G2 and early Contender differences

[rickt300]

I have an older Contender and presently am awaiting a G2 contender carbine in 22 rimfire delivery. What can I expect in the way of trigger adjustment with the G2. Will I be better off putting the G2 barrel on my older frame which has a very good trigger. Is the G2 stronger? Is the grip angle truly an improvement? My early Contender has had many barrels on it and I consider it the best hunting handgun I have ever used.  I plan on putting a 10 inch  44 magnum barrel on the frame that shows the least promise as to trigger pull but it is an older barrel and will it work on the G2 frame?

[Tommyt]

presently am awaiting a G2 contender carbine in 22 rimfire delivery

I plan on putting a 10 inch  44 magnum barrel on the frame that shows the least promise as to trigger pull

 In those statements you have just made a Rifle into a handgun
I believe thats illegal  JMHO

Good Luck it with your  new Purchase

[woodchukhntr]

If you are going to swap pistol and carbine barrels around you need 2 pistol frames to stay legal.  It is a violation of Federal law to make a rifle into a pistol (but apparently not the opposite).  It doesn't have to make sense, but we have to follow it or accept the consequences if caught.  My state (NY) has pistol permits, so it is more likely that any LEO would check.

[rickt300]

I have read that this is legal as long as you stay outside the illegal firearms definitions. Like not putting a pistol barrel on a frame presently set up with a rifle buttstock or putting a longer than 16 inch barrel on a frame with just grips on it.

[Keith L]

This is the subject of many posts on this forum and others.  Last week there was a similar thread on the TC rifles forum.  The case that makes it legal for a TC pistol to be a rifle is the only case law on the subject.  It doesn't address changing from a rifle to a pistol.  When the case was decided the only way you could get a Contender was as a pistol.  While it is not likely that you will ever have to go to court over this some day someone likely will.  Since I don't want to be that guy I only buy pistol frames and then make rifles out of them.  I guess it is up to you to decide what you want to do. 

[rickt300]

Here's a thought, once you put a rifle barrel and buttstock on a contender frame it becomes a rifle. Then by a strict interpretation of what your saying as soon as I put grips and a pistol barrel then I have made a rifle into a pistol. How would I go about finding out if my older frame was not sold originally as a rifle?

[Keith L]

If it is old enough it pre-dates any Contenders sold as anything except pistols.  I don't know what that date is.  Perhaps one of the other readers of this list can help with that.

What you do to it has nothing to do with how the federal laws apply.  It matters how TC registered it with the government when it was made.  Rumor has it that all Contenders and Encores are registered as pistols, but I have never seen that officially from TC and I am not willing to bet my freedom on a rumor.  There are also state laws that you need to investigate and conform to as well.

One thing for sure is that with a buttstock on a frame if you put a barrel less than 16 inches long on it becomes an illegal short barrelled rifle, and that will land you in the klink.

If you are interested in finding out more about this google this topic and see what you get.  You can read lots of opinions both ways, and also the results of the court case and make up your mind. 

I am no attorney and don't play one on TV so this is not a legal opinion.  You need to decide what you want to do.

[woodchukhntr]

I never could figure out why the FG considers a short-barreled rifle more of a problem than a pistol.  The same mentality used a bayonet lug in the definition of an assault rifle.  I have never heard of a drive-by bayonetting, and am more concerned of the bullets in a gun than if the gun has a bayonet.

[rickt300]

Ok then I will make every effort to maintain the legal pistol/rifle conundrum in a right and proper way.  I looked at my g2 carbine today and have to say it is a pretty piece though the barrel is a matte finish. The wood is very nice. I won't be able to pick it up till next thursday as i was delayed as usual by the ATF. They have a bunch of days off this week! Are the G2 triggers as easy to adjust as the older models?

[rickt300]

They called me an hour before they closed telling me I had been Okayed so I picked it up yesterday. Seems like a nice rifle, opens way smoother than my old model and the trigger is plenty good enough. Too bad the range is closed, I could go shoot while the turkey is geting prepared.