Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Single Shots Contender G2 question.

I have a Contender G2 pistol on order. My question is this: Can the G2 pistol frame be used to make a Contender carbine? This is a point I am confused on, so any enlightenment would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
DAL

Can it? Yes, physically it can. A carbine stock and forearm can be fitted to the G2 frame, and a Contender carbine barrel will work just fine with the frame as well. So, yes, you physically CAN make your G2 pistol into a carbine. Many, many people have done so and will continue to do so; it's one of the charms of the Contender/G2/Encore systems.

Should it? Well, here's the BATF letter in regard to a very similar question asked by a very reputable gun writer a few years back. Read and decide for yourself.

BATF letter

BTW - what barrel/configuration do you have on order?

Wow! Ask a simple question and get some kind of convoluted answer, courtesy of the BATFE. Well, from the way I read that letter, it doesn't directly answer the question about converting a G2 frame bought as a pistol to rifle. In fact, I can think of many handguns that are converted to handguns--Glocks and 1911s in particular, so (I guess) that means I'm in the clear, as long as I can prove it was purchased as a pistol frame.

BTW, I ordered the G2 with a 14" .22 LR match barrel. No doubt, a few more barrels/calibers will follow (eventually).
DAL

P.S. Thanks for the thought-provoking response.

DAL,

The 14" .22LR out to be a small game getter for sure. Oh, and more barrels/caliber WILL follow... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

What follows is just my opinion - others may, and probably will, differ.

Personally, I think that the strength of the Contender/G2 comes in the pistol and short carbine configuration, esp. the pistol.

The reason is the calibers for which the Contender/G2 can be chambered, and the ability to switch quickly to and from rimfire to centerfire. The calibers, from .17 Remington to .375 Winchester and .45//410 (I leave the .45-70 out on purpose - see later) can be utilized to, or very near, their full potential in barrels from 10" to 14", with the carbine versions of 16.25" to 21" stretching the capabilities just a bit further. Also, the short carbine versions in .22LR, .223, 7-30, .30-30, and .375 Win. make excellent woods/treestand//walking varminter/youth rifles. Quick, light, handy, and very efficient.

The Encore (again, IMHO) excels at being a rifle. Of course, you can shift down to the same calibers as in the Contender/G2 in an Encore, but why? You gain weight in the action, but nothing else. The calibers in which the Encore is chambered that cannot be chambered in the Contender/G2 are best from barrels over 20", preferably 24" and 26". Here I'm speaking about the long-range, heavy-hitting crowd; and I put the .45-70 in here as well because the Encore frame just fits the big ol' buffalo stomper better than the Contender; making it safer (for you and the frame) more powerful, and more controllable.

So, IMHO, if you want a pistol and/or short, light, carbine (16.25" to 21" barrel) get the Contender/G2. If you want the rifle configuration, go with the Encore and get the calibers that the Contender won't handle. If you want both the long-range rifle capabilities AND the pistol/carbine option, then get 'em both.

Just my two-cents,

Not only will it easily make up a carbine by changing the grip to a buttstock and whatever foreend you like....it makes a fine setup. With the additon of the .204 it makes a legitimate varmint rig from a G2 that will put you into the 400 yd. gun.

Mine's not a "G2" Contender but I've got it converted as a (Carbine length) .17HMR Rifle w/23" barrel, and it works great!

You can see it here

http://community.webshots.com/photo/164652721/355655769QELGLp

here

http://community.webshots.com/photo/164652721/355657602OcAPTl

and in use here

http://community.webshots.com/photo/16242808/344175062SEITTZ

It has its 6-24X B&L Scope mounted with QD Rings and I'm currently waiting for a Stainless Bullberry barrel in .204 Ruger to arrive to use it on critters at longer ranges! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Bill - a Bullberry SS .204 sounds like a nice setup. Can I ask what the wait time was for it. That is my next barrel........

skb2706,

About 2-1/2 months...

I just missed the price increase (wrong side of it! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />) by a couple of days!

Based on Bullberry's (perhaps questionable if I look at their .17HMR data, based on only 5 shots per calculation <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/help.gif" alt="" />) Chrono results, I ordered a 23" barrel, which is supposed to be the "optimal" length...which is just 1" OVER the cutoff on length/price, another "ouch".

However IF this works out the way Bullberry claims their barrels are supposed to shoot (and many claim they DO), I think I'll be pretty pleased with the end results.

I have it all set up so I can swap that 6-24X scope between barrels! No reason to park a scope that expensive on some barrel sitting in the corner!

bill - I have a couple of Bullberry barrels....albeit not in .204. You will not be disappointed with the accuracy. I will say that my factory (actually its my sons) .204 barrel is amazingly accurate and would meet the guarantee from Bullberry.

Back to your original question, I've been told by both Thompson-Center (when I asked them in a phone conversation) and some T-C dealers "yes"!

Apparently there was some Federal case (the BATF involved for sure!) that was heard and the T-C Contender owner prevailed...setting a precedent. This is what I was told.

I sure wish I KNEW the case and exactly what was said.

There are several issues here, mostly centered around the National Firearms Act of 1934 (and subsequent NFAs). This was the law that essentially banned Full-Autos, Silencers, Sawed Off Shotguns, Pistols with Shoulder Stocks and Rifles with barrels shorter than 16".

Also somewhere in there was a provision that rifles and pistols could not be "converted" back and forth...that they would "BE" what they were originally registered as by their Class II (Manufacturer).

So, as you can see, there are several provisions here that come under consideration.

For instance the BATF has ruled that it is "illegal" to own the parts (and firearm) "to make or assemble" a (unregistered) full-auto firearm, even if the firearm is NOT assembled in that configuration. At the same time the parts, and the firearm, may both be "legal to own" individually!

So with the Contender and Encore, you have both the issues of "converting" from rifle to pistol or vice versa, as well as possessing the parts to have a pistol w/shoulder stock or a rifle with a barrel under 16" (having the parts to have both the pistol and rifle configurations).

As mentioned, I'd like to SEE that court case decision.

Here's your case:

UNITED STATES v. THOMPSON/CENTER ARMS CO., 504 U.S. 505 (1992)

I'm pretty familiar with this case and have had a chance to talk with one of the prevailing attorneys on T/C's side about it about the case and BATF's new position. The facts as to what T/C is manufacturing and as to exactly what BATF's position is now are a bit different, so BATF may or may not be able to enforce with finality their current position. Still, it is their current position and, well, they could probably try if they chose to do so.

Still, it's up to you. I know PLENTY of people that have Contenders and Encores with both pistol and rifle barrels for them as well as the stock/grips for both. Obviously, they swap around from pistol to rifle and back regularly. I also know a few others that have one frame dedicated to pistol configurations and another to rifle configurations; for various reasons (style, accuracy, familiarity, etc.).

In the end, it's your choice, I just posted the BATF letter because I knew that is existed and where to find it and had a very good hunch as to what the other posts would say.

So, the way I read the case, you can possess the parts for both a T/C pistol and carbine as long as you don't assemble the parts into an "illegal" configuration. A different situation arises when the parts involved are for full-auto or sawed-off types of weapons, where the mere possession of these parts, assembled or not, without the proper documentation, is a felony.

Man, are the feds deliberately trying to confuse me? Well, at least I think I have it all straight now. Thanks for the information--it really did help.
DAL

Yep.

BTW - compare the case to the BATF letter to see if you can see any similarities/differences.

DAL,

After reading much of that, it seems clear that as long as you make sure to remove your pistol barrel, BEFORE attaching the Shoulder Stock, you're in no way violating the NFA rules.

It sounds to me like the Supreme Court Justices were clarifying, and getting rid of, some of the hocus pocus the BATF's been known for prosecuting on.

my understanding is if you buy and register it as a pistol you can switch it back and forth to rifle as long as the configuration is legal. barrel length,overall length ETC. but you cannot buy a rifle and convert it to a pistol. to do so it has to be re classified as a pistol. and registered.

Hey guys: Go to tc wesite for court document on the court case they won. Browse the cache pages, don't remember for sure I found it. Go to www.bellmtcs.com for ALL THE REAL LOWDOWN on everything TC, and David White"s forum for latest BATF ruling on pistol and carbine barrels. This forum will answer about any question you might have on TC's. Good luck!

slopshot,

How about posting a link to the page/info you found. Thanks,