Screw in Rifled Shotgun Chokes...... Illegal?

[Sim G]

An acquainance in the US shoots Lee 1oz slugs out of his Benelli M2, which is fitted with an LPA ghost ring. Reckons he halved the group size at 50 yards using Carlsons rifled choke.....

Strangely enough, I shoot Lee 1oz slugs out of a Benelli M2 fitted with LPA ghost ring sights and a Burris Fastfire......

We'll have to see what the HO say!!!

[Robin128]

Sim G,

You shoot slug because UKPSA membership and practical range or are you open ticket for hog?

http://www.ukpsa.co.uk/

[Sandgroper]

Sim G,

You shoot slug because UKPSA membership and practical range or are you open ticket for hog?

http://www.ukpsa.co.uk/

You do not need UKPSA membership to shoot slug. Target shotgun is good enough reason on it's own - this was the case when I was shooting 410 slug.

[Sim G]

Target shotgun. A recognised NRA discipline for which there are a number of courses of fire/competitions that require a S1 (6 round capacity) shotgun and solid slug.

Left the UKPSA when we had handguns "stolen".....

[David-mauser]

This question arose the other day at my club, I said I thought them legal but everybody was certain that they were very much illegal and section one. And like some of the replies here (with the exception of Sim G and Porcupine) all sorts of theories were put to me as to why they should be considered to be only slightly less illegal than a fully automatic AK47 in the hands of a rabid homicidal manic. I stood alone in saying that as they aren’t fixed permanently that they didn’t come under any section of the Firearms act and therefore were legal by default but was quickly labelled a heretic that should be burned at the stake.

I called three different FEOs, 2 said definitely section 5 and 1 said not sure but why do you want one as they don’t work?

So I asked the Home Office and this was their reply.

Direct Communications Unit
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF, Tel: 020 7035 4848
Fax: 020 7035 4745
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk


25 March 2013


Dear Mr *

Thank you for your e-mail of 14 March about rifled choke tubes for shot guns.

I can confirm that rifled choke tubes for shot guns are not currently considered to be component parts. They are considered instead to be an accessory and do not need to be authorised by virtue of a firearm certificate.

There is however some discussion around the issue of rifled choke tubes. In view of this it would be prudent to periodically check with your local firearms licensing enquiry officer as to whether there is any change to the advice given above.

Yours sincerely


M Young
Email: Public.Enquiries@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

[Sim G]

David,

In all of my investigation with this, the above is quite correct. However, the problem arises when you actually fit the rifled choke tube into a gun.

A S2 SxS or O/U becomes a Section 1.

A pump or a semi, regardless of S1 or S2, becomes a S5.

However, fit one to a S2 lever shotgun and it bomes a S1, but fit one to a S1 lever action shotgun....... No Change in classification!

[David-mauser]

David,

In all of my investigation with this, the above is quite correct. However, the problem arises when you actually fit the rifled choke tube into a gun.

A S2 SxS or O/U becomes a Section 1.

A pump or a semi, regardless of S1 or S2, becomes a S5.

However, fit one to a S2 lever shotgun and it bomes a S1, but fit one to a S1 lever action shotgun....... No Change in classification!

I still don't think that the Home Office agree with you, so I sent them this

"Dear M Young

Thank you for your reply but unfortunately your answer is still a little ambiguous are you saying that a rifled choke tube for a shot gun does not need to be authorised by virtue of a firearm certificate to be held and fitted to any shotgun, either section 1 or 2 or that it may only be held but not fitted to any shotgun?

Yours sincerely

David Mauser"
To which they replied today 23 April 2013

"Dear Mr Dave

Thank you for your follow-up e-mail of 25 March about rifled choke tubes for shot guns.

As explained in my letter of 25 March, rifled choke tubes are not currently considered to be a component part. They are considered instead to be an accessory and as such do not need to be authorised by virtue of a firearm certificate.

There is some discussion around the issue of rifled choke tubes. In view of this you should periodically check with your local firearms licensing enquiry officer as to whether there is any change to the advice given above.

Yours sincerely


M Young"

So Sim G I don’t know where you obtained your research but this is from the Horses’ mouth and they are either being very thick, deliberately obtuse or they do not consider that a rifled choke tube makes any difference to the shotgun’s classification regardless of the type of shotgun it’s fitted to.

Dave

[mag41uk]

I will admit to probably being a bit dim here but..........
As the HO man says any choke tube including rifled is not a component part.
When you fit a rifled choke it doesn't convert the shotgun into anything other than what it already is a mainly smooth bore barrel.
However if you brought back from holiday a fully rifled barrel for your shotgun then that would definitely be an issue.
And having used a rifled choke on a Remmy 1187 there isn't really anything to get excited about.
I didn't find any real noticeable gain in accuracy using the Lee and Lyman slugs.
(this was in the US a couple of years back :) )
Tony

[meles meles]

Hmmm, we don't normally hold with associatin' with legal weasels, and we don't shoot scatterguns, but this has been a fascinating thread. To summarise then, it looks as though these things are legal but probably not much use ?

[Sim G]

So Sim G I don’t know where you obtained your research but this is from the Horses’ mouth and they are either being very thick, deliberately obtuse or they do not consider that a rifled choke tube makes any difference to the shotgun’s classification regardless of the type of shotgun it’s fitted to.

Mmm, interesting.

My research came from my FEO, ACPO and the Home Office!! Unfortunately, this was two years ago and the paper work I have since disposed of. My FEO has also retired, but I will get in touch with them and see if there is anything in my file.

I remember the ACPO guidance to police was very specific and I'm sure was from a 1996 dated circular. There have been no changes in shotgun or long gun legislation since then, so it will stand.

It was the home office that listed the way I have done, that illustrated the potential changes to classification of guns should a rifled choke be fitted.

Personally, I think they are being very thick. One quick question. 12 bore Paradox shotgun, S1 or S2?