Has anyone ever cut a .22 rifle down to pistol size?

dgray64 · 12-05-2007, 08:26 AM

Even with reloading my own, target shooting is getting pretty expensive and I thought about getting a .22 pistol or semi-auto for practice. They cost more than a center fire model. So I thought maybe I could cut down a .22 rifle to pistol size, like my Mossburg semi-auto rifle. What do you think? Thanks.

Dave

two-70 · 12-05-2007, 09:09 AM

better check local laws i think long guns have to have at least an 18" barrel and have to be 26" overall, you might be making it illegal trying to convert it to pistol

SilverRun · 12-05-2007, 09:13 AM

Bad idea - you could get a .22 revolver for about the same money. You would likely end up with an illegal wepon by cutting the barrel off the Marlin. Many of the cheaper Marlins have a magzine feed tube - could not cut the barrel off without drastically reducing capacity.

damage855 · 12-05-2007, 10:27 AM

that would make your rifle illegal. you can make a pistol into a rifle but not a rifle into a pistol. wierd I know but that is the current law.

dgray64 · 12-05-2007, 11:04 AM

Thanks. I didn't figure it would be illegal, but I'll bet you are right!

Lizard · 12-05-2007, 11:28 AM

Just some ideas for you to consider, I hope they help.

Check J&G Sales. They're online and if you go to their site, you can sign up for their monthly (?) flyer. They have quite a few used pistols in .22 LR calibre for very little. You have to have the pistol sent to someone with an FFL, so you pay for the pistol, the S&H and a price of $10-$25 to the FFL holder. Even so, some of their cheapo pistols are less than $100.

I have a number of pistols and revolvers and quite a few rifles, but nothing beats taking out my .22 pistols or my little Mossberg 702 with less than $10 worth of ammo and spend a couple of hours at the range or my boy's pond. There is something really satisfying about watching pop cans or little foam golf balls jump around.

I know that Academy Sports and Bass World both run specials on .22 pistols. You can often find good pistols for less than $200.

Check budsgunshop.com, sometimes they have "gunshow" models that are lower priced. I've found that if you want a good deal on guns, you'd better keep cash in your pocket and know what the going prices are. When you find a good deal, you have to buy it right that moment.

And, although Wally doesn't sell handguns anymore, a lot of pawnshops price their used guns over what Wally sells them for new.

lefty o · 12-05-2007, 12:01 PM

it is not illegal to cut down a rifle, however you do need to have a tax stamp from the ATF to do it. cheaper tobuy a pistol.

Idaho Dave · 12-05-2007, 12:01 PM

Are you infering that you are wanting to cut some of the barrel off? If so I think, as the other posters have suggested, it is a poor idea that may border a firearm law violation. Further, if you cut from the front end you will remove the crown. this can greatly reduce accuracy and increase fliers and other unwanted effects. making a new crown is going to require some precision equipment and a degree of know how

.22guy · 12-05-2007, 12:09 PM

Just get a Ruger single six or a Mark III.

Heritage arms also makes a variety of .22 revolvers, that are similar to the ruger single six. They are bargain priced, but I'm sure the quality is a bit lower.

JSnover · 12-05-2007, 06:15 PM

I found a cut down .22 rifle in an attic when I was a kid, made from a box-magazine bolt action rifle. It was completely useless; It fired but wouldn't group better than 6" at 25 yards and it was too bulky to carry concealed. Don't know where it came from or whatever happened to it but the thing was junk.

rfc357 · 12-05-2007, 06:44 PM

You can cut a rifle barrel without a tax stamp as long as you do not reduce the length below 16". (It's 18" for a shotgun, go figure.) The entire gun must be at least 26" long. It is not difficult to do this, nor to re-do the crown.

12-05-2007, 08:26 AM	#1
dgray64 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: central Texas Posts: 207 Trader Rating: (0)	Has anyone ever cut a .22 rifle down to pistol size? Even with reloading my own, target shooting is getting pretty expensive and I thought about getting a .22 pistol or semi-auto for practice. They cost more than a center fire model. So I thought maybe I could cut down a .22 rifle to pistol size, like my Mossburg semi-auto rifle. What do you think? Thanks. Dave

12-05-2007, 09:09 AM	#2
two-70 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: ponca city, oklahoma Posts: 1,755 Trader Rating: (0)	better check local laws i think long guns have to have at least an 18" barrel and have to be 26" overall, you might be making it illegal trying to convert it to pistol __________________ What Would Jesus Do ????? Just Ask Him.

12-05-2007, 10:27 AM	#4
damage855 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: North Carolina / Lake Norman Posts: 864 Trader Rating: (0)	that would make your rifle illegal. you can make a pistol into a rifle but not a rifle into a pistol. wierd I know but that is the current law. __________________ If total goverment control will make us all safer, then why are prisons so dangerous?

12-05-2007, 11:28 AM	#6
Lizard Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 129 Trader Rating: (0)	Just some ideas for you to consider, I hope they help. Check J&G Sales. They're online and if you go to their site, you can sign up for their monthly (?) flyer. They have quite a few used pistols in .22 LR calibre for very little. You have to have the pistol sent to someone with an FFL, so you pay for the pistol, the S&H and a price of $10-$25 to the FFL holder. Even so, some of their cheapo pistols are less than $100. I have a number of pistols and revolvers and quite a few rifles, but nothing beats taking out my .22 pistols or my little Mossberg 702 with less than $10 worth of ammo and spend a couple of hours at the range or my boy's pond. There is something really satisfying about watching pop cans or little foam golf balls jump around. I know that Academy Sports and Bass World both run specials on .22 pistols. You can often find good pistols for less than $200. Check budsgunshop.com, sometimes they have "gunshow" models that are lower priced. I've found that if you want a good deal on guns, you'd better keep cash in your pocket and know what the going prices are. When you find a good deal, you have to buy it right that moment. And, although Wally doesn't sell handguns anymore, a lot of pawnshops price their used guns over what Wally sells them for new. Last edited by Lizard; 12-05-2007 at 11:31 AM.

12-05-2007, 12:01 PM	#8
Idaho Dave Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 485 Trader Rating: (0)	Are you infering that you are wanting to cut some of the barrel off? If so I think, as the other posters have suggested, it is a poor idea that may border a firearm law violation. Further, if you cut from the front end you will remove the crown. this can greatly reduce accuracy and increase fliers and other unwanted effects. making a new crown is going to require some precision equipment and a degree of know how __________________ Living the life

12-05-2007, 09:13 AM	#3
SilverRun Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: AL Posts: 1,658 Trader Rating: (0)	Bad idea - you could get a .22 revolver for about the same money. You would likely end up with an illegal wepon by cutting the barrel off the Marlin. Many of the cheaper Marlins have a magzine feed tube - could not cut the barrel off without drastically reducing capacity.

12-05-2007, 11:04 AM	#5
dgray64 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: central Texas Posts: 207 Trader Rating: (0)	Thanks. I didn't figure it would be illegal, but I'll bet you are right!

12-05-2007, 12:01 PM	#7
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 4,669 Trader Rating: (0)	it is not illegal to cut down a rifle, however you do need to have a tax stamp from the ATF to do it. cheaper tobuy a pistol.

12-05-2007, 12:09 PM	#9
.22guy Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 4,056 Trader Rating: (0)	Just get a Ruger single six or a Mark III. Heritage arms also makes a variety of .22 revolvers, that are similar to the ruger single six. They are bargain priced, but I'm sure the quality is a bit lower. __________________ Guns: they are like baseball cards except they are cool and you can kill things with em. -Billy

12-05-2007, 06:15 PM	#10
JSnover Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 186 Trader Rating: (0)	I found a cut down .22 rifle in an attic when I was a kid, made from a box-magazine bolt action rifle. It was completely useless; It fired but wouldn't group better than 6" at 25 yards and it was too bulky to carry concealed. Don't know where it came from or whatever happened to it but the thing was junk.

12-05-2007, 06:44 PM	#11
rfc357 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 741 Trader Rating: (0)	You can cut a rifle barrel without a tax stamp as long as you do not reduce the length below 16". (It's 18" for a shotgun, go figure.) The entire gun must be at least 26" long. It is not difficult to do this, nor to re-do the crown.