NFA Shotguns – What are they and how are they defined?
High Speed Photograph Showing A Shotgun Shell being Fired (courtesy wikipedia)
There are several different firearms classifications within the National Firearms Act, and each of these different types of firearms are clearly defined within the act. In order to classify a firearm as an NFA firearm, certain characteristics that are specific to each weapon type must be met. In order to do this, definitions of the dimensions, functions, configurations, or designs are used. If the weapon in question meets the requirements specific to it’s type, then it is classified as a National Firearms Act (NFA) weapon, and will require a Federal Firearms License or FFL
Lets take a look at shotguns. It’s a very popular firearm that’s typically fired from the shoulder, and utilizes a shotgun shell. One of the criteria that is used to define a shotgun as an NFA weapon is the barrel length. Any shotgun that has a barrel that is less than 18″ in length is subject to the NFA, and is deemed an NFA shotgun. As you’re probably aware though, the vast majority of shotguns do not meet this requirement, and are not NFA firearms. This is also why you’re breaking a federal law if you possess or manufacture a homemade sawed off shotgun.
According to the NFA, in order to measure the barrel length of your shotgun, you’ll typically measure it from muzzle to the face of the breech on a line that runs parallel to the axis of the bore of the shotgun. In special circumstances, and for non typical shotguns that the breech isn’t an integral part of the barrel, it’s measured differently. They point out the case of a revolving shotgun. To measure the barrel length on this, you’d measure from the muzzle to the front of a cylinder that doesn’t include the chamber.
The MTs255 revolving shotgun (courtesy wikipedia)
One thing to take note of is that this measurement does NOT include anything attached to the barrel like a choke, muzzle break, or compensator that isn’t permanently attached to the barrel. And to get even more specific, none of these devices are considered permanently attached to the barrel unless they’re welded with a full penetration gas or electric weld, or silver soldered.
And finally, any weapon that’s constructed from a shotgun, or any shotgun type weapon, is considered to be an NFA firearm if the overall length is less than 26 inches, or the barrel is less than 18 inches in length.
An example of a weapon made from a shotgun that's considered an NFA firearm (courtesy ATF)
