Revolver Rifles?

One reason is guns with a rifle stock and a barrel less than 16" are illegal in the US, but Uberti makes the cattleman's carbine http://www.uberti.com/1873-revolver-carbine-and-buntline.

Lycidas Janwor said:

I'd also consider a revolver with (for example) a 7"-10" barrel that you can attach a shoulder stock to. Any help or suggestions you can provide is much appreciated!

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The only way I know how to do that without going the whole NFA short barreled rifle route is to go black powder.

http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?products_id=7272

http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?products_id=881

One aspect about revolving rifles is the barrel/cylinder gap spits very hot high pressure gas and jacket and lead particles. The support arm can soak up some of those. Rossi or somebody came up with a defelctor shield to help with that, but best case scenario, I dont think the concept is very practical, and hasnt ever been anything more than a novelty niche. A good lever action carbine is less fuss for similar calibers.

So long as thats kept in mind, then I say go full speed ahead.

Myself, I like the idea of the long-ish barrel pistol, like 7 1/2 to 9" with a detachable shoulder stock. Colt used to make them with about any barrel desired, and they could be had with long distance sights inlet into the top of the frame. The holsters I've seen had straps on it to attach and carry the stock when it wasnt needed and the pistol could still be used as is.

I had a couple 12" Colts, they shot great but were a bit unweildly for carry, being so long. I thought about having one chopped to 9". Ended up selling it.

A black powder arm that readily accepts modern ammo is not a exempted item, However, a percussion firearm is .

chicharrones said:

The only way I know how to do that without going the whole NFA short barreled rifle route is to go black powder.

http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?products_id=7272

http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?products_id=881

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Yes, and buy a .45 Colt conversion cylinder for the black powder gun.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/85...owder-revolver-45-colt-long-colt-5-round-blue

Just run cowboy action .45 Colt through it though, nothing hotter and you will be fine.

NOTE: Check the laws on this first, I'm not sure if it's legal in all areas.

If one has their concealed carry permit, getting the paperwork for a stocked pistol or short barrel rifle isnt that much of a step up. I dont see much reason to go black powder, especially when the original attraction was for a 44 mag.

One reason is guns with a rifle stock and a barrel less than 16" are illegal in the US,...

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Not illegal, just controlled differently than most guns. Some states unfortunately dont allow some NFA type items.

Alfa Proj

http://www.slickguns.com/product/czechpoint-hunter-revolver-carbine-22-lr-20-barrel-9-rnds-449

Yes, and buy a .45 Colt conversion cylinder for the black powder gun.

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Whoops! No no!

You don't want to create a cartridge-firing handgun with a stock. That's an NFA item.

When you take a cap&ball antique or replica and convert it to modern cartridge operation you are creating a handgun bound by all the normal laws for modern handguns. That's perfectly legal to do but it isn't a way around the NFA.

The OP specifically asked about Revolver RIFLES, not handguns with a stock. As long as the barrel is at least 16" long there's no legal issue.

Then it's just a bad idea because of the cylinder gap problems.

natman said:

The OP specifically asked about Revolver RIFLES, not handguns with a stock.

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It was a two part-er.

Part two -

Lycidas Janwor said:

I'd also consider a revolver with (for example) a 7"-10" barrel that you can attach a shoulder stock to. Any help or suggestions you can provide is much appreciated!

Click to expand...

NOTE: Check the laws on this first, I'm not sure if it's legal in all areas.

Click to expand...

As I said above, that isn't legal in ANY areas, without registering it as an SBR.

Of course, if your barrel is longer than 16" and the overall package will be over 26", go right ahead.

Whoops! No no!

You don't want to create a cartridge-firing handgun with a stock. That's an NFA item.

When you take a cap&ball antique or replica and convert it to modern cartridge operation you are creating a handgun bound by all the normal laws for modern handguns. That's perfectly legal to do but it isn't a way around the NFA.

Click to expand...

If you or anyone reading in thinks they want a percussion version just keep in mind that the proper hold method is to have the support hand back with the trigger hand and not up front on the reloading lever. That's a serious danger zone in the rare but possible event of a chainfire that ignites the other chambers not lined up with the barrel.

This is why some revolving carbines have the extra finger hook on the guard. It's a nice spot to hook a couple of fingers from the support hand.

The thing is there aren't a lot to copy from...from the past. When a revolving rifle made sense, in the days before the metallic cartridge and when a revolver was already a mature repeating design, the cap and ball system had the disturbing propensity to fire all cylinders at once. Bad in a handgun, catastrophic in a rifle where your left arm is essentially blown off.

Fast forward a couple of decades where that wasn't likely to happen and there are all manner of repeating designs that made the revolving rifle pointless.

The O.P. doesn't say why he wants one (which doesn't matter. Just because is good enough) but the only shooting sport that I am aware of where revolving carbines are allowed and used is Cowboy Mounted Shooting.

I myself have been looking hard at either the Rossi Circuit Judge, or the Uberti 1858 Remington Carbine, possibly with a cartridge conversion for the Remmy.
Comparable price for both guns, though the additional conversion for the Rem 1858 would increase it's total cost.
The Remington is properly held without using the fore end, keeping the arm clear of flash. Nice thing is, I could order it direct, no FFL needed, then add the cylinder later.

It's true that there's not a lot of competitions where such rifles are allowed or practical. But when did "practical" matter?

I've run across a few in my time shooting. They all had a serious "cool" factor. And one day if I find one for sale I'll likely jump on it just for the giggle factor.

I've played around with one and my most clear impressions were, "more trouble than it's worth" and "one trick pony." I kind of soured on having a lot of guns just around that I never use for anything, and this seems like it would be in that camp after a couple range trips. Everything needs to have a purpose or it's more a liability than benefit. IMHO.

It's true that there's not a lot of competitions where such rifles are allowed or practical. But when did "practical" matter?

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One of the members of my Rifle & Pistol club,,,
Competes in our rimfire silhouette shoots,,,
With the Alfa-Proj revolving .22 rifle.

He doesn't ever win,,,
And isn't really in line for any awards,,,
But he has fun competing with himself so it's fine.

There is an actual class of rifle to be use for scoring/competition,,,
But the match itself is essentially a bring what you have shoot.

I once tried it with my Beretta NEOS Carbine.

They are not practical in any sense these days,,,
But they are a fun thing to own/shoot for nostalgia sake.

Aarond

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