saiga parts vs. ak-47 parts

[RemingtonFreak870]

What about those of us with u.s. made hi-cap. mags and no other mods besides a scope+mount. No cool/evil mods like pistol grip, bayonet, flashguard etc. Is the Saiga still legal in that configuration?

 

[LaEscopeta]

What about those of us with u.s. made hi-cap. mags and no other mods besides a scope+mount. No cool/evil mods like pistol grip, bayonet, flashguard etc. Is the Saiga still legal in that configuration?

Well I don’t know. But I’m guessing it is still legal on the Federal level (check your local laws).

Relevant Federal Law is Title 18 of the United States Code, Part 1, Chapter 44:

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=browse_usc&docid=Cite:+18USC925

Section 922 (r) is already copied into this thread. Section 925(d)(3) (referred to by 922(r):

925(d) The Attorney General shall authorize a firearm or ammunition to
be imported or brought into the United States or any possession thereof
if the firearm or ammunition--
...
(3) is of a type that does not fall within the definition of a
firearm as defined in section 5845(a) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986 and is generally recognized as particularly suitable for or
readily adaptable to sporting purposes, excluding surplus military
firearms, except in any case where the Attorney General has not
authorized the importation of the firearm pursuant to this
paragraph, it shall be unlawful to import any frame, receiver, or
barrel of such firearm which would be prohibited if assembled;

We know Saigas are “generally recognized as particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting purposes” because if there weren’t they could not be imported. If you insert a 30 round magazine, you can still readily adapt it back to the as-imported configuration by reinserting the 10 round magazine. So by inserting the 30 round mag you did not “assemble a semiautomatic rifle…prohibited from importation under section 925(d)(3) as not being particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting purposes.” Ta da, you are good.

(As stated several times in this and other threads you are going to have to decide for your self what the law says; I ain’t no expert and if you get in trouble this post is not going to save you.)

(One last note. Section 5845(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986:

http://frwebgate5.access.gpo.gov/cg...SdocID=980424444310+0+0+0&WAISaction=retrieve

defines what are generally referred to as NFA weapons (short barreled rifles & shotguns, machine guns, etc. This section does not apply to as-imported Saigas with high capacity magazines.)