🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <199301120428.AA13630@sun.Panix.Com> justice@Panix.Com (Michael Justice) writes:
#Can anyone enlighten me (et alia :-) on what criteria the BATF uses to
#classify a gun as "readily convertible" to full-auto? 

I believe it is considered "readily convertable" if a BATF gunsmith,
with access to a full machine shop, etc... can convert it to full
auto within a certain time (8 hours?)

#If I'm wrong about the purpose of the BATF rulings on this subject, I'd
#appreciate hearing that, too.  (The rulings, to me, seem to imply that
#these guns have been corralled into falling under the NFA restrictions.)

Pretty much: The National Firearms Act also regulates "parts which
can be assembled into" an automatic weapon, and BATF considers any
"readily convertable" weapon fit this description.

#In particular, if a rifle is not even a SEMIauto, can BATF claim that it
#violates the NFA?  (American Rifleman had an article a while back, which
#mentioned that Australia converted some Enfields to full-auto, and also
#that someone (John Browning?) had converted a lever-action to full-auto.)

I suppose it would be restricted if the BATF experts could convert it.
But the more common reason for a bolt or lever action to be restricted
is barrel length: A rifle with a barrel under 16" is also restricted by 
the Act. There is not, however, a "readily convertable" to a short-barrel
rifle restriction (which is a good thing, since all rifles are "readily
convertable" if you have a saw...)

                                             Frank Crary
                                             CU Boulder