How difficult is it to alter a semi auto to fire full auto?

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Kimio

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Okay, I know firearms manufacturer' go through great lengths if I recall to make it as hard as possible to make such modifications. But seeing as I've never inspected a fully auto, say AR15 closely and compared, how hard is it exactly do this?

I'd imagine it would require some very precise tool work and of course knowledge on proper facilities let alone parts to alter a semi to select fire.

The argument I heard from an anti is that the only thing preventing a sporting rifle from firing full auto is a spring, which is completely absurd IMO.

Can someone please help clarify this? It would prove useful for when some other ignorant jackass makes such a preposterous claim.
 
Digging up proof to counter random data-free claims is a losing proposition.

Even if you produce a nicely researched report completely rebutting your friend's (?) claim, the likely response is for them to simply make another random data-free claim for you to rebut.

Being the guy who has to dig up rebuttals seems like playing defense.
 
By law any semi automatic firearm that can be easily converted to full auto is considered full auto by the BATFE. Ever see an open bolt SEMI lately?

Its not too tough to cause almost any gun to slamfire, which is basically run away, stupid, dangerous full auto but other then that you would generally need full on machining, skills and parts.

At the end of the day DO NOT attempt to create a select fire/full auto weapon without the proper paperwork as it is patently illegal and one of those things that will put most authorities in a tizzy even if you just did it for kicks.

DO NOT attempt to make a firearm slamfire as it is damn stupid and dangerous.


Chris
 
Um, not be the tinfoil hat wearer of the bunch, but isn't even posing the OP question illegal as it falls under the whole "conspiracy to manufacture an un-registered machine gun" thing?
 
Why? You can get books, materials that will teach you how to build anything you want. Hell I am sure you could find material that would teach you how to build a nuclear bomb, as long as you don't do it whats the problem.

Now having the machine shop, plans, parts and an AR15 receiver laying on the work bench might be another story.

Now I don't think anybody on any board should give out info on how to do this for liability reasons and I would have no idea how to do it even if I wanted to but I don't believe the information is controlled.
 
Um, not be the tinfoil hat wearer of the bunch, but isn't even posing the OP question illegal as it falls under the whole "conspiracy to manufacture an un-registered machine gun" thing?
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I'm not an attorney, but... no.
 
Depends on the definition of full auto. And the specific weapon. Assuming you're in a place where such a conversion is lawful, some are very simple to effect with tools most guys probably have in their garage. For instance some semis "bounce fire" in relatively easy-to-repeat fashion, with a rate of fire similar to a legit full auto version. Certain tweaks can encourage a weapon to bounce fire. Is that full auto in your mind?

On the other hand there can be found on the Internet directions for machining a semi sear into a full-auto sear, for certain models. Not necessarily select fire but full auto all the time.

Finally there was a little pamphlet circa ~1990 that would tweak a specific AK into an 'all-fire'. Once you pulled the trigger it would empty the entire magazine. Dangerous and likely illegal In most jurisdictions but clearly "fully automatic.
As a few noted above if you are in most countries, acting on this could get you free room and board. Accademically, yes. Practically, don't. Hope that answers.
 
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Bump fire!!!! Heck you can get on a watch list with a thread like this! Be Careful! Everything you type on the internet never goes away and is always accessible!
 
Quote cslinger:
Hell I am sure you could find material that would teach you how to build a nuclear bomb, as long as you don't do it whats the problem.
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Yessir. There is an academic thesis, "Three Myths versus the Genie", published in 2009 that uses US Government open source documents (that were declassified by Al Gore in the spirit of government openness). It shows what information is needed and where it can be obtained such that most any mechanically savvy person could build their own gun nuke.

Knowledge can be a very powerful or dangerous thing, be it nukes or auto-sears.
 
Dude, I don't even reload because of my general affection for my fingers. Things that go boom generally scare me. So no nuke building for me thank you very much. :eek:

Besides where am I going to get the plutonium and how am going to get to 88 MPH fast enough to jump back in time when those Libyans get all testy with me.
 
To be honest, I was a little hesitant about asking this question as well. So the consensus is that it's difficult, it's not something that can easily be done.

I guess my ultimate question is this, there are current regulations in affect by the BATFE and some other departments if I'm not mistaken, that require firearms manufacturers to make sporting rifles as difficult if not outright impossible to be converted into machine guns.

Am I correct about that?
 
Yes you are correct. If a firearm is easily convertible to semi auto it is still classed as a machine gun by the BATFE. Like anything it can be done but it certainly is not a kitchen table Swiss army knife job.

The talk by people that any semi auto can so very easily be made into a full auto bullet hose is patently false and if it were even remotely true those particular arms would be illegal or papered as Class III firearms.

Chris
 
Thank you, that's the answer I was looking for. I'll have to do some digging on the BATFE website to find a source to cite, I was pretty sure this was the case.

My discussions with anti' typically are not done to convince them, but to provide valid points for those who may be listening/reading my arguments.

I hope by bringing facts and logic to the table, fence sitters would be convinced that what the Anti' spew is nothing but emotional gobbled y gook.
 
In addition to not being super easy, from what I've read it's pretty damn certain you will blow up a gun if you don't know what you're doing:eek:.
 
one of those things that only a certain breed would attempt. you are up the creek if found to be in possession of said weapon manipulated in this way w/no choice of talking your way out of it
 
I'd imagine it would require some very precise tool work and of course knowledge on proper facilities let alone parts to alter a semi to select fire.
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In most cases, it will involve a competent machine shop (and one willing to commit a felony) to do some alterations. It depends on the gun.

That said, we are treading in some pretty murky legal waters here.
 
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