Hi folks, I understand the shortest legal barrel length for a shotgun is 24". Is it possible to get a single barrel 28" reduced, and if so do you need to inform your FO before getting it done? Thanks for all input in advance.
None of the following should be taken as legal advice, it opinion based on current legislation.
Shortening a barrel, while still keeping it at or above the legal minimum should not require any permission or notification to anyone as barrel length is not a requiste on the FCA1 or throughout the application process.
As to having it done. Never heard of it being done. Cutting the barrel would be esy for a gunsmith, but then threading it for chokes, the taper of the barrel causing the "new muzzle" to be larger, etc. could all be problems, but again I've never heard of anyone doing this. They usually opt for buying a factory made barrel of the length they wish.
Any particular reason you want to do this?
Thanks Cass, I sort of expected you here first anyway. I understand all of the above, but chokes don't bother me. All of my shooting is in short wooded or deep rocky outcrop areas, so all shots are quick and need a relatively short wide spread. An open choke would be fine.
I would be curious to see if there were any gunsmiths in Ireland who would choke an unchoked shotgun barrel.
Getting it cut down is no issue, but bar diy with the right tools I don't know anywhere that'd do the choking afterwards.
Fabian Connolly did my Rem1100 barrel that was cylinder bore to a REM choke system. The question is; will you have enough meat in the rest of the barrel to work on?. The wall on my barrel is paper thin now, and it MUST have a choke in it at all times to be fired..Just one to think on if you are thinking of cutting and re choking .
Would altering the barrel’(s) of a shotgun render it out of proof and would it be need re-proofing again to comply with regs.
All of my shooting is in short wooded or deep rocky outcrop areas, so all shots are quick and need a relatively short wide spread. An open choke would be fine.
If I was in your shoes, I would be on the lookout for a short barrel side by side, light and easily pointable.
Just me tuppence worth.
Would a fitted choke be a requirement? Can it not just be left as is? I thought maybe just cut on a vented rib, blue the bare surface and then drill a new hole for the sight. There must be some gunsmith in Ireland capable of doing that.
SmartinMartin - Thanks Cass, I sort of expected you here first anyway.
Balls, I have become predictable.
As suggested above by Cass, that part is easy. Basically a sawn-off with finesse. The difficult part is threading for a choke. Physically possible, but more involved than a rifle barrel. if you’re happy with full open, not an issue.
The new “muzzle” being larger shouldn’t be be an issue. The “taper” of a barrel is mainly wall thickness, and the bore is cylindical at the business end, where the cut will be. But that comes with the caveat that there is a cone at the chamber end, and barrels with elongated conical sections exist. Do your homework.
Just a query along the same lines.. what about having a fixed choke made multi choke? I’m informed that this requires the hint sent to England for proofing ??
Absolutely, it can be left as such. But it is simply a legal sawn-off shotgun now for whatever purpose in hunting you need... [All of my shooting is in short wooded or deep rocky outcrop areas, so all shots are quick and need a relatively short wide spread]
We are just discussing the "what if" you wanted to choke a shorter barrel again, and how easy or difficult it might be, depending on how much meat there is in the barrel wall to do so...
What regs? We don't have any proof house regs that cover this situation or have enacted proof house regs on the statute books here either. The EU and UK, yes and unless you intend to sell the gun on the open market or privately to someone else either in the UK or EU then it has to be in proof. But if you intend to keep it forever, have at it! This also BTW applies to threading jobs in the UK/EU.
Be actually easier to do, as there is more "meat" of the choke material for the gunsmith to work within the internal cutting & threading.Sending it to the UK?Cost more now in paperwork and return shipping than the job is proably worth,and proably has a waiting time of a year possibly post Brexit? Another reason Ireland now needs a proof house.
Thanks folks, all the info i needed.
Cass, yes on the one hand I totally agree with you (vis our regs) and as we don’t have a proof house but on the other hand having spent years of hands on with various service firearms/heavy armaments of every calibre which were regularly inspected/serviced/tested by qualified tiffies, the thought of just chopping and installing chokes without proofing/certification horrors me.
Chopping and installing a choke is no problem, easy peasy as they say, the big issue is once you bore out the barrel for the chokes, how thin/strong is the material that’s left?
If I was the Op I would be looking for a short side by side with reasonable open chokes.
I agree with JP22!
You should look at getting an AYA 25, or if you have lots of dosh a Churchill XXV on which the Aya model is based. Robert Churchill developed the concept and produced the guns in the 1950s. They are very fast handling and might work for you.
https://www.guntrader.uk/guns/shotguns/aya/side-by-side/12-gauge/25-sidelock-220325152918003
https://www.guntrader.uk/guns/shotguns/churchill-ej/side-by-side/12-gauge/imperial-220226154210006
I inherited an Aya 25 last year and you're welcome to have a look at it to see what you think - its not for sale but in a Kildare dealers while my licence substitution goes through. I also have an Arthur Allen SxS with 26 inch barrels which is also light and fast to handle, you can look at that as well.
My rough shooting gun is a 26" Franchi over/under and it's extremely fast handling. LOP is on the short side as well.
