destroyed full auto questions

EricTheBarbarian · Sep 25, 2008

The other day I was at the range and we were shooting a 240B. One of the guys giving the class said he had a buffer go bad on a 240 on time and it blew out the back sides of the receiver and pretty much trashed it. I've also heard stories of M2 .50 cals blowing up because the head space and timing were off.

So here comes the questions........

Since the MG registry has been closed for over 20 yrs, what would someone do if they had a catastrophic failure on one of their MGs? Say the receiver was trashed, because the receiver is what is considered the weapon. Is 30,000 dollars worth of metal just garbage now, or can a new receiver be made to replace the old one with the same serial numbers? Anyone have any stories or any knowledge of this? Im just curious what happens, does the ATF confiscate destroyed receiver and melt it down or what?

Slamfire · Sep 25, 2008

I am not an expert, but have spent time talking to a class three dealer.

For a M1919, it all depends on the registered sideplate surviving the accident. If that is ruined, (and I don't know at what level of damage it cannot be fixed), then the machine gun is not restorable.

The ATF is not interested in increasing the number of machine guns in private hands. Rather, the exact opposite.

Z71 · Sep 25, 2008

I was once involved in a fubar'ed headspace situation with Ma Deuce.

My butt still hurts from the ass-chewing! But Hey! I didn't change the barrel. I just got to be a victim of the ass-chewing.

Didn't destroy the gun, but made a loud noise and locked it up for sure.

azredhawk44 · Sep 25, 2008

I have seen re-manufactured Thompson M1 receivers in a class III dealer show room.

I don't know to what degree they were remanufactured, but the dealer told me that they required extensive rebuilding/welding/etc to make into functional receivers again.

When a receiver is worth $25K, you'll put a lot of elbow grease into making it serviceable.

power167 · Sep 25, 2008

I'd call the ATF on that one.

JesseL · Sep 25, 2008

I believe it's still okay for the original manufacturer to 'repair' a damaged machinegun by destroying the original receiver and applying the serial number to a new receiver.

Obviously this is no help if you blow up a Maxim, but Ruger has been known to do it. I have no idea if FN would help you out or not.

MisterPX · Sep 25, 2008

It's no longer OK to replace a rec. and remark a SN on it. However, damn near anyhting cna be repaired when you've got money and motivation.

Gunnerpalace · Sep 25, 2008

The ATF is not interested in increasing the number of machine guns in private hands. Rather, the exact opposite.

I doubt that, for the tax $200.00,

they argued against the 922o.

chris in va · Sep 25, 2008

Wouldn't a machine gun really just be defined by it's auto sear? So if the rest of the gun is trashed, possibly just be rebuilt?

nalioth · Sep 25, 2008

chris in va said:
Wouldn't a machine gun really just be defined by it's auto sear?

Not all machine guns have one.

TexasRifleman · Sep 25, 2008

Wouldn't a machine gun really just be defined by it's auto sear? So if the rest of the gun is trashed, possibly just be rebuilt?

Machine guns are defined by the registered part. Might be a sear, might be a side plate, might be the receiver, might be a 50 cent piece of bent aluminum (lightning link).

You can repair the serial numbered part as long as you don't obliterate the serial number in the process.

You cannot make a new part and move the serial number over to the new part.

There are limits there as well. You cannot for example (it's been tried) take a lightning link (relatively cheap) and weld it to the side of a BAR and claim you have a BAR with a tax stamp (very expensive) for example.

destroyed full auto questions

EricTheBarbarian

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Slamfire

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Z71

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azredhawk44

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power167

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JesseL

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MisterPX

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Gunnerpalace

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chris in va

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nalioth

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TexasRifleman

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