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Skans · May 7, 2013, 10:59 AM

Generally speaking BATFE frowns on open bolt semi-autos. You will not find any law that outright bans the production of all open-bolt designs. It's simply that no one has figured out a way to make a semi-auto open bolt gun that isn't (in BATFE's eyes) easily converted to full-auto. Theoretically, you could still build an open-bolt gun. In fact, I recall seeing I think SWD made an openbolt 12 gauge shotgun recently. Perfectly legal. Can't be converted....it's a single-shot.

There's probably some way you could make a semi-auto open bolt that BATFE would approve. The mechanism would just be too complex and costly to make.

May 7, 2013, 10:59 AM	#8
Skans Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2008 Posts: 11,132	Generally speaking BATFE frowns on open bolt semi-autos. You will not find any law that outright bans the production of all open-bolt designs. It's simply that no one has figured out a way to make a semi-auto open bolt gun that isn't (in BATFE's eyes) easily converted to full-auto. Theoretically, you could still build an open-bolt gun. In fact, I recall seeing I think SWD made an openbolt 12 gauge shotgun recently. Perfectly legal. Can't be converted....it's a single-shot. There's probably some way you could make a semi-auto open bolt that BATFE would approve. The mechanism would just be too complex and costly to make. Last edited by Skans; May 7, 2013 at 11:05 AM.