The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Is it legal to build your own full auto gun with a Class III license?

QuestionEverything · January 6, 2007, 11:29 PM

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.

January 6, 2007, 11:29 PM	#1
QuestionEverything Member Join Date: November 3, 2006 Posts: 23	Is it legal to build your own full auto gun with a Class III license? 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.