[iamkris]

Question on legality of swapping parts...and who checks on that. Specifically, if I depend on the magazine to make up US parts count, does the mag need to be with the rifle "all the time"?

I own a Century-built G3...I am one of the lucky ones in that she runs great aned accurate. I really like the original G3 stock (sling stud and retaining pin holes) as well as the OD green stock look.

I tried buying a used G3 buttstock only from FAC and painting it the slim handguard/pistol grip with AlumaHydeII. (when doing this I added a US made follower to a magazine). My experience so far with the AlumaHyde is that is resists solvent well but does NOT resist abrasion. Yes I let it cure for 2 weeks.

I'm giving up this route and just ordered a full OD green stock kit from Robert Johnson (lost 3 US parts). I also ordered a US-made Thermomold mag as I understand this makes up 3 parts.

So when does the mag have to be with the rifle? Somewhere in my possession? With the rifle whenever I'm handling it? With the rifle at all times, including in my safe?

Who checks this? Are there random checks at rifle ranges? Is this only a problem if the rifle is held if there's a crime? Only when I sell it? Or is this a gray area that leaves the discretion up to the BATF?

Thanks!

[Correia]

To my knowledge nobody has ever been prosecuted for a violation of the US parts count law. Look at the internal parts. A US part looks exactly like a foreign part. It is a stupid BS law just there to screw with us.

Just don't knock over any banks with yours and you should be fine. :)

[TallPine]

Kris,

I bet you are one of those guys that take the tags off their mattresses, too.

They can see things like that from satellites, you know ....

:D

[Zak Smith]

The law is written so that there's isn't a minimum US parts count, but that there is a maximum imported parts count.

Of the 20 parts defined (including 3 parts defined in the mags), the foreign parts count cannot exceed 10.

So, for example, in FALs, only 17 of the 20 parts exist (there's no bbl extension, trunions, or disconnectors), and no more than 10 can be imported, so most people summarize this as "need 7 US parts."

This is not precise because you really just cannot exceed 10 imported parts.

Hope this helps.

-z

[iamkris]

Thanks for the reminder...yes, it is foreign part count, not US. Must...keep...saying...

Looking at 922r, it defines mag followers, floorplates and bodies as parts that can count as either US or imported.

Anybody have the answer about keeping the mag with the rifle? When, where, who?

[Handy]

You already have the answer. It's not a minimum, it's a not-to-exceed maximum.

So if you remove a US made magazine, you haven't increased the number of foreign parts, you've just decreased both the US parts and the total parts by 3. No biggy.

The only situation close to what you're talking about is if the rifle requires a US mag, and you put a foreign one in. Now you have TOO MANY foreign parts.

[DMK]

Just make sure not to accidently pick up a buddy's mag at the range.

If you pop that one in the rifle, click, you're a felon. :what: :fire:

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

My only concern in my rifles is having the proper number of parts for it to work every time, irregardless of their place of origin.

As for me, I think it's a stupid requirement and I personally choose to ignore stupid laws and work to get them revoked.

Regards,
Rabbit.

[iamkris]

So I guess the answer is, bring 1 mag to the range...the US one. Any other mags should be saved for "other pursuits".

[MAKOwner]

I wouldn't worry about it myself, who is going to check the parts count and how are they going to identify them as import or US made anyway? All of mine still have the requisite parts since I haven't had a need to swap any of them for any reason, but frankly I'm not too worried about it should the need arise. On my SAR2 I was disassembling the other day I couldn't find any US or Century markings on half of the parts that were supposed to be US made.

On other guns some parts are stamped US, but as with my AKs alot are internal and would require complete breakdown of the gun to check. A stamped or scribed US symbol could be faked anyway. Who the hell is going to go checking all that? Heck even us gun people can't keep straight what parts are supposed to US made, and which aren't on all the different guns. Some BATF guy is going to go searching the range looking at parts counts? No way. Only time they'd check is if they were after you for some other crime you commited with the gun like a bank robbery or something, at which point the parts count in your gun is about the last thing you have to worry about, lol.

About the only guys the parts count crap really effects is the people importing/building these for sale, not individual owners.

[swingset]

It's conceivable (tho highly, highly unlikely) that you could have, say, a house fire and they investigate your rifles based on finding an "Assault Rifle" found in the debris. This leads to that and if they wanted to nail you, they might.

Not much of a chance, but selling and or/building rifles for sale is where you're more than likely to get hanged on this issue. Otherwise, if you don't shorten barrels, go F/A or other obvious no-no's, you'll be ok.

(This is not legal advice, because I didn't even stay at a Holiday Inn Express).