Legality of reassembling a de-milled gun

[Westside]

I have seen it on TV and heard about people purchasing a cut up parts kit and welding/machining + a whole lot of work to put back together an MG-42 or a 1919 or some other "large full auto weapon" how does the BATFE look at these and where do they fall in the paperwork world? I am debating this as I have the skills and tools to do it. Just don't have the parts yet and don't want to start until I know the laws.

 

[OneBadV8]

I have seen it on TV and heard about people purchasing a cut up parts kit and welding/machining + a whole lot of work to put back together an MG-42 or a 1919 or some other "large full auto weapon" how does the BATFE look at these and where do they fall in the paperwork world? I am debating this as I have the skills and tools to do it. Just don't have the parts yet and don't want to start until I know the laws.

I think you have to be an SOT or something

 

[GBuck]

Well, if ya hadn't MENTIONED it....


Now it's on the interwebz... jeeeze...

 

[Westside]

Well, if ya hadn't MENTIONED it....


Now it's on the interwebz... jeeeze...

someone would probably notice at the next range trip.

 

[mjrducky]

I've heard of some of the demilled MG being put back together. As long as they are in the registery and transferrable I think it can be done (maybe a SOT has to do the work?)

However ifs it's not in the registry then I don't think there is anything you can do.

 

[Westside]

I know it would not be transferable as a functional weapon. I am just wondering if I can build it or if I can pay someone to build it and where the legalities lay.

 

[Slow Hand]

Doug you mean reassemblIng it as a functional firing machinegun or as a
Dummy for looks only? If you are wanting a functioning, newly made or remade full auto you are SOL without an SOT. If you want a display only, dummy gun, it is legal but there are things to do to make it ok in the eyes of the ATF so it cannot be made functional. I'm not sure what all those things are so I'm not much help there. I'm sure contacting atf's tech branch would be the safe bet.
Doug K

 

[Mr.JAG]

I'm only seeing people mention FA or For Looks...

Why not a 3rd option.. Semi-Auto?

 

[Scutter01]

I'm only seeing people mention FA or For Looks...

Why not a 3rd option.. Semi-Auto?

Because as far as the ATF is concerned, once a machine gun, always a machine gun.

 

[Mosinguy]

Because as far as the ATF is concerned, once a machine gun, always a machine gun.

Then how can we get imported AK variants, Galils, CETMES, FALs, etc? They were all select fire once.

 

[Scutter01]

Then how can we get imported AK variants, Galils, CETMES, FALs, etc? They were all select fire once.

Were they imported as MG's?

 

[Mosinguy]

Were they imported as MG's?

No, most were imported as parts kits. The OP may have an MG-42 or 1919 imported parts kit

 

[Clay]

Because as far as the ATF is concerned, once a machine gun, always a machine gun.

not if the original machine gun has been properly cut up as per BATFE requirements. As long as those requirements are met, you just have a pile of scrap steel and parts from which you can reassemble a semi-auto weapon.

 

[Scutter01]

No, most were imported as parts kits. The OP may have an MG-42 or 1919 imported parts kit

The parts kit doesn't contain the serialized receiver (the part that's actually a machine gun). It's just a bunch of parts. You still need the "happy switch". The de-milled parts are the serialized receivers. If you re-milled a de-milled MG, you'd be manufacturing an MG and that's good for 10 years and $250,000 unless you have a SOT.

not if the original machine gun has been properly cut up as per BATFE requirements. As long as those requirements are met, you just have a pile of scrap steel and parts from which you can reassemble a semi-auto weapon.

I'll admit that I'm not an expert, but this is not what I've been told by people who know more than I.

 

[Clay]

my experience is with AKs, but if you have a properly demilled receiver, and enough of it, you can reassemble it into a semi auto receiver as long as you weld up the 3rd hole (which should have been cut through in the demill process, so this isn't typically an issue) before you start to reassemble it, your good to go.

 

[Westside]

so to rebuild it in full auto all I need is my Type 10 FFL and a Class 2 SOT. While I am at it why don't I make buddies with the police chief so I can get loves letters as needed. Not as easy as I had hoped. Looks like I am putting this Idea on the back burner for a while. like 18 to 20 years when the kids are grown.

 

[SemperFiUSMC]

If the serial number was obliterated during the de-mill all bets are off. You have a pile of parts.

If it's not in the registry you can't de-de-mill it to FA. An 07/SOT can, but you can't have it afterwards unless you are a government entity or an SOT.

If it was removed from the registry when it was de-milled you can't de-de-mill it. An 07/SOT can, but you can't have it afterwards unless you are a government entity or an SOT.

If it was not removed from the registry and you are the registered owner you may have the receiver de-de-milled by an 07/SOT who can then send it back to you.

If it was not removed from the registry and you are not the registered owner you may not have the receiver de-de-milled by an 07/SOT.

 

[samot]

The parts kit doesn't contain the serialized receiver (the part that's actually a machine gun). It's just a bunch of parts. You still need the "happy switch". The de-milled parts are the serialized receivers. If you re-milled a de-milled MG, you'd be manufacturing an MG and that's good for 10 years and $250,000 unless you have a SOT.




I'll admit that I'm not an expert, but this is not what I've been told by people who know more than I.

ALL of my HK clones were built from demilled MGs
All had serial number section cut out of reciever per BATF specs ,
"I"used new US recievers in my builds
1 cause its easier "to me "
2 it counts as one US 922 part
Some guys do Graft a section of a US reciever in place of the demilled section with a new serial number & the addition of the semi shelf on HK firearms. Semi shelf is a must,
this is alot more work but some guys want thier builds done this way
ALL of my kits came with full auto packs which were then modified to semi only but sear ready status.
Yes you can take a demilled MG parts kit & make a semi auto 922 compliant firearm with it.
As far as making a MG ...... of course you would need to have a manufacturing SOT

 

[CarmelHP]

UNITED STATES v. TRW RIFLE 7.62X51MM CALIBER ONE MODEL 14 SERIAL 593006

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, Mark Travis Brown, Claimant-Appellant, v. TRW RIFLE 7.62X51MM CALIBER, ONE MODEL 14 SERIAL 593006, Defendant.
No. 04-16049.
Argued and Submitted Feb. 15, 2006. -- May 05, 2006

 

[Clay]

IMO thats an extreme case where the manufacturer screwed up and didn't design into their rebuild a way to prevent FA restoration. Things like sear blocks, and different bolt or bolt carriers are used in lots of rifles to prevent full auto fire of the semi-auto versions, and it looks like nothing of that nature was done to those M14s.

If you want to get down to it, it wouldn't take much time to turn about any AK back into a full auto weapon. Drill a couple holes, machine a slot in a rail, install the old trigger group, and maybe weld a tab on the bolt carrier. That thats any AK built on a new receiver even. Most all of them have things done to help make it difficult for restoration to full auto, but nothing is done for a full prevention.