Sawed off shotgun

[blueribbonman]

I have a co-worker that has a sawed off shotgun he says he inherited when his dad passed away & he's wanting to get rid of it. Does anyone have any ideas on how to get rid of it without him getting into legal trouble?

 

[Bighouse Doc]

Get an attorney!

-Doc

 

[FifteenCents]

There is always one...

Every state is different, I would call a local gunshop and ask a "hypothetical" question or two.

 

[macmanjim]

Can you replace the barrel? Then throw the old one out...

​

 

[GLADad]

I think he should've had a police officer come pick it up the moment he took possession of it, that way the death is still recent, shows a priority to get rid of the thing, and is less likely to seem like some made up story 6 months afterwards. Of course consulting an attorney first is never a bad idea either.

 

[Purple]

If he wants to get rid of the gun, and its a home made sawed-off; tell him to destroy it. Pull the hammer and trigger out, saw the barrel in a couple of piece, burn the furniture and dispose of the metal in separate recycle bins. DO NOT TAKE POSSESSION OF IT. If you get caught with it in your possession without the appropriate ATF paperwork....you may be charged with a felony.

 

[Joseph Senter]

First I would decide if it's worth messing with.

Can you replace the barrel? Then throw the old one out...

​

If yes is the answer, remove the barrel, cut it into small pieces and dispose of it. now all you have is an action, which is not illegal. Next, try and locate a replacement barrel.If you can find one you now have a legal shotgun, if not, you have an action which you can sell or keep. Problem solved.

 

[SGB]

Lot's of non gun people use the term "sawed off shotgun" to describe perfectly legal riot guns. As long as the shotgun has a barrel of 18" or more and an overall length of 26" or more it's not a "sawed off shotgun".

Further as it's legal to own true short barrel shotguns as long as the proper federal paperwork has been done and tax stamp paid he may want to investigate his fathers important papers if it truly is a short barrel shotgun. If it's a lawfully registered SBS it can be legally given to a Class III FFL for sale or disposal.

 

[Shoobee]

In Minnesota you don't have a seacoast nor any salt water lakes. That's unfortunate.

What I suggest is that you take it completely apart with a screwdriver. Then it is no longer technically a sawed off shotgun, it is merely shotgun parts with an illegal barrel.

Find a lake, with a bridge over it, and toss the barrel into it.

Find another lake, also with a bridge over it, and toss the rest of the parts into it.

Problem solved.

But before you do that, like SBG said, measure the barrel. If it is 18 inches or more (usually riot guns are 18 1/2") and 26 inches overall, then it is ok. If not, then deep six it.

 

[Firefighterchen]

If the barrel is under 18", Why wouldn't you guys just get another barrel for it? Why would you throw away all the other good parts?

 

[DCkilla]

Remove barrel
Measure barrel
Less than 18", cut up barrel

I'm no lawyer. But hey, how hard can it be?

Question: If said shotgun has 7+1 capacity, logically, would it have a 20" barrel? Now, if it has 5+1. More than likely, It would have an 18 1/2" barrel depending on manufacturer. What's the capacity of this shotgun?

Am I stretching this too far?

 

[maine04619]

I have a co-worker that has a sawed off shotgun he says he inherited when his dad passed away & he's wanting to get rid of it. Does anyone have any ideas on how to get rid of it without him getting into legal trouble?

18 barrel 26 overall is legal sans a stamp. IF you have ANY suspicion it does not meet both these remove the barrel and store in a different home then the receiver or destroy the barrel. Buy a new barrel put that legal length barrel on the shotgun and your good.

 

[thoricuncle]

Be sure to measure it correctly.

Make sure it is unloaded (twice). Close the action and drop a dowel down the barrel. Make a mark on the dowel where the barrel ends. Measure the distance. If it's greater than 18"; you are ok.

(rather, have your friend do that. You don't want to be around this gun. Remember, a purported sawed off shotgun is what caused the whole David Koresh Branch Davidian fiasco)

 

[Sir Diealotz]

Be sure to measure it correctly.

Make sure it is unloaded (twice). Close the action and drop a dowel down the barrel. Make a mark on the dowel where the barrel ends. Measure the distance. If it's greater than 18"; you are ok.

(rather, have your friend do that. You don't want to be around this gun. Remember, a purported sawed off shotgun is what caused the whole David Koresh Branch Davidian fiasco)

That was Ruby Ridge incident that was started by the just under legal limit shotgun barrel length.

OP,

What kind of shotgun? We need more details. For instance I have an old shotgun that belonged to a prison guard back in the 1930s & 40s.

 

[The_Outlaw]

In Minnesota you don't have a seacoast nor any salt water lakes. That's unfortunate.

What I suggest is that you take it completely apart with a screwdriver. Then it is no longer technically a sawed off shotgun, it is merely shotgun parts with an illegal barrel.

Find a lake, with a bridge over it, and toss the barrel into it.

Find another lake, also with a bridge over it, and toss the rest of the parts into it.

Problem solved.

.

Quite possibly the worst possible advice ever imho!
I can see it now,

"An eyewitness stated to police that he/she saw the subject identified as 'Mr. Shoobee' throwing parts of what appeared to be a weapon off of the bridge into the river. Local police sent a dive team into the river to recover said weapon. Upon further analysis experts say that the sawed off shotgun closely matches the suspected weapon involved in the murder of Jane/John Doe from the Neighboring town of Springfield Minnesota. Mr Shoobee is being held without bail and is currently being interrogated by police. More on this story as it unfolds."

-Maria Aguilar Channel 5 news-

~SMH~

 

[Tea Man]

What kind of the shotgun is it? Single action? Pumper? Double barrel?

 

[Blackthorn]

Depending on the make of the shotgun parts can be quite valuable. They could be sold to Gun Parts Inc or another parts house like that.
Demil the barrel. Either cut it into little pieces including the chamber area or drill a rather large hole though the chamber or chambers rendering it unsafe to fire. Then throw it away... When I do shotgun repair for burst barrels I generally cut the chamber in half bend the barrel in a vice and then dispose of it as trash. I know that a meth-head might be able to put your shreaded up bills back together but I sincerely doubt they will be able to repair that barrel and find a receiver that will fit it......

 

[maine04619]

Be sure to measure it correctly. Make sure it is unloaded (twice). Close the action and drop a dowel down the barrel. Make a mark on the dowel where the barrel ends. Measure the distance. If it's greater than 18"; you are ok. (rather, have your friend do that. You don't want to be around this gun. Remember, a purported sawed off shotgun is what caused the whole David Koresh Branch Davidian fiasco)

Do not forget the OVERALL length must be at lest 26 inches as well. Just because the barrel is legal length does not make the firearm legal...

 

[K7lvo]

Be sure to measure it correctly.

Make sure it is unloaded (twice). Close the action and drop a dowel down the barrel. Make a mark on the dowel where the barrel ends. Measure the distance. If it's greater than 18"; you are ok.

(rather, have your friend do that. You don't want to be around this gun. Remember, a purported sawed off shotgun is what caused the whole David Koresh Branch Davidian fiasco)

Isn't that what caused Randy Weaver's problems, too?

 

[maine04619]

Isn't that what caused Randy Weaver's problems, too?

Kind of my point.