Is it legal to own an automatic gun?

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and103

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Do i need my license or something or is it just legal to buy the gun? do most ranges let people shoot automatic guns? if you need a license how much would it cost? thanks guys
 
Sure, you should get the best automatic gun you can. The best are available on the street; don’t let anyone talk you into buying from a gun store, show or off the internet. When you get is make sure you PM me with your address, when you go asleep, and which door at your place is the weakest. Have fun and I’ll be seeing you…
 
Trouser variety?
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Hey! We ought to make them NFA guns! $200 tax stamp each! I bet I’ll get employee of the month for this idea…

(p.s. welcome to The High Road (Ye tak the High Road ana I’ll tak the…))
 
o sorry in the usa.. .somthing that can be semi auto or fully auto ... like an AR-15
 
In brief, fully automatic firearms (aka "machine guns") are heavily regulated under the National Firearms Act of 1934 (the "NFA"). The only ones available for sale to private citizens are those on the "NFA registry" on what is known as a "Form 4." These are known as "fully transferable" machine guns. It has been illegal to import machine guns since 1969, and illegal to manufacture them since 1986. Because the supply is limited to those already in existence and on the registry, prices have skyrocketed. Expect to pay a minimum of $5,000 for some submachine guns, $15-25,000 for an M16/AR-15 with full auto capability, and even higher for more rare machine guns.

If you find one for sale, and can afford it, you need to go through a dealer licensed to sell NFA items, and undergo a special BATFE background check. The background check typically takes 6-12 weeks. If you pass the background check, you need to pay a $200 transfer tax. Then, you can pick up your machine gun, which will now be registered to you.

Also, some states do not allow private citizens to own machine guns, so check your state laws first.

Semiautos are much more available and easier to buy. Check your state and local regs, because some states place special restrictions on the sale of some types of semiautomatic firearms.
 
Okay, I'm calling "bored teenager" on this one. And they wonder why "yutes" get no respect here. The end of July is a rough time. School is looming a month away, and summer has become BORING.
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Pfft. SURE.
 
OK, listen.

He's asking a question, and one that the public at large, and new gunnies in particular, don't necessarily know. The only stupid question is an unasked one.

This thread, however, is demonstrating that there are a heck of a lot of stupid answers.

Knock it off.

Mike
 
Sure, you should get the best automatic gun you can. The best are available on the street; don’t let anyone talk you into buying from a gun store, show or off the internet. When you get is make sure you PM me with your address, when you go asleep, and which door at your place is the weakest. Have fun and I’ll be seeing you…
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Troll much?

No liscense is required, although you do have to pay a $200 and a lot of your time. I am not sure if ranges around you will let you shoot fully automatic, you would have to ask them.

Full Auto weapons are more of a novelty item than anything. They are expensive to own and expensive to feed. They will make your day and money go by fast.
 
you have to pay a $200 tax stamp on top of the cost of the firearm and have the chief LEO of your area or the DA, in some cases, sign off on your request for a license to own.
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Strictly speaking, a Form 4 isn't really a license, it's a registration form.

Just so you know, most decent M-16s are going for something like $17 or $18,000 a pop these days, bare minimum
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I guess it depends on your definition of decent. I think you can still get into a registered receiver for $10-11K or thereabouts.

and you have to be at least 21 to own.
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You have to be at least 21 to buy (on a Form 4) an NFA firearm from an FFL. An 18 year old can buy (on a Form 4) an NFA firearm from an in-state non-FFL. In addition, an 18 year old can make (on a Form 1) an NFA firearm (other than a machinegun). You also need to check your state laws of course.
 
well sorry for the newbie questions... i guess i wont be getting an automatic gun afteral thats alot of work! maybe ill just stick with a semi auto AR-15 or other assault rifle.. thanks alot guys who actually helped me
 
I’d say it’s about as complicated as getting your CWP.

Even though you might not be interested in a machine gun, silencers can still be manufactured and are great fun. Since there is no prohibition on new manufacture silencers can be had for well under $1,000 in many cases.

I have one MG and multiple suppressors and derive much more enjoyment form my suppressors than I do my MG.

And don’t worry about the newbie questions. Ask away!!!

Dan
 
Since this thread has pretty much ran its course, let me ask a hypothetical question.

How hard would it be to mount a suppressor on a SOCOM 16? I believe the barrel is already threaded for the compensator/muzzle device. I supposed I'd have to get optics since the front sight is connected to the compensator/muzzle device.

It would probably screw with the gas system, right?

*I'm not interested in legal advice, just mechanical advice*

Also do you know where I can see some diagrams of full auto guns versus their semi-auto versions? Particularly for an AR. I'm not going to convert one (I don't even have an AR). I just find it interesting, the same way people find 30mm automatic cannons or nuclear bombs interesting.
 
...a semi auto AR-15 or other assault rifle
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"Assault Rifle" is what you asked about to begin with, such as the select fire M16. The AR15 is only cosmetically different from any other semi-auto rifle, it functions the same as other hunting rifles like the Remington 742.

Note that while other posters have given the low-down on the federal regs concerning the ownership of full auto weapons you might have to contend with state or local laws and regulations. May I suggest that you contact a local shooting club for more information?
 
Okay, I'm calling "bored teenager" on this one. And they wonder why "yutes" get no respect here. The end of July is a rough time. School is looming a month away, and summer has become BORING.
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Who cares?

It doesn't matter how old he is, he just wants to know if they are illegal or not and what restriction are placed upon them. If every gun owner has that kind of attitude how are the gun ignorant going to look at other gun owners?
 
Why isn't there a single post sticky on how to get fully automatic weapons?
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1-If there were stickies for every FAQ, new threads would be started on page 3 of most forums.

2-A surprising (?) number of people don't bother to read stickies - they just post.

Combine #1 and #2 and we would see people asking how to get NFA items on page 3 after complaining about the number of stickies.
 
1-If there were stickies for every FAQ, new threads would be started on page 3 of most forums.

2-A surprising (?) number of people don't bother to read stickies - they just post.

Combine #1 and #2 and we would see people asking how to get NFA items on page 3 after complaining about the number of stickies.
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1) If you had that many, but the auto issue seems to come up more than most.

2) Right, but then someone can just post a link instead of "You need a license from the FBI for $1000 and can't live in (insert state were it is legal) if you want one."
 
Lighten up people

I can remember being a bored teenager curious about guns.
And the Army, and WWII and nuclear mutant grasshoppers.

Answering the Original poster

Is it legal to own an automatic gun? Do i need my license or something

Fully automatic guns (machineguns) must be on the NFA registry
in the USA. Strictly speaking, this is registration, not licensing.
If you are a registered NFA owner, it is smart to carry copies
of the registration paper and taxstamp with your gun, but it is
not a license. If you want to travel across a stateline with a
registered automaticweapon, you must file travel plans with
the federal agency that handles the NFA registry, BATFE.

do most ranges let people shoot automatic guns?

I do shoot semi-automatic Yugo AK and US Carbine M1A1.
My local range does not allow full automatic and the insurance
company told them they would not allow semi-auto use of a
selective-fire gun at the range. We can shoot semi-auto only
AR15, but a collector cannot shoot his selective-fire M16 on
semi-auto or full-auto (big duh in my opinion but it's the insurance
company's call).

Other poster's question:
How hard would it be to mount a suppressor on a barrel already
threaded for the compensator/muzzle brake.

The thread for mounting a suppressor must be concentric to
the bore to a high degree of precision, since the suppressor
baffles must be as close to the line of bore as possible.
Compensators or muzzle brakes do not need to be so
precisely aligned, so I would recommend getting a barrel
threaded originally and precisely for suppressor.
 
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