T/C question

[sgtb]

I have both a G2 rifle and Encore muzzleloader. Can I switch these to pistols by adding the pistol grip and appropriate barrel or is this illegal since they started as rifles?

 

[JesseL]

I believe that switching them to pistols is illegal because they started as rifles, unless you go through the BATF hoops to get them registered as short barreled rifles.

At that point you might conceivably run afoul of some state's game regulations regarding something like using a rifle during a handgun hunt.


It's a big can of worms to get into. If I were you, I'd sell off the G2 and Encore frames and buy pistol ones. Stupid gun laws.

 

[sgtb]

I was afraid of that. It is just crazy that is works one way, pistol to rifle, but not the other. As long as you are not using a barrel less than 16" with a butt stock it should be ok. Oh well. I guess I will buy a pistol frame.

 

[tbtrout]

Definately ILLEGAL

 

[sgtb]

I just spoke with t/C customer service and they said it is perfectly legal to go from rifle to pistol and pistol to rifle. the only thing is never use a pistol barrel with a buttstock.

 

[Okiecruffler]

BATF says otherwise. You should give them a call.
That being said, I highly doubt anyone would notice. When I called my local agent she told me "Don't you think we have bigger fish to fry?" But that may not be your agent.

 

[Conqueror]

Yup, I would trust the people who will put you in jail over the people who answer phones. To the best of my knowledge, the ATF would like your name and address if you ever decide to take the stock off a rifle and install a short barrel.

 

[sgtb]

Thanks guys. I will just buy a pistol frame and be done with it. If you guys are right about this then they sure shouldn't be telling people it is ok to do this. I would rather spend a couple hundred on a new frame than thousands on an attorney.

 

[Aran]

Call me crazy, but aren't black powder/muzzleloaders not even regulated as guns at all?

 

[PO2Hammer]

Normal black powder guns that do not accept other barrels are not regulated. I already tried that angle to get and unregistered Encore frame.

At one time it was legal to use any original Contender frame for any legal firearm. It seemed to get a little cloudy later with new laws and the Encore/G2 frames that were never part of the original decision (Supreme Court, IIRC).

My FFL registered my G2 and Encore frames as 'multi purpose' or something like that. This allows for pistol, rifle or shotgun setups.

Check with the FFL that you bought it from, maybe it's OK to convert to pistol. If nothing else, he should be able to check your serial numbers to see how it was registered.

 

[Conqueror]

^^^As far as I know, that isn't proper. FFL regs require that the bound book indicate what type of firearm it is, ie rifle, pistol, or shotgun. I don't think your FFL can just write "all of the above" and put you in the clear to make a pistol out of a rifle receiver.

 

[cyclist]

This issue came up in the past, I posted, someone else posted a link into the BATF web site to a section commenting directly about T/C interchanges.

And, yes, it seems rediculous that two components that are exactly the same except for the number stamped on them are considered different in the eyes of the law. This is why when I got my Encore I got the pistol version to start with. I've thought about selling it a few times since it's mostly just a safequeen, but still think about getting a second barrel for it. And, yes, I'm one of those people you've heard rumors of who have a T/C and only have one barrel for it (oh the shame of it all).

 

[cyclist]

Here's a link to the discussion I was thinking of:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=306399

post #24 in that thread, which gives a link to this:

http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/91-0164.ZS.html