Taurus Circuit Judge conversion

W

wvsky

Inactive
Last winter, a member posted the following here:

" I have a Taurus Circuit Judge and was wondering if any of you could tell me if it would still be considered, by the ATF, a pistol or a short barrel rifle, if I cut the barrel down to less than 16 inches and replaced the shoulder stock with a pistol grip."

Ok, my question is just the opposite: I simply want to remove the rifle stock and replace it with the "Judge" pistol grip. I want to leave the barrel alone and legal.

It's my understanding that as long as the weapon is a minimum of 26 inches in length in this configuration, I'm legal.

Anyone know for sure?

Thanks!
 
It would still be legal, if you made the 26" requirement.

....but I don't think you would.
With the 18.5" barrel, you should come in at about 24.6" with the pistol grip.

That's assuming the pistol grip will even attach to the rifle frame. Most manufacturers use methods to prevent rifles that share lineage with a handgun from having parts easily swapped out with the handgun version.
 
Circuit Judge Conversion right here!

WOW! My first post might be a doozie!

Check this out (I think I am not yet able to post pix):
Deer with Circuit Judge Conversion from 30 yds.
That's just last week.

Am I to understand that if this 26-1/8" modified hunting revolver were less than 26", that it would be illegal? For what reason? I would hardly consider it concealable. At least, not as concealable as a Judge. It's not particularly powerful. It only holds 5 shots. It's not automatic. The rifled barrel is 18-1/2" long.
It's a pretty slow draw... :D

Someone please help me out before I end up in prison. :confused::confused::confused:

btw - it shoots at least as well as I do - which is well enough.:cool:

Thanks,
-F

PS - I did have to drill one small hole in the frame to make this conversion.
 
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The rifled barrel is 18-1/2" long.
Click to expand...
Because of the rifling, these are not considered shotguns. They are categorized and sold as rifles.

As such, the barrel can be a minimum of 16", and the overall length needs to be at least 26".

The ATF's current policy on the matter is here [pdf].
 
I guess I'm safe (just by dumb luck), but this is pretty funny that a 4510 Judge with a 6-1/2" rifled barrel is perfectly legal, or a Thompson with a 14" rifled barrel is perfectly legal, or a Leinad .410 "Derringer" is legal...

I always thought that code that you cited pertained only to shortening the barrel. Thanks - I guess I learned something.

-F
 
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