Bolt Action Pistol

[Kukri]

I was wondering if it would be legal to make a bolt-action pistol? Could I get a Mauser or similar action that was never on a rifle, then build up a pistol of sorts? It would definitely look interesting.

 

[only1asterisk]

It should be legal, but isn't. Last time I checked the ATF was calling it a no-no. You could register it a short barreled rifle (with the $200 tax and headache) or get the reciever "reclassified" (I have no idea what procedure you follow here, but it is sure to be a PITA). It would be cheaper to get a savage striker or something (it might even save your sanity).


David

 

[Gewehr98]

Yup, that would be a big No-No.

If it started life as a rifle receiver, it's gotta stay a rifle, or be licensed as a Short Barreled Rifle, with appropriate forms and tax stamp.

How does Remington get away with it on their XP-100? Easy. The receiver is serialed when built as a pistol receiver. Otherwise, it could be absolutely identical to a rifle receiver. Funny thing is, it's perfectly legal, and often considered desirable, to build a full-length match rifle on an XP-100 receiver.

At one time, I had heard of a manufacturer who was making modern-day replica Mauser 98 actions, and would set some aside for pistol receivers. Sadly, those brain cells must've died, because I can't remember for the life of me who it was.

 

[Jim K]

When the XP-100 first came out, we had one in the case at the gun shop where I worked. An agent of the ATFD (as it was then) came in on a routine compliance check and went berserk. He insisted that we had made the thing out of a rifle and was going arrest everyone in sight. We finally got him calmed down enough to call the office and he found out it was OK. He got all red in the face and stormed out, still sure the gun was somehow illegal.

He never did do the compliance inspection.

Jim