The SKO Mini features a 14.75″ barrel but doesn’t require a tax stamp to own or shoot. (Photo: Standard Manufacturing)
It looks like a shotgun, shoots like a shotgun, and accepts 12GA shot shells, but according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, the Standard Manufacturing SKO Mini isn’t a shotgun.
And if it isn’t a shotgun, it can’t be a short-barreled shotgun either, no matter the barrel length.
Using the same legal principle applied to the Remington TAC-14 and the Mossberg Shockwave, the semi-automatic SKO Mini can be purchased with a 14.75-inch barrel without the additional $200 tax stamp usually required to purchase a shotgun with a barrel longer than 18 inches.
Because the SKO Mini comes without a stock and its overall length is greater than 26 inches, the ATF can’t categorize it as a shotgun or as “any other weapon” under the National Firearms Act. In his letter to Standard Manufacturing, the ATF’s chief of the Firearms Technology Industry Services Branch calls it simply a “12 gauge firearm” and concludes it does not fall under the NFA.
The SKO Mini is a gas-operated firearm fed from a detachable box magazine. The gun comes with a 2-shell magazine, though 5 and 10-shell magazines are also available.
SEE ALSO: NEW: Non-NFA 14-inch Remington 870 TAC-14 Now In 20 Gauge
The receiver is CNC machined out of 7075 aluminum and features a MIL-SPEC hard coat anodized finish. It uses similar controls as an AR-pattern rifle with an ambidextrous safety and mag and bolt release, and the 22-inch Picatinny top rail provides ample room for optics, lasers, and illumination devices. The polymer grip is also compatible with most AR-style grips, and the vertical foregrip is included.
The 14.75” barrel is constructed from 4140 steel and accepts both 2 ¾” and 3” shot shells. The Tru-Choke thread pattern accepts a variety of choke tubes, door breachers, and accessories. Internal components are salt bath nitride coated for optimum lubricity.
MSRP is $699, shipping is $25, and the firearm is unavailable in New York and California.
(Photo: Standard Manufacturing)
Specs:
- Caliber: 12 Gauge
- Overall Length: 27”
- Weight (w/out mag): 7.14 lbs.
- Barrel: 14 ¾” Threaded, chambered for 2 ¾” and 3” shells
- Chokes: Tru-Choke thread pattern
- Capacity: 2 round magazine; optional 2, 5, 10 round mags available
- Action: Gas operated semi-automatic
- Material: Receivers machined from aircraft grade 7075 aluminum; MIL-SPEC hard anodized
- Controls: Ambidextrous Safety, AR-style mag and bolt release
- Grip: Polymer; accepts most AR-style grips
- Forend: Composite material with slots for MOE and bolt on rails; INCLUDES forward vertical grip
Just got mine a week ago and it’s a great addition to my defensive gun collection. 14.75” shotguns have been around a while now… the 3.25” doesn’t make much difference… I’m not worried about the government coming for my new purchase. It shoots 2 3/4” loads easily, my 14 year old can handle it. Such a sweet self deflect weapon, I’m amazed at all the naysayers it’s $700 but you’d think it’d be 2k the way people are so worried about the loss of investment if the gun grabber come for them… but I won’t lie 3” magnums definitely let you know they’re being shot but not that bad… I have a green laser on mine so I can shoot it from the hip and use my arms as shock absorbers so I don’t get a black eye trying to hold it up and sight down it the barrel…
I see a glich. Back in the 80’s old Motzoball and DiFi/Shumer /Kennedy , passed a pile of anti “Street sweeper” laws. Once the “shorty’s” went semi-auto , somebody will start dusting those off and POOF! Your “X” hundred dollar weapon is gone. BTW. The “Street Sweeper” laws were passed to stop exactly the same type of firearm from ever being manufactured. IMO it is only a matter of time before somebody at BATFE remembers them.
yeah. ok. reliability in a defensive firearm is a big issue with me.I’m gonna stick with my nasty old winchester defender that i bought many years ago. 12ga 3″ has a fire ball that would frighten even Saint Michael let alone some idiot in my house after lights out, If the flash doesn’t give them a heart attack then the OO buckshot will just ruin their morning. no worries about controllability as it uses just one round per customer no waiting for service and if a follow up round would be needed it would be my pleasure to serve it up.
Hmm: A 14.75-inch barrel. No stock. Accepts both 2 3/4 or 3 inch, twelve gauge shells…
I may not be the smartest hammer in the bag, but I’m not that stupid either. This thing promises to be hard to control, almost impossible to aim, and wasteful of both powder and shot (short barrel). Just what is this thing intended for outside of spraining elbows and wrists and wasting ammunition? Maybe it would be livable with AGUILA Mini Shells, but full power or (Gods save us) magnum shells?
I don’t think so.
I’d imagine it would be an ideal self defense choice or urban and suburban dwellers!
$699 isn’t bad considering what other semi-auto shotguns sell for. Reliability is always a question with a new semi, so I’d wait for some test reports before buying.
I am not sure I want to put out the $$ for one, the ATF says they are ok, now…. I have seen Slide fires with a letter from the ATF saying they were OK, too. Now it seems anyone who has a Slide fire will have to surrender/destroy/render it inoperable without compensation. Not sure I want to drop the money just to lose it when they decide to pull 4473s and come looking for owners who are now out of compliance. Just remember this stuff started under “ Agent Orange”
According to the ATF regulations. the attorney general has the power to declare any firearm with a bore over 1/2 inches a “destructive device ” because in the opinion of the AG it lacks “sporting purpose” . They did it with the Striker 12, street sweeper and USAS shotguns in the 90s. What that means is one is allowed to keep them but they will require a tax stamp. This alone might not ban further production for civilians but they will have to be sold through a destructive device dealer. So even your friendly class three dealer who sells suppressors and machine guns will not be able to sell them unless they get the proper class of FFL license. Should the AG declare this types of firearms destructive devices, they may be banned under state and local laws.
These shoguns look cool but there could be trouble ahead for the owner.
Not a shotgun guy.. but I will say this: take my money.
It looks like an AR pistol boned a Galil, they had a baby and they fed it steroids and gunpowder.
Guns like this appear to be great for home defense, but they are always in 12 gauge! A 20 gauge or even 410 would be great for a young woman or elderly man/woman (or those with some other handicap or aversion to the larger round) to have for home defense. Goes back to being able to handle the weapon effectively… if you can’t it doesn’t matter that it’s big enough to knock down an elephant. Whether it’s noise, reboil or both doesn’t matter, a slightly built person would appreciate the smaller caliber.
Somebody has a pump in 20 gauge…
A semi auto shotgun, especially one with a magazine, just isn’t something I’d trust for self defense.