Pistol to rifle?

[OldRanger]

Is it legal to take a pistol and convert it to a rifle? I was just looking at an exemplar and realized the bolt is on the left. And it is magazine fed. If I put a new barrel on it, then had a new stock made I could have a left handed bolt action Anschutz. First is this legal? Second is there a reason this isn't a good idea? What are the triggers like on the exemplar and could I swap in a 54 (or 1712) trigger?

[topclass]

might be less expensive to find a LH 1415/16, which is a 64 actioned repeater. I thought about following a similar path with what is considered a RH Exemplar (bolt on the left) but found a LH 1415/16 already in a Mark Pharr stock.

[Dee]

As long as it conforms to the rifle rules it should be fine to do what you are thinking about. Not sure that it will be worth the $$ and effort in the end though compared to selling the pistol and just buying a rifle as mentioned. Remember they have people shooting HP with the XP pistol actions Remington made. Good luck..


Dee

[Jason]

Are you asking if it's allowed to shoot a rifle that was previously a pistol in NRA-approved smallbore silhouette matches or if it's legal according to state and federal laws to change a pistol into a rifle?

[OldRanger]

Are you asking if it's allowed to shoot a rifle that was previously a pistol in NRA-approved smallbore silhouette matches or if it's legal according to state and federal laws to change a pistol into a rifle?

Both. I sort of assumed no one cares what it started out as so long as it fits the rules to shoot NRA Silhouette. But the law is another thing. Again, I assume going from small to big is not as touchy as going from big to small.

I thought about the 1416 route but the exemplar is a 54 not 64 action. And if I can get the donor pistol cheap it might be worth persuing. You'd think I could at least wait till I shoot my new 1712 before starting on another project, but thats not how I roll ;)

[Jason]

The only Exemplar pistols that I have seen were 64 actions. I've never seen an Anschutz pistol, factory or otherwise, with a 54-series action. They probably exist, but I haven't seen one. With that said, I believe that it's acceptable to turn a pistol into a rifle as long as at no time during the conversion that it has a barrel less than 16" long and a pistol stock/grip on it. That would make it a short-barreled rifle that would require a $200 fee and federal stamp. If you replace the barrel first and then replace the stock with a rifle stock, it should be fine legally. I think you should check into this further and make sure nothing has changed recently, but that's how others I have known made the transition before.

[Jason]

As soon as I posted that last comment above, I went to search for any pictures of Anschutz Exemplars or other pistols with 54 actions and Bing image search pulled up a couple quickly. They might be 22 Hornet models but they clearly had the wing safety 54 action, so consider my "64-only" comment above completely untrue.

[psteiger]

I have never seen or heard of a 54 actioned left handed pistol except the Hornet ones. I asked Anschutz and they said they never made them. The left handed 1416 uses the same trigger as the 1710. You can put the 5098 2 stage on it. I have one. Works good. Steve Wooster makes left handed Pharr stocks. The only left handed repeater 54 action is the 1827F. If you're dying for a repeater, you can get a Cooper JSR, Browning T-bolt, CZ 452. I also have a 7-2KO converted to left hand. Occasionally you'll see 580/581's pop up with the bolt on the correct side. Good luck!

[OldRanger]

Anschutz says they never made them? Here is one. http://www.armslist.com/posts/40127/tuc ... get-pistol You need to scroll way down, but its a 22lr.

Heres another http://gunnerforum.com/range-reports/12 ... eport.html

I haven't held one of these yet, but they sure look like 54 action, left side bolt 22LR repeating actions.

I have Steve building me a 1712 in a left handed stock as we speak, I've just always coveted a true left handed rifle. If this falls through I'll save my pennies and think about a 1827L for my next project.

[psteiger]

I guess I wasn't clear, sorry. They never made a left handed 54 actioned Exemplar, except in 22 Hornet. No 22 LR left bolt 54 actioned pistols. ( or rifles ) Those links are 64's. You can get a 54.18 or a 18XX 19XX 20XX all left bolt but single shot.

[deaner]

Hello,

I wanted to do this (not just for silhouettes) and had a Benelli pistol that has a slip fit barrel system.
I wanted a semi auto w/ the great trigger of the pistol. I got a Sako take-off barrel for cheap and w/some smithing, it works perfect.
Did I need to do all that? not in the slightest, but it turned out awesome!
It is legal and can be done.
Its in a silhouette stock and great for windy speed shooting, or just accurate plinking.
thanks
dean