Has anyone built a Sten from a kit?

[Nameless_Hobo]

I've seen kits to build these for fairly cheap on the internet, and I've been looking at 9mm carbines. These actually don't look that bad with a 16 inch barrel.

I know a Beretta carbine would be more practical, but I'm looking for something more fun. I've got it down between one of these and a Vector Uzi replica. (As a side note, and suggestions on 9mm carbines would be appreciated.)

Anyone own one? Are they decently accurate or are they only good for wasting ammunition?

How hard are they to build? Is it snap the pieces into place and rivet?
I've got a bit of experiance and friends with machine shops.

Hey, if I get it and don't like it I can always sell it to my uncle who loves stuff like that.

ETA, I assume this is the correct forum, I don't see a "sub-machine gun country."

I'd also like to add in something else, any other suggestions for a "fun" 9mm sub-gun replica? I've seen mostly Vector Arms Uzi's and some messed-up looking HK replicas.

 

[HOLY DIVER]

i think when you buy the sten kit it comes with everything you need except the reciever
but it does come with the blue prints to make the reciever out of sheet metal(not sure what thickness you need)
if you have access to a machine shop this well be a breeze!keep in mind once you put this thing together it will be
ready to "ROCK-N-ROLL"and if you don't have the proper permits it could land you some time in a federal pen.
check on your state laws before you order anything

 

[tsidorus]

ok the last guy eluded (or is it alluded) to it. Is it possible to build a legal semi auto sten? Or are all the parts kits full auto (or readily converted). With the registry closed is it even possible to build a legal gun? Ive always wanted to but value my freedom way to much. Besides full auto is just a fun way to waste ammo. Ide rather do it on the guvmint dime.

-Tsi

 

[Ian]

I have a friend who made a MkV Sten back in 1985, just before the '86 ban. He's a machinist by trade, and it was fairly easy for him to register a receiver tube and assemble the gun. It's fun to shoot, but I don't have any trigger time with any other full-auto submachine guns to compare it to.

To build a legal semiauto Sten today requires completely changing the firing system. The Sten was an open bolt design, with the firing pin being a nub on the bolt face. The feds decided that's too easy to convert to fullauto, so semi builds must be hammer-fired. In addition, you need to extend the barrel length to 16" unless you get an SBR stamp.

Prexis advertises a kit to make legal semi Stens, but I don't know anything about it. Frankly, I can think of better guns to spend the money on. Stens are neat, but their virtue is ease of cheap mass-production, not quality, accuracy, ergonomics, reliability, or anything else of practical utility to today's gun owner.

 

[dmftoy1]

For the money you'll spend to build one go buy something of higher quality. (Just my .02). The "kits" used to be about $30 and you threw in some labor and a $2 piece of pipe and had something that would shoot, but they've always been illegal as far as I know and it's not worth the risk. I know you can probably find someone on the internet to tell you that they're legal . . .but you can also find someone on the internet that will tell you that you don't have to pay federal income taxes.

 

[Ian Sean]

Best thing to do is start here at Weaponeer.

http://www.weaponeer.net/

Website is pretty much THE place for the parts kit builder, or those wanting to educate themselves into the legalities.

 

[M2Pilot]

I think there was a 2 part article in Shotgun News about how to build a semi-auto sten from a kit within the past year.

 

[JWarren]

I think there was a 2 part article in Shotgun News about how to build a semi-auto sten from a kit within the past year.

If it's the same one I have in my magazine rack, the article is how to build a "Dummy" Sten (non-firing replica).

-- John

 

[Old Guy]

I had one in the Royal Signals, drop the bolt to fire a single round... a two pound bolt threw a fixed firing pin into a cartridge it peeled off the magazine in to the chamber, the spring that did that looked like something off a truck! accuracy was a joke, full auto was not too bad.

Even semi only ones I played with in the past, pull the trigger a certain way, use under powered, or heavy bullet reloads, burst fire you got.

ATF would snatch it, and you in a heart beat! You could build one for $50.00 and the tax stamp would only be $200.00? in this order, Stamp then Gun!

They where built for less than one pound sterling in WW11, I lived in a small town in Lancashire UK, the local Police used to give me a call if a firearm came into their Station. They could handle single or double barreled Shot Guns.

"Got this gun" down I went, on table in lunch room, pushed to the edge to make room for some ones lunch, big carrier bag. Inside a like new Sten, magazine in, bolt forward, not locked closed (drop on butt, brrrp!) light covering of oil, dust, been under bed for 15 years, Hubby passed on.

Mag; out, nice shiny 9mm on top, clear barrel, down to rubbish tip, handed out ear plugs, short burst, then the rest of the shift got to fire single shots till empty! It became part of a steel girder at a local foundry.

Two groove rifling I believe.

 

[woodybrighton]

I imagine making one thats a legal semi-auto would be difficult to say the least

 

[briansmithwins]

I wanted a 'evil' 9mm carbine for local matches where pistol calibre carbines are allowed, but not rifles.

I started with a Ruger PC9. It worked ok, but I needed more evil: so I traded it in on a Vector Uzi. The Uzi has run great (with the right ammo), mags are dirt cheap (and well made, unlike the STEN), and it is pretty damn evil. I did actually run the Uzi at a rifle match and was able to hit a 12" gong at ~175 yards.

I'm getting ready to send in my form 1 so I can get the 10.5 barrel for the Uzi, just because I can. BSW

 

[Nameless_Hobo]

Here's another question reguarding "evil" 9mm's, anyone know if there's a semi-auto Skorpion in 9mm avaliable? All I've seen are .32's.

 

[smee781]

Semi sten

You can build a semi auto sten but like others have said it has to be a closed bolt gun. There are semi conversion kits out there and shotgun news did do a 2 part article on how to make a semi sten. On the yahoo message boards there is a semi sten group that has alot of info, I would look there.

 

[tsidorus]

ok so short answer is no... long answer... if you have more time and money then sense it "might" be done legally. And ultimately you end up with a cheap tube that happens to throw 9mm projectiles. That's what I figured.

-Tsi

someday I may find myself in that position but not today.

 

[Jpowers]

i had a sten that i was going to build in semi-auto, till i found out it had to be a closed bolt system. Once you buy all the conversion junk, you could have just bought something nice.

 

[Afy]

As someone who has shot the Sterling in rock and roll mode.
Save your money... bump firing is more fun, and/or accurate.
BTW dont live in the US, and had the opportunity to do this legally as local laws apply.

(I dont want to be on a watch list )