A sawed-off shotgun (also called sawed-off shotgun, short-barreled shotgun, shorty shotgun or arrow stick) is a type of shotgun with a shorter barrel – usually less than 18 inches (46 cm) – and often a shortened or missing stock. Despite the colloquial term, barrels themselves do not need to be shortened with a saw. Barrels can be produced in shorter lengths as an alternative to longer conventional series. This makes them easier to carry due to their smaller profile and lighter weight. The design also makes the weapon easy to maneuver in tight spaces, a feature sought after by military melee units, users of law enforcement SWAT teams, and those involved in home defense. Due to the shorter barrel length, the capacity of each sawed-off shotgun with magazine barrel is reduced. In the 1930s, the United States, Great Britain and Canada required a permit to possess these firearms. [1] They are subject to legal restrictions depending on the jurisdiction. They are used by armed forces and law enforcement authorities around the world. California, Connecticut, DC, Maryland, Massachusetts and Rhode Island require training or safety testing to obtain a license, while Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York and North Carolina do not. Hawaii requires it for handgun applicants, but not for owners of rifles or shotguns. The states also differ in the number of guns you can buy with a purchase license. No person shall reduce the barrel length of a shotgun to less than 457 mm (18 inches) by sawing, cutting or “otherwise” by anyone other than a recognized firearms manufacturer.
[7] If you`ve seen the cannon yourself, no. You can`t cut a barrel below 18.5.” However, if it is manufactured ex factory with a short barrel, it is completely legal. Several Chinese companies produce shotguns with barrels as low as 8.5 inches, which are still not restricted. Under the National Firearms Act (NFA), it is illegal for an individual to possess a modern smokeless powder gun with a sawed-off barrel (a shotgun with a barrel length of less than 18 inches (46 cm) or a minimum total pistol length, total, including the minimum barrel of 18 inches. less than 26 inches (66 cm)) (under Title II of the United States Code) without tax registration with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which requires a background check and a fee of $200 or $5 for each transfer, depending on the particular manufacturing conditions of the particular sawed-off modern shotgun being transferred. Gun trusts have become an increasingly popular way to register SBSs with BATTE. [11] Short-barrelled muzzle-loading black powder shotguns are not illegal under federal law and do not require a tax-stamped license, although they may be illegal under state law. As with all NFA-regulated firearms, a new tax stamp must be purchased prior to each transfer. Interstate transfers must be facilitated by a federal firearms license holder (FFL), while domestic transfers can be between two individuals. [12] Many countries have restricted sawed-off shotguns by law. Below are the restrictions for certain nations.
Although they are not listed here, they are also subject to firearms laws in general. The historical military use of sawed-off shotguns includes use as the primary weapon for Confederate cavalry during the American Civil War. These muzzle-loading weapons were mainly used for hand-to-hand combat and to supplement the availability of more traditional short-range weapons such as swords or carbines. The availability of source weapons and the ability to use a single bullet, a shot, or a mixture of both, depending on the situation, were the reasons why they were initially desired by Confederate cavalry units. They were replaced over time as more conventional weapons became available and tactical use of cavalry shifted to be used as mounted infantry. A sawed-off shotgun is often an unofficial modification of a standard shotgun. In countries where handguns are more expensive or difficult to obtain, criminals can turn legally purchased or stolen shotguns into hidden weapons. Mufflers, also known as gun suppressors, are illegal in Canada. However, some people have the right to possess and transport them.
This includes people with grandfather privileges. Bank robber Clyde Barrow modified his Browning A-5 shotgun by cutting the barrel to the same length as the magazine barrel and shortening the stock from 5 to 6 inches (125 to 150 mm) to make it more concealable. A small 10- to 12-inch (250-300 mm) strap was attached to both ends of the gun`s butt and wrapped around his shoulder, with the gun hidden between his arm and chest under his jacket like a shoulder holster. The weapon was quickly fired and fired from the shoulder under which it was carried. Barrow called him the “Whippit” because he could easily “whip” him. Compared to a standard shotgun, the sawed-off shotgun has a shorter effective range due to a lower muzzle velocity; However, its reduced length makes it easier to maneuver and hide. Powerful and compact, the weapon is particularly suitable for use in small spaces, such as close combat in a military context. Military vehicle crews use short-barreled combat rifles as auxiliary weapons. In urban combat zones, military response teams often use shotguns to force and enter gates.