Rifled barrels

[poll007]

rifled shotgun barrels seem to be grey area

It seems pretty clear in the legislation to me? S5 by virtue of 5(1) (ab) - "any self-loading or pump-action rifled gun other than one which is chambered for .22 rimfire cartridges."

Note it doesn't mention either shotgun or rifle, only 'rifled gun'.
[/quote]

I should have been clearer- I completely agree that the wording of the legislation should make it section 5. however the fact that these are sold and owned on section 1 certificates suggests that at least some police forces are allowing them. Granted my own FEO said i could have a section 5 gun converted to section 1 which is clearly against the guidance. That and speaking to another police officer who response to this was "yeah some police forces ignore that guidance anyway and interpret it differently". As such I'm guessing someone has either misread the legislation as "rifle" not "rifled gun" and decided it doesn't apply to a "rifled shotgun barrel" or noone has paid any close attention to the guns and so it has gone under the radar.

It would be interesting to know what the RFD would list the gun as when signing it onto a certificate. If they just put down section 1 shotgun then I guess the police would be none the wiser until someone asks the question.

[The Event]

rifled shotgun barrels seem to be grey area (i've seen a fair few mosberg 500 "slugsters" for sale over the years=there is even one this site). I think this is due to the fact they are still classified as being section 1 shotguns with a rifled barrel rather than actual rifles. I can't see anything in the legislation that would clear it up though. Im guessing another grey area that each police force will have a different opinion on.

I suspect that the Mossberg slugsters, although they have rifle sights, actually have smoothbore barrels.
Which is the case with mine.

[Mattnall]

If it has a rifled barrel (or even rifled chokes) then it is a rifle and not a shotgun, as far as I understand it. Therefore S1 and if it meets all the other requirements the barrel can be as short as 12".
As mentioned above, if it is not 22RF and semi or pump then it is S5. I cannot find any mention to a 'rifled shotgun' being a classed as a shotgun for licensing purposes.

[Blackstuff]

It would be interesting to know what the RFD would list the gun as when signing it onto a certificate. If they just put down section 1 shotgun then I guess the police would be none the wiser until someone asks the question.

This, I strongly suspect is the case. That and as others have said the RFD/shop assistant getting mixed up between a description and what the gun actually features.

[The Event]

If it has a rifled barrel (or even rifled chokes) then it is a rifle and not a shotgun, as far as I understand it.

I have seen guidance (but can't remember when or where, only that it was along time ago) to say that rifled choke tubes are legal depending on what percentage of the barrel will be rifled when they are fitted . It had to be something really low like 5%.
But please don't anyone take my word for it and go out and buy one, it may have been a proposal, it may have changed. And it probably won't make the gun any more accurate anyway.

[Sim G]

Rifled chokes are legal when fitted to a single or double barrel gun. However, it changes the classification of that gun from s2 to s1 all other aspects being equal.

Rifled chokes on a pump or semi shotgun, are legal as long as you have s5 authority! Fitted to either s1 or 2 and then removed still leaves that gun s5 without them.

I appreciate the "how would they ever know" caveat, but the facts remain.