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OT: Cutting down a 12GA

K

Kelly C

Well-known Member
I have a old Remington mod 1148 semi auto 12ga.
Thinking about using this as a home defence gun.

I would like to Cut the barrel down and cut the stock or maybe put on a combat stock on it.

Any one know what the max barrel lenth is? Fed ,State of Minnesota?

Any Ideas?
Got the Wife a little .32sw revolver for her to use. But I still want a case O WHOOP Arse for me to use.
 
Better find out what it is worth before you ruin it !

Likely it's worth more then going and buying one allready the legal length.
 
I think the minium barrell length is 18 inches. A lot of people cut to 18 1/4 inches to be safe. You have to watch how you cut it off. I think a single shot shotgun is measured from the end of the barrel to end of barrel. But a pump or auto loader is measured from where the chamber for the shell ends and the barrel starts. DH
 
First, I would not modify it. A new Mossberg 500 with 18 1/2 barrel is about $250.00. But the barrel is measured with the gun empty and action closed. A rod is inserted in the muzzle. A length of 18 1/4" is not illegal. But perhaps only a licensed gunsmith may legally make such modifications.
 
A gun from the 50's take it and trade for a home defender Remington 870. The 1148 was dads gun and held only three loads if I recall right. Defender can hold up to 7 shells.

Just what kind of area do you live in? Near west side of Chicago!?
 
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=748383&t=11082005

Yes they do and only $95 bucks. Maybe I will just do that.
 
No just in Minnesota. Had some issues a couple years ago with a 1/2 way house down the road.

Now the state put a bunch of lev 3 guys in a motel along the freeway.

Why cant they just keep the crumbs in jail?
 
I think that, after pricing a barrel, you might want to price a Maverick model 88 pump shotgun, which is made by Mossberg. I've seen them for under $250, and you can get one in a 12-gauge, 3-inch-magnum chamber, 18-1/2" cylinder bore with rifle sights. As I understand, it's still made in USA, too.

I have friends who have owned the Maverick Model 88, #31044, with 24" slug barrel and rifle sights, for deer hunting in Indiana...and they loved it.
 
I check this a few years ago since I had one given to me because of money a guy owned me. Min is 18 inches and over all is 26 inches. So you can cut the barrel down to 18 inches but if it where me I'd do 19 just to be on the safe side and then make sure over all it is at least 27 inches. You can call the highway patrol and they will tell you what the law is in your state. I got this info from the Missouri highway patrol. The one I had was barrel 18.5 inches and 26.5 over all so I came in just legal
 
In my opinion it would be almost a crime to cut up a good collectable shotgun. If you must have a short barreled shotgun you might try a cheap 870 express. All sort of accessories can be had.
 
OLD has the same info I got...make sure the total length is 26" or more..
to get around the regulations you can apply for a one time tax paid to the ATF for each item...ie machine guns, silencers, shortbarreled rifles and shotguns ect....cost is a couple hundred per item and you must pass the background checks..

I have a short 18 "+ factory Rem 12 ga pump gun so I really dont need/want to go thru the hassle of cutting one and paying the tax...mine will suffice for any intruders and is legal..
 
1148 HAS A PRETTY LONG BOLT COMING OUT THE BACK TO HOLD THE BUTTSTOCK ON.I SAY GET A MOSSBERG 500 AND GO FROM THERE. LOTS OF ACCESSORIES OUT THERE FOR THAT GUN.
 
this question shows the sad state our country is in when you have to ask permission or be within in regulations to cut YOUR OWN GUN. just my two cents. if it were mine id just cut it and not worry about it.
 
Like so many others have said, you might be money ahead to trade it for a little 500 or 870 that already had a pisol grip, mag extensions, ect,,

Depending on the grade the gun you have may be worth a whole lot more than a modern pump gun that has alot of toys made for it to be turned into a home gun instead of a duck or quail gun.

I am pretty sure that like the others have said 18" is the legal line. I am also thinking that the 18" starts at the front of the chamber and not the back.

Good luck.

Dave
 
By federal law, a "short-barrelled shotgun" is one with a barrel length less than 18 inches and an overall length less than 26 inches. Possession of such a weapon without a proper permit is treated about the same as possession of a machine gun; in other words, you don't want to be caught with one.

You probably know that all the choke in a shotgun barrel is in the last few inches. Cutting down the barrel will make it useless for anything but very short distances.

I suggest you trade in your Remington for a cheap Mossberg fitted with appropriate barrel and stock.
 
Not to be against guns because I own several myself but why ruin a perfectly good gun for self defense. I would just get a good pistol that has a shot barrel like my TC/Contender. they have 45 long colt 410 shot gun barrel.
Walt
 
If you want to see how our Gestapo treats those who cut down shot gun barrels, read "The Federal Siege at Ruby Ridge" By Randy Weaver. The Federales basically entrapped him. It was all over him cutting down a shot gun as a favor to someone else. The Feds killed his wife, his dog, and shot his son. Accused him of all sorts of stuff. Cant remember how much time he served, but he went through a heck of an ordeal at the hand of over zealous govt. I think the govt had to make a large monetary compensation to him. Can't remember all the details.


Be careful,, Gene
 
I believe that they are banned under the Geneva Convention. Just to dangerous in trench warfare. And since they are banned to the military (ie not a legal weapon for the militia) they are not protected by the constitution.
 
"too dangerous in trench warfare and banned by the military" sounds strange. To me, what could be more "dangerous" (and cruel) than a napalm spewing flame thrower?
 
It's a shame what happened at Ruby Ridge, but the fact remains that Weaver knowingly broke federal law. If he had been smart enough to not cut down that shotgun, his wife might still be alive.
 

Check this one out. Real pricey though. I would do like some of the others have mentioned and get an 870 or the mossberg with the 18" barrel and avoid all the hassles and cost.
Super Shorty
 
When all was said and done he got a few million $$ out of it. Don't remember the exact amount but he got a lot of $$ plus a pardon and a few other things
 
There's alot of stuff about the Judge on youtube. Looked at one at a store few weeks ago, gonna try to get one for the wife. Pretty neat little package.

Dave
 
If you ever use a shotgun in self defense and some politically ambitious prosecing attourney wants to make an example out of you, you will be wishing yould have never seen that folding plastic stock vertical grip gun with a heat shield and attached flashlight. A fine walnut stock, deep bluing and an engraved reciever with birds and dogs is much less menacing to a jury. I am not saying that is right, or what your decision should be, just that it is something to think about. A perspective of a former policeman.
 
(quoted from post at 17:24:34 02/25/09) Hmmm. I have a mod 500 wonder if I could just get a barrel for it?
Click to expand...

Just google a little.... You can get pistol grip stocks and riot barrels. I had a Stevens 12 ga pump riot control gun when I was a kid. Held 10 shells, and had an 18 in barrel. Paid 25 bucks for it at the time. It was an OK rabbit brush gun but not worth a damn for anything else.
If I had a sawed off shotgun that threw a pattern the size of a pony, my luck the bad guy would be standing close to one of the family and I wouldn't shoot anyway. I'd invest a little in an alarm to discourage them and wake you up, then hit them with a slug from the mossberg if they insist. Why take a chance on them dragging themselves outside and getting you in trouble.


Dave
 
No place for I think.Theres a fellow in jail now because his AR 15 rifle doubled and he was fool enough to tell about it.
 
Thank you much, I have heard both ways and always said if I cut one down I'd go with the longer way to be on the safe side.

Dave
 
A friend of mine removed the stock and put a pistol grip on a pump shotgun...I couldn't hit beans with it...I have a Tarus 45/410 which is a whole lot better.
 
id get a pistol grip and take the old stock off first , then see if its short enough.. i think 16 inches is the shortest you can go according to federal law, so go like 16-1/2 to be safe. atf will sure burn you for one to short. lucas
 
pretty sure its 20" if its cut according to feds,if you make one,Before you do anything,make sure you can get another barrel,ive seen some of those autos that wouldnt cycle properly after they were cut down..think it has something to do with the pressure curve in barrel,but im not sure. i ruined,a good supermatic by ctting the barrel back to take the full choke out for quail.loved that gun but its never worked right since,and no barrels avail .
 
REMEMBER!!!! you can buy a shotgun from the factory with a 18" barrel,,YOU CANNOT according to federal law MAKE one out of a longer barreled gun..I BELIEVE the law still says 20" but I"M NOT POSITIVE so check absolutly,I would think,some one made riot gun barrels for a 11-48.
 
No pardon was needed. Weaver had Gerry Spence as his lawyer. The government presented its case, and for the first time in FBI history an agent took the stand and refused to testify on the grounds of self incrimination. Spence simply questioned the government's witnesses then did not even present a defense on the summation that no defence was needed against such a weak case.

The jury found the Weaver innocent of all charges except the failure to appear and was granted time served with case closed. The government paid Weaver $100,000 and a $1,000,00 to each of children.

However he had a dead wife and a dead son for getting involved in "modifying" a couple shotguns.
 
Hey guys. Thanks for all the input. I did do a little googling on the 11-48 found some good info on there. I will not be cutting her down. From what I read this might make it un shootable.
So I wont risk it.
Also might be worth more than I thought as is. I only paid $125 for it at a sale.

I do own a Mod 500 mossberg so maybe I will just get a 18 1/2 inch barrel for it. And still use it for duck hunting when I want.

I did look at those 410 ga handguns. Nice!

Hand guns are ok. Good to keep in the coat pocket if your not sure of a threat.
Nothing like good 00 buck to take care of a known threat though.
Plus you got to figure your going to be amped up. I might miss with a hand gun. never could hit any thing with that 380 auto I had. A buck shot spread will be a little more forgiving.

Too bad we have to worry about this stuff. But with the Gov setting up 1/2 way houses all over the place, letting them out early and housing Lev 3 offenders at motels. Only a fool would not try to protect them selves.
 
I can't say that you are wrong on that. The Geneva Convention was a response to World War One, Flame Throwers were used in World War Two.
 
Shot guns have to be 18 inch minimum Rifle 16 inch .A 16 inch shot gun will get you a jail term.This is no place for I think, you have to be sure.
 
Talking 00 Buck. I read an article that someone did testing and with the criteria that they use a #2 buckshot load was a more effective home defense round with more smaller pellets that were still large enough to do major damage. Any smaller and the penetration isn't enough.
 
The Germans were the 1st to use flame throwers in WW1.

Germany began experimenting with flame-throwers in 1900. These powerful weapons used pressurized air, carbon dioxide, or nitrogen to push oil through the nozzle. The oil was ignited by a small charge and became a jet of flame. These machines were mainly used to clear enemy soldiers from their front line trenches. They first had a range of 25 meters, but were later increased to 40 meters. This made them hard to use anywhere besides no man's land. Other problems that flame-throwers had were that they were too hard to move around, and had only enough oil to burn 40 seconds at a time.
 
What I read this Randy Weaver was supposed to do a job for cia and said no way. Then They asked him to cut a shotgun down to 18". Then they said it was illegal only 17 and 7/8. I cut two that were already ruined to 18 and 1/4 to be sure. Like somebody already stated, stick a dowel in barrel and mark it, better be 18 absolute minimum and 26 or 27 entire length. Dave
 
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