444 Marlin 18" Encore Barrel?

[UMB]

I know this barrel can be used as a rifle, but is it legal to have a pistol with an 18" barrel?

[TopGun]

Not even a little bit. Fed's have mandated the legal minimum length for a rifle and the maximum for a handgun. It's to prevent sawed-off guns and such. This is why the TC always comes under so much scrutiny when guys use the 410 shotshells in the 45/410. It's really a shotgun! ATF hates it , but they did give special consideration. Notice they never allowed any of the larger guages. I'm pretty sure a full stocked rifle must have atleast a 16" barrel, hence the 16 1/4" for TC Carbines, or something like that.  Rem Special purpose 1100 shortie shotguns and shotguns with pistol grips have to be licensed as hand-guns? I think that's becuase they fall under the legal 'overall' length as stipulated by law. Good luck.

[KN]

You can have a pistol with any length barrel you want, you just cant make one from an existing rifle.  Rifle barrels must be a min of 16". Your 18" barrel is perfectly leagal on you TC pistol. KN

[TopGun]

Hey KN. Thanks for the info. I know the laws are well defined when it comes to making short rifles and/or hand guns. I didn't realize a person could use a 21" TC barrel with a pistol grip? But then why would someone want too?

[southern utah]

Any length on a pistol ,there is even a long pistol in the T/C Catalog where one of their customs took an amimal with one.

[KN]

TopGun, I have a 450 in an 18" full bull Encore that I shoot as a pistol. Too heavy to carry around but it's sure fun to shoot. I think any thing longer and the gun starts looking really awkward.  KN

[Eric N.]

I have a Contender 16 1/4 in. 444 Marlin that I shoot both as a pistol and a carbine. It works great both ways.

[UMB]

I saw this barrel at a local gun show and it got the gears turning in my mind. We're limited to a straight wall cart. in a  pistol for deer hunting here in Ohio and I thought maybe this would be a good one to reach out a little. I might go for it if I see this guy again and he still has it for sale. Thanks for the help UMB. :grin:

[TopGun]

Yeah, I do stand corrected, and I think I understand? Please don't think I was putting anyone down for it. It's just that I selected a Contender to hunt with 25 years ago. I gave up many nice 18"-20" barreld rifles (not really, they're in my safe) to hunt with the convienience of a very powerful, short barreled gun that offered power and range over that of a revolver for certain hunting situations. I have not hunted with a rifle except my 45-70 Sharps Carbine in almost 15 years. I just liken pistol shooting to the 14"ers or shorter (a stretch as the 10 and 12's balance better in my hands).  My back-pack Elk hunts have really opened my eyes to shear tool-like usefullness of the compact TC's. 60-70lbs on my back leaves no room for a 8-9lb rifle in my hands!  It's just my thought on what handgunning is. I know how much fun my 10" 444(The bullet has never stopped in an animal!)is so I can imagine an 18" 444 or 45-70 with a pistol grip is fun, but I find in most of my  hunting situations(stalking-I can't stand still), the longer barrels are hard to steady, and mount quickly. I have just given away my last long barrel and butt-stock(21"223) combo as it hasn't been used in over 2 years. Again this is my personal preference. I was just confused on the law regarding allowable length of barrels. Good luck with your long barrels. I know you are getting optimum performance from them.  Funny how people are-- I find my 8" Ruger SBH Hunter too long and cumbersome (front-end heavy), and I ususally choose my 5 or 6" S&W .44 almost every time I use a revolver, but the SBH is extremely accurate and an awesome piece.  My 14" TC's are right on the edge for my liking.   Later.

[KN]

It's funny how much different guns will balance. I generaly don't like revolver barrels over 6", but 12" seems about right in a TC.  KN