Opinions on making ML pistol

[AndyHass]

I'm thinking of manufacturing a ML pistol.  I'd want it to be something good for at least 50-75 yds...probably topped with a Red Dot sight.  My idea is a Green Mountain barrel with an Omega breech plug aluminum pillar bedded into a handmade stock.  I'd need to figure out the hammer, trigger and striker design by myself as it needs to be pin-fired to touch off either 209s or 25ACP conversion.

What should I think of in terms of barrel length?  Green Mountain sells 12-14" pistol blanks but I'm not sure that's quite long enough and they are 1-20" twist.  I am debating cutting down a full rifle barrel to 16" or so.

Any comments, ideas, or links to sites that might be useful in this project are appreciated.

[Semisane]

Here's a guideline to work from.

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=00139P16203120

You might be able to find a used CVA Wolf cheap, and use the action and shortened barrel as a start.  Don't know how difficult it would be to modify the action for a pistol grip.

[Keith Lewis]

I wanted a pistol to use for finishing off elk. Sometimes they are not dead when down, at least the ones I have shot were not. I wanted the lightest to carry but still reasonable to shoot. I found an underhammer boot pistol kit (copy of a Hopkins and Allen)  online that is basically completely done except for blueing and finishing the steel parts to your desired finish, required some draw filing of the barrel flats as it was pretty rough on the outside. The finished pistol is about as light as possible as it is just a barrel with a handle. The trigger guard is the hammer spring and it came with basic iron sights.  Unfortunately the company is apparently not making the kits anymore. I just checked online. If you have some tools like a lathe and a mill the structure is easy to copy. Finding the plans might be a problem.

[Illhunter]

I have also thought about this but I don't think i would want a barrel that long on it probably since it is to finish off an elk i would only go with a bbl length of 8" to make it easier and lighter to carry. I would prefer to use a nef sidekick for this but i would say a cheap used cva would be ok to just to start with and as far as the grip  maybe find a pistol grip type wood stock and make it look like the old percussion pistols or maybe see if gunstock.com has anything that you could use.

Terry 

[Buckskins & Black Powder]

A cva colonial or cva hawken would be perfect for finishing off not so dead animals.

[AndyHass]

Mine would need to be acceptable as a primary weapon within 50 yards.   

[Busta]

Mine would need to be acceptable as a primary weapon within 50 yards.   

Andy,

I too, have been kicking around the idea of making a muzzleloading hunting pistol for around 50 yards and under, but would like to find out more on the legalities of turning a NEF Sidekick into a Sidekick II.

Here is the concept, it's ugly, but with a .25 ACP ignition I think it will do the job just fine. I have been in contact with a guy that made an Encore into a muzzleloading pistol (legally) that was from Michigan, so I would think the Sidekick being a Non-Firearm, should not be a problem. The biggest problem I see is it will appear to some as a sawed-off shotgun. I need to look further into this project, it would be the perfect gun for hunting the corn fields, as most shots are under 25 yards.

[Oldsnow]

 My opinions is you should contact the department of (Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms) be for you spend the money to make a pistol out of a rifle. I think there are laws about this. 

[Busta]

My opinions is you should contact the department of (Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms) be for you spend the money to make a pistol out of a rifle. I think there are laws about this. 

Muzzleloaders (non-firearms) are not covered by the same rules as 4473 firearms. A NEF Huntsman or T/C Encore is a 4473 Firearm, a NEF Sidekick or CVA Wolf is not. Although all are tip-ups, not all have the option of center fire rifle or shotgun barrels. I wont do it until I know for sure it is legal. It is one of those gray areas that you would probably have to go through a bunch of red tape (and money), to prove it is legal.

[Semisane]

I don't think it's a gray area at all.  Muzzle loaders are not "firearms" under Federal law and not subject to barrel restrictions, modification restrictions, etc.  Go ahead with your project and have fun.

[Busta]

I don't think it's a gray area at all.  Muzzle loaders are not "firearms" under Federal law and not subject to barrel restrictions, modification restrictions, etc.  Go ahead with your project and have fun.

I guess it can be, when state and local government get involved. I also have a NEF Huntsman muzzleloader that is a 4473 Firearm, so not all muzzleloaders are non-firearms, and you sure wouldn't want to try it with it.

The guy I talked about earlier, has saved he correspondence with Michigan State Police. He converted an Encore muzzleloading rife to a pistol. I just think when you are dealing with this type of thing, not everybody is on the same page.

[Jal5]

that looks like a very interesting design Busta, please keep us informed. for close quarters hunting it would be really good.

Joe