ATF Hates This One Trick to Get a Short Barreled Shotgun!

Published on July 20, 2025
Duration: 10:45

This expert-level guide, drawing on the deep knowledge of Ian McCollum regarding NFA regulations and ATF administrative determinations, explains how to legally possess smoothbore firearms that circumvent NFA restrictions. It details the definitions of shotguns and Any Other Weapons (AOWs), and illustrates the 'Shockwave loophole' by which firearms over 26 inches without a stock avoid classification as NFA items. The guide also touches on how rifled barrels differentiate certain firearms, like the Taurus Judge, from AOW status.

Quick Summary

The 'Shockwave loophole' allows for the legal possession of smoothbore firearms that bypass NFA regulations. By ensuring a smoothbore weapon exceeds 26 inches in overall length and lacks a stock, it is neither classified as a shotgun nor an Any Other Weapon (AOW).

Chapters

  1. 00:00Intro: Non-NFA Smoothbore Firearms
  2. 01:25NFA Definition of a Shotgun
  3. 02:15Any Other Weapon (AOW) Category Explained
  4. 04:52The Shockwave Loophole Explained
  5. 08:50Pistols Firing Shotgun Ammunition

Frequently Asked Questions

How can a smoothbore firearm avoid NFA regulation as a shotgun?

Under the NFA, a shotgun is defined as a smoothbore weapon designed to be fired from the shoulder. If a smoothbore firearm was never designed with a stock, it may not meet this definition and could fall outside NFA purview.

What is the 'Shockwave loophole' for firearms?

The 'Shockwave loophole' refers to building a smoothbore firearm over 26 inches in overall length without a stock. This configuration avoids classification as a shotgun or an Any Other Weapon (AOW) under the NFA, placing it in a non-regulated category.

What defines an Any Other Weapon (AOW) by the ATF?

The ATF defines concealable smoothbore weapons as Any Other Weapons (AOWs) if their overall length is under 26 inches. Examples include firearms like the Serbu Super Shorty.

Can a pistol firing shotgun shells be an NFA item?

Not necessarily. Firearms like the Taurus Judge have rifled barrels, classifying them as pistols. This rifling prevents them from being classified as shotguns or AOWs, even when firing .410 bore shells.

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