Author Topic: ? on barrel length for handgun (Read 536 times)

BruceP · « **on:** April 21, 2004, 04:05:04 PM »

Lets take the legality of a Contenders configuration in a different direction.
I just bought a Super 16 barrel in 30/30 Win. from the TC classifieds. When I mentioned this to a friend he said he thought that it was illegal to use it as a handgun with a 16" or longer barrel. I have never heard of this being true. From what I have found on the net I have seen plenty about the use (or the fact that you can't) of barrels shorter than 16" with the buttstock in place but I have found nothing so far as to a maximum legal length for handguns, other than a couple of brief mentionings that lead me to belive that there is none.
If there is no problem with this as I belive then is anyone using their 16" barrel as a handgun, and what do you think of this configuration.
BruceP

Lone Star · « **Reply #1 on:** April 21, 2004, 05:00:19 PM »

There is no problem using a 16" or a 20" barrel on a frame with handgun stocks as far as the Feds are concerned. Local laws might vary I suppose. Just don't use a barrel shorter than 16" on a frame with a buttstock mounted - that's asking for trouble. :eek:

Some use the 16" barrel as a handgun and I suppose that without the brake it isn't bad - the brake adds over an inch more in length. I use my 15" tubes all the time in the field - they fit in the same holsters that the 14" barrels do so they are no harder to carry. The ballistics are better than in a 14" tube, but not that much in most chamberings.

Kurt Heckman · « **Reply #2 on:** April 23, 2004, 12:04:38 AM »

I have a 300 whisper that I shoot here in Illinois for our pistol season that is 16.5 and a 15" .223 that I welded a barrel extension on it to make it 16 that I also shoot as pistol at times I like the fact that I can use either with a butt stock if I choose and the extra inch seems to be little differance over say 15" inch .Kurt

Deaf Smith · « **Reply #3 on:** April 23, 2004, 01:53:54 AM »

I have two 16.5 barrels one of which I use mainly use as a handgun the 45/70 (which hurts more as a 5 lb carbine than a pistol) the 22 is mainly used as a carbine. but you can use any length barrel on a handgun except I beleave in NY state for handgun hunting I hear they have a strange law about handgun barrel length for hunting and the 16.5 's are too long. Its NY what can you say most of their gun laws are stupid.
Jim L

WNY_Whitetailer · « **Reply #4 on:** April 23, 2004, 07:35:10 AM »

Here is a snippett from the NYS DEC website regarding the legal handgun barrel length for hunting in NY:

Handgun*- any centerfire pistol or revolver. Barrel length maximum is 16 inches

Doesn't bother me any...

skb2706 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 23, 2004, 08:24:40 AM »

in your NYS DEC snippett the operative words were "for hunting".

WNY_Whitetailer · « **Reply #6 on:** April 23, 2004, 05:45:35 PM »

Ummm....Yes, I know. That's why I put that in there.