EVALUATION OF SAWED-OFF SHOTGUNS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-03642A002400020021-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 11, 2011
• Sequence Number: 21
• Publication Date: November 1, 1960
• Content Type: MEMO

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CONFIDEI'V~"1~1L
~~ ~~ 0
1 November 1960
SUBJECT: Evaluation of Sawed-Off Shotguns
1.
dated 19 October 1960, was a cable requesting informs-
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tion on sawed off shotguns. Because no information was available, 0
25X1
and I made arrangements to use the
FBI's Quantico
range to evaluate
25X1
sawe off shotguns. We were assisted by
of the FBI.
25X1
2. We obtained two 12 gauge sawed off shotguns from
25X1
OL~SD~ORD (Fig. 1 & 2). These guns weighed 3-3~4 pounds and were 17" over-
all length. provided a standard 12 gauge shotgun (Fig. 3)
25X1
which we evaluated by shortening the barrel in increments until it was only
12" long (Fig. ~+). Shot patterns were made at 10, 20, 30, and 40 yards
on the range shown in Fig. 5. No. 6 and 00 buckshot express loads were used
at each range. Figs. 6 and 7 show the patterns at 5 and 10 yards using the
Remington with the barrel cut to 12".
3. The followins~ tables give the firing results:
Extreme Spread in Inches for Remington Model 58 Using
OU Buckshot
Barrel Len th~(in.)
301
2~
22
lti
16
1~+
7.2
10
5,~
to
.~
9
to
2,13
Range (yds) 20
10
27
1.8,
192
16
16
16
24 27
30
--
24
25
36
21,29,343
274
32~
40
33
--
--
--
--
--
--
1Full choke barrel
2r4ore than one entry indicates more than one shot
30n1y 8 of 4 buckshot hit the target
40n1y 7 of g buckshot hit the target
F~xtreme Spread in Inches for Remington Model 58 Using
No. Shot
Barrel Length (in)
301 8 16 14 12
7 20 12,15 15 13 13 1
16 27 26 24 26 23 24
-- 36 36 ~~. ~h ~~ ~~
40 Full
target
to
(yds) 20
30
~~
,Full choke barrel
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Extreme Spread for Winchester Model 37 Sawed Off Shotgun
00 Buckshot Plo. 6 Shot
Range yds ~;xtreme Spread (in.)
Range yds
xtreme S
read(in;
p
to
to
l0
18
20
16
1
20
24
40
31
1+0
Fu11 Target
Five of. nine buckshot hit target
~+? Positive conclusions cannot be made from tests as limited as these;
however, three observations were evident;
a. The Winchester sawed off shotgun is so lightweight that
recoil could be a problem. A firm trro-handed grip is regL;ired
to hold the weapon.
b. Once the choke has been removed from a barrel, the length
does not greatly affect the pattern size. Thus, a very
short barrel will not necessarily dive a larger pattern
than a full length barrel, and it does give more muzzle
flash and recoil.
c. The effective range of a sawed off shotgun is 30 yards or
less. Using 00 buckshot, the chances of fatally wounding
a man at ranges greater than these is slim.
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Figs. 1 & 2 Winchester N:odel 3'j (bottom) and (top). Both Y~ave 10" barred,
~,reigh 3-3~~+ pounds, and are 12 gauge.
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~_ ~_, ..
Fi 3 Remington Model j8 1? gauge shogun with 30" full choke barrel.
Fig. ~+ Rernir_gton r~oa~l 58 shotgun with barrel cut to 12 inches.
A ~.:~1
[Nyp~ gS F ~]..
a~+~a:.V ~i'~.i
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Fig. 5 FBI rifle rnage at Qtza.ntico~ Virginia
.~ ~ YP ~ ~ is ~t c=
Fig. 6. Five yard ,pattern with Remington Nodel 53 with 12" barrel.
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 ~_
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Fig. 7 Ten yard i~attern with Remington Model 5~3 with 12 " Darrel.
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