Other semi auto kits

[SKS Ray]

I see lots of kits for sale out there like Brens, Russian kits like the PPSH, etc. It seems there are kits available for just about every gun that USED to be full auto.
My question is... has anyone else built semi auto Mass compliant rifles from other kits than AK styles and is it worth it?

 

[AMV]

Built a couple 1919 semi Belt feds. they go together pretty quick.
As far as worth it??? Absolutely

 

[jhrosier]

I did a L1A1 (FAL) a few years ago.
I wouldn't trade it for anything.

 

[Paulm]

How does the whole kit thing work? From what I can see, it looks like the majority of the time the kit includes everything but the receiver. So I'm assuming that you have to have access to a receiver in order to do the build. Any further education on the topic would be appreciated.

Thanks
Paul

 

[LoginName]

How does the whole kit thing work? From what I can see, it looks like the majority of the time the kit includes everything but the receiver. So I'm assuming that you have to have access to a receiver in order to do the build. Any further education on the topic would be appreciated.

Thanks
Paul

The kits are salvaged/demilitarized parts from surplus and/or outdated military firearms. The vast majority of these parts kits come from foreign sources and are subject to importation laws and ATF oversight. Full auto issues aside, the receivers cannot be imported because...

A) A receiver alone meets the definition of a firearm.

B) The firearm(s) involved are considered "not suitable for sporting purposes" and under normal circumstances cannot be imported. "Sporting purpose" receivers can be imported.

To get around that, an importer/distributer will purchase complete firearms, which are then dismantled and the receiver is destroyed (usually by torch cutting). The remainder of the parts are legal to import (*note: there's a controversial ATF decision regarding the prohibition of importing barrels... see below*).

In order for the builder to assemble a legal firearm there's several conditions to meet...

A) The receiver must be of US manufacture. You can buy a receiver already completed, buy one that's partially completed (%80), or build one from scratch (which is perfectly legal to do with certain conditions).

B) If building a complete firearm from a parts kits of a fully automatic firearm. it has to be assembled to fire in semi-automatic, and it has to be assembled so that it cannot fire from an open bolt (as in some of the sub-machine gun kits).

C) Even though you buy a complete kit (sans receiver), the firearm can only have a certain amount of imported parts (not more than 10). So, in addition to buying the parts kit and receiver you'll also have to purchase (or make), US
manufactured parts to off-set certain imported parts... butt stocks, pistol grips, fire control groups, hand guards are the most common. Since the receiver is of US manufacture, that counts as one non-imported part.

922r parts list...

(a) No person shall assemble a semiautomatic rifle or any shotgun using more than 10 of the imported parts listed in paragraph (c) of this section if the assembled firearm is prohibited from importation under section 925(d)(3) as not being particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting purposes.
(b) The provisions of this section shall not apply to:

(1) The assembly of such rifle or shotgun for sale or distribution by a licensed manufacturer to the United States or any department or agency thereof or to any State or any department, agency, or political subdivision thereof; or

(2) The assembly of such rifle or shotgun for the purposes of testing or experimentation authorized by the Director under the provisions of Sec. 178.151; or

(3) The repair of any rifle or shotgun which had been imported into or assembled in the United States prior to November 30, 1990, or the replacement of any part of such firearm.

(c) For purposes of this section, the term imported parts are:

(1) Frames, receivers, receiver castings, forgings or stampings
(2) Barrels
(3) Barrel extensions
(4) Mounting blocks (trunions)
(5) Muzzle attachments
(6) Bolts
(7) Bolt carriers
(8) Operating rods
(9) Gas pistons
(10) Trigger housings
(11) Triggers
(12) Hammers
(13) Sears
(14) Disconnectors
(15) Butt stocks
(16) Pistol grips
(17) Forearms, hand guards
(18) Magazine bodies
(19) Followers
(20) Floor plates

D) If your state has it's own AWB (like MA), you cannot assemble the parts kit into a prohibited configuration.


*

July 13, 2005

OPEN LETTER TO FEDERALLY LICENSED FIREARMS IMPORTERS
AND REGISTERED IMPORTERS OF U.S. MUNITIONS IMPORT LIST ARTICLES

The purpose of this open letter is to provide important information to importers concerning the lawful importation of certain frames, receivers and barrels.

Importation of Frames, Receivers or Barrels of Firearms Under Title 18 U.S.C. § 925(d)(3)

Section 925(d) provides standards for the importation of firearms and ammunition into the United States. In particular, section 925(d)(3) provides that the Attorney General shall authorize a firearm to be imported if it meets several conditions: (1) it is not defined as a firearm under the National Firearms Act (NFA); (2) it is generally recognized as particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting purposes; and (3) it is not a surplus military firearm. However, the subsection further provides that “in any case where the Attorney General has not authorized the importation of the firearm pursuant to this paragraph, it shall be unlawful to import any frame, receiver, or barrel of such firearm which would be prohibited if assembled.”

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has determined that the language of 18 U.S.C. § 925(d)(3) permits no exceptions that would allow frames, receivers or barrels for otherwise non-importable firearms to be imported into the United States. Accordingly, ATF will no longer approve ATF Form 6 applications for importation of any frames, receivers, or barrels for firearms that would be prohibited from importation if assembled. No exceptions to the statutory language, for example for “repair or replacement” of existing firearms, will be allowed.

ATF recognizes that importers have, in the past, obtained import permits authorizing the importation of barrels and receivers for non-importable firearms for "repair or replacement" and may have entered into contracts in reliance upon such authorizations. In order to mitigate the impact of ATF’s change in import policy and to allow importers a reasonable period to come into compliance, ATF will forgo enforcement of this import restriction for 60 calendar days and allow importers holding existing permits to continue to import barrels and receivers for a period of 60 calendar days. ATF believes this time period is adequate for importers who have entered into binding contracts for the sale and shipment of such barrels and receivers to complete the process of importing the items into the United States. ATF will advise Customs and Border Protection that in no event should these permits be accepted to release these items for entry into the United States after September 10, 2005.

Importers are reminded that ATF previously approved permits for non-importable barrels and receivers for repair or replacement only, and this restriction was stamped on the face of the permit. Importers who import such components for any purpose other than repair or replacement of existing firearms, e.g., for assembly into new firearms, will be exceeding the scope of the import authorization in violation of law. If ATF determines, through inspection or otherwise, that an importer willfully violates the import provisions of the GCA, the importer's license is subject to revocation pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 923(e).

Importers holding approved import permits for non-importable barrels and receivers will receive a letter prior to September 10, 2005, advising them that their permit has been suspended.
This determination affects importers as follows:

1. IF YOU SUBMIT A NEW APPLICATION TO IMPORT FRAMES, RECEIVERS AND BARRELS ON OR AFTER THE DATE OF THIS LETTER, AND THE PERMIT IS FOR NONSPORTING FIREARMS, SURPLUS MILITARY FIREARMS, OR NATIONAL FIREARMS ACT FIREARMS, ATF WILL DENY YOUR APPLICATION.

2. IF YOU HAVE SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION TO IMPORT FRAMES, RECEIVERS AND BARRELS THAT HAS NOT YET BEEN DENIED OR APPROVED BY ATF AND THE PERMIT IS FOR NONSPORTING FIREARMS, SURPLUS MILITARY FIREARMS OR NATIONAL FIREARMS ACT FIREARMS, ATF WILL DENY YOUR APPLICATION.

3. IF YOU ALREADY HOLD AN APPROVED PERMIT TO IMPORT FRAMES, RECEIVERS AND BARRELS “FOR REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT,” ATF WILL BE SENDING YOU A LETTER EXPLAINING THAT YOUR PERMIT WILL BE SUSPENDED AFTER SEPTEMBER 10, 2005, AND PROVIDING YOU WITH INFORMATION REGARDING YOUR RIGHT TO SUBMIT ARGUMENTS WHY YOUR PERMIT SHOULD NOT BE REVOKED.

 

[LoginName]

ATF revision...

Importation of dual use firearm barrels

In recent months, ATF has published several open
letters to licensed and registered importers of
firearms explaining the prohibitions associated with
the importation of certain firearm frames, receivers,
and barrels under the Gun Control Act of 1968. The
letters can be accessed at
In our first letter dated July 13, 2005, we advised
importers that, generally, under the provisions of
18 U.S.C. 925(d)(3), ATF cannot authorize the
importation of the frame, receiver, or barrel of a
firearm unless the firearm itself qualifies for
importation under the provisions of section
925(d)(3). Firearms prohibited from importation
under section 925(d)(3) include National Firearms
Act firearms, surplus military firearms, and those
firearms not generally recognized to be particularly
suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting
purposes.
A subsequent revised letter dated August 12, 2005,
was distributed to all licensees. This letter
effectively extended the time to effect importation
with approved permits for frames, receivers, or
barrels of firearms under Title 18 U.S.C. 925(d)(3).
This letter explains that importers holding ATF-approved
permits may continue to use such permits
through December 31, 2005. Effective January 1,
2006, these permits will be revoked.
In recognition of the fact that certain firearm barrels
can be used in the assembly of both importable and
nonimportable firearms, ATF published another
open letter on November 22, 2005, to clarify the
import status of such "dual use" barrels. This letter
advises importers that ATF can approve applications
for permits to import dual use barrels when such
applications are supported by information that the
barrels will be used by the importer to assemble
firearms that would otherwise qualify for
importation under section 925(d)(3). All applicants
for such permits must identify in Block 10, "Specific
purpose of importation" of their Form 6 application,
the specific model designation of each firearm they
intend to assemble from the dual use barrels. If the
dual use barrels are being imported for resale to
third parties, the applicant must state in Block 10
of their Form 6 application that purchasers have
been or will be advised that the barrels may only
be used for assembly into certain importable
models and must list the specific models for which
the barrels will be sold. In either case, applicants
who list a model designation not known to be
sporting may be required to submit to ATF a
sample for evaluation to determine if importation
of the barrels will be approved.
Questions concerning the importation of dual use
barrels, or the importation of firearms, firearm
component parts, or ammunition in general,
should be directed to the Firearms and Explosives
Imports Branch at 202-927-8320.

 

[Paulm]

Thanks Loginname! I appreciate the info

Paul