Are sawed off shotguns illegal?

[Deimos887]

And if you want to split hairs on what the average joe would think of as a "sawed off shotgun"... while not really.. a Serbu AOW would easily fall under that guise, and you can obtain "that" legally here in CA too, if willing to jump thru hoops.

[CSACANNONEER]

Short barreled shotguns are an NFA item and can be purchased in many states, but not CA. You may take possession of the SBS after paying the $200 tax stamp to the BATFE and waiting for about 8 months to receive your stamp.



There are also AOW's like the Serbu and you can get it in CA.

SBSs are legal in CA if they are C&R (under Ca law) and most AOWs are legal in CA too.

[67goat]

They are illegal without a tax stamp correct?

It's illegal to drive on the street without proper vehicle registration, that doesn't make it illegal to drive on the street. So, by the same logic, whether a tax stamp is needed or not does not affect the fact that SBS are legal in most states.

[MXRider]

SBSs are legal in CA if they are C&R (under Ca law) and most AOWs are legal in CA too.

I didn't know about C&R SBS being CA legal. Does it have to be a factory SBS or can you convert an old police 18" shotgun after taking possession of it through the normal C&R route and then applying for the stamp?

[Capybara]

Must be at least 50 years old and must already be NFA papered. It has been ruled that converting an existing C&R to an SBS/SBR changes it's C&R status, therefore it becomes a self-canceling rule. I have been looking for one of each (C&R SBS/SBR) for years, they are out there but the value equation sucks. Franklin Armory sold a couple of C&R SBS last year, old, fairly thrashed 12ga. pump guns, police trade ins. For $2,500.00. I had to pass, as much as I wanted one, I was willing to go up to $1,000.00 but over that and I was out.

So for all intents, they are unobtanium here, unless you are willing to pay the big bucks. I am not.

[MXRider]

Better than nothing I suppose. A hammer fired Ithica SBS would be tits.

[Capybara]

Yeah, but even perusing NFA dealers nationwide, C&R SBS and SBRs are as rare as hens teeth. You can find all of the mdoern SBS you want but an NFA registered C&R SBS is exceedingly rare. One of these days, I will score an Ithaca 37 or an old Winchester Model 12. If you think about, 50 years ago, what was a simple pump shotgun worth? $100.00? So who would have been dumb enough to spend $200.00 to NFA register one as an SBS then? The value equation was way off for back then too. I think that is why they are the holy grail. There are a few out there, but good luck on hunting one down.

[robcoe]

So I met up with my best friend from high school for happy hour today. Once again we get into a heated discussion about guns and the legalities.

The topic was if sawed off shotguns are legal or illegal. He stated they're illegal only in a few states. I said they're illegal everywhere in the US.

Can someone shed some light? I actually have $50 riding on this bet.

Yes and no.

You can saw off the buttstock and some barrel length of a shotgun and still have it be legal if

1. the OAL and barrel length don't cross into SBS territory.
or
2. In most states you can pay a tax stamp(with it's own bureaucratic process) and then have the guns cut down to be an SBS(not valid in CA)
or
3. There are some exemptions(I think) for certain C&R shotguns
or
4. muzzle loaders are also exempt(so something like a repro lemat revolver or howda pistol is legal)

Otherwise, no.

[code_blue]

Legal if you have a chainsaw fused to your other arm.

[bob7122]

OC Armory has AOW shotguns...

[CSACANNONEER]

Yes and no.

You can saw off the buttstock and some barrel length of a shotgun and still have it be legal if

1. the OAL and barrel length don't cross into SBS territory.
or
2. In most states you can pay a tax stamp(with it's own bureaucratic process) and then have the guns cut down to be an SBS(not valid in CA)
or
3. There are some exemptions(I think) for certain C&R shotguns
or
4. muzzle loaders are also exempt(so something like a repro lemat revolver or howda pistol is legal)

Otherwise, no.

In Ca, you still can buy a smoothbore long gun which has never been a "shotgun" (PG only 500s or 870s are common examples), apply for a NFA tax stamp with a Form 1. AFTER receiving said tax stamp, you can then make an AOW out of it. So, while it's not a SBS, it is still a 12g, smoothbore handgun with a short barrel.

[robcoe]

In Ca, you still can buy a smoothbore long gun which has never been a "shotgun" (PG only 500s or 870s are common examples), apply for a NFA tax stamp with a Form 1. AFTER receiving said tax stamp, you can then make an AOW out of it. So, while it's not a SBS, it is still a 12g, smoothbore handgun with a short barrel.

Interesting, didn't know that

[SoCalEnthusiast]

We called even steven!!!! My friend was cool about it.

[Intimid8tor]

We called even steven!!!! My friend was cool about it.

Your friend decided not to push it. A good friend indeed because you were wrong. End of story.

Now, take your friend out for a few drinks on you.

[iBkickinit]

Current status of AOW's in CA is on hold, but because of federal changes to Gun Trusts as they operate within the NFA. Pending rules thanks to Obama that eliminate the pass that trusts get from CLEO signoff. An application made now wouldn't make the cutoff. Unless by miracle something changes.