Contender pistol to rifle conversion and vice versa

[celisup78]

Do more shooters own only 1 contender frame and just convert between the rifle and pistol versions or do most own two frames - each devoted to a particular use? Is there any problems, i.e. accuracy concerns, if you switch between rifle and pistol setups on the same frame? I am rather new to contenders, compared to most on this site, and own several pistol barrels, but I wanted to start into the rifle setups. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

[longwinters]

You can do a search on this topic and probably find a zillion posts.  There has been much discussion on the legalities of going from rifle to pistol with the general understanding that if you want to switch out barrels the safest, legal, way is to just have 2 frames and keep the pistol frame just shooting pistol barrels and the other just for long barrels.  But otherwise you should be able to use a registared frame (pistol) and use longer barrels on it but not vise versa.  Of course this is just an opinion.

Long

[Keith L]

From a practical standard one can switch from pistol to rifle and back again with nor accuracy problems as far as I am concerned.  I do it frequently and have never had any of the grief others talk about quite a lot.  But the reality of the situation is also that Contenders are like Lays potato chips: you can't stop at just one.  I have four frames and lots of barrels, both in rifle and pistol configuration.  I have them because I like them.

Legality from a federal standpoint TC won a Supreme Court case some years ago that make it legal to switch from a pistol to a rifle.  There may be state or local registration issues to deal with, in Wisconsin there isn't.  There is no case law establishing changing from a rifle to a pistol, so you are on your own on that one.  There are many different opinions about that.  There is also no caselaw about Encores, so that may be a problem as well.

One thing for sure:  if you put a rifle stock on a frame with a barrel shorter than 16 inches you are in violation of US law and could be in the deep stuff.

Welcome to the wonderful world of Contenders.

[celisup78]

My frame is registered as a handgun here in PA and I am fully aware of the legal stuff - having read a number of posts here at this site. I also have absolutely no problem purchasing another frame(s) to use as a rifle setup, although the wife might not appreciate/fully understand contender fever but she has been more than willing thus far. I was more interested in the practicality of using one frame and the potential negatives that accompany it. Thanks for all the info.

[mtnjack]

I can only shoot 1 at a time, take my small game barrel off Mach 2 23 inch and switch for deer season. Its fun to tinker i am in no hurry. Be safe Mtn Jack

[blhof]

I have both a 30/30 rifle and pistol barrel and switch on a regulau basis as well as with the several pistol barrels that I have and have found that point of aim hasn't changed on any of the barrels.

[Dwarfmiester]

I think that on the Handgun Hunter Magazine web site there is a copy of a letter with the BATF's position.  If your frame was put into the inventory at the factory as a pistol, you can legally switch it to a rifle.  If when it was manufactured and then inventoried as a rifle, then you cannot legally switch it to a pistol with out violating the NFA.  I as several other posters got sick and tired of the big switch so I bought a second frame that was a Carbine and it stays that way.

Len