Keeping firearms C&R eligable.

[damage855]

I am still waiting for my C&R license but while I wait I was wondering if you guys could answer a question for me.What changes if any can you make to a C&R weapon and it not lose its status? can you put a scope on one? change the stock ect? i have heard people say be carfull not to change your C&R firearms so they dont lose their status so what changes would cause one to lose C&R status?

[SwedeSteve]

I'll read up on it, but as far as I know, if it was C&R when you bought it, then it's always a C&R unless you change the serialized portion of the firearm.

[damage855]

Ok thanks I have heard people say that if you modify one to a certain point its nolonger considered C&R. Just wondering if there was any truth in that.

[SwedeSteve]

Why are you concerned about this?

[Big Dog]

The main thing is, if you modify the C&R weapon to other than it's 'issue' condition, it is no longer considered a C&R gun, and CANNOT be sold as such. It could be sold as a regular gun, without C&R status.
Another question is, if the weapon is modified and no longer C&R elligible, does this make it an "assault weapon" under certain definitions, such as Section 922(r)?
I think we have a stickie in the SKS forum addressing this?

[damage855]

I am waiting on my C&R license and just dont wont to get in trouble for putting a scope or something on my rifle. just trying to figure out what is allowed and what is not.

[SwedeSteve]

Big Dog is spot on. It must be in "orginal" condition to be sold as a C&R. And remember, your C&R is not for selling guns for profit!

[billy]

Originally Posted by SwedeSteve

Big Dog is spot on. It must be in "orginal" condition to be sold as a C&R. And remember, your C&R is not for selling guns for profit!

they frown on that

[damage855]

I have no intintion on selling my C&R rifles I still have every firearm I have ever bought. I just want to make sure that is I buy another Yugo SKS and put a bipod or something on it I am not in violation of some law or pertaining to C&R permit holders.

[jimb2]

The law reads that they must be in essentially original configuration. They interpret that to mean replacement parts are ok, but the rifle must be as nearly identical to original as possible. The recognized modifications to this are modifications done by the military for upgrading and sight modifications. Accurization is also permissable. But the firearm must basically look and function in the original manner.

[damage855]

Thanks jimb2 thats what I have been reading in other places I just whanted to make sure.

[cheapblaster]

I think Big Dog was on point on this - you can pretty much do whatever modification you want to a C&R gun as long as you stick to legal modifications.

So adding a scope to a C&R gun is not illegal but it may change the gun's status, which would matter to me only if I were to sell it and ship it to another 03 holder. For example I put a scope/scout mount on one of my M39s. I have no plans to sell it but still have the original front sight.

At just what point the gun is no longer a C&R because of what you have done with it is rather muddy; I have no definitive answer, just these observations:

SOG is currently offering Mosin Nagant M91/30 rifles with a sporter stock ( a non-permanant alteration) and is offering them as C&R eligible. They are also offering Enfield "Remake Short Club Pattern Rifles" on which the barrels were cut down and the stocks modified, as C&R rifles (a permanent alteration). Shortened when and by who is not really stated in their ad. I also note that in neither case are the guns re-chambered to a different round.

There have been and are Swede M96 rifles that have modified diopter or micrometer sights, requiring drilling and tapping the receivers, sold as C&R guns. My understanding is that these modifications were done by civilians involved in shooting organizations, not by the military.

At one point both AIM and Century were offering Yugo SKS rifles with the grenade launcher removed as California legal, C&R guns. Neither does this any more, they must have come close to or over-stepped the line with this. Or perhaps received advise to stop doing this.

I want to stress that I am offering observations, not legal advice. It seems that modifications to the stock or to the sights, or even the length of the barrel being shortend are ok while removing a grenade launcher somehow changes the original function of the gun. Personally I'm a little leery of shortening the barrel being an ok modification while maintaining C&R status.

It would be interesting to get a written determination from BATFE on this stuff and probably difficult to get someone to do it.

But back to the main point - you can do whatever you want with a C&R gun as long as you end up with a legal weapon. At what point you loose C&R status for the gun is a good question. If I were to do extensive modification of a C&R gun I would keep it logged in my bound book unless I had a specific written statement saying that it should not be there.

[mosineer]

Exactly!! I have a 91/30 that has a ATI stock and is scoped. I am not going to get in trouble, unless I try to sell as C&R. But I have kept everything to make it "original" again if I wish, to be C&R eligible again...C&R is fun...Enjoy..

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All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing

[damage855]

Thanks guys just wanted to make sure I have no plans on selling any of my C&R just whanted to make sure I was not breaking some messed up BATFE law.