Saiga 12 - Federal law 922r

[Ryanxia]

So I picked up a Saiga 12 last night and was doing some light reading today and I came across something very interesting.

In short this article says that by adding a drum magazine puts a gun in a 'non-sporting configuration' which means as an import the owner must comply with Federal law 922r.
http://forum.saiga-12.com/index.php?/topic/39651-why-should-you-convert-your-saiga/

922r states that you cannot have more than 10 imported parts within a list of parts. (See checklist http://gunwiki.net/Gunwiki/BuildSaigaVerifyCompliance )

So my question is this, is adding a high capacity magazine put you in the boat to have to swap out parts for U.S. parts to meet this regulation?

 

[tyeo098]

Are you assembling a new firearm for each time you insert a magazine?
If yes: violation.
If not: no violation

 

[Ryanxia]

No but it's just the way this reads which is why I wanted to clarify.

Once you do this, OR attach a magazine of over 5, at 10, or over 10 round capacity? edit this out later, you are putting your gun in a "non-sporting configuration". This means you have to comply with Federal law 922r. Yes, this means if you saw a gun store with a 12 round Surefire mag in their gun, they were breaking federal law.

 

[WardenWolf]

Ryanxia, yes, you have to have 10 or fewer imported parts to use a high-capacity magazine. A Saiga shotgun has either 12 or 13 counted parts (I forget which), so a US-made high-capacity magazine is all you need for compliance since magazines count as 3 parts. Just buy a Surefire and you're good to go.

If you really care, you can replace your gas piston. This is a cheap upgrade that actually gives improved performance. The MDArms piston works great, as does the TwisterPuc. I recommend the latter, as it comes in different variations depending on the ammo you're shooting so it can be more tailored to low-brass stuff.

 

[Ryanxia]

Thanks Wardenwolf. According to the checklist I linked though it actually has 14 parts so I would need to replace 1 other item correct?

http://gunwiki.net/Gunwiki/BuildSaigaVerifyCompliance


And I'm going to be modifying this anyway I'm just asking moreso for future reference when people come into the shop to pick one up.

 

[WardenWolf]

The muzzle nut may or may not count. There's various options there, from simply removing it or replacing it with a Poly-Choke. But again, simply replacing your gas piston does the job, and this is a MUST with a Saiga 12 anyway.

 

[Ryanxia]

So I guess the question is; throwing a drum mag in a stock Saiga-12 and walking out the door would be illegal?

 

[WardenWolf]

Yes, if the muzzle nut counts. Of course, you could just unscrew it and you'd be legal.

 

[Girodin]

I would try to explain this again by referencing the actual law and regulations that apply, and discussing the issues. However, people seem to take exception to that including the moderators of this forum.

There is some discussion of the issues here: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=677255

Short answer: Yes you should swap parts and get your count to 10 or less if you are going to use the drum. I would use the highest conceivable count as well.

Long answer: Whether sticking a magazine into the gun constitutes assembly is something that there is no controlling law on. However, it stands to reason based on the way the laws and regulations are written that it legally it does. The ATF has in the past opined that it does. As such putting in the drum constitutes assembling from parts a weapon that would not be legal for import and thus violates 922(r). As such you need to have 10 or fewer countable foreign parts. There is debate about how many parts a Saiga shotgun has and the ATF has given different answers at different times. I would assume it is the highest count that is even remotely plausible and go from there. A basic pistol grip conversion with all US parts will get you there and give you a much better gun.

If you do not wish to convert the following parts are easy to change out for US made ones: Hand guard, puck, thread protector (which could be argued to be a muzzle attachment).

 

[Quiet]

Use of a greater than 5 round magazine in an imported shotgun, requires Fed 922r parts compliance.

So I guess the question is; throwing a drum mag in a stock Saiga-12 and walking out the door would be illegal?

Yes, it would violate Federal laws.

 

[Ryanxia]

Thanks for the replies, I did confirm earlier in person that it does indeed technically violate federal law. Quite annoying these regulations, I'm glad my taxes are going to the creation and enforcement of these laws instead of actually letting a free country keep their hard earned money.

Thanks again for the replies.