Non NFA 20 gauge pistol?

[Jim Watson]

The Contender did in 357, 44 and 45LC/.410.

The version I heard went:
TC brought out the .45/.410 with "de-spinning" choke and all was well for a while.
But then a dealer imported some cheap Brazilian .410 shot pistols with "scratch" rifling and chambers relieved to accept .45 LC.
The BATF shut him down for evading the regulations but had to include TC whose approach was previously acceptable.
So TC brought out the Hot Shot capsules in pistol brass and chambered the next generation of barrels to suit.
My neighbor the gunsmith bought a reamer and did a lively business converting .45 Hot Shots to .410, as did many other shops.
Eventually the Brazilian knockoffs dropped off the market and TC was allowed to resume selling factory .45/.410s.

Moral of the story; don't think the Feds don't know what you are up to with loophole evasions and don't think they cannot close loopholes by administrative regulation.
The bump stock is in focus now, I would not want to have money tied up in a Shockwave or "arm brace." They will ban them when they are told to.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

If you're looking for a short range thumper I think there are easier options readily available out there. .454 Casull is much more powerful then a .44mag, there are also 45-70 BFR revolvers or the 500S&W, all which you can have without doing any legal work and I would expect all to have as much or more power than a 20ga pistol

 

[PapaG]

Is that true? Huh... I did not know that. I thought BP firearms were exempt from these laws.

Not Illinois. Also, air rifles with larger bore than .177, and/or with a mv of greater than 700 fps are also "firearms".

 

[jono]

Is that true? Huh... I did not know that. I thought BP firearms were exempt from these laws.

Interestingly, though, I can use my 10-ML-1 smokeless in Illinois during muzzleloader season [but not in Michigan (where I live)] where I can use a .450 bushmaster or a .454 Casull with as much of a rifle platform as I desire....

 

[bikemutt]

I thought for sure I'd heard that Taurus tried to get a 28 gauge "Judge" approved but ATF wouldn't bite.

 

[George P]

I thought for sure I'd heard that Taurus tried to get a 28 gauge "Judge" approved but ATF wouldn't bite.

They bit, told them it wouldn't fly

 

[dogtown tom]

I thought for sure I'd heard that Taurus tried to get a 28 gauge "Judge" approved but ATF wouldn't bite.

See post #18

 

[Elkins45]

Paying for a NFA stamp on a SBS would be a lot cheaper in the long run than building your own from scratch. Spend the $200 and then build any sort of 12 gauge you want.

 

[kozak6]

There's two things about the 28 gauge Judge.

The first is that it was probably just an attempt at publicity in order to draw attention away from the introduction of the S&W Governor.

The second is that a legal 28 gauge pistol is just almost within reach. 28 gauge is about .55 caliber, which is incredibly close to .50. Even if whatever squeezebore trick they had wasn't kosher, I also wouldn't be surprised if it generated dangerously high pressure. Which, wouldn't matter if it wasn't a serious pistol anyways.

 

[George P]

There's two things about the 28 gauge Judge.

The first is that it was probably just an attempt at publicity in order to draw attention away from the introduction of the S&W Governor.

The second is that a legal 28 gauge pistol is just almost within reach. 28 gauge is about .55 caliber, which is incredibly close to .50. Even if whatever squeezebore trick they had wasn't kosher, I also wouldn't be surprised if it generated dangerously high pressure. Which, wouldn't matter if it wasn't a serious pistol anyways.

A 32 gauge is even closer, but still over that "magical" .50 number.......
Now, the 36 gauge, at .506 MIGHT get some consideration.....

 

[bikemutt]

This is anecdotal of course but, owing to a corrupting cousin on mine, I went over to the 28 gauge shotgun dark side for a couple years. I'm talking fixed breach scatter guns here, not auto loaders. I've circled back to 20 gauge and find it far easier on my shoulder than 28 gauge. Yes, there is a weight difference between the platforms especially for guns sized for the 28 gauge but still, my shoulder doesn't lie to me. I could not even imagine a handgun in 28 gauge.