Gun folks - when to register a shotgun as a MI pistol?

J

jhilla68

Club Member
Alright, any insight on this would be appreciated. Before I post this on MGO and get flamed, I wanted to try here first. I've done a bit of research and I'm still a little fuzzy on the requirements. Here's the scenario:

1) I purchased a Mossberg 500 in the Fall of 2011 - full stock, 28" vent rib barrel & 24" slug barrel with scope.
2) I just purchased and installed at my home an 18.5 Mossberg barrel for home defense.
3) I have intentions on purchasing and installing a pistol grip at my home SOLELY for emergency use in the home.
4) I've completed my CPL course/paperwork and am awaiting notification to visit the Gun board to obtain my license.

With that said, I don't have any intentions on ever conceal carrying the shotgun. Also, I don't ever plan to transport the firearm loaded in my car. I take the gun out target shooting, and I'll potentially be bird hunting this year. Any time the gun will leave the house, it will be in it's original/purchased form.....a full stock, and either a 28" or 24" barrel.

Do I have a legal requirement to register the shotgun as a pistol if I install the pistol grip? Or, even now with the short barrel? I'm certain the overall length will be less than 30" with the pistol grip installed. Are there any disadvantages of registering it as a pistol, outside of if/when I sell it? Thanks, all!
 
jhilla68 said:
Do I have a legal requirement to register the shotgun as a pistol if I install the pistol grip? Or, even now with the short barrel? I'm certain the overall length will be less than 30" with the pistol grip installed. Are there any disadvantages of registering it as a pistol, outside of if/when I sell it? Thanks, all!
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The only advantage of having it registered as a pistol is that you can carry it in the car loaded. A pistol grip, shotgun is perfectly legal as a rifle if it has a 20.5" barrel <- edit so I don't get blamed if you go to jail

If the gun is registered as a pistol you cannot put the factory stock back on it to go shoot birds. But you can put one of those dumb folding stocks on it.

If you're using it for home defense keep the stock on it. Pistol grip shotguns are pretty dumb. Shoot it both ways and you'll realize that.
 
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robvas said:
The only advantage of having it registered as a pistol is that you can carry it in the car loaded. A pistol grip, 18.5" shotgun is perfectly legal as a rifle. You can buy one from Dick's from the factory like that.

If the gun is registered as a pistol you cannot put the factory stock back on it to go shoot birds. But you can put one of those dumb folding stocks on it.

If you're using it for home defense keep the stock on it. Pistol grip shotguns are pretty dumb. Shoot it both ways and you'll realize that.
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I agree, I have an 18.5in mossberg 500 with a regular synthetic stock on it, and I can get around the house pretty good with it, and it shoots MUCH better.. lol
 
I agree...the gun will be much more stable with the stock on it. I just had concerns about maneuverability. And for 25 bucks or whatever the pistol grip costs, I was going to try it out.

So, just to clarify, there is no LEGAL requirement to register the shotgun as a pistol, even with a pistol grip? The only reason one would register it as a pistol would be to carry it loaded?
 
jhilla68 said:
I agree...the gun will be much more stable with the stock on it. I just had concerns about maneuverability. And for 25 bucks or whatever the pistol grip costs, I was going to try it out.

So, just to clarify, there is no LEGAL requirement to register the shotgun as a pistol, even with a pistol grip? The only reason one would register it as a pistol would be to carry it loaded?
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Correct, the only reason you would register it as a pistol is to carry it concealed on yourself, or in a vehicle (loaded or unloaded), or uncased/accessible in the vehicle. Just make sure it has the standard minimum barrel. It sounds like you are all set in that area though.
 
Any shotgun under 30" in length must be registered as a pistol. It is a felony not to do so. Also in michigan it must be longer then 26" in length or it is considered a short barrled shotgun. Research the mcl's for yourself don't just trust an online opinion.
 
Siegel1719 said:
Any shotgun under 30" in length must be registered as a pistol. It is a felony not to do so. Also in michigan it must be longer then 26" in length or it is considered a short barrled shotgun. Research the mcl's for yourself don't just trust an online opinion.
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This is what I derived from the research I did, which is why I was asking. Anywhere else to go for an appropriate interpretation of the MI penal code? Local PD?
 
Siegel1719 said:
Any shotgun under 30" in length must be registered as a pistol. It is a felony not to do so. Also in michigan it must be longer then 26" in length or it is considered a short barrled shotgun. Research the mcl's for yourself don't just trust an online opinion.
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Someone is going to be in a lot of trouble - I just checked Mossberg's site. The Cruiser 500 is 30.5" overall, and the JIC 28.75" overall. I know about 5 people who bought the shorter one as a rifle from big-box stores.
 
from above link:
Do rifles or shotguns with collapsible/folding stocks have to be registered in Michigan?

MCL 750.222 Yes, provided the rifle or shotgun is 30 inches or less in overall length with the stock collapsed/folded but at least 26 inches and the barrel length is at least 16 inches and 18 inches respectively. Attorney General's opinion #6280: if the firearm is less than 26 inches in overall length or the barrel is less than 16 or 18 inches respectively, the firearm is considered a short-barreled rifle or shotgun and is illegal to possess. MCL 750.224d There is an exception for short-barreled shotguns and short-barreled rifles which the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has found to be a curio, relic, antique, museum piece, or collector's item not likely to be used as a weapon.

The possessor must comply with Section 2 (License to Purchase) of Act 372.
 
OnyxSSS said:
from above link:
Do rifles or shotguns with collapsible/folding stocks have to be registered in Michigan?

MCL 750.222 Yes, provided the rifle or shotgun is 30 inches or less in overall length with the stock collapsed/folded but at least 26 inches and the barrel length is at least 16 inches and 18 inches respectively. Attorney General's opinion #6280: if the firearm is less than 26 inches in overall length or the barrel is less than 16 or 18 inches respectively, the firearm is considered a short-barreled rifle or shotgun and is illegal to possess. MCL 750.224d There is an exception for short-barreled shotguns and short-barreled rifles which the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has found to be a curio, relic, antique, museum piece, or collector's item not likely to be used as a weapon.

The possessor must comply with Section 2 (License to Purchase) of Act 372.
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That is one of the exact links I reviewed in my earlier research. It's still unclear to me as a pistol grip is not considered a collapsible / folding stock.

Judging by the language though, it would be safe to assume that regardless of the stock, if the overall length falls between 26 and 30 inches, it needs to be registered as a pistol. I've just heard/read a lot of conflicting stories on this, hence me asking the question. I don't need my house raided for mistaken-identity and face a felony charge because I wanted to have something in the house to protect my family.
 
lol at Robvas being proved wrong again. It's like he's a swift jr. :lol:
 
stalked_R/T said:
lol at Robvas being proved wrong again. It's like he's a swift jr. :lol:
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Tons of people have bought the JIC without pistol registration :shrug:

Going by that, you -can- do it. But according to the law only the Mossberg Cruiser or other model with the 20.5" barrel and pistol grip would technically be a rifle.
 
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