The second gun I inherited is a Winchester model 1200 pump, chambered for 3" magnums, full choke. I've always been curious about how a barrel is measured. Is the shell chamber included in the length? This bbl is 29 1/2" to the front of the reciever(about even with the back of the shell). So, is it a 29 1/2" or 26 1/2"? Also, what is the shortest legal barrel.

After reading the advice to the lady wanting to purchase a shotgun for her husband, tell me how the Winchester 1200 stacks up to the Remington 1100/1187/870.

Thanks
Hm1950

 

The military trusted it in combat so that should put a positive light on it. I have a Sears & Roebuck "Ted Williams" Model 300 that was made by Winchester and is the same as a 1400. I use it every year for deer hunting and is a great gun.

In my opinion Winchester ranks right up there with Remington.

 

The 1200 is almost equal to the 870...i wont compare it to the other remingtons because they are autos.

I have a 1200 and 3 870's and the 1200 has been shot as much as the 870's and it has held up fine.

The barrel is measured to the end of the barrel, NOT the chamber. You can remove the barrel from the chamber to see what i am talking about.

 

The barrel is measured to the end of the barrel, NOT the chamber. You can remove the barrel from the chamber to see what i am talking about.

I'm confused. Is the barrel measured from the end of the bbl to the front of the reciever? I consider the chamber to be the part where the shell is when it is fired. On this gun, the chamber is part of the bbl and cannot be separated(if my understanding of the nomenclature is correct). I consider the reciever to be the part the bbl is inserted in.
Also, can you tell me the minimum legal length? I read somewhere that there is a U.S. minimum of 18". Can that vary by state?

I appreciate your help.

 

Our legal limit for barrel length is 18" also.
I shortened an old break action, 12 guage, single shot shotgun to 18 1/4" for a survival gun in an aircraft.
I had it checked over by an RCMP officer in a routine hunting check stop when it was in my vehicle. He measured it and said it was perfectly fine.
The measurement I used when I cut the barrel was from the back end of the chamber to the tip of the barrel.

Made me wonder about the barrel length on the registration for two of my hanguns and one of the listed lengths matches the tip of the barrel to the back of the chamber.
Funny thing is a registration slip for another handgun has a measurement that doesn't match the barrel.

Oh well, last day of deer huntin' tomorrow so I'll check this out on my other guns another time.

 

Thanks, Greg
Then mine is 29 1/2". Probably considered a 30". The shortest one I could find anywhere on the internet is 26". I guess the only way to get one any shorter is to get out the old hacksaw. Wouldn't be much good for hunting then...would have to buy another one for that.

Hm1950

 

[QUOTE=Handyman1950]Also, can you tell me the minimum legal length? I read somewhere that there is a U.S. minimum of 18". Can that vary by state?
QUOTE]

I believe it is a Federal Reg. not a State Reg. and I think the minimum in the US is 20".

Rick

 

The federal limit is 18" with 26" overall length
the legal measure of the barrel is with the action closed, insert a rod or measure down the barrel, The measure is from the breach face to the end of barrel.

hope that helps

 

Barrel length is measured from the muzzle to the breech face.

Barrel length in the US must be at least 18" for shotguns and 16" for rifles. Either must be greater than 26" overall langth.

Ref: http://www.nraila.org/federalfirearms.htm#Sec.%20921 items 6 and 8.

Also, my understanding is that barrel length for pistols (semi-auto) is muzzle to breech face, for revolvers it is muzzel to front of cylinder.