Sawed-Off Shotgun

A sawed-off shotgun (U.S.) or sawn-off shotgun (U.K.) is a type of shotgun with a shorter gun barrel and often a shorter or deleted stock, compared to a standard shotgun. The sawed-off shotgun has a larger spread and a more limited range, but it has about the same destructive power. Its reduced size makes it easier to maneuver and conceal. Such a powerful and compact weapon is especially suitable for use in small spaces, such as by vehicle crews, and entry teams running through doorways. To make shotguns less concealable, many jurisdictions have a minimum legal length for shotgun barrels. Most gun makers do not offer undersized shotguns to the public.

As its name implies, the sawed-off shotgun is usually produced by home-made modification of a standard shotgun. In countries where handguns and pistol ammunition are rare due to legal restrictions or high price, criminals are known to convert legal or stolen hunting weapons into concealable weapons. For criminal organizations, the availability of standard hunting ammunition (by theft or transaction) is another advantage of sawed-off shotguns.