Pistol grip only shotguns legal in MD?

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  • Jed195

    Ultimate Member
    Oct 19, 2011
    3,901
    MD.
    Are pistol grip only shotgun still legal to buy in Maryland? I have a project in mind that requires one and was recently told by a gun store owner/operator that they are a no no now.
     

    miben

    Active Member
    Sep 29, 2007
    444
    NC formerly Eldersburg MD
    Have to be 21 since they are an 'other'.

    That's my take on it too. There is a ffl newsletter that specifies it is not a shotgun because a shotgun is fired from the shoulder. The fed may consider it a destructive device. If you convert one it may be manufacturing a destructive device.
     

    Johnthetoolguy

    Ultimate Member
    Feb 4, 2009
    3,345
    Pasadena
    I think the pistol grip/shotgun deal was one of the things removed from HB or SB281 before it was voted on. I could be wrong though.
     

    clandestine

    AR-15 Savant
    Oct 13, 2008
    37,031
    Elkton, MD
    Must be 21, they are not shotguns though. They are "Other" firearms.

    The dealer may likely be confused by SB281 part of the law that applies to the 28"+ OAL. That only applies to centerfire rifles that are semiautomatic.
     

    aquashooter

    Active Member
    Apr 17, 2013
    892
    Monkey Co
    I might be wrong (I usually am), but I thought federal law used to require 18" barrel with an OAL of 26". My old folding stock that I used undercover in the 70s was still 29" when folded. If it meets those parameters, it should be kosher for cash and carry.
     

    clandestine

    AR-15 Savant
    Oct 13, 2008
    37,031
    Elkton, MD
    I might be wrong (I usually am), but I thought federal law used to require 18" barrel with an OAL of 26". My old folding stock that I used undercover in the 70s was still 29" when folded. If it meets those parameters, it should be kosher for cash and carry.

    For a shotgun yes, you are correct.

    Shotgun Definition means its Fired from the Shoulder (Has a Buttstock), or at one time HAD a Stock on it. BATFE appears to take the position of "once a Shotgun ALWAYS a Shotgun".

    A Pistol Grip Only 870 or 500 (Factory Produced) that is not a combo gun (With a Pistol Grip and Buttstock in the Box) is an "Other" Firearm. Its not a shotgun and there is NO minimum Barrel Length, just a 26" OAL must be maintained. Its a "Firearm" that shoots a shotshell.

    Shorter than 26" is NFA territory.
     

    Jed195

    Ultimate Member
    Oct 19, 2011
    3,901
    MD.
    For a shotgun yes, you are correct.

    Shotgun Definition means its Fired from the Shoulder (Has a Buttstock), or at one time HAD a Stock on it. BATFE appears to take the position of "once a Shotgun ALWAYS a Shotgun".

    A Pistol Grip Only 870 or 500 (Factory Produced) that is not a combo gun (With a Pistol Grip and Buttstock in the Box) is an "Other" Firearm. Its not a shotgun and there is NO minimum Barrel Length, just a 26" OAL must be maintained. Its a "Firearm" that shoots a shotshell.

    Shorter than 26" is NFA territory.

    Thank you Chad, your's is the voice I was hoping to hear from on this issue so thank you again. Hopefully I can complete this project and post pics.
     

    clandestine

    AR-15 Savant
    Oct 13, 2008
    37,031
    Elkton, MD
    Thank you Chad, your's is the voice I was hoping to hear from on this issue so thank you again. Hopefully I can complete this project and post pics.

    Glad to offer some input. :)

    Remember when dealing with a FFL, that most FFL's are not going to know what I explained. Most don't even know one has to be 21 to buy a Pistol Grip 870.
     

    clandestine

    AR-15 Savant
    Oct 13, 2008
    37,031
    Elkton, MD
    fire one b4 you buy, not a lot of fun to shoot

    IMO, with a traditional pistol grip you are correct (Protrudes below the receiver) but the birdshead type pistol grips are a hoot to shoot (comes straight back). I can shoot them one handed with ease suing 12G slugs and Magnum loads.

    Im not a massive fella either. I even had some videos up till some mean BATFE Agents picked a fight with me and the project at the shop I work at.
     
    Feb 28, 2013
    28,953
    fire one b4 you buy, not a lot of fun to shoot

    IMO, with a traditional pistol grip you are correct (Protrudes below the receiver) but the birdshead type pistol grips are a hoot to shoot (comes straight back). I can shoot them one handed with ease suing 12G slugs and Magnum loads.

    Im not a massive fella either. I even had some videos up till some mean BATFE Agents picked a fight with me and the project at the shop I work at.

    Well, I'm bigger than Chad, by probably 6 inches, and I'm not real fond of shooting pistol grip shotguns either. How you hold it makes a big difference. The funny things, the ones he describes above scare me more than regular grips.

    Are pistol grip only shotgun still legal to buy in Maryland? I have a project in mind that requires one and was recently told by a gun store owner/operator that they are a no no now.

    Bushwa. They're legal. Find a gun store owner that knows what the hell he's doing.

    I have one, and it even has a shoulder thing that goes up.

    What I'm not sure of is whether that means the stock or the heart shield.:lol2:
     

    Sirex

    Powered by natural gas
    Oct 30, 2010
    10,380
    Westminster, MD
    For a shotgun yes, you are correct.

    Shotgun Definition means its Fired from the Shoulder (Has a Buttstock), or at one time HAD a Stock on it. BATFE appears to take the position of "once a Shotgun ALWAYS a Shotgun".

    A Pistol Grip Only 870 or 500 (Factory Produced) that is not a combo gun (With a Pistol Grip and Buttstock in the Box) is an "Other" Firearm. Its not a shotgun and there is NO minimum Barrel Length, just a 26" OAL must be maintained. Its a "Firearm" that shoots a shotshell.

    Shorter than 26" is NFA territory.

    Dumb question. I am looking to get a Mossberg 590 in the future. The one I am interested has a pistol grip. The only reason I chose that one was because it was cheaper, but I have a speedfeed stock I bought for my 500 I am going to use. Is it legal to take the stock, and attach it before completing transfer so it is not an "other"? Or is it not even worth it.
     

    clandestine

    AR-15 Savant
    Oct 13, 2008
    37,031
    Elkton, MD
    Dumb question. I am looking to get a Mossberg 590 in the future. The one I am interested has a pistol grip. The only reason I chose that one was because it was cheaper, but I have a speedfeed stock I bought for my 500 I am going to use. Is it legal to take the stock, and attach it before completing transfer so it is not an "other"? Or is it not even worth it.

    Are you sure the 590 does not have a stock in the box? If it does its not an "other", its a combo gun and classified as a shotgun.

    What you want is legal for you to do. The shop likely wont do it though as most don't understand this technicality and it will raise flags and cause you difficulty.

    You can legally make an other a shotgun, but you cant go back to "other" once you do it legally.
     

    Ab_Normal

    Ab_member
    Feb 2, 2010
    8,613
    Carroll County
    Are you sure the 590 does not have a stock in the box? If it does its not an "other", its a combo gun and classified as a shotgun.

    What you want is legal for you to do. The shop likely wont do it though as most don't understand this technicality and it will raise flags and cause you difficulty.

    You can legally make an other a shotgun, but you cant go back to "other" once you do it legally.

    Are you saying that once you put the buttstock on an 'other' PG [shotgun] that you can't put the PG back on and go back to 'other'?
     

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