Is it legal to build your own full auto gun with a Class III license?

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Is it? I recall hearing that if you have a Class III license you can make an NFA item for your personal use, as long as you don't transfer it to anyone else (since the NFA registry is now closed). So is there any problem with license holders building expedient homemade SMGs or going to a machine shop and making an M16 receiver? Is there a threshold where it becomes illegal for a license holder to simply modify an existing firearm to shoot full auto rather than building one from scratch? Would it be illegal to make a drop-in auto sear (I've seen CAD diagrams for them all over the place) for your AR-15? If you can build your own NFA items with a Class III license, it seems like a good way to economically own automatic guns and teach yourself a useful skill in the meantime.
 
No. A manufacturer may make and/or convert firearms to full automatic, but it must be for his business.

If you are pondering getting the SOT to manufacture full-autos so you can play with machineguns, forget it. It will end up costing more than an existing transferrable machinegun just to get started, then ATF will pounce on you.

YOU can manufacture any NFA item you want, except a machinegun, without a license by submitting ATF Form 1's.
 
This is a post from the gunsmiths forum http://thegunsmiths.com/phpBB2/ archives which might help answer the question.
A few years ago I had a firearms manufactures license and The local police wanted me to work on their M-16's, I contacted ATF to see what had to be done and I was told to apply for a manufactures license of nfa weapons. the law is a little different now but here is a copy of the rule from atf's site, http://www.atf.treas.gov/firearms/faq/nobackfaq2.htm

(M11) How does a person qualify to import, manufacture, or deal in NFA firearms?

The person must be licensed under the GCA and pay the required special (occupational) tax imposed by the NFA. In addition, an importer (except importers of sporting shotguns and shotgun ammunition) must also be registered with ATF under the Arms Export Control Act of 1976.

After becoming licensed under the GCA, he or she must file ATF Form 5630.7 with the appropriate tax payment in the entire amount with ATF. [26 U. S. C. 5801, 18 U. S. C. 923, 27 CFR 47.31, 178.41, 179.34 and 179.193]


(M12) When must firearms special (occupational) taxes be paid, how much are the taxes, and how are they paid?

On first engaging in business and thereafter on or before the first day of July, these taxes must be paid in full. The current taxes are set out in the following table. Taxes are paid in the manner discussed in Question M11, above.

SPECIAL (OCCUPATIONAL) TAX RATES UNDER THE NFA CLASS OF ANNUAL TAXPAYER FEE


1 Importer of Firearms (Including "Any Other Weapons") $1000.00
2 Manufacturer of Firearms (Including "Any Other Weapons") $1000.00
3 Dealer of Firearms (Including "Any Other Weapons") $ 500.00
4 Importer of Firearms (Including "Any Other Weapons") $ 500.00 REDUCED*
5 Manufacturer of Firearms (Including "Any Other Weapons") $ 500.00 REDUCED*


* REDUCED = Rates which apply to certain taxpayers whose total gross receipts in the last taxable year are less than $500,000. )

With the 500.00 license I was able to build 30 different types of full auto rifles and pistols and didn't have to pay tax on them. but when I gave up my licenses I had to destroy them that was the only bitch.
This covers the feds but their may be state requirements that also have to be met. My work on the different guns was for R&D work I was trying to design my own selective fire weapon and improve existing systems.
 
You can build your own kit guns without registering them. As long as you don't transfer them. If you make your own AK from a parts kit and bend you own receiver. It won't have a SN and it's still legal. If you buy the lower than it has to be registered and have a SN.
 
Just to be more specific on the above post. The guns have to be semi-auto only. Just don't want anyone to get into trouble.
 
The form 1 has a clause on it to prevent anyone from wasting their time thinking about making a machinegun.

And...you can't assemble a foreign weapon without a certain percentage of US parts...
 
And...you can't assemble a foreign weapon without a certain percentage of US parts...
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More precisely you can't assemble a "non-sporting" foreign guns without the proper number of US parts. Assemble all the "sporting" foreign guns you want.
 
You can build your own kit guns without registering them. As long as you don't transfer them. If you make your own AK from a parts kit and bend you own receiver. It won't have a SN and it's still legal. If you buy the lower than it has to be registered and have a SN.
Click to expand...

Is this also the case with supressors? From what I can tell, no.

I have a form1 I need to send out, but I'd love to save the hassle(and $200) if possible.
 
No, a suppressor is still an NFA item. It still requires the $200 tax even if you make and register it on a form 1.
 
On the form it asks for a serial number. Do I have to make one up and engrave it on the part?
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I wonder if you could use letters from the Cyrillic alphabet in the serial number. It would be funny to try.:D Just watch them try to enter that into the registry.
 
On the form it asks for a serial number. Do I have to make one up and engrave it on the part?
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As VUPD stated yep. I made up a serial number and model number and engraved them on the body of the tube after receiving approval.
 
gun kit

You can assemble a foreign weapon with no regards to 922 if it's a NFA weapon.
Click to expand...

This means a prohibited person can own a firearm as long as they build it from a kit? Does this seem right?
 
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