A few questions regarding NFA firearms

[MikePGS]

Hello. I have quite few questions regarding NFA questions that are probably noobish, but I hope someone can help me with them regardless.

1. I see a lot of videos on youtube of people firing full auto Glock 9mm's. I'm guessing these aren't all G18's (I heard there are like a dozen or less in the country) but of course I could be wrong. If they aren't G18's, and instead just some other kind of Glock with an autosear in it, how does that work? I was under the impression that you can't have anything manufactured after 1986 be a full auto firearm. Does the gun have to be made before then, or are these maybe Class 3 dealers with samples or something?

2. If you put a auto sear in a weapon that is manufactured after 1986 is this illegal? or is it the sear that needs to be made before 1986?

3. Can you make your own sear and register it (assuming it's even possible)?

Thanks in advance.

 

[nalioth]

Most of the videos you see of modern FA weapons are made by manufacturers.

You - as a civilian - will not be registering or manufacturing any new FA stuff.

 

[TexasRifleman]

1. I see a lot of videos on youtube of people firing full auto Glock 9mm's. I'm guessing these aren't all G18's

Some are, imported for LE use by some folks, many are simply outside the US where this stuff doesn't apply.

2. If you put a auto sear in a weapon that is manufactured after 1986 is this illegal? or is it the sear that needs to be made before 1986?

If the sear itself was in the NFA database before the cutoff date then you can put it into a post 86 host. The sear itself is a "firearm" under NFA.

3. Can you make your own sear and register it (assuming it's even possible)?

Short answer is no, not without manufacturing licenses which are hard to get and very expensive.

 

[Ranb]

When I was an FFL, it was very easy to get. These days it is a bit harder, but still routine. The ATF pays you a visit before you get the license. They want to see any local permits and ensure there are no zoning problems. Obtaining the SOT is little more than paying the tax as far as I know. The last FFL/SOT class 2 I talked to said it was all very routine. I would not do it just to make a few full auto guns though.

Ranb

 

[TexasRifleman]

Getting the SOT isn't the hardest part. Buying most post-sample items requires you to get a demo letter from some organization, police, military etc.

So you're going to pay to get an FFL, pay the SOT, so you can do what, make some auto sears for your own use? I agree, it's not worth it for a few guns.

Cheaper to just buy transferables it seems to me.