits 123 Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 (edited) whats the overall legal length of a shotgun? i have a single barrel 12g that is quiet handy and light.....was thinking it could be better for close moving targets (bolting rabbits) with a shorter barrel, and perhaps a shorter stock.....i understand if you shorten the barrel yourself and keep the gun for yourself you dont need to have it re-proofed, so i could lose a couple of inches legally there......but i thought there was a legal length that the whole gun had to meet? i believe it starts at the end of the chamber....so a 3inch chambered gun and the whole barrel needs to be 27inchs. My Mossberg has 26 inch barrel stamped on the barrel, and it measures 26 inches from the end of the barrel to the start of the chamber. Similarly so with the Onyx which is stated as 28'' and measures that from the breech to the muzzle. Edited January 6, 2012 by cant hit rabbits 123 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
compo90 Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 My Mossberg has 26 inch barrel stamped on the barrel, and it measures 26 inches from the end of the barrel to the start of the chamber. Similarly so with the Onyx which is stated as 28'' and measures that from the breech to the muzzle. that makes it understandable........does anyone know what the minimum total length is? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bedwards1966 Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 (edited) that makes it understandable........does anyone know what the minimum total length is? 40" according to this http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/d_to_g/firearms/ I think that section 1 allows 30cm barrel and 60cm overall, though not read it all. Not sure why they give inches for shotguns and metric for firearms... Edited January 6, 2012 by bedwards1966 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy H Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 To measure the barrel length close the gun and insert a cleaning rod down the barrel until it touches the breech face, Then make a mark on the rod and measure tn length of the rod you inserted , The length of the barrel is taken to be from the rear face of an inserted cartridge to the end of the barrel including any non removable muzzle attachments ,The total length of a shotgun that is not a semi auto or pump action is 24" a pump or auto must be 40" minimum length . Make you barrels 24 1/2" and measure twice and cut only once as it's bloody hard to put the metal back once removed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin lad Posted January 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2012 (edited) To measure the barrel length close the gun and insert a cleaning rod down the barrel until it touches the breech face, Then make a mark on the rod and measure tn length of the rod you inserted , The length of the barrel is taken to be from the rear face of an inserted cartridge to the end of the barrel including any non removable muzzle attachments ,The total length of a shotgun that is not a semi auto or pump action is 24" a pump or auto must be 40" minimum length . Make you barrels 24 1/2" and measure twice and cut only once as it's bloody hard to put the metal back once removed. :good: colin Edited January 7, 2012 by colin lad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
compo90 Posted January 7, 2012 Report Share Posted January 7, 2012 To measure the barrel length close the gun and insert a cleaning rod down the barrel until it touches the breech face, Then make a mark on the rod and measure tn length of the rod you inserted , The length of the barrel is taken to be from the rear face of an inserted cartridge to the end of the barrel including any non removable muzzle attachments ,The total length of a shotgun that is not a semi auto or pump action is 24" a pump or auto must be 40" minimum length . Make you barrels 24 1/2" and measure twice and cut only once as it's bloody hard to put the metal back once removed. so correct me if i am wrong my single barrel 12g as long as the barrel as described (thats a useful way to work it out) is 24 inches (24.5 to be sure) and you say that the total gun must be 24inches....that means i could cut the stock off entirely (fashion somekind of pistol grip) and use it like a long barreled pistol?? it would be useful for a terrierman with one a shotgun certificate being shorter overall to get into an hole..... that doesn't seem right surely there is a minimum for teh stock also besides just semi's and pump's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy H Posted January 7, 2012 Report Share Posted January 7, 2012 That's it 24" is the defining length between a rifle/shotgun and small firearm (pistol) section 5 prohibited firearm, The 40" rule for pumps/auto's was brought in after the Hungerford incident. A section 1 firearm must have a 12" minimum barrel and have another 12" of action/stock to remain within the the law , A shotgun must have a barrel a minimum of 24" in length and with that it is automatically within the definition of a shotgun irrespective of action/stock length for a break/bolt action shotgun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
compo90 Posted January 7, 2012 Report Share Posted January 7, 2012 That's it 24" is the defining length between a rifle/shotgun and small firearm (pistol) section 5 prohibited firearm, The 40" rule for pumps/auto's was brought in after the Hungerford incident. A section 1 firearm must have a 12" minimum barrel and have another 12" of action/stock to remain within the the law , A shotgun must have a barrel a minimum of 24" in length and with that it is automatically within the definition of a shotgun irrespective of action/stock length for a break/bolt action shotgun. thanks.....may get that confirmed from my feo (dont doubt you as i think thats how i read it also) and get busy with the hacksaw long barreled shotgun pistol coming soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
compo90 Posted January 7, 2012 Report Share Posted January 7, 2012 i could make something like the above gun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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