Can you make a Stockless shotgun?

A pistol gripped shotgun is legal, but unless your trying to be gangsta or old west and hide it underneath a trench coat, it makes it less usable. The barrel must be over 18 inches in length measured from the bolt face to the end of the barrel.
 
Have you ever shot a pistol gripped shotgun??Other than looking cool, they are almost useless for anything, even home defense. The recoil throws them all over the place and a second shot is a whole lot slower that a full stocked shotgun. If someone even GAVE me a pistol gripped shotgun for defense, the first thing I would do is find a new full length stock for it so it was manageable. If I had to defend myself in a real life situation, I sure don't want some virtually usless movie script gun. In movies, bullets make sparks, shotguns blow cars over and make them explode and Arnold never misses even when up against 5 bad guys with full auto's that can't spray him down with their guns. In REAl life, the bad guy may not miss, why would you want to handicap yourself with a Rambo gun? If these were so good, why doesn't the military and police departments issue them.
 
Because I am the terminater duhhh...lol j/p. Well Are they good at close quarters? I usually shoot stuff with a full stock, and I don't like them very much.
 
You seem convinced you have the right answers, My advice at this point is to spend your money and find out for yourself. Just don't toss out your regular stock though, you may want it again.
 
If you must get a pistol gripped shotgun, probably the cheapest way to do it is to buy a used Mossberg 500, although any pump will do these are generally the cheapest, and get a Mossberg pistol grip kit. They run about 20 bucks. You can also get an 18" barrel for a 500 for about 75-85 bucks. That will allow you to find out for yourself and waste the least possible amount of money.
 
Thank's glockopop, this is only if someone breaks into my house. I don't really like shooting shotguns with stocks, because I find it harder to aim for some reason, I dunno maybe personal preferance.
 
* * <Shaking head, smiling ruefully> * *

There's some very good advice above concerning the difficulty of shooting a buttstockless scattergun. There are additional considerations, too, especially for the newcomer to the shotgun game.

- - You mention indoor use. Youi might want to measure the furtherest distance available to you. Twenty feet or so? Are you aware that most shotguns place their shot charge in only a five or six inch circle at that range? You still have to aim, especially if you're using only a .410 bore or a 28 gauge.

- - When most people talk about cutting down a shotgun, they're also concerned about the barrel length. There are TWO considerations here: Barrel length and overall length. By federal law, the barrel must be AT LEAST eighteen (18) inches in length. Most people cut 'em at 18 and a quarter or 18-1/2, just to make sure there are no errors in measurement. In addition, also by federal law, the OVERALL length of the shotgun must be at least 26 inches. Again, 26-1/2 is better, just in case.

Most pump guns have a long enough action so that an 18-1/4" barrel, even with the stock cut off, will give a legal OA length. Some single-shot and double barrel guns will NOT make legal length.

Take care
Johnny
 
First off, to answer your questions:

1. Yes, you can just lop off the stock to turn it into one, which is legal in the US without a special permit, unlike if doing the same to a rifle, as long as the overall length is 26", as mentioned. Or you can easily buy aftermarket pistol grips for common brands like remington, mossberg, & winchester.

2. Above doesn't matter whether it's semi-auto or pump.

Now, to go beyond answering your question.

3. As mentioned, doing so makes the shotgun less useful for most purposes, including home defense.

4. If you're gonna do it (and thus fire with no shoulder stock), I would definitely advise not doing it to anything over a 20 ga, as the recoil would become brutal. And I wouldn't shoot 3" 20 ga shells, only 2.75".

5. Of course, as mentioned, keep the bbl length 18.1" or longer.

6. If you do just lop off the stock, and form a pistol grip of sorts from the remaining wood via dremel, etc. - 2 issues: (a) it won't be as vertical as an aftermarket stock, which will make it harder to control under recoil, and (b) you've just lowered the market value of your sporting shotgun, until such time as you buy a matching replacement full wood stock, so therefore cheaper in the long run to pick up a crappy or not-so-crappy used shotgun at a gunshow or whathaveyou, with or without an existing stock, or with plastic furniture.
 
Short shot gun

I recall somewhere that over all leght is also needs to be considered. If you cut the barrel down to 18" (I would cut it to 18 1/2" to be on the safe side) and you took the stock off and used a hand grip, you may get a visit from the BATF, because it over too short.
 
Good mornin', Walter

You are absolutely correct in what you recall from somewhere. You might take a look at post #15 in this thread and see if it looks familiar . . . . :p

Best,
Johnny
 
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