FAL G1 Barrel Attachment Legalities.

boeboe

Okay, bear with me on this until you understand.....I have been accumulating parts to build, or have built an FAL rifle in legal, semi-automatic configuration which complies with the assault weapons laws. Of course, the lure of making it as close as possible to a pre-ban firearm has an appeal.In buying parts kits and various parts out there, I have noticed that, while the G1 barrel is not threaded, it has the provisions for a number of quick detatch features. These include items such as the flash hider with bayonet mount, muzzle brake, grenade launcher, blank firing adapter, fake flash hider with bayonet mount, and who knows what else.Remember now, an assault rifle is a semi-auto rifle that has the ability to accept a detatchable mag and any TWO of the following:1. Bayonet Lug2. Grenade Launcher3. Folding Stock4. Pistol Grip5 Flash Hider or threaded barrel (to accept a hider)In looking at the provisions of 922r, this is how it appears to me. If an "American made" FAL type rifle were assembled without the pistol grip stock, that is, with the later style "thumb-hole" or "Dragunov" type stock, it would have the ability to contain one of the other three assault weapons qualifiers, that is, a grenade launcher, flash supressor, or bayonet lug. Remember now, since it doesn't have a folding stock or a pistol grip, it can have one of the qualifiers that push it to the edge of being an assault weapon without going over the limit.If it had a G1 type barrel with the quick detatch feature, a person could put a flash hider on it and remain legal. Or, a person could put a grenade launcher on it and remain legal. Or, a person could put a fake flash hider on it which had a real bayonet mount and remain legal. In other words, You could attach any one of these devices to the barrel, but not over one at a time (because they wouldn't fit). It could only be fitted with one such feature at a time, never two (assuming you don't have the flash hider with bayonet lug).Thoughts?????

AntiqueDr

You're splitting an awfully fine hair. The law pertaining to what constitutes an assault rifle can be found in 18 USC 921(a). Note that the pistol grip must merely be "conspicuous" and not separate from the stock in order to be "evil." Several written opinions from ATF's Technology Branch have held that thumbhole and Dragunov-type stocks could be construed to have "conspicuous" pistol grips, which would make the addition of any one other feature illegal.

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kimberkid

boeboe,While I agree it is a fine line, most likely no one would ever say anything unless you were caught with it in the commission of a crime. I'm sure that you (and about everyone here) has seen many many many "illegally configured" firearms walking around at the shows, some even laying out on tables ... yet most of them are "checked" at the door by a LEO, and yet have you ever seen one confiscated or anyone arrested for it?I know I'm preaching to the chior here, but most of these "laws" are just feel good stuff that has no impact except to make criminals out of citizens ignorant of the code. I would venture to say 95% of LEOs dont know how to spot a illegally configured firearm. Heck, I know I've been suprised a time or two. I think it was supermonkey that was harrased a while back for his LEGAL AK clone ...I beleive that if you were to be arrested for having a fake F.H. with a bayo lug it would be thrown out of court and likely you could file a harrassment suit ... If the BATF wants to inturpet a thumbhole stock as a pistolgrip, whats the point of the thumbhole and how come there are so many of them out there??? The BATF will inturpet anything, anyway they want, to fit their situation ... I say, if you want to take the slim chance there will ever be a problem, ok ... but since its just for looks, is a bayo lug worth it? On the other hand, doing nothing got us into this mess didn't it?

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Here's a thought: Let's make criminals responsible for their crimes ... Not the tools they use!kimberkid@gunbroker.zzn.com

cpermd

The BATF has ruled that the thumbhole or "*" stocks are actually pistol grips.Sorrycpermd

kimberkid

cpermdSo what is implied by that ruling? For instance, can people with pre-97 thumbhole FAL & AK clones go ahead and remove that stock for the standard pistolgrip/stock configuration since they are the same thing? Another for instance, I'd love to put a standard AUG stock in my USR, or cut off the thumbhole part ... would that be legal or not? I'd think that since the thumbhole stock is concidered a pistol grip you could have either ... but there I go thinking again!Thanks,kk

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Here's a thought: Let's make criminals responsible for their crimes ... Not the tools they use!kimberkid@gunbroker.zzn.com

cpermd

I have no idea about the implications.I generally call the New Orleans or Washington BATF offices for that info.Ask for the compliance office.I am still cogitating on your rifle.cpermd

boeboe

Hey cpermd! If they change their minds that often, what good does it do to call? What they tell you this week will be different in a month, it sounds like.Seriously, I do appreciate the responses, from all of you. I'm still rollin' around to thinking my best alternative might be to buy KimberKid's SR25 and sell all these FAL parts.

kimberkid

I think your probably correct there boeboe, buy American! (not that I'm bias or anything )BTW boeboe, I had just been toying with the idea about building a FAL, but after you started this thread, I started looking around in earnst. By the time you buy a kit or two (to have good parts), the conversion parts needed to be legal, a video and the special tools, you can buy a complete gun for about the same or less. I think, if I get one, I'll just buy a heavy barreled model from DSA and avoid the extra expenses and definate possibility of frusteration then sending it off for someone else to complete ...

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Here's a thought: Let's make criminals responsible for their crimes ... ...Not blame society and the tools they use!kimberkid@gunbroker.zzn.com [This message has been edited by kimberkid (edited 02-08-2002).]