Threaded barrel questions, several of them

[MagKnightX]

Is it a violation of the AW ban to thread a barrel on a bolt-action rifle?

Do Yugo SKSes have a threaded barrel from which you can unscrew the GL? If so, can you legally temporarily remove the GL for , say, a supressor, or must you leave the GL on and have any attachments designed to fit over it if you want to keep the GL option and the bayonet?

Are flash-hiders specifically prohibited under the AW ban, or just threaded barrels, or both?

Can you have your barrel altered to accept a removable device if it doesn't screw on, but rather has a different locking system, if it doesn't accept flash-hiders?

 

[gun-fucious]

the evil parts are only evil when the number present excedes the prescribed count
on a SEMI AUTO rifle

Semiautomatic Assault Weapon"? The law (Section 921 (a) (30), Title 18 U.S.C.) defines it as so:


1. Any of the firearms, or copies or duplicates of the firearms in any caliber, known as;


* Norinco, Mitchell, Poly Technologies, Avtomat Kalashinikovs.

* Action Arms Israeli Military Industries UZI, Galil.

* Beretta Ar70 (SC-70).

* Colt AR-15

* Fabrique National FN/FAL, FN/LAR, FNC.

* SWD M-10, M-11, M-11-9, M-12.

* Steyr AUG.

* Intratec TEC-9, TEC-DC9, TEC-22.

* Revolving cylinder shotguns, such as (or similar to) the Street Sweeper and Striker 12.



2. Any semiautomatic rifle that has the ability to accept a detachable magazine and has at least 2 of the following features:


* a folding or telescoping stock.

* a pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon.

* a bayonet mount.

* a flash suppressor or a threaded barrel designed to accommodate a flash suppressor.

* a grenade launcher.



3. A semiautomatic pistol that has an ability to accept a detachable magazine and has at least 2 of the following features:


* an ammunition magazine that attaches to the pistol outside of the pistol grip.

* a threaded barrel capable of accepting a barrel extender, flash suppressor, forward handgrip or silencer.

* a shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles the barrel and that permits the shooter to hold the firearm with the non-trigger hand without being burned.

* a manufactured weight of 50 ounces or more when the pistol is unloaded.

* a semiautomatic version of an automatic firearm.



4. A semiautomatic shotgun that has at least 2 of the following features:


* a folding or telescoping stock.

* a pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon.

* a fixed magazine capacity in excess of 5 rounds.

* an ability to accept a detachable magazine.

 

[Hkmp5sd]

Is it a violation of the AW ban to thread a barrel on a bolt-action rifle?

No. Bolt action rifles have nothing to do with the AW ban, so you can do anything you want to them.

Are flash-hiders specifically prohibited under the AW ban, or just threaded barrels, or both?

Depends. Each is considered an evil feature by itself. So a threaded barrel on a post-ban AR is illegal. A flash suppressor, whether threaded, snap-on or permanently attached is illegal on a post-ban AR.

can you legally temporarily remove the GL for , say, a supressor

Be ready to get VERY confused.

First, here is a letter from ATF stating it is legal to put a sound suppressor on a SKS.

A Russian SKS rifle in original military configuration, having a bayonet lug and bayonet, fixed stock, and non-detachable 10 round magazine, which was modified by threading the barrel for a firearm silencer, would not be in violation of section 922(r). Assembly of certain other components such as a folding stock or detachable magazine, which would prohibit the firearm from importation, would be in violation of section 922(r).
http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs.cmu.edu/user/wbardwel/public/nfalist/atf_letter4.txt

Second, here is a letter from ATF stating that a sound suppressor is also considered a flash suppressor.

A firearm silencer or muffler would also function as an effective flash suppressor;
http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs.cmu.edu/user/wbardwel/public/nfalist/atf_letter51.txt

And finally, here is a letter where ATF states adding a flash suppressor to a SKS is illegal.

In answer to your specific questions, the following modifications of an SKS type rifle WOULD _NOT_ BE A VIOLATION of Section 922 (r):

Attach a muzzle mounted recoil compensator, provided that the device is not also designed as a flash suppressor.
http://www.recguns.com/Sources/IIH2.html

I recommend that if you want to make modifications to your SKS, you send a written letter to ATF stating exactly what you wish to do and get a response back before making them.

 

[Newton]

I've made a couple of posts recently regarding Yugo SKS 59/66 and 59/66A1 modifications, being the new owner of one of these rifles myself, it may be useful to you to check them out as they contain some useful links.

Speaking personally, paranoia set in pretty early during research about about what is, and what is not legal.

Firstly, yes, the Yugo has a threaded barrel that secures the GL, all you need to do is knock out the locking pin and unscrew. I believe that www.surplusrifles.com has all the required info. and some good pictures to show you the step by step for removing the GL and the GL ladder sight. The owner of that site also claims to have BATF approval for ALL his mods, which include scope installation.

My own conclusions from the research I did, very much confirms that modifying a Yugo 59/66 imported under the C&R regulations (which make a big difference), is very difficult to do legally. Any change to the original configuration, and incredibly this includes the installation of a "clip on" rear receiver scope mount, voids the C&R eligibility and renders the rifle liable to the normal importation eligibility criteria which are far more strict.

Personally I want to fit a scope and cut the barrel down losing the bayonet lug and GL in the process, but these mods don't appear to be legal.

As ever, this is just my own 2c and I doubt it's worth that, but I am advising that you err on the side of caution. There is a story going around that tells of a Yugo SKS owner who was reported by a fellow shooter to the BATF for fitting a scope, and BATF did apparently contact him - but a pinch of salt may be advised.

Before taking so much as a polishing cloth to a 59/66 I would strongly advise you to contact those wonderful guys and gals at the BATF, in writing, and get specific permission for any planned work. Remember that those people justify their worthless existence as a department by prosecuting shooters for minor violations of petty and meaningless firearms regulations. Example - it's illegal to fit a bayonet to a Chinese SKS, but it's illegal to REMOVE one from a Yugo C&R SKS.

Hope this helps.

 

[Hkmp5sd]

Example - it's illegal to fit a bayonet to a Chinese SKS, but it's illegal to REMOVE one from a Yugo C&R SKS.

Not really. You can remove the bayonet. It just causes the rifle to lose it's C&R status, which means it is treated as a modern firearm along the lines of the Chinese Norinco SKS. The C&R status is the reason it is legal to import the SKS with the bayonet. Not being on the C&R list is why the Norinco SKS cannot currently be imported with the bayonet.