ATF thinks Airsoft guns can be converted to Full-Auto

[UpTheIrons]

So the ATF seizes 30 Airsoft guns from a dealer in Tacoma because the mouths of the barrels aren't painted orange. OK, so that's not legal. Got it. But:

Special Agent Kelvin Crenshaw said the toys can be easily retro-fitted into dangerous weapons. "With minimal work it could be converted to a machine gun," Crenshaw said.

Huh? What? Am I missing something? :banghead:

http://www.koinlocal6.com/content/n...ng-local-business/vUVs2QUCAUuZWeRrqgIQaA.cspx

 

[RP88]

for all we know, it could have been a real nice, made-to-scale airsoft gun that maybe could have been converted into a real gun if certain 'toy' parts were swapped for real gun parts.

Or, the ATF guy is either stupid or was misquoted for the sake of sensationalism, and this is all just a huge screw-up in customs procedures that got blown out of proportion.

 

[UpTheIrons]

It may be that they were full-sized replicas, because i can't figure out how 30 guns are valued at $12,000, unless that includes shipping from Taiwan.

 

[Southern Rebel]

"With minimal work it could be converted to a machine gun," Crenshaw said.

OK, that means that all the gun manufacturers have been stone-walling us when telling us that it is a difficult process to make and guarantee that their semi-automatics will work correctly. And now we find out that companies can build a plastic replica of a fully automatic gun and it can be converted into a real machine gun with minimum work!

 

[61chalk]

Subject was discussed the other day here...but don't know what the thread was
called...?....I do remember alot of things were brought up that there is the possiabilty that they could be made into auto's....a moderator knows someone that is going to try
an buy one an see...seems they are made perhaps to close to scale an could actually
be used by swapping lower parts, an putting on a real upper....

 

[divemedic]

They are $375 each airsoft guns.

http://www.airsplat.com/Items/GR-WE-M4-GBB.htm

Look at the lower:

 

[Webbj0219]

One of my friends has a full auto airsoft pistol, he calls it the son of sam. The thing shoots out lil white balls that probably travel about 50 to 100 yards. It shoots them out maybe 50 shots in 10 seconds or Id guese about 2 or 3 a second. so it is possible. He tried using metal bb's once but it didnt work. They do sting pretty good when you get hit, Ive heard it leaves welts at close range. Maybe poke someones eye out with it. As far as the BATF confiscating them for being dangerous, that may have to do with them anticipating young kids shooting each other.

 

[Texas Gun Person]

Airsoft is fun out in the yard on a boring day.

 

[Wolfebyte]

back in the early 80's in the back of Guns and Ammo, you could buy a BB gun from a dealer in Florida that connected to a bottle of compressed air. It was sold as an automatic BB gun... but not a firearm..

Worked great until the sub zero temps made the plastic coupler brittle..

 

[TehK1w1]

Actually, those pictures explain a lot. If that lower fits or could be made to fit onto a "real" upper, then a conversion might be possible. The higher-end airsoft guns are build well enough that it might be possible.

 

[JohnKSa]

Dunno if it's related, but at one time, at least one foreign company was making airguns using Makarov pistol parts. They were supposed to be altered so they weren't convertible, but I can see how someone who didn't know might be concerned that they could be made into working firearms.

 

[61chalk]

The point above is the subject...from what little I know but have heard, is that
the law states that these toys are to made so its impossiable to convert them by
using real gun parts...they may of made them just to realistic an may of used the same
blueprints of the AR in places...this from my understanding would be unlawful...you could buy these, convert them an no real paper trail, an they have no serial numbers....

 

[blackrussian]

Izh/Baikal makes a full auto CO2 BB Gun, 6rd bursts. They can be modded, as its a button trigger.

They also made the Makarov BB pistol, looks very real. Both are fun to shoot.

 

[Tommygunn]

Being discussed here:


www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=507745