I Have a question so good advice please.

[DEACONLLB]

I have been thinking of getting a 45 cal or 50 cal muzzleloader pistol in a inline or precussion and as I have a lot of contender stuff and also a 45 cal muzzleloader barrel for the G2, why not have the 45 cal barrel cut to 12 inches and installed on one of my G2 frames. My grandson runs a machine shop and could cut the barrel and beveled at no cost. Your ideas please besides not a good idea.
Thanks deaconllb

[Busta]

The first thng that comes to mind, is it legal?

Was your G2 contender sold as a pistol or rifle?

I have been kicking around the idea of doing the same thing to a NEF Sidekick, but I can't get a definitive answer that I am satisfied with. I don't think I would like wearing shiney chrome bracelets.

So please let me know if you get an answer. Thanks.

[Empty Quiver]

Muzzle loading pistols are not generally legal to hunt with. I don't think there is enough barrel length to get decent velocity for a hunting arm, at least not enough for longer shots. Looking closer at the post I don't see hunting mentioned so I'll go away now. Call TC they may well fix you up, they will definitly have the correct answer.

[DEACONLLB]

This is a question that has been gone over time and time again but to answer your question I have both, one bought as a pistol and one as a action with rifle stock and forend. And It would really not make any difference any way as I have my own shooting range and would be for fun only not hunting. Now if you were to take a rifle and make it into a pistol and that same company did not produce a pistol like thompson does then you could find yourself in a spot. I have 12 contenders 2 G2 and 3 encores and only 4 of them I am sure what they left the factory as, The rest were picked up at gun shows that were as they say from a private collection and no paper work required. But I think you are right about being not ok to hunt with, will check that in a minute. The main reason I was thinking about this is I have every thing to do the job with no outlay of cash.
Deaconllb

PS     busta if the NEF is rifle only you would not be legal. I also just checked our Oklahoma hunting reg. for deer in the Muzzleloader season and any rifle or pistol in  40 cal. or larger is legal for deer as long as it is loaded from the muzzle and fires a single projectile. The regular rifle season requires a 60 grain bullet and the pistol has to be 357 or larger except if it is a pistol chambered in a rifle cart. then you can drop back to 55 grns.

[Busta]

This is where I can not get a difinitive answer. If your Encore/G2 Contender did not leave the factory as a pistol and was originally registered as a pistol, it is illegal to make it one, don't matter whether it is done in the privacy of your house or not. If you put a pistol grip and barrel that makes it shorter than 26" overall, it is illegal. A NEF Huntsman would fall under the same rules as an Encore/G2 Rifle, they can only legally be rifles, and cannot legally be made into pistols, even though another that looks just like it that started life as a pistol can. I know there is no physical difference, but that is the way I have came to understand the law.

On the other hand, the NEF Sidekick is not considered a firearm, it is considered an antique (muzzleloader only), and requires no FFL paperwork. From what I am gathering, even though this Sidekick started life as a rifle, since it is a muzzleloader only, it is quite possible to have it made into a pistol.

There is a difference, and nothing actually spells it out for the non 4473 muzzleloaders.

[DEACONLLB]

The contender and encores have been switched around so much that I really dought that even the ATF could tell us how a certian Thompson left the factory and TC more than likely could not tell us as their plant I am told burned in 93. I have a G2 That I bought as a pistol and was reg. as a short gun. when a background check is done they ask the question long gun or short and they are mainley checking your background for any past records that prevent you from buying the gun. Like I said we have went over this subject many times and still do not have an answer that we can live with.One thing for sure is that you are right that you can not take a regular rifle and make it into a pistol But I think you can add a rifle stock and longer barrel and make it into a rifle and that is legal. You would think with all of the TC stuff sold they would get us an answer But as for me I have not had any luck on getting any help from TC on a number of questions, I have called sent emails and all I am told is send it in and we will see is we are able to take care of the problem otherwise there is freight both ways. others have had good luck but not in my case.
The problem could be in who answeres the phone at the time.
Deaconllb