ATC "Pocket Rifle" info

[Clifford]

This is a legal handgun. I have the original owners manual. ATC corp cut down a Mossberg rifle (i think) and sold it as (ATC "The Pocket Rifle" model 4). It is chambered for 22LR feeds from a 7 round magazine and even came with a neat little shell deflector that clips on the scope mounts.

Left side of the Barrel is stamped as shown below.

ATC M4
North Haven, CT
Made in USA
Calibre 22 L.R.
Las Vegas NV

Also on the left side of the reciever it is stamped with the serial number.

PR00077

I can find any info on this weapon and am wondering if anyone out there can help. Its a weird little gun/rifle fun to shoot. but it will only go about 100 rounds before FTF FTE issues come up. Have to strip it clean and it shoots fine for another 100 rounds or so.

 

[Clifford]

Here are the picts.

 

[Searcher1970]

Thats a neat little gun. I did a quick search and the only reference I found was from Joe Salters site. He apparently had 3 of them but didnt seem to know much about them.

http://www.joesalter.com/detail.php?f_qryitem=0807

 

[rcmodel]

ATC corp cut down a Mossberg rifle (i think)

They had to have made a new receiver and serialed it as pistol with the ATF.

Otherwise, it would be a SBR and require registration & a tax stamp.

rc

 

[Clifford]

The gun was made sometime in the 70's , I don't know if that makes a difference with the laws at the time of mfr.

 

[rcmodel]

The law took effect in 1934.

National Firearms Act.

rc

 

[Jim K]

I don't think they would have had to make a new receiver; as a manufacturer, they could have removed the old markings and re-marked it with their name and location, so it would have been a new gun legally.

But I think it more likely they they just bought unfinished receivers from Mossberg and marked them with the ATC name.

Jim

 

[rcmodel]

Back then, the receiver serial number was papered to BATF as a rifle by Mossberg.

It would be against the law for anyone, including another manufacture, to remove the old serial number and put a new one on it.

"Once a rifle, always a rifle" still applies.

Unless they bought receiver blanks from Mossberg that did not have a rifle serial number already on it (Unlikely), or made new receivers, it is a SBR.

rc

 

[scbair]

Without a shoulder stock, wouldn't it be classified as an AOW ($5.00 stamp)?

 

[9x23]

Better Safe Than Sorry

Clifford,

I have an AR-15 receiver registered as a handgun to which I attached an 11.5" heavy barreled upper - overall length less than 26" with the receiver tube.

I was at the range and using the tube to steady the piece when a semi-knowledgeable local police officer questioned the legality of the firearm thinking it was a SBR. No offense to my fellow police officers, but some of us know just enough to get some law abiding folks is serious straights.

Prepared for this occasion, I removed the documentation from the hollow pistol grip that indicates that this piece is a handgun. End of confrontation.

I would seriously recommend that you verify that your gun is a handgun with the BATF and keep documentation with it. In the words of John Farnam of Defense Training, "It is better to stay out of trouble than it is to get out of trouble.".....9x23

 

[Clifford]

The gun is from my father in law. He found himself in trouble with the law and was forced to turn over all his firearms. So this weapon along with others went thru Colorado law enforcement hands and only after they cleared it they allowed my father in law to transfer ownership to my wife. It's legal for sure.

 

[orionhawk]

that looks remarkably like a chopped version of the Mossberg Model 352KB I inherited from my grandfather.

the mag on poppa's 352KB is marked "S-L-LR", tho, instead of "LR ONLY", although that could make sense if there were concerns about reliability with the short barrel and the lower-energy 22S and 22L rounds.

 

[Clifford]

The gun is really picky about ammo light target loads= FTE, hyper velocity loads= FTF and or FTE.

 

[workingstiff52]

My M4

I have one I bought back in the late 70's. The manufacture worked from a home not far from my High School (I grew up in Vegas).
I've lost the snap clip for the shell eject and just today I went to a local Show to look for magazines. I only had one of the original 7 round. I got two 10 round for the hand gun.
The cops eyes just about bounced out when i registered it at the door. It has a green card as a 5 inch auto pistol. I just shot out 100 round with no problems.
FYI serial is PR00132A.
I would love to have one in a heavier cal. I was very young when i got it and with images of Steve McQueen, I had a leg and saddle holster made for it.