Converting an FN8 air pistol to a air rifle...

[Brizza1982]

Hi all,

I have a spare falcon thumbhole stock and wanting to find an FN8 air pistol to go into this to create a light hunter with a 3-9x40 scope and decent silencer. Can this be done?

thanks,

Ian

[bullbarrel]

It would have to stay sub 6ft/lbs and I wouldn't want to hunt with that few ft/lbs.

[Rickenbacker]

I don't know about the legal aspect of pistol -to- rifle, but it'd probably be cheaper and easier to get a FN12 or Bearcat action to go in your nice stock. And you'd get a lot more shots per fill.

[Snapshot]

You'd have to do some work to move the trigger blade as it's upside down and back to front in the pistol compared with the rifle.
The cocking lever and bolt would also be on the wrong side.

Falcon used to sell the FN8 action as a rifle so you'd be better off looking for one of those to avoid the mechanical and legal problems.

[airgunnut]

If it was built as a pistol then no-mater what you do to it (put a stock on it, put a longer barrel on it and up the power) in the eyes of the law it will always be a pistol, so if you get your collar felt by the law then you will be in court facing fire arms offences, (5 years B&B at her magisteys pleasure)
Do your self a favour leave it as a pistol and sell it to get an fn 8 rifle or an fn 12, as you will have to sort out the trigger, the transfer port will have to be altered and at 12 foot pounds you will only get about 10 shots (or less depending on how efficiently you balance the size of the transfer port and the strength of the hammer spring) I know with a fn 19 if you tried to go over about 18 foot pounds with the the stranded transfer port then it uses more air without the power going up (wasting air).

[theoben33]

I got 30 or 32 full power shots from an fn8 rifle I used to own in .22 calibre at 12 ft/lb.

[oling]

If it was built as a pistol then no-mater what you do to it (put a stock on it, put a longer barrel on it and up the power) in the eyes of the law it will always be a pistol, so if you get your collar felt by the law then you will be in court facing fire arms offences, (5 years B&B at her magisteys pleasure)
Do your self a favour leave it as a pistol and sell it to get an fn 8 rifle or an fn 12, as you will have to sort out the trigger, the transfer port will have to be altered and at 12 foot pounds you will only get about 10 shots (or less depending on how efficiently you balance the size of the transfer port and the strength of the hammer spring) I know with a fn 19 if you tried to go over about 18 foot pounds with the the stranded transfer port then it uses more air without the power going up (wasting air).

This is always stated about 'once a pistol, always a pistol' but I can't find any official information stating that. Could you link me where it states in the law that that's the case?