Rules for hand building a receiver.

[fatNINJA]

I've seen some receiver flats and such for receivers for various firearms. What I would like to know is what are the laws involved with these items?

Do you have to put some kind of serial number on it or what?

 

[BerettaNut92]

I have no clue

But I just wanted to say howdy, welcome to THR and you have a cool name

 

[fatNINJA]

hehe, thanks.

 

[1911Tuner]

Flats

SkunkaBilly said:

But I just wanted to say howdy, welcome to THR and you have a cool name

I'll second that...and if those flats are what I THINK they are...I can tell ya
that they work...and that's all I'm sayin' about it...

Welcome in...Take ya shoes off...Set a spell.

Tuner

 

[fatNINJA]

Heres a link on Tapcos site for a flat for a AK, just so there is no confusion on what I'm talking about.

http://www.tapco.com/product_information.asp?number=ZAK0647&back=yes&dept=39&last=

Although what I'm wondering about could be applied to 100% custom built receivers. For instance the side plate on a 1919 semi

 

[Jim K]

I'll play the bad guy and put in a note of caution. You can manufacture a rifle for your own use legally. But if you end up with a firearm that meets the definition of a "semi-automatic assault rifle", you have manufactured a SAAR, and that is illegal.

If you buy a flat (or a tube) for an automatic weapon, and make so much as one cut or bend in it, you are attempting to manufacture a machinegun and also violating the law. Most places advertise those auto weapon flats and tubes as "legal" or "approved". They are legal to own, just not legal to do anything with.

FWIW, I have heard rumors of guys trying to make receivers out of those flats. Some worked fairly well, others didn't. It is not quite as easy as it might seem.

Jim

 

[1911Tuner]

The Legalities

Jim said:

If you buy a flat (or a tube) for an automatic weapon, and make so much as one cut or bend in it, you are attempting to manufacture a machinegun and also violating the law. Most places advertise those auto weapon flats and tubes as "legal" or "approved". They are legal to own, just not legal to do anything with.

The man speaks the truth here. You can obtain the necessary paperwork to legally build one for your own use, but having at it without going through
the proper steps can net you a long vacation at Club Fed.

Oh, the foolish, foolish things that we do in our reckless youth...
My list includes: Building frighteningly powerful engines,
installing them in flashy cars, and driving those cars at insane speeds
on public highways. Drinking Tequila, aka The Milk of Amnesia...Goin' swimmin' with young, bowlegged wimmin...Had to give all that up after I got wiser.

Well...all but the bowlegged wimmin. Some things are just hard-wired into our DNA.

And, yes...taking stupid risks with my future freedom by building, assembling, and modifying certain firearms...Toys that could have caused
me a world of hurt. I shudder when I think about it. I wouldn't have been
a happy camper sharing a 10X12-foot cabin with a 300-pound tattooed
guy named "Mongo".

Now...as a final disclaimer, I quote one of my all-time heroes, Sargeant Schultz:

"I know NOTHINK!"

Cheers!

Tuner

 

[JA]

From the horse's mouth.

http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/faq2.htm#a7

The AK flat you can use to make a rifle but it can only have 10 imported parts otherwise it will be a illegal assualt rifle. The 1919 semi is the same as making any other semi rifle. The only rub is that you will have to make several internal parts to make it semi auto not just a semi auto side plate.

 

[1911Tuner]

Horse's Mouth

Howdy JA,

While I'm sure that your information is good, and I don't mean to pick a fight here...I want to throw out a few things that I learned from my time
spent working for a Class 3 dealer.

The most important thing is that your average ATF agent has about as
much general firearms knowledge as a Sunday school teacher. No offense to our educated agents that post here...just a hard fact. More than that,
when in doubt, they confiscate. You get to sweat bullets for several
weeks or months while the lab performs "tests" to verify exactly what the weapon is or is not..with the understanding that "Charges may be pending". Not a pleasant thought. I have a friend who experienced
this over a perfectly legal rifle. He was a nervous wreck by the time he was cleared...and I mean a total wreck. Not pretty.

The other thing that I've noticed about those guys is that many of them...
particularly the younger ones...are a tad zealous concerning their jobs.
Rather than grant the benefit of the doubt, they try to put a spin on the
circumstances that, although by the book legal...can put the possessor in a very bad light. Toss in an overzealous federal prosecutor, and it can cost you some serious hard-earned green trying to avoid a prison sentence...
with no guarantees that it will avoid it. Are you willing to stake your
freedom on a jury of which over half will be comprised of people whose
knowledge of guns came from watching "Lethal Weapon" or "The A Team"?
Many times, a jury's personal feelings and perception will serve as the
grounds for their verdict.

You said:

"The AK flat you can use to make a rifle but it can only have 10 imported parts otherwise it will be a illegal assualt rifle. "

True enough...but the burden of proof is on the man in possession of the weapon. Might be a good idea to be fully prepared to provide proof through documentation of the origin of said parts.

Don't take a risk with your future by trying to save a few bucks or a
couple hours worth of red tape hassle over a toy. Do the required
paperwork to make it legal. Cross every "T" and dot every "I".

This may be a little paranoid, but a little paranoia is a good thing when
dealing with strangers and Federal Agents. One need only look to
Waco and Ruby Ridge for proof of just how wrong things can go.

Just my 2% of a buck...

Tuner

 

[Sydwaiz]

Make all you want. Just keep em legal. No evil features, correct # of US parts, no full auto fire control parts, no provisions for FA parts in receiver (sear), minimum length, no selling and some type of markings to help identify in case it's lost or stolen.