Pennsylvania Firearm Owners Association
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 14
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
    (Allegheny County)
    Posts
    99
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Question: Modify an autoloader for legal hunting?

    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.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    GBURG, Pennsylvania
    (Adams County)
    Posts
    1,561
    Rep Power
    2105

    Default Re: Question: Modify an autoloader for legal hunting?

    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.
    Adams County Sport Handgunners Association - President

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Quakertown, Pennsylvania
    (Bucks County)
    Posts
    4,448
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Re: Question: Modify an autoloader for legal hunting?

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

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Perkasie, Pennsylvania
    (Bucks County)
    Age
    54
    Posts
    798
    Rep Power
    325991

    Default Re: Question: Modify an autoloader for legal hunting?

    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.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
    (Allegheny County)
    Posts
    99
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Re: Question: Modify an autoloader for legal hunting?

    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.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Pennsylvania
    (Washington County)
    Posts
    520
    Rep Power
    35

    Default Re: Question: Modify an autoloader for legal hunting?

    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
    www.bloomautomatic.com - Golf Ball Launchers for AR-15, SKS, FAL, and many others

    www.bloomautomatic.com/lbsc - Long Branch Sportsman's Club, Long Branch, PA

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Cherry Tree, Pennsylvania
    (Indiana County)
    Age
    76
    Posts
    5,488
    Rep Power
    21474859

    Default Re: Question: Modify an autoloader for legal hunting?

    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.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Pennsyltucky, Pennsylvania
    (Blair County)
    Posts
    1,869
    Rep Power
    2398563

    Default Re: Question: Modify an autoloader for legal hunting?

    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
    The resident Saiga snob
    "You will never leave Harlan alive..."

  9. #9
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    SEPA, Pennsylvania
    Posts
    2,893
    Rep Power
    6903326

    Default Re: Question: Modify an autoloader for legal hunting?

    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.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
    (Allegheny County)
    Posts
    99
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Re: Question: Modify an autoloader for legal hunting?

    Quote Originally Posted by aubie515 View Post
    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.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Yugo SKS 59/66 modify questions
    By TcRoc in forum General
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: August 27th, 2009, 05:43 PM
  2. Borrow a gun -- legal question?
    By Johannes_Paulsen in forum General
    Replies: 26
    Last Post: September 12th, 2008, 02:03 AM
  3. Modifying a SKS to make it legal for hunting
    By papgrove in forum Hunting
    Replies: 11
    Last Post: April 29th, 2007, 11:25 PM
  4. Is this legal in PA?
    By vetter3006 in forum General
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: April 26th, 2007, 12:52 AM
  5. another legal question
    By bogey1 in forum General
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: February 17th, 2007, 05:53 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •