Question: Modify an autoloader for legal hunting?

[budney]

First, I have seen the long, flame-filled, now-closed argument over hunting with semi-autos in PA. I am not interested in that argument at all.

My concern is that I want to buy a semi-auto rifle from Saiga, but it pains me that it would be illegal for anything but range use. Convincing my wife to allow these expenditures is easier when I can tell her (truthfully!) that the gun has more than one use, notably hunting. So I'd like to find a way to hunt legally with this gun if possible.

Is there a modification that will make the gun legal for use in PA? For example, one that forces the user to cycle the action manually? Needless to say, this would need to be non-destructive and reversible.

Thanks!
Len.

[djturnz]

I think you can make it a single shot. I guess you could if you had no magazine on you. I doubt that would be good enough for a game warden though. I have read about modifying an AK or SKS for hunting my making it single shot, but I forget where it was. Try akforum, or akfiles, or ak47.net.

Firs thing I would do is call the PA Game commision and ask if a semi-auto rifle, converted to single shot would be legal to hunt with.

Of course the mod would not be easily reversable in the field.

[phillyd2]

Sell the wife and buy a decent hunting rifle....

[Karys]

It would be easier with an AR type rifle than an AK. With an AK, you have to cut off the gas supply to the piston. I don't know an easy way of doing that. For me personally, I'd want to make the modification permanent in case I had to prove it's not a semi-auto in court.

With an AR, you just remove the gas tube and tap the hole in the gas block and put in a blind screw. A friend of mine likes to weld over the screw so the modification is permanent. With no gas going back to the bolt carrier, you have to pull the charging handle to reload after every shot.

Someday if I ever have the funds available I'd like to try it with an AR-10 for hunting deer. I'd like to set up two different barrels, one with a cut off gas block and no gas tube to hunt with, and one in normal, semi-auto configuration.

[budney]

Thanks Karys!

Naturally, I decided to go ahead with the purchase anyway. However, it meant serious negotiation--I even had to play the "it's my birthday!" card--and now I owe her.

Next question: do you count bribes to the wife in the cost of your guns?

--Len.

[bloomautomatic]

Can you remove the gas piston? That would make it manually operated. If it's not removable from the bolt carrier, get a spare carrier and hack it off!

Vince

[Statkowski]

Youngest son has a Saiga 12-gauge autoloader (looks like an AK-47 on steroids, especially with the pistol grip and ten-round magazine). Gas piston is easily removable (and is necessary for a thorough cleaning). However, since it is easily removed, it can also be easily reinserted - even in the field. Don't know if the temporary disablement would satisfy the game warden.

[scoutjoe]

What caliber Saiga are you working on? The shotguns you can hunt with if you plug them (but not for deer IIRC). The x39 would be the easiest to get "spare" parts for since it shares almost everything with an AK. .223 would be a bit tougher and as for the .308 model and 30-06 model I think they would be the hardest to work on

[aubie515]

Just go to WV to hunt because WV allows hunting with semis. I wished PA would allow semi rifles for hunting because my DPMS is itching to start a body count.

[budney]

Originally Posted by aubie515

Just go to WV to hunt because WV allows hunting with semis. I wished PA would allow semi rifles for hunting because my DPMS is itching to start a body count.

Cool! WV is less than two hours away.

On the down side, I have to get a VA carry CCW first: WV doesn't issue non-resident permits, and doesn't respect any other state's permits except VA.

--Len.