Shortening shot gun barrels

[360hunt]

Seems like an easy question.......

I have a 26" barrel I'd like to shorten to 20".
To my understanding the shortest legal barrel length is 18".
Does this have to be manufactured length? Or am I good to go ahead a cut in down to what ever lenght as long as it's longer than 18"?
Or am I going to receive a nice new pair of handcuffs?
Thanks

[Dewey Cox]

18" is the shortest you can cut a barrel down to.
You can have shorter barrels as long as they were manufactured that way (12" or 14" are common short ones)
The gun still has to be longer that the minimum overall length though. (Which i think is either 24 or 26 inches)

[360hunt]

Originally Posted by Dewey Cox

18" is the shortest you can cut a barrel down to.
You can have shorter barrels as long as they were manufactured that way (12" or 14" are common short ones)
The gun still has to be longer that the minimum overall length though. (Which i think is either 24 or 26 inches)

Perfect.....much appreciated.
Was going to try to trade for a shorter barrel. I have two that are 26 and 28".
No need to I'll just trim one down within spec's

[Sashi]

If it's a semi-auto the minimum length is 18 1/2"

[360hunt]

Originally Posted by Sashi

If it's a semi-auto the minimum length is 18 1/2"

It's a 870 pump.
But good to know about the semi

[Justfishin73]

Making a bear gun?

[360hunt]

Originally Posted by Justfishin73

Making a bear gun?

Really just a easier carry multi purpose gun.

[Puma]

Once you cut the barrel down, remember you lose any choke that you had.

Your multi purpose gun will not be multi purpose anymore, just a very short range toy now. No longer good to hunt anything with.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by Puma

Once you cut the barrel down, remember you lose any choke that you had.

Your multi purpose gun will not be multi purpose anymore, just a very short range toy now. No longer good to hunt anything with.

Not automatically true .
My main bird gun is a SxS that had been cut from 30" to 26" , is now cyl/cyl and I kill everything from decoyed ducks and geese to ruffed grouse with it .
Wild pheasants and sharp tails are also no problem.
I have a friend who shoots slugs, steel and bird shot out of a 21" barrelled semi auto as well. He has killed bears as well as grouse with it .
Cat

[1899b]

Legal cut barrel length for a home job is 18” doesn’t matter if it’s semi pump or single shot. Factory is another story with 12” and 9” factory non restricteds being allowed.

[1899b]

LESS THAN 18.5"/470mm BARREL LENGTH RULES:

CURRENT LAW, CC s. 84(1) "restricted weapon" (b):

If a firearm has a barrel length less than 18"/457mm AND is centrefire AND is semi-automatic, that combination forces the firearm into the "restricted weapon" class. In such a case, IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW THE BARREL ARRIVED AT THAT LENGTH. The rule is the same regardless of how it ARRIVED at the too-short length—but note carefully that this rule is overridden by the rule just below if the barrel is shortened to less than 18"/457mm!

Therefore, a Browning Auto-5 or Remington Model 11-87 shotgun with an 18-5/8"/474mm barrel is unrestricted. Cut the barrel to 18-1/4"/464mm and it becomes a "restricted weapon." Cut it again—to 17-7/8"/454mm—and it becomes a "prohibited weapon." It is amazing how cutting 3/8"/10mm rings off its barrel changes the basic character of the firearm, with less than an inch of overall length change!

C-68, CC s. 84(1) "restricted firearm" (b):

Same as above, except that the class is called "restricted firearm."
Main application: Short-barrelled centrefire semi-auto rifles and shotguns.

[Puma]

Originally Posted by catnthehat

Not automatically true .
My main bird gun is a SxS that had been cut from 30" to 26" , is now cyl/cyl and I kill everything from decoyed ducks and geese to ruffed grouse with it .
Wild pheasants and sharp tails are also no problem.
I have a friend who shoots slugs, steel and bird shot out of a 21" barrelled semi auto as well. He has killed bears as well as grouse with it .
Cat

One of my buds cut his Win 120 down to 18.5" and past 15 or so yards the pattern is so wide grouse fly through it. I can see slug use working once you figure out the new point of aim. Next time he is over, I will pattern it.

[Snakeneil]

I've got an 18" 870 barrel I don't need, I'l swap you if you'd like, I think it has removable choke too.

[360hunt]

Originally Posted by Snakeneil

I've got an 18" 870 barrel I don't need, I'l swap you if you'd like, I think it has removable choke too.

I'll message you.
Thanks

[covey ridge]

Originally Posted by Puma

One of my buds cut his Win 120 down to 18.5" and past 15 or so yards the pattern is so wide grouse fly through it. I can see slug use working once you figure out the new point of aim. Next time he is over, I will pattern it.

That is unusual! Most cut offs that I have shot, no matter what gauge are deadly at that range and quite a bit further out.

[Dewey Cox]

“I’m not a bad shot. The pattern is too wide”