If you’ve ever entertained the thought of acquiring a machine gun consider this first.
Since 1986 legally transferable full-auto/Class III firearms sold in the United States are like real estate; they aren’t making any more. However, unlike land, the limitation is artificial (and stupid.)
This can make owning transferable Class III firearms an investment, provided the bubble isn’t burst by relaxing or further restricting ownership.
You aren’t buying the gun so much as you buying to right to possess the serial number. A Class III-owning friend relayed an incident where a fellow full-auto enthusiast laid down $12,000 for a beat up M16A1. He took it to a manufacturer, had it destroyed and documented, and a new receiver built with the same serial number.
Stamped steel third generation submachine guns now run thousands of dollars. Another friend boasted of finding a legally transferable Uzi for $2300. That was a great going price! It is sad because any third generation sub gun such as this should retail for a few hundred dollars.
I’ve participated in a few NFA-style matches and attended an Uzi clinic at Front Sight, but I’m far from an expert on sub guns. I think they are under-rated compared to shotguns, but a Mossberg 500 with a shorty barrel can be had for around $300 at S-Mart and few will question owning one.
My interest in full auto is solely in gunnery skills, something that is all but lost in the military. Having witnessed the Knob Creek types in action it seems even civilian enthusiasts who spend tens of thousands of dollars to own such devices never bother to learn, either.
At one shoot I asked an MG34 owner about the T&E mech and how many mils could it traverse. He looked back confused and asked, “What’s a ‘mil’?”
My feeling is that $2300 will buy a complete outlay of fairly high-end gun(s) and accessories for any organized shooting discipline of your choice. Not only will you enjoy pride of ownership, but your shooting skills will benefit and you’ll have the company of the best marksmen in your community.
Lance
Dec 03, 2009 @ 09:52:51
—”You aren’t buying the gun so much as you buying to right to possess the serial number. A Class III-owning friend relayed an incident where a fellow full-auto enthusiast laid down $12,000 for a beat up M16A1. He took it to a manufacturer, had it destroyed and documented, and a new receiver built with the same serial number.”—
This should not have happened, and if classified as a transferable would make the new receiver subject to seizure.
A manufacturer can only repair the old receiver, NOT make a new one with the same serial number. Also, you can not cut out the original serial number and weld it into place in a new receiver. In both instances you are manufacturing a new receiver.
From the BATF NFA handbook:
7.5.4 May machinegun receivers be manufactured and used as replacement parts for machineguns lawfully registered and possessed prior to May 19, 1986?
As previously stated, 18 U.S.C. 922(o) generally makes it unlawful to possess or transfer any machinegun, including a machinegun frame or receiver, manufactured after May 18, 1986. Exceptions are provided for weapons produced by a qualified manufacturer for sale to government entities, as dealer sales samples, or for exportation. There is no exception allowing for the lawful production, transfer, possession, or use of a post-May 18, 1986 machinegun receiver as a replacement receiver on a weapon produced prior to May 19, 1986.
John Buol
Dec 05, 2009 @ 09:17:14
Thanks for the correction!