Bringing back an old soldier - The M16

A few months ago, I found a couple of 1960's/70's M16A1 parts kits and on a whim, yanked out the credit card. Suprisingly, both kits were in remarkably good condition. They were missing the lower receivers, 20" pencil barrels and sadly the auto sear's (the device that makes it a machine gun). Still waiting on the reproduction lowers, but one of the repro barrels hit front porch today. This will be very cool once all together. Salute to Soldiers, Marines, Sailors and Airmen that carried these iconic service weapons and a special salute to my brother who carried one for 2 tours.

[jyl]

Really cool! Please show pics when they are built.

[azasadny]

Nice! What's with the leggings? I was stationed with the USMC for 7 1/2 years and never saw those before... I love the M16A1!!

[weseeeee]

Nice, it's rare to see one that has not been pimped out.

Originally Posted by azasadny

Nice! What's with the leggings? I was stationed with the USMC for 7 1/2 years and never saw those before... I love the M16A1!!

Art - My Dad was career regular army in the cavalry. He enlisted in the 30's and those were part of his world.

Wesee - I have other Defensive Weapons with decorations. These two will be restored to as close to original as possible - without the FA option, of course.

[HHI944]

Those little pieces of metal are interesting. I'd stash em in my safe for a rainy day. Ya know, if it ever rains lead...

The naughty bits will be preserved and held for future. I'm installing a modern fire control group. Damn good eye....

[on2wheels52]

Plus another piece or two. And a different bolt perhaps.
I recently sold the two A1's I had. I've owned one or another since the late 70's but they weren't worth what I was offered.
Jim

[HHI944]

Originally Posted by Mark Wilson

The naughty bits will be preserved and held for future. I'm installing a modern fire control group. Damn good eye....

Good to hear. To many people freak over those parts....perfectly legal to possess as long as they arent in the rifle and a damn good insurance policy if the SHTF really hard

[Jim Bremner]

What site did you get them from?

[fintstone]

I used to carry one...heavy! Give me an M4 any day.

Originally Posted by Jim Bremner

What site did you get them from?

Mckay industries and Sportsmans Guide. The retro lowers are manufactured by Nodak Spud. Barrels from Fulton Armory, Green Mountain, AR15sport.com - depending on stock.

Originally Posted by fintstone

I used to carry one...heavy! Give me an M4 any day.

Salute to you Fin! Yes - the buttstock is about same as a brick.

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by HHI944

Good to hear. To many people freak over those parts....perfectly legal to possess as long as they arent in the rifle and a damn good insurance policy if the SHTF really hard

Are you talking about an auto sear? I don't think it is legal to own one of them and the gun into which it can fit. IIRC, ATF calls that "intent to manufacture a machine gun." I've heard you can buy those Glock auto sears in Germany and bring them back to the US, but that they'll illegal to own in the same house as a Glock which they'll fit.

[svandamme]

Originally Posted by HHI944

Good to hear. To many people freak over those parts....perfectly legal to possess as long as they arent in the rifle and a damn good insurance policy if the SHTF really hard

No. People freak out, because the ATF doesn't allow unless they are preban, but you'll have to find one first and be able to afford it.. those preban sears are stupid expensive.



http://www.atf.treas.gov/pub/fire-explo_pub/rulings.htm
"27 CFR 179.11: MEANING OF TERMS The AR15 auto sear is a machinegun as defined by 26 U.S.C. 5845(b). ATF Rul. 81-4 The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has examined an auto sear known by various trade names including "AR15 Auto Sear," "Drop In Auto Sear," and "Auto Sear II," which consists of a sear mounting body, sear, return spring, and pivot pin. The Bureau finds that the single addition of this auto sear to certain AR15 type semiautomatic rifles, manufactured with M16 internal components already installed, will convert such rifles into machineguns. The National Firearms Act, 26 U.S.C. 5845(b) defines "machinegun" to include any combination of parts designed and intended for use in converting a weapon to shoot automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger. Held: The auto sear known by various trade names including "AR15 Auto Sear," "Drop In Auto Sear," and "Auto Sear II," is a combination of parts designed and intended for use in converting a weapon to shoot automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger.

Consequently, the auto sear is a machinegun as defined by 26 U.S.C. 5845(b).

With respect to the machinegun classification of the auto sear under the National Firearms Act, pursuant to 26 U.S.C. 7805(b), this ruling will not be applied to auto sears manufactured before November 1, 1981.

Accordingly, auto sears manufactured on or after November 1, 1981, will be subject to all the provisions of the National Firearms Act and 27 C.F.R. Part 179. [ATFQB 1981-3 78] Editor's Note: Regardless of the date of manufacture of a drop in auto sear, possession of such a sear and certain M-16 fire control parts is possession of a machinegun as defined by the NFA. Specifically, these parts are a combination of parts designed and intended for use in converting a weapon into a machinegun and are a machinegun as defined in the NFA. (See "Important Information Concerning AR15 - Type Rifles on page 91 of this publication.) "

[Rick Lee]

I think a properly registered auto sear for an M16-type rifle is around $7k. I've heard ATF regularly runs stings with ads for them for $300 in The Shotgun News.

[Rot 911]

Originally Posted by Mark Wilson

Salute to Soldiers, Marines, Sailors and Airmen that carried these iconic service weapons and a special salute to my brother who carried one for 2 tours.

Me circa 1973.

[svandamme]

I'll have a look around , i'm sure i can find em cheaper round here, and it's legal to own , it's not a controlled part around here. i just can't install it..

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by svandamme

I'll have a look around , i'm sure i can find em cheaper round here, and it's legal to own , it's not a controlled part around here. i just can't install it..

I'll PM you before my next trip over there. I wouldn't mind having some.

[Leland Pate]

I think some of you are confusing an auto sear with a drop in auto sear (DIAS). The automatic sear is not in itself a machinegun. The BATFE has ruled that a DIAS is a machinegun by itself. There were some DIASs that were registered prior to the '86 ban and they are fully transferrable.

I'm also with Rick on this one. If you don't have a legal M16 in your possession, it's a grey area when it comes to also having FA fire control parts (hammer, trigger, disconnector, selector and sear) in close proximity. It's not likely to happen to you but there have been folks charged with constructive possession of an unregistered MG for having all the parts necessary to convert a rifle.

Where it gets real confusing is when you look at all the other contradictions... For example, it's perfectly fine to have a FA bolt carrier in a semi-auto AR. Why?

Every AK parts kit I've seen comes with the FA fire control parts in the bag. Does that mean that any stocking dealer who has semi-auto AK's for sale in close proximity to the AK parts kits is in constructive possession. It's all up to what the DA thinks he/she can get away with and the unique circumstances of the case.

But, it has been successfully prosecuted in the past and that's why people are so damn scared of inadvertently breaking the law. Which is exactly where they want us.