Serbu super shorty

peepaw

New member
I'm not sure this is the correct catagory, but I have been looking at the Serbu super shorty shotgun....have any of you guys had any experience with this gun or the company...does anyone know about the five dollar trans. fee??
 
Mark Serbu is a nice guy with a good reputation in Class 3 circles (I met him at Knob Creek 2 years ago, and he was walking around with one of these Super Shorties hung around his neck). It's a neat toy, but with only 3 rounds at hand, I don't think it's really useful for anything BUT a neat, fun shotgun to shoot. Because he makes these things on a receiver that has never been assembled into a shotgun before, the law allows him to register these as an "Any Other Weapon" (AOW), which is a $5 transfer tax, instead of as a sawed-off shotgun ($200 transfer tax). He's got a web page at www.serbu.com , with a link on "Buying an NFA item from us". If you want one, buy it:)
 
Yeah, but the MAKER has to pay a $200 tax just to produce an AOW.

That's why the little buggers are so expensive, even though the Serbu Shorty, and other similar short pistol-gripped shotguns, are made on inexpensive Maverick or Mossberg "Cruiser" base guns, as a rule, or sometimes on the Remington 870. Any of these would cost around $200-$250 if bought with the 18" barrel.

When the buyer acquires the gun, he pays $5 NFA Class 2 tax, but the actual AOW is always disproportionately expensive as purchased from the original manufacturer, because the maker has to recoup his payment of the $200 tax paid for manufacturing the darn thing.

If you buy one of these which has changed hands several times, you may be able to get it for a reduced price, since the original costs will have been "absorbed" to some extent.

Then, paying that $5 tax seems like a bargain!
Best.
 
Last edited:
Met Mr Serbu a few yrs ago myself. Had a chance to handle one of the first Shotys. Because it is a pump, the Aguilia (sp?) mini shells will work fine. (personal experience) That will bring the capacity up to - - don't hold me to this - - 10 I think.
 
Sawbones: Actually, Serbu doesnt have to pay the $200/gun tax. They pay $500 once a year for an SOT (Special Occupational Taxpayer status) and they get to do Form2s instead of form1s. Form2 is used to tell the ATF they already made the gun tax free, when everyone else must use a Form1 to get approval before making the gun and to pay the tax. The Serbu is expensive because they are one of the few sources (if not the only source) for AOW shotguns.

Kharn
 
Thanks for the info Kharn;

The NFA guidelines I'd read seemed to indicate that the maker's tax is paid on a per-item basis.
But I thought that the Class III license was $1000/yr ($3000 for 3 years)?
 
FWIW & comparison, my Mossberg 590 AOW (comparable to the Super Shorty, but with 6 rounds) cost the same as my regular Mossberg 590, plus the $5 transfer.
 
Don't scoff at me

Okay, so you can purchase one of these "shorties" with only a $5.00 transfer tax....that is....assuming that they're not specifically verboten in your state of residence.

So, if legally in hand, could one then transport it in a lawful condition in one's vehicle? How about concealed?

I mean, I'm just envisioning some LEO spotting this bad little boy sitting on the seat of your car and regardless of your "legal" status, poking his 40 cal plastic gun in your facing, cuffing you and just f _ _ king up your day!

Okay you experts....give me your view on this.....:p
 
If legally owned in TEXAS, .....

If you legally own a short-barreled long arm (have tax-stamp from ATF) your Title II firearm is treated like any 'regular' firearm (in TEXAS)--can't tell you about other states.
 
Same here in Georgia just better have your transfer tax receipt with you...wouldn't hurt to print out some rules for your state and keep them with the weapon also....just because he has a badge doesn't mean that he knows the law...peepaw
 
FLORIDA

I seem to recall that the wording of Florida's law didn't specifically preclude this type of weapon, however I wasn't able to find that online. Guess I'll actually have to use the Statute Book!
 
Should be fine to carry however you like if you have a CCW in AZ.

I'm amazed that the fellow that shot this think can still type. The recoil must be sickening.

As far as the police actually cuffing and arresting you for having a legally owned weapon... hmmm... I guess it could happen. Certainly the sight of that monster would cause anyone to be a little wary. I dig them, but would probably go for the .50AE Desert Eagle first... (BTW, it's not really that $5 is a big deal, it's the registration part and LEO signature that I don't like)
 
I was under the impression, that if I wanted to buy a Serbu Super Shorty I would have to either form a corporation and register the gun under the corporation's name, or have a cheif law enforcement officer to sign some kind of form that would allow me to own this gun.

Please clear this up for me, as I am more than willing to pay the 600-700 price tag for the Super Shorty if I don't have to tread through miles of red tape.....

Thanks
 
Don't think it would be a problem for Kennesaw, don't they still have the "gun in every residence" law? Seems pretty gun friendly to me!
 
Yes, Kennesaw is a very gun friendly city made up mostly of conservatives. Its not the town I am worried about. I thought I would have to go through a lengthy process to buy a Serbu Super Shorty.
 
Back
Top