Ranch Hand/Mare's Leg Shotgun?

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dakota.potts

New member
As it was explained to me the other day, a Rossi Ranch Hand is legal because it was built in that configuration as a handgun. You couldn't cut a regular rifle down, and I don't think you could add a full length stock (without NFA of course) but as is it's a handgun.

It just got me thinking, could this same logic be used for a Ranch Hand or chambered in say a 20 ga. shotgun? It seems to me that a lot of people have practical uses for short barreled shotguns and that this would be a way that you cold legally get one without going through the NFA?

Would it be legal to buy one and have it re-chambered in a shotgun configuration? Of course, I have to imagine this would cost as much as the tax stamp.

Is there any such thing as "pistol shotgun" in the eyes of the law?
 
I may be missing a couple key points here, but the smoothbore barrel makes it a no-go. Short barreled shotguns that come from the manufacturer with a pistol grip only are considered "Any Other Weapon." As such, they still require the paperwork/background check and such, but the tax stamp is only $5. It is still an NFA weapon.
 
Ah, that must have been the key point I was missing. Thanks for the explanation!

So one could be made, but would have to be registered as AOW?
 
9mmfan said:
I may be missing a couple key points here, but the smoothbore barrel makes it a no-go. Short barreled shotguns that come from the manufacturer with a pistol grip only are considered "Any Other Weapon." As such, they still require the paperwork/background check and such, but the tax stamp is only $5. It is still an NFA weapon.
Click to expand...

So this $5 tax stamp would not apply to a smooth bore pistol from the factory.?say in .410
?
 
A smoothbore handgun regardless of source remains an NFA gun & requires federal involvement.
That's whether you create it yourself, or a factory builds it that way.
Denis
 
dakota.potts said:
So one could be made, but would have to be registered as AOW?
Click to expand...

Depends on who is doing the making. If it is the manufacturer, then it is AOW. If you do the modifying, you are therefore manufacturing. That is a different form and the tax stamp goes back to $200.

Basically a shotgun has to have a barrel of over 18" AND an overall length of 26" if you don't want to deal with NFA paperwork, registration, tax stamps and the like. If the gun has EVER had these qualities and was subsequently modified, it is not considered an AOW.

In regards to the Handy Gun, I think some that were manufactured prior to the National Firearms Act were exempted but handing down via inheritance requires a $5 transfer, in essence making them AOW. I am about to go to work, so I haven't had time to research this point properly. I will concede that I very well could be wrong on the subject.

I will now admit to being far from an expert on this topic, but have read some and everything that I mentioned is my understanding.

Wiser heads feel free to correct me or expand on anything I might have missed, I won't be offended one bit, and would like dakota.potts to get the most correct information possible. Federal prison doesn't sound like a fun place.
 
There is this:
RG500.11a1.jpg


It works like this:
Start with a factory pistol grip shotgun(it needs to be a receiver that has never had a stock on it) that has an 18"+ barrel.
Add a long grip on it to extend the overall length.
Add a shorter barrel without going under 26" in total length.
Because it has never had a stock it isn't designed to be fired for the shoulder so it is not defined as a shotgun.
Because it is not less than 26" in overall length it is not capable of being concealed so it is not an Any Other Weapon.
Because it does not fit the description of a shotgun, rifle, pistol, or any other weapon it is simply considered a firearm.

There was a lengthy thread over on ar15.com where one of the members posted up his ATF letters confirming the above.

Before you consider doing this though I suggest you do some serious research though and expect LEOs to not know that what you have is a lawful firearm.
 
Well shut my mouth.

If I owned that, I would want to make the grip hollow so's I could keep copies off ALL the paperwork involved. ATF letters, receipts, photos. Notarized and laminated.:D legal though it might be, getting caught with it would lead to a lengthy session of 'splainin'.

Might could be handy to have around, though...
 
9mmfan, you are right that federal prison doesn't sound like a fun place.

With my almost 800 post count, you can be sure that I'm not trying many of the things I'm asking about :D Just trying to get an idea of what's out there. It surprised me that the Ranch Hand was legal in its state so I was curious about one chambered for a shotgun shell. I'm not sure I would buy one if there was simply because I'm not interested much in the platform but I thought it was a cool thing to think about.

I do appreciate the fact checking and thorough examination this board tends to give to things, though.
 
My next project is a 12ga mares leg.

I am going to get one of these:
1887_bootleg_deluxe_500x500.jpg


and have the barrel and mag tube cut to about 7 inches. I want a lever action version of a super shorty. Because of the nature of the 1887 it should hold 1 more rounds than a pump of the same length. because the 1887 can hold a round in the reciever in addition to the tube and the chamber. Add the fact that the 1887 has a shorter reciever than a pump and I think it should be a pretty small package.

I am going to do it as a SBS because I want to be able to put a shoulder stock on it if i feel like it.

http://www.taylorsfirearms.com/1887-deluxe-bootleg-lever-action-shotgun-12-gauge-18-5-barrel.html
 
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