cslinger:
Story, spelled STORY, meaning that I can't actually verify it, re C & R is more or less as follows. Came from a C & R licensee I'm acquainted with. He said that a law suit against BATF had been filed, class action type of thing, and that BATF scuttled away, with it's tail between it's legs.
BATF tried to pull some of their usual "stuff" on C & R licensed folks, demanding the special submission of three or more years worth of dispositions. There was also, as I remember, some chaff raised about some C & R licensees making "to many sales", which is interesting for so far as I know, the law doesn't specify anything about such stuff, licensee is not supposed to enter into more than X number of transactions within any given period of time. Also, re FFL's, ATF has given some holderes thereof a hard time over what they claimed was "insufficient" sales. Seems that there is no pleasing the "Gunstappo", or if you prefer, the JBT's, as Congressman John Dingell described them back in the 1970's, long before anyone ever heard of Wayne LaPierre.
As to routine inspections of the premisis of an FFL, these routine inspections are supposedly "arranged for", that is to say, appointments are made. Gun Traces are another thing. Of course, re the stipulation that no central registry is to be established, and the stipulation that the 4473's are to remain with the licensee, unless/until they quit business, I understand that BATF'ers have been showing up at dealer locations and wholesale copying data from 4473 forms, and or showing up with portable scanners, through which they run the dealers records, they being the 4473's. Given that scanner content is likely downloaded into BATF computers, it appears that the no centralized registry stipilation is being violated to hell and back.
The C&R license is most likely paid for with your first purchase, you said. Here you might be right, but like I said, one pays their money and takes their choice.
As for the original question regarding the SKS has anybody mentioned.......
www.aimsurplus.com
I bought one from them awhile back it is was simply like buying a brand new rifle, albeit a new rifle very well preserved in cosmoline. Make sure if you buy an SKS to heed the cleaning warnings about making sure the firing pin is allowed to freely move in the bolt. You should be able to hear move when you shake the bolt. If not you could have a slamfire. This can be rather difficult the first time with all the cosmoline but subsequently it is very easy to take care of.
Chris
I got one of those Yugoslav SKS rifles through SOG. When I finally got it "decosmolined" it appeared to be in fine shape. Due to weather conditions, I haven't been able to get out and shoot the damned thing, to cold and snowy for me, and then maybe I'm getting to old for such foolishness. Tried boiling water on the bolt and bolt carrier the receiver cover and recoil spring assemble. Didn't do much good at all. Next attempt was aerosol type brake cleaner. A little better, but not much. Firing pin movement was still "muddy". Last attempt was back to square 1, GASOLINE carefully poured through the barrel and other opennings. Worked fine. Barrel then cleaned with lighter fluid on a patch, and BrakeFreeCLP. Barrel is quite clean, rifling looks brand new. Poured 3 or 4 inches worth of gasoline into a bucket and sloshed the remaining parts around in it. Recoil spring assembly, receiver cover along with bolt carrier and bolt, trigger group also. Let it soak for a few minutes. Completely degreased bolt, firing pin moves quite freely and noisly too, as it should, when one shakes the bolt. Lightly lubred the rifle and reassembled. Waiting for a break in this miserable weather. Make sure that the
firing pin moves freely, and that it isn't hung up. Failure to so do could lead to slam fire, possible damage to shooter and rifle, perhaps more to one than to the other, can't say which one though, and wouldn't like to find out the hard way.
alan
