H&K g3sg1 Full Auto to Semi??

[thBoil]

Hello, someone in my family has access to a H&K g3sg1 that is full auto but no one in the family has a class III and the gun is currently locked up in a courthouse.The gun was purchased by a police officer after 1986 so no one can legally own it for it is post ban. We have been probing around some class III holders but have had only one offer of $1500 but the gun has a Schmidt & Bender scope on it that cost more than that offer. So I was thinking is there a way to convert this gun into a semi-auto so we could legally posses it. Would anyone have a general idea of what the gun is worth. I know if it was pre-86 it would be worth 17,000+ but since it is not, would anyone have an idea of the going rate? thanks and any suggestions as to sell it or convert it are welcome. Thanks!

[Kramer]

Since it's a Post Sample/LEO (not a post ban) gun it could be sold to another LEO or FFL/SOT/Class III dealer (with a demo letter) or it would have to be demilled and sold as a parts kit. Like the old saying goes: "Once a machine gun...always a machine gun".

[General Geoff]

We have been probing around some class III holders but have had only one offer of $1500 but the gun has a Schmidt & Bender scope on it that cost more than that offer.

Take the scope off, detail strip the rifle, cut the receiver in half. The receiver is contraband no matter what (you are in violation of law just by possessing it); may as well pull everything useful off it that you can before destroying it, if money is the concern.

[chauncey]

Take the scope off, detail strip the rifle, cut the receiver in half. The receiver is contraband no matter what (you are in violation of law just by possessing it); may as well pull everything useful off it that you can before destroying it, if money is the concern.

+1

before you cut the receiver, contact Jeff Walters aka "Gilliebear" on HKPro, he's a top notch gunsmith for these rifles and can talk you through what parts to keep, and rebuilding this rifle into a semi-auto, fully compliant HK91 clone you can legally own.

either that or sell the parts as a "fully numbers matching parts kit"

the parts on this rifle, if they are in good shape, are highly desireable so please don't throw the rifle away. that said, the clone you build from these parts will be worth about the $1500 you are being offered (without the scope in the mix).

[thBoil]

Thanks for the quick replies! I like the idea of scavenging the parts to build another one. I will pass along the options, I personally like the sound of the HK91 clone, but we shall see what they decide. Thanks again.

[chauncey]

Thanks for the quick replies! I like the idea of scavenging the parts to build another one. I will pass along the options, I personally like the sound of the HK91 clone, but we shall see what they decide. Thanks again.

it's important that you make them undersand that the only portion of the rifle that makes it a "machine gun" is the receiver - not the barrel, trigger pack, bolt and carrier, etc.

you should definately write a letter to the ATF that will request specific information on how to destroy the receiver and render the balance of the parts legal for you to keep, for the rebuild. you will want to keep some pieces of the receiver, such as the paddle mag release and the area welded to the trunion and cocking handle, to keep parts undamaged for your rebuild.

i would highly recommend you go over to HKPro and post this issue on the "clone" forum, you will get some better technically-specific direction and maybe some better NFA-related direction, as well.

[General Geoff]

you should definately write a letter to the ATF that will request specific information on how to destroy the receiver and render the balance of the parts legal for you to keep, for the rebuild.

That would be like writing a letter to the DEA asking them how to dispose of cocaine in your posession. NOT wise.

[JayBell]

there is absolutely NO REASON to write the ATF about this, they have already published a receiver destruction guide for the FN/FAL, 1919, G3, etc.

http://www.atf.gov/firearms/guides/i...struction.html



further, there's very little reason to write those fucking jackwagons about anything.

[ErSwnn]

What a crying shame a perfectly good machine has to be destroyed.

I'm trying to remember the last time a FA anything was used in a crime. Drawing a blank.

Op, I sure hope you can somehow find a way to keep the gun in it's current state, whether you keep it or not. But if not I like the idea of building a new rifle from it.

[chauncey]

That would be like writing a letter to the DEA asking them how to dispose of cocaine in your posession. NOT wise.

the gun is currently locked up in a courthouse.The gun was purchased by a police officer after 1986 so no one can legally own it for it is post ban.

somewhere, someone knows this rifle exists. at some point is was registered with a police agency, was the property of a Class 3 FFL, or was documented with the BATF. should the question arise, it will fall on someone to explain how it left the corthouse and to demonstrate it was properly transferred or destroyed. make no mistake, the BATF i am sure always "knows" about it. are you going to risk Federal fines and prosecution by trying to be cute and playing stupid? are you really going to try to turn this weapon into something legal by ignoring the law? i wouldn't recommend it.

the receiver is the registered portion of the weapon. the accumulation of parts that make the weapon full-auto perform the mechanical function, but it is the receiver that is registed as a machine gun. without the receiver it is an accumulation of parts, which is legal for you to own (at least in PA and DE).

but hey, don't take my word for it. ask HKPro about the mechanics and get a lawyer (maybe "gunlawyer" on this forum?). my guess is you will need a lawyer for you to get the weapon out of the courthouse, anyway. as i understand, you have a limited time period under BATF regulations to sell or otherwise dispose of the weapon legally. "disposal" would mean cutting up the receiver. you can reference "how" to cut up the receiver but at some point you will have to prove to the BATF that you "did" cut up the receiver.