Shotgun News; build Semi-auto STEN part 2??

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cpileri

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Shotgun News; build Semi-auto STEN part 2??

In the most recent issue of SGN, there is a nice article on building a semi auto sten, which is entitled (in part) that it is 'part 2'.
I know I have the 3x monthly subscription, so I am confused... did i miss part one?

Does ANYONE have part one?

if so, would you be willing to scan it and send me an email of it?

I'd sure like to read it!

Thanks,
C-
 
Contact them about it. They should be willing to send it or they may have it online for subscribers. They should have enough issues to replace missing ones I've gotten them from other magazines.
 
Were they talking about building the gun from scratch? Because all you really have to do is fabricate a receiver tube from steel tubing and then buy the sten parts kit through the mail.
 
Were they talking about building the gun from scratch? Because all you really have to do is fabricate a receiver tube from steel tubing and then buy the sten parts kit through the mail.
Click to expand...

I'd seen the article, and I believe it mentioned using some M-16 parts with milling to make it a legal semi-auto. Order a Sten parts kit and just make a new reciever, and the BATFE would jump on your head. :uhoh:
 
You're both right, sort of. Anyone can make a limited number of receivers without fuss, as long as they're not regulated and the maker can posses them. You _cannot_ make a machine gun receiver (ie: original design Sten) without being a Type II manu.
 
Under limited conditions--making a dummy gun or making a
not-for-sell semi-auto for personal use--you CAN make a
receiver without a manufacturer's license.

Fabricating a receiver that will accept a Sten parts kit
to make a full-auto gun is still a big (no, HUGE) No-no.

I have seen receivers fabricated to make non-shootable
and not-readily-convertible-to-shoot dummy Sten guns
which were BATF approved.

I have seen photos and blueprints for fabricating receivers
to make modified, semi-auto only Sten "carbines"--which
were BATF approved.

Information on these issues is available from the BATF
Firearms Technology Branch. Follow all NFA rules and stay
properly papered.
 
I have a class III dealer in my family and I pretty much know lots of gun laws that most guys my age wouldn't know. Building a gun from scratch, whether it be a single shot, conventinal repeater, or a semi auto is perfectly legal to build and own as long as you don't sell it. Now as far as making a full auto gun goes you would need to clear it with your local BATF office and pay the added tax on it before the completion of the weapon. Same thing goes with making homemade suppressors.

If I am wrong then please tell me so.
 
@Maser:

Unlicensed civilian manufacture of FA weapons only requiring a form 1 approval to manufacture ended on May 19, 1986. Since that date, it has been a felony to manufacture, transfer, posess, sell, convert; or cause any of the above to be done with a civilian with any machine gun, (or conversion kit, {RDIAS}), manufactured after that date. To manufacture a machine gun now, you must be a Class II S.O.T. . And you can only sell your creation to LEO, Military, other government entities, other Class II S.O.T.'s or Class III S.O.T's. And no, you cannot keep your post 86 machine gun after you relinquish your FFL. Also any MG's you make must be registered on a form 1 within, IIRC, 48 hours.
 
You are absolutly right k_semler, but there's just one thing wrong with your arguement. I am NOT talking about guns that fall under the NFA class such as machine guns or sawed off shotguns. I am talking about conventional firearms aka. single shots, manual repeaters, and semi autos.
 
Title 1 firearms you can manufacture to your heart's content. So long as they are intended for personal use, (not for sale or transfer), you can make as many as you desire. Although stamping with a SN is not mandantory, BATFE recomends it in case your weapon is stolen, or sold at a later date. (yes, you can sell them, but the must not be made for the express purpose of sale).
 
semi-auto sten?

So...how hard is it to build? Specialized tools needed?

I'd love to have a sten in my collection. If if sounds like an average-skilled person can do it, perhaps I'll pick up those back issues...

Keith
 
A sten gun takes a bit of doing to build into a legal semi auto. You need a receiver (to make it acceptable to the BATFE...LMNOP guys you probably need a different diameter tube and the bolt milled so that its not "easily convertable"). You have the 922r parts count issue that say you must have a certain number of US parts. You'll also either need to build it as a pistol (and make so that a stock can't easily be added) or find another barrel. There's a bit of welding to do as well.

In short, it isn't a matter of buying a $50 kit and getting a tube at Lowe's. :)

But a sten carbine could be worth the effort and bucks if you're into that sort of thing.

(weaponeer.net is a good resource for building oddball stuff--like semi auto MG-42s or Soumi carbines...great stuff.)
 
I read both parts, and from the sounds of it there's a considerable amount of work involved. IIRC, there's several milling and/or lathe operations needed just for the reciever alone. The author summed it up at one point saying that while the entire rifle only cost a few hundred bucks, the amount of time he had invested in it was quite considerable.
 
Hi guys, I've built semi auto stens and they are a lot of fun. To my understanding you can build unlimited firearms for yourself as long as you don't make them for sale or distribution. The STEN functions great and I have fired about 2000 rounds through it at this point. The design is approved by the BATFE and have put some kits together. You can see them and pictures of my gun on www.indianapolisordnance.com .
 
The Sten was designed to be made by small shops with no experience building guns. You can make a functional one with mostly hand tools. I have seen examples that were as crude as can be imagined, but worked.
 
So if you build your own out of a parts kit and a semi-auto closed bolt conversion (like from Indianapolis Ordnance) and an 80% receiver, how can you make it 922(r) legal?
 
922(r) requires NO MORE THAN 10 imported parts. I'm not sure a STEN has that many parts in the first place. :D

So..... without knowing any real specifics.... I DOUBT it would be very hard. Especially since the receiver, (possibly the barrel), bolt, and other FCG parts are already US made.
 
Making a Sten with a dremel and files isn't hard. I made one from scratch 10 years ago while I was still living in the States. for semi auto only the only mod you need is welding a pin in to keep it from being able to push to full auto: not hard to do... For the barrel, I just welded on a fake suppressor.

As far as where the parts are manufactured, once a part is made, is impossible to tell.

Mine passed ATF scrutiny, since i welded the pin in place to keep it being able to do full auto.

The 'indigent' laws on making guns don't preclude open bolt guns. they interpret them on a individual basis on intent.
 
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btww: a sten has 57 parts. Also, it's amazing how accurate they are with the 'open bolt'; about the same accuracy as a AK at 100 yards! no wonder they made them for so long. Wish a closed bolt UZI could do the same!

I'm planning on making another one in NZ but this time from scratch other than blueprints and with only hand tools. If anyone is interested let me know and I'll start a blog as it develops.
 
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