Full Auto regulations in US?

Question

Most guns are tracked by the receiver. You can buy magazines, replacements barrels and all sorts of stuff without buying a "gun" as long as there is no receiver. My question is though, if receivers are what is considered a gun and pretty much all other parts are considered accessories, what does a trigger group count as? The difference between an AR-15 and an M-16 is the trigger group. Are full auto-trigger groups regulated differently that semi-auto trigger groups? Since you can change out accessory parts without a background check or anything it seems you could change the trigger group if it isn't regulated by trigger group. Or does that effect how it is registered, since you are changing the type of weapon? I don't understand this very well, pretty confusing. It seems that it would be more logical to track guns by trigger assembly serial number rather than reciever serial number. Please explain.

Answer 1

The trigger group does not determine if the weapon is full-auto in most instances, the receiver is the determining factor (M1 carbines being the most common exception but you still need ALL the select-fire parts in order for it to work). You can put some full-auto parts into an AR-15 lower receiver but unless that receiver has been modified to accept ALL the parts it won't work, same for an AK-47, there is more to automatic/select-fire weapons than you think. Select-fire weapons usually have more fire control parts than their semi-auto only counterparts and the receivers are substantially different (in most cases) to accommodate those parts such as extra clearances and holes for auto sears and sear disconnects and the pins that hold them in place. Most weapons cannot be converted safely (or legally) to accept the full-auto parts and that is why there isn't a lot of concern about the "trigger group".

The only legal way to convert a semi-auto to a select-fire is to get a Class II weapons manufacturers SOT stamp from the BATFE, but that license isn't easy or cheap to get and maintain.



To Beavizard: Your statement is incorrect about being in possesion of an unregistered machine gun. I have a very early, %100 stock Colt AR-15/SP-1 (semi-auto) that came from the factory with a full-auto bolt carrier, that part alone DOES NOT constitute an "unregistered machinegun"- I've asked, the agent said don't worry about it. They only pursue that if someone has intentionally converted or tried to convert a weapon and they find out about it and/or they find that you have criminal intent to modify a weapon with parts/tools on hand for illegal purposes (i.e. gang members, bank robbers, radical religious groups, postal workers, etc.). The BATFE recognizes that there are a lot of weapons that have full-auto parts in them, examples are the Springfield M1A (semi-auto only M-14) and the FAL to name a few. Those weapons retain almost all their select-fire parts but the receiver cannot accept the parts that are missing and you don't see the BATFE kicking the doors down to confiscate them and prosecute us - yet.

Answer 2

You are pretty close but the receiver for a select fire and fully automatic M-16 is not the trigger group, but the lower receiver, that's why the Lower receiver is serialized and thats the part that's registered. Trigger parts are not restricted and can also be purchased without restrictions. AR-15's and some M-16's have replaceable Uppers that you can switch back and forth from one gun to another. You can start out with a 16" 223 carbine barrel and by switching the Upper, make it a 20" heavy barrel Match gun. The lower remains the same no matter what Upper you put on it. Same serial number, same gun just a different Upper. For the most part AR-15 and M-16 trigger groups are basically the same except for the fully automatic parts thave a sear disconnect that is different from the semi-automatic ones. Any serialized Lower Receiver must be registered regardless,and they cannot be purchased without going thru an FFL Dealer and getting registered to the owner/purchaser. Fully automatic Lowers are subject to Class III Machine Gun restrictions and require a license and background check to purchase. I hope this clear things up for you a bit..

Answer 3

Yes, It's very confusing and Inconsistent,



Actually the difference between an "AR-15" and an "M16"



(I will accept and use both of the above terms to mean Semi-auto only and select fire, respectively; without regard to historical accuracy or model designation.)



Are ; Lower receiver, Hammer, Trigger, Sear(both Semi auto and full) Burst pack parts( if in A2 configuration), Selector, and bolt carrier!



The lower receiver is the registered NFA weapon in an AR/M16 type weapon.



The Upper receiver is the registered NFA weapon in a select fire FAL



In H&Ks it can be a registered reciever, or a registered auto sear in multiple calibers.(9mm,.223,.308, etc)



Steyr AUGs use a registered trigger "pack"



It all depends on the exact configuration of the NFA rifle you want to own.



Bottom line!!!

If you own 1 Semi-auto AR-15 type rifle, and any components of an M16 (i.e a full auto bolt carrier, hammer, trigger, selector, auto sear, burst pack, Short barreled upper receiver, E.T.C.)



The B.A.T.F.E will consider you to be in posesstion an unregistered machinegun and you will be subject to federal prosecution!!



Do NOT F-around, if you are interested in a "Class-3", NFA weapon contact a local dealer and ask them all the questions.



Good luck,

Answer 4

Just one other little thing to add. As best I remember the only trigger group parts that are actually illegal to own (without proper documentation) are the parts that make the m-1 carbine fully automatic. That information should date me a little, and the same may be the case for some newer weapons. Whatever you do make sure you do everything concerning automatic weapons on the up and up.

Answer 5

Botrh management and the UAW have guilt in this matter and both should be forced to take drastic cuts in pay and benefits. The retirees should not be given medical for life. The problem is not in the wages paid, they are about 15% higher then the non-union "Foriegn: auto workers but in the benefits. The UAW can bargain with benefits and threaten a strike because they have the state of Michigan behind them; Michigan has the most union friendly rules in the US-I did not say worker I said union-so the UAW striking basically shuts the plants down. They asked for benefits instead of higher wages because they knew the Big Three could not afford wages but cost of benefits if in the future. The Big Three should file bankruptcy and then reorganize and get out of the mountain of costs involved with those benefits. They should also move the plants out of Michigan and let the unions support the state instead of the unions getting the businesses to do so. For the answer on Daimler bailing out Chrysler-rysler was sold and Damler has no ownership. For CEO's not creating wealth-How do workers create wealth without a company? From what I see the UAW is interested in nothing but the betterment of the UAW and not concerned at all about creating wealth for the country-They would require 40 hour pay for a one hour work week if they could get away with it ad with their "Job Banks" it is not that far off; that allows you to collect 38 hours pay for getting laid off and then soing nothing. High wages do allow workers to buy more but it also requires higher prices which means you can afford to buy less so it is a balance that is needed and paying higher wages might hurt the economy as much or more then help it.

Answer 6

Class 3 weapons are registered by their sear and/or sear disconnect, 9 times out of 10 it's the sear, in essence, if you have a registered class 3 sear for an MP5, and you have 12 MP5's, you can make any one of the 12 MP5's a select fire weapon.The same is true with suppressors, you register the suppressor, not the gun it's going on, so in essence here, if you buy a Gemtech for 9mm, you can use it on ANY 9mm you own, as long as the threads match.