I can’t explain why, but I suddenly got the urge to buy a broken .22 rifle, fix it and then modify it into a pistol. While I’ve only had limited experience with .22’s, I have the tools and most likely the ability to do it if I tried. So my question is whether this is possible or not. Basically my idea is to remove the back end of the stock so it has a pistol like grip, then shorten the barrel down. When I used a .22 before the kick back was minimal but will it be increased and/or dangerous if there is no shoulder stock? How much will the range and accuracy be decrease with a shorter barrel? Will it even work correctly?
And just incase you are wondering, the main purpose of this is to see if I can actually do it. I probably won’t use it more much more than a decoration. I may shoot it only to see if it is functional.
Thanks in advance.
First of all, if you are in the United States this is illegal without federal permission, as you would be constructing an NFA (National Firearms Act) weapon. If you wish to try to get permission, the best way is to ask a class III dealer (i.e., one who sells machine guns and such) in your area.
Once you get that taken care of, or if you live in a country with sane gun laws:
“kickback”? from a .22? Technically a lighter gun will have more perceived recoil, but since the recoil is hardly noticible to begin with you’ll never notice.
The range and accuracy should be the same as a comparable .22 pistol, which is somewhat less than a .22 rifle. The accuracy will depend mainly on how well you crown (finish the end of) the barrel. Remember, if you are in the US you can’t let anyone else do this, as that would be a major crime for someone not named on the NFA paperwork (except, possibly, a class III dealer - I’m not sure how it works when two people each do part of the work). You will also need to attach either a front sight or some sort of scope or red dot sight.
If you REALLY NEVER EVER intend to shoot it, not even once, I think - I’m not sure - you could weld the chamber closed before you start, then - I think - you don’t have to worry about the laws.
I see that Wearia lists his location as Alberta, so NFA does not apply.
To clarify Kalashnikov’s first paragraph, converting a rifle into a pistol in the U.S. makes it a “short barreled rifle” and can get you a lengthy prison term. (Note to non-U.S. readers: Yes, we actually do have some firearms laws here! 
) Turning a pistol into a rifle is not prohibited however.
Wearia: I understand that Canada’s firearms laws are very stringent, but in some ways they’re more lenient than some U.S. laws. If you have any doubt whatsoever (and you do, else you wouldn’t be posting here), contact the Canadian authorities who deal with firearms laws.
They can have my hacksaw when they… Sorry. Kalashnikov went and got me a little worked up here.
It sound’s to me like the first thing you should do, Wearia, is get some firearm safety training. A 22 is a real gun, at one time (still?) used as an assination weapon. I know, I watch tv.
Really, most gun users I know are 100% behind training.
Sound’s like an interesting project to me if done safely and legally.
Peace,
mangeorge
I just read Wearia’s profile.
Forget everything I said above. 
Peace,
mangeorge
If I recall correctly, that is false.
According to the Gun Control Act of 1934, you cannot build a shoulder stock for a pistol. As that is the main difference between a rifle and a pistol (the rifle being shoulder-fired and the other not), I would warn against that as well.
The above only applies to Americans, by the way. Canada has different rules, shown in dramatic fashion by their exports of Bryan Adams, Anne Murray, and Celine Dion albums.
I’ll bite - is there some special about this operation, or was this just a random pick of an operation used to define “manufacturing a firearm”? (I am assuming that there is some point in the manufacturing process (between raw materials and finished product) where the thing becomes a firearm for the purposes of the law).
and, isn’t this just a simple lathe operation?
Generally speaking, this sort of modification is illegal in the U.S. and is definitely illegal in Canada. Since we do not abet illegal activity, I will close this thread.
Canada defines as “prohibited weapons” shotguns and rifles modified to have an overall length of less than 660 mm (26 in.). Even if the overall length is greater than that, it is still prohibited if the barrel length is less than 457 mm (18 in.).
bibliophage
moderator GQ