<P> Under the National Firearms Act ( NFA ) , it is illegal for a private citizen to possess a sawed - off modern smokeless powder shotgun ( a shotgun with a barrel length shorter than 18 inches ( 46 cm ) or an overall length shorter than 26 inches ( 66 cm ) ) ( under U.S.C. Title II ) , without a tax - paid registration from the Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , Firearms and Explosives , requiring a background check and either a $200 or $5 tax for every transfer , depending upon the specific manufacturing circumstances of the particular sawed - off modern shotgun being transferred . Gun trusts have become an increasingly popular means of registering SBS ' with the BATFE . Short - barreled muzzleloading blackpowder shotguns , in contrast , are not illegal by federal law and require no tax - stamped permit , although they may be illegal under state law . As with all NFA regulated firearms , a new tax stamp must be purchased before every transfer . Inter-state transfers must be facilitated through a Federal Firearms Licensee ( FFL ) while intrastate transfers may be between two persons . </P>
<P> Under the National Firearms Act ( NFA ) , it is illegal for a private citizen to possess a sawed - off modern smokeless powder shotgun ( a shotgun with a barrel length shorter than 18 inches ( 46 cm ) or an overall length shorter than 26 inches ( 66 cm ) ) ( under U.S.C. Title II ) , without a tax - paid registration from the Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , Firearms and Explosives , requiring a background check and either a $200 or $5 tax for every transfer , depending upon the specific manufacturing circumstances of the particular sawed - off modern shotgun being transferred . Gun trusts have become an increasingly popular means of registering SBS ' with the BATFE . Short - barreled muzzleloading blackpowder shotguns , in contrast , are not illegal by federal law and require no tax - stamped permit , although they may be illegal under state law . As with all NFA regulated firearms , a new tax stamp must be purchased before every transfer . Inter-state transfers must be facilitated through a Federal Firearms Licensee ( FFL ) while intrastate transfers may be between two persons . </P>
what is the shortest legal length of a shotgun barrel
what is the shortest legal length of a shotgun barrel
18 inches
18 inches