revolving shotgun, is it legal?

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

I remember hearing somewhere awhile ago and I decided to ask here, is a revolver like shotgun legal? or is it a "destrutive device"?

what i'm thinking of is just like a DA/SA revolver just with a stock and longer barrel that fires something like 12 gauge.

 

[SFB]

your post got me wondering so i did a little search and came up with this.

 

[Zoogster]

Depends what the ATF says for all firearms over .50 inches in diameter.

Every modern centerfire arm over .50 must be considered sporting or it is a "destructive device", an NFA item as amended by the GCA of 1968.


There is some nice looking ones though:

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

but 12 gauge shotguns are over .50, and slug guns are the same right? why aren't those DDs?

what shotgun is that anyway?

 

[Warhawk83]

Anyone have info on that shotgun? I would love to have that,looks good enough to mount on the wall.

 

[PT1911]

now that would be cool as hell...What about the cylinder does the atf have a problem with?

 

[lobo9er]

thats a photo shop job right?

 

[Zoogster]

but 12 gauge shotguns are over .50, and slug guns are the same right? why aren't those DDs?

Because those are shotguns considered suitable for "sporting purposes" under the 1968 changes to the 1934 NFA.

As defined in Title 26 U.S.C., Chapter 53, section 5845(f) of the
National Firearms Act (NFA), the term destructive device includes
certain weapons by whatever name known which will, or which may
readily be converted to, expel a projectile by the action of an
explosive or other propellant, the barrel or barrels of which have
a bore of more than one-half inch in diameter, except a shotgun or
shotgun shell which the Secretary or his delegate finds is
generally recognized as particularly suitable for sporting
purposes.

The ATF acts as the "secretary or his delegate". They said some were unsporting, and have not chosen to say others are.

For example they declared the Streetsweeper, Striker-12 and USAS-12 shotguns were destructive devices. They are therefore destructive devices.
If tomorrow they declared all Saiga shotguns were destructive devices, they would become destructive devices.
In fact they threatened to do so if anyone made a drum magazine for them, prior to anyone doing so. Since then several drums have been made, but they have as yet not declared Saiga shotguns destructive devices. They can at any time and the next day that would be law.

If the firearm is over .50 then they are all powerful as of 1968.
Even once they declare something is legal, they can declare it is not a month later if they change thier mind.
They are unlikely to excessively abuse this ability on a scale that effects a large number of people at one time (like declaring a common shotgun a destructive device), because then pressure would mount to limit thier discretion. And they certainly like thier all powerful discretion. Unique models though may be banned at will.

 

[lobo9er]

now the colt 1855 would be a cool one for norinco or iac or whatever chinese company to copy. i would be first in line as long as the price was right

 

[lobo9er]

wow that isn't photo shop - MTs-255 shotgun is this available in the states? i know what i will be researching tonight

 

[Zoogster]

Anyone have info on that shotgun? I would love to have that,looks good enough to mount on the wall.

That is the MC255 20 gauge shotgun.

 

[CleverNickname]

Man I wish we could get the MC255 in the US. If we could I'd have found my next title II project. Chop off the buttstock and cut the barrel down to 6" or so and you'd have an SBS "handgun" that'd be a lot more fun than that goofy Taurus Judge.

 

[lobo9er]

CLEVER NICK NAME We are one in the same. be like hellboys pistol

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

it would be a AOW (any other weapon) if it was in the confiquration as i recall.

 

[Quiet]

it would be a AOW (any other weapon) if it was in the confiquration as i recall.

No, it would not be an AOW, it would be a SBS, like CleverNickname stated in his post.

It has a shoulder stock, if you remove the shoulder stock and reduce the barrel length (below 18"BL/26"OAL), it'll become a SBS.

In order to be an AOW, it can never had a shoulder stock attached to it.

 

[Oyeboten]

I really LIKE that Revolver-Shotgun...


Does it come in 12 Gauge also?


What a nice idea...


I wonder why this design has remained so rare?

 

[Avenger29]

Does it come in 12 Gauge also?


What a nice idea...


I wonder why this design has remained so rare?

Okay, have you ever shot a revolver? Yes? You know how the cylinder gap spits fire and such out, right? And that you should never hold the revolver with fingers or hand ahead of the cylinder?

Now, look at that shotgun and consider where your support hand and arm are going...

 

[Zoogster]

I wonder why this design has remained so rare?

Turning such a large cylinder double action can require some force. (In single action mode it would be great.)


The primary reason though is the cylinder gap. When you fire a revolver hot air rushes out of the gap between the cylinder and the barrel. In some of the more powerful handguns like a .S&W500 the hot gases coming out from the cylinder gap can inflict nasty wounds. Medium calibers can still cause damage within a few inches. In smaller calibers it can still leave painfull burns if your skin gets too close.
In a rifle or shotgun chambered in calibers with for more gases and energy than a handgun the arm holding the forearm must avoid the cylinder gap by a wide margin to avoid those gases.

That said there would be easy designs to avoid those problems. From the Mosin Nagant revolver design which moves the cylinder back and forth to create a flush fit that seals the gases.
To simply a shield that overlaps the cylinder gap and slides back and forth and inch or so allowing access to the cylinder when loading, but safely containing all escaping gases during firing.

Does it come in 12 Gauge also?

The largest gauge it currently comes in is 20.

 

[akodo]

anything over 50 cal is a destructive device

exceptions are made for guns that have a clear sporting purpose (as determined by the ATF)

ATF pretty much declares any and all shotguns to be 'sporting'...with a few exceptions that scare the antis, like the 'streetsweeper'

 

[JCisHe]

I bet the cylinder would be VERY heavy.

 

[PT1911]

the gun seems to have a side plate extention to the cylinder to prevent the heat spray from the cylinder gap.

 

[Zoogster]

the gun seems to have a side plate extention to the cylinder to prevent the heat spray from the cylinder gap.

You are correct it does. So there is little danger on this particular design for a right handed shooter.

I wonder why this design has remained so rare?

Another reason the design never caught on was it was relatively taboo in the cap and ball days. If an extra secondary cylinder was discharged it could take out the arm of the shooter (a cylinder not lined up with the barrel discharging from sparks). Not much risk of that with cartridge arms, but a taboo is a taboo.


You can see the lack of danger from the cylinder gap along the left side with it closed:

 

[benminer]

I don't know if it's legal or not but I am sure that it's awesome.

 

[cane]

lobo9er Here you go: http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_92_186_191&products_id=13618

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

i remember hearing about that, its a colt i believe.