AK's on full auto?

[mr_dove]

I'm a little curious. I don't have the money for anything on full auto but I'd love to own a machine gun one day. I'm a bit confused though. I searched over about 6 sites that I'm familiar with and found about 12 MP5's and 0 AK's.

Why are there no fully automatic AK's? I thought there would be lots of them for lower prices since the AK has been around since 1947 and many of them were likely imported before any bans. The MP5 is much newer but I found more of them than I found AK's.

on a similar question: does anyone know what machine guns are on the market for civilian use? My dream gun would be an HK G36k but I don't think any civilian units exist. A list of all possible machine guns would be cool.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Simple, while the ban on semi auto ak's could be gotten around, the full auto AK hasn't been imported since 86. (I think thats the last born on date for transferrable MG's).

Very few AK's were imported in full auto trim. There just wasn't a demand for them say that a Thompson or M-16 had.

 

[Destructo6]

IIRC, there haven't been transferable MGs imported since 1968. Between 1968 and 1986, a person could get an imported semi-automatic converted to auto.

Problem with the AK is that the USA wasn't particularly friendly with AK-making countries between its inception and 1986, with the exception of China. So, you'd have to convert an AK-like Valmet, a Polytech, or deal with one of the few US-made AK receivers made during the period.

 

[CleverNickname]

There are some transferrable full-auto AKs out there, but as you said, they're not as common as some other makes. A few were even brought back as war trophies from Vietnam (pre-'68). I'm sure there's more than a few GIs in the Middle East right now that wish they could still bring home war trophies like that.

 

[Chipperman]

They are out there, but often sell very quickly. The prices I have seen lately are about the same as for RRL (non-Colt) M16's.

If you think you want one someday, try to afford it now. The prices just keep going up. There have been no transferable MG's since '86, so the total population of them is fixed.

 

[goon]

I would advise against converting a semi-auto AK to full-auto.
It will land your butt in a little cement room.
If you want an AK, I would suggest that you just get a semi-auto and put a little effort into learning how to shoot it fast and well.
People at the range often think I am shooting mine on FA until they see me pulling the trigger really fast.
The trick is to cant the gun to about a 45 degree angle.
I don't understand, but it seems to help me shoot faster.

 

[Chipperman]

Goon, he made no reference to illegal conversions.

mr-dove, forgot the second part of your query.
There are no transferable G36's. The bottom line is that, if the gun itself did not exist prior to 1986, then there won't be any transferable ones.

Look at subguns.com and sturmgewehr.com for an idea of what is out there. Be aware that if the ad says Pre-May or Post-May sample, then you cannot have it.

The most numerous ones for sale lately have been Mac10/11, Sterling/Sten, Thompsons, M16 variants, HK variants, S&W 76, MP40, etc. Very few AK variants.

 

[Kenneth Lew]

AKs

http://www.westernfirearms.com/

Kenneth Lew

 

[goon]

Chipperman- I was talking about a statement that someone else made.

So, you'd have to convert an AK-like Valmet, a Polytech, or deal with one of the few US-made AK receivers made during the period.

There is effectively no way that an average guy can do that. There are still some legal, transferable ones out there, but I can't afford one. I would say that if you can afford one, you had best get it now. Never know what they are going to go after next...

 

[Destructo6]

There is effectively no way that an average guy can do that.

Not without a time machine, no, hence the "during the period." phrase. Was it not clear that I was referring to the few types of AK receivers available when one could make a transferable MG?

 

[goon]

Not without a time machine, no, hence the "during the period." phrase. Was it not clear that I was referring to the few types of AK receivers available when one could make a transferable MG?

Apparently not, because I misunderstood it.
Sorry for the inconvenience.

 

[c_yeager]

Its hard to imagine that there was a time when AK's were hard to get isnt it? With all the cheap romanians floating around it gives a different perpective. Another thing to consider is that WOLF (and other russian manufacturers of ammunition) wasnt in the buisiness selling ammo in the states before 1986. If you wanted an AK then you had to pay for Winchester hunting ammo (just as expensive as their other callibers). Not to mention that american 7.62 was typically made with .308 diameter bullets instead of the .311 that the AK was made for. If you wanted an AK before '86 it was FAR from a cheap operation.

 

[Abominable No-Man]

FWIW, if you want a legal full-auto, go for the M16 series or the MP5. I have fired an AK on full-auto, and questionable legalities aside, they just aren't that much fun to fire on full auto. You're still shooting a .30-caliber bullet, and IMO while they aren't as bad as a 7.62mm battle rifle, they aren't much better in that respect.

ANM

 

[Abominable No-Man]

FWIW, if you want a legal full-auto, go for the M16 series or the MP5. I have fired an AK on full-auto, and questionable legalities aside, they just aren't that much fun to fire on full auto. You're still shooting a .30-caliber bullet, and IMO while they aren't as bad as a 7.62mm battle rifle, they aren't much better in that respect.

ANM

 

[Sunray]

"...if you want a legal full-auto..." Depends on where he is. Mr_dove may have to move to a State that isn't afraid of its people first.
There are lots of AK's around. Just not in the States. Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and South East Asia is full of 'em. You can't swing a cat without hitting one. Mind you, not likely many if any from 1947.