Is this legal

[CHenry]

I have a Mossy 12 ga that I want to convert to a tacticool him defense weapon. Cut the barrel to 18.5" (is that right) and replace the stock with a pistol grip. Does the overall length of 26" (is that right) apply here or does that apply to riffles only?

 

[Fyrtwuck]

Minimum barrel length 18". Minimum overall length 26".

 

[CHenry]

Minimum barrel length 18". Minimum overall length 26".

So if I had to, I could take to barrel to say, 20" if needbe to keep 26" overall.

 

[mtnboomer]

Yes, the overall length is the important factor. Most shotguns with a butt are legal with an 18" barrel. Most pistol grip shotties must use a 20" barrel to be legal (but measure to be sure!).

 

[CHenry]

Yes, the overall length is the important factor. Most shotguns with a butt are legal with an 18" barrel. Most pistol grip shotties must use a 20" barrel to be legal (but measure to be sure!).

Okay, thanks!

 

[turkeyrun]

26" overall is minimum. I prefer to stay at 26 1\2" to leave NO doubt as to legality. That is just me.

 

[Dave70968]

26" overall minimum, 18" barrel minimum, measured from the front of the closed boltface. Be sure to give yourself enough margin for error in case the ATF's measuring stick is a little off.

 

[henschman]

I would not recommend a pistol grip for a home defense shotgun. It makes the gun slower to point with less accuracy. Accuracy is more important for a HD shotgun than many people think, because at the distances seen in most homes, the shot pattern hasn't spread more than an inch or two. It is pretty hard to consistently put that size pattern in the chest cavity of a possibly moving home-invader-sized target without a stock and cheek weld. Also in particular on the Mossberg, the safety is slower and more awkward to disengage with a pistol grip... if you're like me, you'll want to store it loaded and chambered with the safety on, and it is important to be able to quickly remove the safety and get down to business in the dark and under stress.

If you look at what the pros are teaching in fighting shotgun courses, no one advocates a pistol grip only shotgun.

A better option is something like a youth-length stock, which still gives you a pretty significant reduction in length that really improves handling, and is just the right length if you shoot with a squared-up fighting stance. This is exactly what I'd recommend: http://www.amazon.com/Hogue-Mossber...4260&sr=8-1&keywords=youth+stock+mossberg+500

 

[dennishoddy]

I would not recommend a pistol grip for a home defense shotgun. It makes the gun slower to point with less accuracy. Accuracy is more important for a HD shotgun than many people think, because at the distances seen in most homes, the shot pattern hasn't spread more than an inch or two. It is pretty hard to consistently put that size pattern in the chest cavity of a possibly moving home-invader-sized target without a stock and cheek weld. Also in particular on the Mossberg, the safety is slower and more awkward to disengage with a pistol grip... if you're like me, you'll want to store it loaded and chambered with the safety on, and it is important to be able to quickly remove the safety and get down to business in the dark and under stress.

If you look at what the pros are teaching in fighting shotgun courses, no one advocates a pistol grip only shotgun.

A better option is something like a youth-length stock, which still gives you a pretty significant reduction in length that really improves handling, and is just the right length if you shoot with a squared-up fighting stance. This is exactly what I'd recommend: http://www.amazon.com/Hogue-Mossber...4260&sr=8-1&keywords=youth+stock+mossberg+500

Yes.....

 

[CHenry]

Perfect! Thanks.