"locked out" means what?

Rifleman1776 · November 10, 2012, 10:21 AM

A relative in a very anti-gun state has a friend who just inherited a bunch of black guns. Among them is an AR auto which has been "locked out", supposedly making it a legal semi-auto.
I don't know what that means. I suspect it may be a selective fire that is only set at semi. That would mean the rifle is really a machine gun and the current owner might be subject to a lot of Federal doo-doo if he doesn't act quickly and turn over to the Feds.
I am I right or wrong on this?

Microgunner · November 10, 2012, 10:42 AM

Colt filled the space in the lower receiver where the auto sear would reside with a block of hardened steel to prevent anyone from converting their rifles into a select fire arm.
This may be what their refering to. Possibly?

Willie Lowman · November 10, 2012, 11:41 AM

You might get clarification on the term "locked out" before you start saying someone is in trouble with the law.

And by clarification, I mean from the person with the rifle, not strangers on the internet. They may mean a bullet button magazine, they may mean a Colt Sporter like Microgunner was referring to. They may mean they lock it outside their house at night so it can't pee on the carpet.

**James K** · November 10, 2012, 11:02 PM

I have never heard the term in that context, but I also have never had a rifle go weewee on the carpet, so what do I know?

Jim

ohen cepel · November 10, 2012, 11:20 PM

Never heard of that term related to firearms and the law.

Skans · November 11, 2012, 12:22 PM

The piece of hardened steel inserted into the rear of the Colt AR's with a blind pin is referred to as a "sear block".

Superhouse 15 · November 14, 2012, 12:04 AM

At one time a local law enforcement agency had M16s with a sheet metal piece between the lower receiver and pistol grip. That piece had a tail that extended up the side of the lower and physically prevented the selector from moving to the FA or Burst postition. It was too easy to defeat so they eventually pulled the auto sears and installed semi conversion kits.

In any case, the gun was still an automatic. I don't know about your situation but a part that could be called a "lock out" exists. It is possible it could be a legal gun and it is possible to inherit one legally. It is also possible to get extremely arrested for messing with it. More info is needed.

medalguy · November 15, 2012, 11:50 PM

Yeah, not sure what you have, but an M16 lower with all the holes drilled and material removed for the auto sear and disconnector is definitely a registerable item.

Skans · November 16, 2012, 09:11 AM

Quote:

an M16 lower with all the holes drilled and material removed for the auto sear and disconnector is definitely a registerable item.

It's definitely not registerable. Not unless BATFE initiates some kind of amnesty program. It is just a one way ticket to Prison. On the other hand, removing the hardened steel block that Colt put in its lowers is not illegal. I've heard it is difficult, though, and could hurt the value of a Colt firearm.

zincwarrior · November 16, 2012, 09:27 AM

Quote:

I have never heard the term in that context, but I also have never had a rifle go weewee on the carpet, so what do I know?

I now have this image in my head of my tiny ancient 8lb wiener dog, sporting a tiny AR-15, and even tinier Rambo headband, going outside to deal with the local squirrel...

David Hineline · November 17, 2012, 02:08 AM

New production machineguns and confiscated contriband guns are registered all the time.

To be transferable to a non dealer, non government entity, that had to happen before 1986

November 10, 2012, 10:21 AM	#1
Rifleman1776 Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 2,836	"locked out" means what? A relative in a very anti-gun state has a friend who just inherited a bunch of black guns. Among them is an AR auto which has been "locked out", supposedly making it a legal semi-auto. I don't know what that means. I suspect it may be a selective fire that is only set at semi. That would mean the rifle is really a machine gun and the current owner might be subject to a lot of Federal doo-doo if he doesn't act quickly and turn over to the Feds. I am I right or wrong on this?

November 10, 2012, 10:42 AM	#2
Microgunner Senior Member Join Date: March 6, 2006 Location: Central Florida Posts: 2,490	Colt filled the space in the lower receiver where the auto sear would reside with a block of hardened steel to prevent anyone from converting their rifles into a select fire arm. This may be what their refering to. Possibly? __________________ NRA Endowment Member

November 10, 2012, 11:41 AM	#3
Willie Lowman Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2009 Location: Uh-Hi-O Posts: 1,932	You might get clarification on the term "locked out" before you start saying someone is in trouble with the law. And by clarification, I mean from the person with the rifle, not strangers on the internet. They may mean a bullet button magazine, they may mean a Colt Sporter like Microgunner was referring to. They may mean they lock it outside their house at night so it can't pee on the carpet. __________________ "No, it's not a silencer. This little doodad is my own invention. I call it a loudener." --Sledge Hammer

November 10, 2012, 11:02 PM	#4
James K Staff Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 16,408	I have never heard the term in that context, but I also have never had a rifle go weewee on the carpet, so what do I know? Jim __________________ Jim K

November 10, 2012, 11:20 PM	#5
ohen cepel Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 1999 Location: Where they send me Posts: 1,009	Never heard of that term related to firearms and the law. __________________ He who dares wins. NRA Life Benefactor Member

November 11, 2012, 12:22 PM	#6
Skans Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2008 Posts: 6,243	The piece of hardened steel inserted into the rear of the Colt AR's with a blind pin is referred to as a "sear block".

November 14, 2012, 12:04 AM	#7
Superhouse 15 Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2007 Location: Sunny Florida Posts: 844	At one time a local law enforcement agency had M16s with a sheet metal piece between the lower receiver and pistol grip. That piece had a tail that extended up the side of the lower and physically prevented the selector from moving to the FA or Burst postition. It was too easy to defeat so they eventually pulled the auto sears and installed semi conversion kits. In any case, the gun was still an automatic. I don't know about your situation but a part that could be called a "lock out" exists. It is possible it could be a legal gun and it is possible to inherit one legally. It is also possible to get extremely arrested for messing with it. More info is needed.

November 15, 2012, 11:50 PM	#8
medalguy Senior Member Join Date: August 31, 2009 Location: New Mexico Posts: 946	Yeah, not sure what you have, but an M16 lower with all the holes drilled and material removed for the auto sear and disconnector is definitely a registerable item.

November 17, 2012, 02:08 AM	#11
David Hineline Senior Member Join Date: December 23, 1999 Location: South Sioux City, Nebraska Posts: 700	New production machineguns and confiscated contriband guns are registered all the time. To be transferable to a non dealer, non government entity, that had to happen before 1986