Max Barrel length

[sk330lc]

   This Might Be dumb but, ( Yes there had to be a Butt). Is there a maximum Barrel length for a Pistol?
What I'm after is it legal to use, a 21" Barrel on a contender pistol??
I have been forward and back through the Federal ATF book and can find nothing on a max length for a pistol.  Now the state laws I found several But I fall under the Federal section.
Thanks

[Hopalong7]

Federal regs have no upper limit on pistol barrel length.  Nor does Virginia.  check your state.  Most don't. GOOD SHOOTIN', Walt 

[blhof]

Be careful of state officials declaring that it's a rifle with a pistol grip.  Contender designates some barrels as carbine or rifle.  The wrong grip on either of these is just as illegal as a rifle stock on a pistol designated barrel, at least as was told to our range club by a guest state game warden.

[gimpster]

Ohio pistol length is 16"
                      Dave

[Hopalong7]

Lots of folks, including myself, for a long while assumed that since a rifle started at 16" that a pistol had to stop at 16".  Not So.

blhof, I can find nothing on any of my barrels refering to pistol OR rifle.  I have the greatest respect for wardens, but they've been know to be quite wrong about gun laws at times, at least around here.

gimster, So....in Ohio a TC Super-16 (actually 16.5") is illegal on your pistol.

Modifying a rifle into a pistol has long been highly against Fed regs, but I don't see that as saying how long your pistol barrel can be in any way.

[sk330lc]

Ohio pistol length is 16"
                      Dave

Your right If your in Columbus, Akron, Canton ,Cleveland, Dayton or Cincinnati.   Well Kinda Akron Listed 12" Being the max length. Where I'm Located In southeast Ohio, as stated we fall Under the Federal Laws. I'm Just Unsure Of what the Laws are. A friend was going to call the ATF and see. I'll let you all know what I find out.   

[Dezynco]

Around here, as far as I know, you there is no limit on pistol barrel length.  I guess you could have a pistol with 4 foot barrel if you want.  I wouldn't want to tote one like that around, but....

you absolutely cannot have a rifle with a short barrel under sixteen inches.  That much is clear as crystal.

So I guess that you need to make sure that you don't but a short barrel on your Contender or Encore that has a rifle stock.  I suppose that as long as the pistol grip is on there, your OK - I suppose.  It would look sorta silly, a pistol with 26" barrel, and be mighty unhandy.

[gimpster]

I asked game warden in Ohio and it is 16".If its 16-1/4 its a rifle
                                                                       Dave

[Hopalong7]

You may well be right, but it is a local or state regulation not federal.

TC introduced the S-16 barrel in catalog no.16 in 1989.  The barrel is 16.25" or 16.5" long.  The catalog shows complete guns available w/ S-16 barrel  as pistol and carbine.  It is also show on both the pistol accessory barrel list and rifle barrel list. And it lists the same product number on both accessory pages as long as the caliber is the same.

I don't use 21" barrels on pistol frames much...I do use S-16's quite often at the range and in the woods...also use a 18" 6mmTCU FRO barrel as a pistol and yes it's a little unwieldy for concealed carry but slung over my shoulder it's very handyand one GOOD shootin iron.

GOOD SHOOTIN',  Walt 

[Catfish]

Gimster,
They used to have a max. lenth on barrel listed in the hunting regs., but it has no longer list a max. lenth. How long ago did you speak to the game warden?

[onesonek]

To the best of my knowledge, Fed law states that a rifle barrel has to be over 16", that why most say 16.25" to remove any question, as most likely they don't carry a tape measure that'll read 16.0005". As to pistols barrels there is no mention of legal limit on length. That is left to the individual States. If you GW or LEO told you 16.25" is a rifle with a pistol grip, it must stated as such in the state law. Or if a pistol has a max OAL. Where as there is a min OAL for long guns. No offense to those in enforcement, but sometimes they interpet law wrongly. Check your state laws, you should find any regulation to pistol barrel lengths on the net in your particular state regs.
And if you find that there is no limit in barrel lengths or OAL's on pistol, I suggest you print it out.

Dave

[gimpster]

Catfish,
I talked to him November 3 of this year.But you are correct in that they did remove max length from the regs.
                                                                                 Gimpster

[jlwilliams]

  Asking a game warden or a police officer for clarification on gun laws is often not as good an idea as it seems to be.  I have been told  "That's illegal" by well meaning officers who just don't know on more than one occasion.  Both times were while I was getting finger print cards done for ATF form 4's.  They ask (as a matter of routine)  what the print cards are for.  I tell them.  They tell me it's illegal.  They're wrong.  Well meant, but wrong. I show them the BATFE paper work, explain that it sure would be illegal if I didn't go through all of this.  Fact is that firearms laws are too complex and most law officers just don't need to know most of it.  Game wardens likely know more, but I wouldn't bet my freedom on it.

  Point of the story is, don't ask someone who may OR MAY NOT have a correct answer that you could go before a judge with and walk out free.  WRITE (don't call) ATF for a response on the federal law and WRITE to your state Attorney General.  When they respond, they will do so in writing.  That's why you wrote instead of calling.  Now you will have a written document that sites the relevant statutes.  Written on the appropriate letterhead with some official's signature.  That is what you need to have.  Make copies and bring one with you when you are hunting or shooting.  Now when you encounter an officer of whatever stripe, you have some back up if he misidentifies your gun as illegal. Trick is not to come off as a smart a**.  Be polite but adamant that you are not breaking the law, and you can prove it.

[sk330lc]

Going to scrap the Idea I had.  Not worth the chance. will just stick to barrels onder 16".
Thanks to all.