Stock PS90 for over $2300; Really? GB Insanity...

[barnbwt]

This week's contestant for crazy Gunbroker Auction:
First Generation FN PS90 1st-Gen Black Hammer Pack

I've been carrying a torch for a PS90 since forever, so I was looking at prices online. I could not believe my eyes what this one was going for, as well as all the references to FIRST GEN TRIGGER PACK (whatever ).

Perceiving something that made no sense, I did some research, and found that early model trigger packs are apparently easier to ILLEGALLY(cannot emphasize enough) modify than the newer ones. Unhelpfully, many (other) forums were very coy about it too; "I can't really say why those parts are better, but..." Are people really this desparate to get thrown in the slammer by the BATFE? I've even heard of unscrupulous sellers telling people the triggerpacks are transferrable machineguns!!! Completely inexcusable; no P90/PS90 can be legally converted!

That last sentence is something I thought should be made a bit more clear for folks (like me) who weren't aware of the situation and might be taken for a ride by a seller. If I were an agent I'd be awfully suspicious of someone who drops twice the going rate on a plain-jane PS90, "just 'cuz" (let alone a donut-of-death sighted one with a single 30rnd magazine)

---------------------------------

That bit of weirdness aside, I was a bit alarmed to find fewer of these guns for sale online these days. I know there was a bit of an ammo bottleneck a few months back (seems to be over, now; SS197 is "around" once more), but the number of PS90s seems really small. It's strange, since there's tons of magazines out there (at lower prices than Five-seveN mags ). I recall there being dozens of them for sale this time last year (buying season ), and few Five-seveNs (there's more of them than PS90s, now).

Is FNH turning its sights away from the rifle, towards the pistol, or have they finally caught on and demand is increasing? Used to be folks said you shouldn't buy the platform because the mags are too hard to find.

Saw one of the new Masterpiece Arms 5.7 guns for sale, too (wish I hadn't)

TCB

 

[jim243]

Why would it be illegal to convert a PS90 to a P90 if you did the paperwork and paid the tax stamp?? I can convert my M4 style carbine to a SBR if I do the proper steps first or convert a Draco pistol to SBR or just go to gunsamerica and buy a full auto Uzi??

Am I missing something here?

http://www.gunsamerica.com/902875544/Uzi_full_auto_w_drop_in_auto_bolt.htm

Jim

 

[barnbwt]

Unless I'm a licensed manufacturer, I can't make a full auto anything, and the machine gun registry has been closed to new entries longer than the PS90/P90 has existed (1986). Apart from highly specialist dealers, manufacturers, etc. there are no select fire P90s. The reason you can buy (with proper stamp, etc.) that Uzi is because it was one of few entered into the List as a full-auto before the registry closed. Hence why a ~150$ lump of sheet metal goes for 7000$, and us plebians miss out on full-auto fun. An SBR is not a machine gun, and is far less restricted (i.e. the registry is still open).

But that's really more a question for the NFA forum (this is about an illegal modification issue than can't comply with the NFA)

If I'm incorrect in this conclusion, someone please let me know (I'd kick down the gates of hell for a "real" PS90 if it were legal)

TCB

For some reason, a google search on Machine Gun Registry yielded this as the first hit
Obama Signs Executive Order Opening Machine Gun Registry
be sure to check the date of the article before your jaw falls off old, but still funny

 

[theautobahn]

Why would it be illegal to convert a PS90 to a P90 if you did the paperwork and paid the tax stamp?? I can convert my M4 style carbine to a SBR if I do the proper steps first or convert a Draco pistol to SBR or just go to gunsamerica and buy a full auto Uzi??

Am I missing something here?

Yes, you're missing something. The OP isn't talking about SBR's. They're talking about the first gen trigger packs which allow the guns to be easily (albeit illegally) converted for full auto fire.

Is FNH turning its sights away from the rifle, towards the pistol, or have they finally caught on and demand is increasing?

PS90's are still around. I believe FN is currently on strike, so they're not making anything at the moment. The $2,300 price you quoted for a gen 1 is actually a pretty good price. They go for mid $2k's - $3k around here, depending on optic setup, etc. The current gen PS90's are much less (somewhere around $1,000-$1,300, I believe).

Used to be folks said you shouldn't buy the platform because the mags are too hard to find.

I don't think the mags are difficult to find (there are racks of them at my LGS), but the ammo is VERY scarce right now, at least around here.

Saw one of the new Masterpiece Arms 5.7 guns for sale, too (wish I hadn't)

My LGS has one right now - a rifle. I don't particularly care for it, but if you SBR'd it, it might be fun. Honestly, I'd rather have one of the 5.7 AR uppers.

 

[barnbwt]

I believe FN is currently on strike

Well, that would explain it, thanks for the info!

I suppose the longer Europe remains messed up, the more likely FNH will end up manufacturing everything here in the US

The $2,300 price you quoted for a gen 1 is actually a pretty good price. They go for mid $2k's - $3k around here, depending on optic setup, etc. The current gen PS90's are much less (somewhere around $1,000-$1,300, I believe).

That's my question: why is it worth and extra grand for a "feature" you can't legally exploit? The closest thing to a rationale I've heard is the auto-sear might, possibly, maybe, sorta act as a drop safe in very unlikely scenarios. Perhaps some people just have a thing for different colored trigger packs . Doesn't seem worth it at all, even from a collector standpoint. Proper function is identical for all trigger packs, supposedly.

I suppose they must think if the world ends there won't be enforcement anymore, so they could get away with it

TCB

 

[theautobahn]

That's my question: why is it worth and extra grand for a "feature" you can't legally exploit?

I'm trying to remain THR in this discussion as encouraging illegal activity is frowned upon, but you said it yourself; it's a feature that you can't LEGALLY exploit. That doesn't mean that everyone is as High Road as you or I, though, and an easily converted sub gun is certainly appealing to some people, especially when it can be done without permanent alteration.

 

[barnbwt]

The current gen PS90's are much less (somewhere around $1,000-$1,300, I believe).

Wow, I haven't seen one (new or used) below 1500$ in a while... Suppose I'll try again when FNH gets its Labor back in order. Gives me a bit of time to save up some more, I guess.

I'm trying to remain THR in this discussion as encouraging illegal activity is frowned upon

Exactly. I'm frowning as hard as I can (). I just want to get it out in the open why sleaze-balls are bidding these things up so high, and why it's wrong/illegal, so a morally upright buyer won't be taken in by a con.

TCB

 

[TCBPATRIOT]

I've never really had any interest anything chambered in 5.7x28. I do however agree the prices for a PS90 are way too high