In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.

Question re Legality Revolving Shotgun

rhmc24rhmc24 Member Posts: 1,984 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited October 2010 in Ask the Experts
Almost six weeks ago I sent an email to ATFTips@atf.gov describing my revolving shotgun I have built for hunting purpose, requesting information and/or instruction as to its legality. I sent photos and described it giving dimensions. It has a loading gate where the rounds are loaded one at a time or ejected one at a time with a push rod located in its sleeve alongside the barrel. It is loaded and unloaded in the same way as the old Colt Single Action Army revolver. An under lever revolves it and cocks it. I made a DVD of the construction process which I offered. Does anyone have experience with what I can expect in regard to a reply? Thanks, Robert

Shotgun-2-MeCropped.jpg

Comments

  • XXCrossXXCross Member Posts: 1,379 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I doubt you can use it for hunting if it holds more than three rounds. (you would not be allowed to just have empty cylinders)
  • countryfarmercountryfarmer Member Posts: 4,552
    edited November -1
    I agree the 3 shot limit for hunting may preclude from that purpose. Other than that it looks legal.

    added: I think the street sweeper used a detachable drum magazine whereas this is not easily detachable. I think you did a great job on it with some great engineering. I hope they do green light it as it resembles something that may have been used in the 1800s.
  • 11b6r11b6r Member Posts: 16,584 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    For migratory game birds (dove, duck, etc) Federal alw limits shotguns to 3 rounds. Many states may also place cartridge capacity limits.

    Re: BATFE- the prohibition on Street Sweeper type shotguns was due to a stated "Lack of Sporting Purpose"- that is required for anything over .50 cal, and how the revolving .410 shotgun gets around that. Your challenge will, in my uneducated opinion, lie in showing the "sporting purpose" of the shotgun, to distinguish it from Streetsweeper/ Stryker 12s, etc. Otherwise, they will declare it a destructive device, require that it be forfeited for destruction.

    Hoping that someone with a greater kowledge of Class III will jump in here, and confirm or tell me I'm full of crap (Mark! Where are you?)
  • fordsixfordsix Member Posts: 8,554 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    interesting what ga and how many rounds will it hold??
  • Wolf.Wolf. Member Posts: 2,223 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Almost six weeks ago I sent an email to ATFTips@atf.gov describing my revolving shotgun I have built for hunting purpose, requesting information and/or instruction as to its legality.[:0] Ah yes! 'Tis far better to ask for forgiveness, rather than permission![}:)][:D]

    Did you apply for a patent for the thing? You could probably at least build a few of them for the movie industry and make a few bucks.

    What inspired you to do this project?
  • rhmc24rhmc24 Member Posts: 1,984 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    So far the answer to my question seems to be NO! OTOH, interesting. From time to time the spirit moves me to make something. I have done several muzzle loader types plus a .22RF falling block pistol, a six-barrel .22RF pepperbox and this latest. It is 12 gauge, six shooter. Mechanism is different from anything I know of. Probably not patentable, not that I would want to produce it. I doubt the three shot limitation on migratory game birds has any meaning here in Oklahoma hunting rabbits. Finally, I have read up on all the law I could find and the 'hunting exception' should apply here. I thought maybe someone might have some experience with questions posed to the ATF. Cheers!
  • shootuadealshootuadeal Member Posts: 5,290 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I believe you need an 07? manufacturors license to make a firearm, not real sure but it might have been a better idea to find out the legalities of it before you sent a picture of your making it in picture to the ATF.

    As far as hunting purpose? I think you may have bigger fish to fry if it turns out you need a license to build a gun from scratch and don't have one.
  • vicg1vicg1 Member Posts: 1,033 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by shootuadeal
    I believe you need an 07? manufacturors license to make a firearm, not real sure but it might have been a better idea to find out the legalities of it before you sent a picture of your making it in picture to the ATF.

    As far as hunting purpose? I think you may have bigger fish to fry if it turns out you need a license to build a gun from scratch and don't have one.


    No, you don't need a license to build for personal use.

    RHMC24: I don't believe there will be an answer to your email... if you do get one I bet it will take almost a year and then they will direct you to send a sample to the tech branch for review.
  • NwcidNwcid Member Posts: 10,674
    edited November -1
    I see nothing that wold make this gun anything other then a Title 1 firearm. You can make ANY gun you choose as long as it is not not full auto or if it is NFA by filling out the proper paperwork for personal use. If you are building them for sale then you will need to get a license.

    The Streetsweeper was listed by NAME to be DD (destructive device) which is not illegal just requires NFA paperwork, if it was by feature there would be many more shotguns out there that were on the NFA list.

    As the others have stated it will take a LONG time (probably a year or more) to get a response.
  • rhmc24rhmc24 Member Posts: 1,984 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks guys, I knew there would be knowledgeable, reasoned, practical replies. Robert
Sign In or Register to comment.