Precision
member
Does anyone use these? Does anyone like these? I can see how they could fill a pretty convenient niche.
Handgun-Carbine Conversions in General: Your Thoughts?
- Thread starter Precision
- Start date
- Status
David E
Member
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2008
- Messages
- 7,459
I have 2. A Mech Tech in .45 that takes a 1911 or Para frame and a folding Kel-Tec subrifle that uses 9mm Glock mags.
They are fun, of course, and while I generally would prefer a real rifle if I'm going to carry something that is the same size and weight, they do have a place.
The Mech Tech allows my wife to hit an IPSC target at 50 yds on the first shot.
The folding Kel-Tec allows surreptitious transport and also allows easy hits at long range (50 yds or so)
They are fun, of course, and while I generally would prefer a real rifle if I'm going to carry something that is the same size and weight, they do have a place.
The Mech Tech allows my wife to hit an IPSC target at 50 yds on the first shot.
The folding Kel-Tec allows surreptitious transport and also allows easy hits at long range (50 yds or so)
Precision
member
David, does it make the gun more accurate just because it adds a stock/handguard? there isn't a barrel extension or anything?
zero_chances
Member
if i remember right, there has to be a 16 inch barrel on any gun with a butt stock or it makes it a short barreled rifle. Then you would have to go through the class 3 weapon paperwork
bigfatdave
Member
Let's not get into the silly debate about pistol/rifle conversion legality again, OK?
And for that matter, the usefulness of PCC's has been done enough, let's not tax the already overburdened servers with it again.
Info on Mech-Tech:
http://tinyurl.com/65zd6q6
And for that matter, the usefulness of PCC's has been done enough, let's not tax the already overburdened servers with it again.
Info on Mech-Tech:
http://tinyurl.com/65zd6q6
The Lone Haranguer
Member
The carbine conversions I am aware of all have 16"+ barrels and fixed buttstocks, and just use your pistol's frame as a fire control part. You are not simply adding a shoulder stock to an existing handgun. To answer a question above, they do not make the gun more accurate per se, they just afford a steadier hold and a longer sight radius (or you can mount an optical sight atop the conversion), making the shooter more accurate. As far as what "tactical" 
niche they serve, they might make some sense for home defense, but are mostly just fun.
niche they serve, they might make some sense for home defense, but are mostly just fun.zero_chances
Member
sorry, didnt mean to ruffle any feathers. please ignore me. ill go back to lurking now
smince
Member.
Thread title:
Technically, the Sub2K isn't a 'conversion'. Still a good gun though.
Sam1911
Moderator Emeritus
No worries! I think Dave is referring to the fact that the ATF considers installing one of these kits onto your handgun frame to be making your handgun into a rifle. (It IS a carbine at that point, and a carbine is a kind of rifle.)
If it IS a rifle, then according to the National Firearms Act of 1934, it is illegal to make a firearm out of it that is less than 26" long or has a barrel of less than 16". Because of the odd wording of the law, that DOES include making it back into a normal pistol.
So, the ATF views this as a "one-way trip." If you want to reinstall your handgun barrel after you've converted the pistol into a rifle, you'd have to first register the gun as an NFA, Title II, short-barreled rifle.
As logically absurd as the law is -- it IS written pretty clearly.
So, absent a willingness to commit a federal felony, or pay a $200 tax and file federal paperwork, you have to have a pistol frame you want to permanently devote to rifle duty.
(FWIW, many people say they'll never be caught or prosecuted. And, MechTech says they disagree with the ATF's opinion. But, they won't be the ones prosecuting or defending you if you end up in trouble. Their opinion and a dollar bill will get you a cup 'o joe at McDonalds, but that's about it.)
Nushif
Member
I love modularity in guns! The more the better. Conversions of any kind *really* tickle my fancy.
451 Detonics
Member
There is a significant increase in muzzle velocity with the carbine conversions that gives a definite edge over the same round in a pistol. This added to very low recoil impulse, low muzzle flash, and light weight all make the PCC a viable tool for many applications. They are also very easy to suppress with both factory and reloaded subsonic loads. One other advantage is magazine commonality, the same mags that fit my Mech-Tech can be used in my Model 19 Glock.
As far as the NFA thing...if the receiver, the part with the serial number, started life as a pistol it is completely legal to change it back and forth. This was proven when Thompson Center had their court case on the same subject. http://stephenhalbrook.com/tc.html
I would add that given the way the ATF has "manufactured" cases I cannot believe they would ignore 20 plus years of NFA violations handed to them on a platter nor would they have allowed Mech Tech to remain in business. The purpose of the ATF is to put people in jail and they work very hard at it even when the have to "create" violations. If changing a Mech Tech was illegal we would have been reading about court cases, as there have been zero arrests to date I would have to say there is nothing illegal about them.
As far as the NFA thing...if the receiver, the part with the serial number, started life as a pistol it is completely legal to change it back and forth. This was proven when Thompson Center had their court case on the same subject. http://stephenhalbrook.com/tc.html
I would add that given the way the ATF has "manufactured" cases I cannot believe they would ignore 20 plus years of NFA violations handed to them on a platter nor would they have allowed Mech Tech to remain in business. The purpose of the ATF is to put people in jail and they work very hard at it even when the have to "create" violations. If changing a Mech Tech was illegal we would have been reading about court cases, as there have been zero arrests to date I would have to say there is nothing illegal about them.
Last edited:
- Status
