Shotguns Registered as pistols?

[Dave L.]

Is this possible to do?
Would it be legal to have shot gun with a short barrel and pistol grip(no stock) if it were registered as a pistol?

[Dave L.]

*This doesn't sound right to me but I was told this at a Gander Mtn.*
Just wondered if anyone can debunk this.

[Buckaroo]

http://www.serbu.com/legacy/shorty.htm

[LOKNLOD]

I would imagine the answer is "no" or those Serbus would be pistols and not NFA AOWs. IIRC, the law is specific about smooth-bores (shotguns) in the NFA/AOW wording.

[Iraqgunz]

When I purchased my 870 AOW about 12 years ago I was told that the difference is how the gun was manufactured and registered. Something like receiver was shipped directly to the company which in turn added the barrel, and pistol grip and then it was registered as an AOW. In order to qualify in can't have been in any other format or registered as anything else.

[Dave L.]

Thanks guys, I knew it didn't sound right- but I don't claim to know everything.

[Delta1067]

How to legally build a short barreled shotgun: http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=80131

[Army Chief]

I had just such a weapon for many years (Automatic Weaponry in Brentwood, TN used to market a 12.5" 870 as their "Witness Protection" model). In technical terms, it was a smoothbore pistol, but for legal/NFA puposes, such weapons must be registered as AOWs. While that is unfortunate in the sense that you must go through the usual Class III process, the good news is that AOWs only incur a $5 (vice $200) tax.

Chief