Question about CS Cavalry shotgun

[rebholister]

Help! I can't find the barrel lengths of the CS double barrel sawed off shotguns. Was there a standard length that they cut them to?
I know Pedasoli made theirs at 14 inches.
Thank you for any help.

Reb Holister

[Artyman]

There was no standard length, except to say "short enough". One problem "damascas" barrels had if used often enough, was that the barrel would begin to split at the muzzle along the seams. The old one my grandpap had was split on one barrel about an inch. When that happened they'd just saw a bit more off to eliminate the split, so sometimes short got even shorter. I ain't no gunsmith so I can't tell you why they did, I just know there are examples.

If it wuz me doin' it I'd just cut it to approx period specs, but remember you arn't a criminal street fighter so you should be as conservative as the period allows.

Harry

[Poor Private]

Don't forget also federal, state and local laws. Too short a barrel is illegal. I believe here in Michigan it's 14".

[Blair]

Look at US Army Ordnance Regulations concerning "smooth bore" Military firearms. Any such weapon with barrel (s) less than 26 inches were useless for the Mounted Service.
Much better to have two revolvers. Less weight, better accuracy and... 10 more shots!!!
I am a gunsmith and I speak with some knowledge of Military requirements of the time period.

[rebholister]

Thank you all for your help. So, what I really need to be asking is - what were the original period specs on barrel length?

Reb Holister

[Curt-Heinrich Schmidt]

Hallo!

In brief and to over-generalize...

There is no "issue" sawqed-off shotgun, so there is no barrel length specification to be found in the CS Ordnance Manual.

Just as and aside...

I have found that in unchocked barrels, that one will reach a point where the spread of the shot from the muzzle becomes so extreme that the load becomes randomly ineffective in relationship to the shortness of the barrels.
It is somewhat amazing at the pattern (or lack of) from say 20 inch or 18 inch barrels at anyhting other than very close ranges.
Granted, it only takes one O or OO shot ball/pellet to be nasty at close ranges, but a dozen or so yards out it gets harder and harder to keep a tight pattern as the tens of yards increase.

CHS
Who once tried trap shooting with an unchoked, sawed off, 20 inch single as well as S X S double barrel Mess

[66illinois]

In regard to ATF regulations, I am pretty sure you can go as short (sawed-off) as you want......I am a FFL/Class III and black-powder / muzzle-loading guns are not a big issue with the Feds and often not even "classified" as guns! In fact as you might know, you can purchase muzzle loading firearms direct, without having to go through a FFL Dealer or do the "yellow sheets."

I have seen Cav. guys carrying 12" shotguns....VERY, VERY short but VERY cool! A loud bang for sure.....


I would LOVE to see pics. of short barreled shotguns as used by reenactors. *Please do post.

Cheers,

George A.
Shreveport, LA

[Poor Private]

George,
In regards to length of sawed off shotguns, I think you had better check your local, state and fed regs.
1992 Ruby Ridge Randy Weaver and his family was shot and killed (some say murdered) due in part to a sawed off shotgun. He was talked into sawing off a barrel by an undercover BATF. Go ahead Google Ruby Ridge.
The best bet for anyone using and transporting a sawed off shotgun to any of our events is to check out the laws regarding transporting through and using in different states other than your own. You don't want to have the whole summer ruin because you are spending time in jail or fighting in court.

[66illinois]

I am NOT talking about "modern" shotguns but ones that are muzzle-loading, percussion capped' models. I am almost 100% sure that the ATF do not care what you do with a "black powder, muzzle loading, percussion cap gun."

Randy Weaver and his crazies were taking "modern" shotguns and sawing them down....yes, this is quite illegal and the ATF does govern this. Any barrel under 18" that is attached to a modern shotgun is in violation, unless is it properly registered with the ATF. And Yes, I would recommend you contact a local Class III dealer in your area for clarification.

Good Info here:

http://www.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs.cmu.edu/user/wbardwel/public/nfalist/nfa_faq.txt

[Curt-Heinrich Schmidt]

Hallo!

I would add that we are talking BATFE at the Federal level here.

What individual states, and local municipalities, may have added to Fed Law, like others mileage, may vary...

IMHO, know what applies to you whre you live and play.

CHS
Who has read local ordinance here that talk about "Dangerous Ordnance" as anything capable of firing a projectile Mess

[Jim Mayo]

I can not remember seeing a single picture of a Confederate with a shot gun that is cut down. Most of the south were well acquainted with shot guns and knew if they were cut down accuracy suffered. It would be perfectly correct to carry a full length shotgun. There was a recent article in North South Trader about the use of Shot Guns. When I get home I will look to see if any of the surviving specimines they list are cut down but I don't think they are.