I have seen some post about using a .410 for turkey hunting, well in my state we are unable to use a .410, could a .20gauge encore barrel me made with choke tubes. Or is there some legal issue, just have never seen anything other than .410.
I think a 12-15 inch 20guage barrel with a turkey choke would be turkey killing machine out to 25yds.
I know a guy that could cut an encore barrel and thread it for chokes
Just always thinking outside the box

I believe to be legal it would have to be rifled. I know douglas makes a .62 (20ga) tube for muzzleloaders and than have a breach plug made.... I'm sure you know the rest.

The fine line being that it's built on the Encore it would be looked at as a cartrige gun and not a "Replica" muzzle loader that you can get as a .62 smoothbore handgun (in most states).

The .410 is leagal in a handgun only because it is a rifledbarrel tha also accepts .45 colt. A 20 gauge is a shot gun and by leagal definition must have a minimum barrel length of 18 inches and an over all length of 26 inches.Ihat said there is the option of a class 3 weapon permit it will alow you to posses the gun you are thinking of some states do not recognize them however and there is some costs to get one.Then the question will be will you be allowed to hunt with it.I do know they are made but it is not as easy as getting a "normal " gun.

you could try an 18 inch barrel just be sure OAL is greater than 26 inches. Then you have a riot gun not a handgun.

Siyakadog, to answer your questions...Yes and No. Yes you can own a 20ga shotgun with a pistol grip. It has to have a 18"+ barrel length and an OAL of 26"+.

No, You can't have a friend cut a 20ga barrel to 15" (unless he is a Class II manufacturer). If your friend is not a Class II manufacture and cuts a shotgun barrel to less than 18", it is a "prohibited weapon", punishable by imprisonment. If a Class II manufacturer builds it, he registers it as a NFA weapon in the "AOW" classification ($5 transfer fee). Then it's legal. But, any time you want to travel with it, you have to contact BATF an get approval.

Some state laws may vary, so you will have to see if your state allows pistol griped shotguns or AOW's. If you would like to see a legal 20ga "pistol", look on the bragging board. I have a few pics posted (can't post one here with iPhone) unless some one want to help me out.



Oh, mine is a Turkey kill'n machine!

Just to save you some grief, it won't work (be legal). This is a topic I researched for over 5 years, that's how I know a little about it. If you put a 18" barrel on an encore frame, the OAL will only be 22 7/8" long. It has to have a barrel or barrel/ext choke tube length of 21 1/2" to meet the 26"+ OAL.

All good advice. When measuring the OAL it is measured on a straight line with the bore, not diagonal from the furthest points.

To error on the safe side I'd cut my barrel 18 1/4" and my over all length at 26 1/4".

Good tip, Tigger.

now what about a 15" 20 ga fully rifled barrel for deer hunting in shotgun only states

I figured something would not be legal, they have .357 shotshell do they make a .500 shotshell??? LOL

Most shotgun only areas allow "standard" handgun chamberings these days. Unless you can find a centerfire cartridge to chamber it in, it will still be a shotgun and all rules apply, AFAIK.

HAHA Just re-read the first question... I have no idea how I inserted muzzleloaders into his question :p

There may be a way out of this situation. I have a 16" 20 guage barrel for my Kahnke M82 muzzleloading handgun. So far I have taken one pheasant with it. I will be honest I would have to play around more at the range to find what would be an ideal turkey load. I suspect that due to the gauge and reduced power the range would be 25 yards at a maximum.

Well if you look at it as a shotgun rifled or not it's illeagle because it's less then 18".....

If you consider it a 15" pistol barrel, and not a "shotgun" barrel rifled or not, then it's illeagle because it over 50 cal bore diameter....

You must also consider the game laws of each state. A lot of the states spell out what is a legal firearm for maner of taking game. Sure a firearm my be lagal to own, but to hunt with is another story.