A shotgun barrel on its own - status ?

[Sim G]

so what about cutting say a 30 inch barrel down to 25 ? still sec 2 but can you diy it ?

Yes. You cannot go below 24".

legal to do it yourself then ?

If you're an RFD from what I can tell. See Section 4 of the FA Act.

[Sandgroper]

Section 4 of the Act - make of it what you will...

(1)Subject to this section, it is an offence to shorten the barrel of a shot gun to a length less than 24 inches.

(2)It is not an offence under subsection (1) above for a registered firearms dealer to shorten the barrel of a shot gun for the sole purpose of replacing a defective part of the barrel so as to produce a barrel not less than 24 inches in length.

(3)It is an offence for a person other than a registered firearms dealer to convert into a firearm anything which, though having the appearance of being a firearm, is so constructed as to be incapable of discharging any missile through its barrel.

(4)A person who commits an offence under section 1 of this Act by having in his possession, or purchasing or acquiring, a shotgun which has been shortened contrary to subsection (1) above or a firearm which has been [F1converted as mentioned in subsection (3) above] (whether by a registered firearms dealer or not), without holding a firearm certificate authorising him to have it in his possession, or to purchase or acquire it, shall be treated for the purposes of provisions of this Act relating to the punishment of offences as committing that offence in an aggravated form.

[Mattnall]

so what about cutting say a 30 inch barrel down to 25 ? still sec 2 but can you diy it ?

Yes. You cannot go below 24".

legal to do it yourself then ?

S4 says you can do it if you are an RFD and then put it back to 24"+ (thereby keeping the barrel and the shotgun it belongs to S2) or if you have an FAC allowing you to possess or acquire it.
Read the act pasted above, Sect4,subsection 4.

[Sandgroper]

But Dellboy wasn't asking if you shorten it to below 24 inches...

so what about cutting say a 30 inch barrel down to 25 ? still sec 2 but can you diy it ?

Section 4 says you have to be an RFD to shorten it to below 24 inches, but it doesn't say anything about the scenario Dellboy was suggesting IMO.

[Grima]

If you own a S1 or S2 shotgun with a 30" barrel, Yes you can cut it to 24" but you can't sell it without being reproofed (proof laws)

Like I said earlier, if you want a short barrelled shotgun. The only way you will get one on your ticket is to buy one imported as S1 from a RFD. Or spend years & a lot of cash arguing written law.