Zastava M76 receiver reweld?

[Dreamcast270mhz]

I've heard the M76 is a fair candidate for rewelding. I can get a cut receiver for like $15. Is there a BATF approved design for a basis for rewelding, as there is at least a few people who have done it, and i have someone who is willing to do it, pending if I can get him a design or not. I imagine, at the very least, you would need to seal up the safety hole. Dunno about anything else, but since i am not doing the build myself, it should not matter.

 

[triggerman770]

M76

If it was cut in the first place it has been demilled(short for de militarized.)
I'm not familiar with that particular model, but generally a cut receiver is due to the fact it was a fully automatic firearm. If this is the case the ATF plan for "welding it back is 10 years and 250,000. fine. If the gun was a semi or bolt welding it would not guarrantee the rails would align. but any work like that has to be done by an 07 FFL(manufacturer)and would cost a ton. you would also run into a length problem due to the cuts and the bolt wouldn't function properly.

 

[buttrap]

You could go with a reweld but its a pain in the rear vs the cost vs just going with a stamped receiver. If you have the $$$ and a person that can do it cheep its a idea. Pretty common idea for folks with spare time and a decent mig welder in the shop. 15 bucks and you know a guy that can weld well its worth a shot I would think. As far as the ATF cares its personal manufacure of a firearm and totaly legal as long as you dont go into the doing that as a company for profit.

 

[Dreamcast270mhz]

The M76 was demilled because it has a third hole for the safety sear. If I were to weld it shut and flush during the build, my receiver is considered a semi auto.

The M76 is not a stamped receiver, but milled and because of its strength, it is probably better and cheaper to go with a reweld. I don't want my welder (A master gunsmith) to have to send the design for approval if we can just follow an existing design. I know the third hole is all that is needed to be welded shut, but sometimes the ATF is funny about this...

 

[Sam Cade]

If I were to weld it shut and flush during the build, my receiver is considered a semi auto.

You might want to check up on that.


Once a machinegun, ALWAYS a machine gun is how the ATF views it.

Anyway, I would think It would be nearly impossible to reweld a torch cut (removing at least 1/4" of metal)M76 receiver.

I take it you have never seen how they do it?
Its totally destroyed.

 

[Dreamcast270mhz]

Sam, a demilled/cut reciever is not a gun and I when I say during I mean before any welding of the pieces back together. The ATF has stated a person MAY use a demilled receiver to build a legal US made receiver. Don't believe me? People reweld Brens all the time, modify before rewelding and they are 100% within the ATF's regulations.

And the ones I'm looking at are cut in different places.

 

[Sam Cade]

People reweld Brens all the time, modify before rewelding and they are 100% within the ATF's regulations.

Sure. That is the key, they arent welding them up, they are building a whole new rifle.

Do you know the story of where most of those kits are coming from?

Imported into the US as semi-auto, ATF rules they are machine guns, so chop-chop chop.

Ever actually seen a rewelded M76? I haven't.

 

[Dreamcast270mhz]

I read about one guy who did it. When I said during the build I meant before actually welding everything together. But, if you could find me a bargain on a US receiver, please be my guest. I'm gonna pop the idea to my smith next time I see him.

 

[Sam Cade]

ORF was making receivers......couple hundred bucks IIRC but they went out of business.

There really isn't anything left to weld back together in that kit anyway. Trunnions are cut fore and aft, a large portion of the receiver is just plain GONE, cuts through the holes, rails cut up... yeah... that is a loss.