SKS legal question

[Jason73]

If any of you can help me with this I would greatly appreciate it.

I recently purchased a Yugoslavian M59/66 that is equipped with a grenade launcher, night sights, and blade style bayonet. I want to replace a couple of parts for safety & reliability reasons (bolt carrier, bolt assembly, gas piston, etc.) and I would also like to add a pistol grip stock.

I've been doing some research regarding the legality of these modifications and have come across a lot of confusing/contradictory information.

Based on what I've read my rifle in its current configuration is classified by BATF as a Curio & Relic. My understanding is that if I were to make the aforementioned modifications it would no longer fall under this classification, making it an illegal weapon. Is this an accurate assessment? If so is it possible to modify it while keeping it legal, or do I need to buy a different SKS?

Thank you for your assistance.

Regards,

Jason

[Mike1951]

Just because it's no longer a C&R firearm doesn't mean it's illegal.

I know there are rules in some cases that dictate how many foreign components are allowed. Someone more knowledgeable than myself will have to step forward.

I recently purchased a Yugoslavian M59/66 that is equipped with a grenade launcher, night sights, and blade style bayonet. I want to replace a couple of parts for safety & reliability reasons (bolt carrier, bolt assembly, gas piston, etc.) and I would also like to add a pistol grip stock.

Was yours run over by an M1A2? I just can't imagine anything it needs in terms of safety and reliability.

[mr fixit]

I have several SKSs, and I would advise not to change out anything if youwant it to be reliable and safe.

What are you considering changing?

[KBCraig]

Just because it's no longer a C&R firearm doesn't mean it's illegal.

In this case, it does mean exactly that.

The currently imported batch of SKSes are only importable because they are collectible. If you modify them and change them from "original military configuration", or change the part count beyond what is acceptable, they are no longer importable.

Even though the AWB expired, certain rifles covered under it are not importable, and 922(r) still makes it illegal to assemble a firearm that would not be importable. Check in with some SKS forums for the details; they know what can be changed, and what can't.

It's all an example of very senseless bureaucratic nonsense, but it is the law.

Kevin

[Mike1951]

The currently imported batch of SKSes are only importable because they are collectible. If you modify them and change them from "original military configuration", or change the part count beyond what is acceptable, they are no longer importable.

Even though the AWB expired, certain rifles covered under it are not importable, and 922(r) still makes it illegal to assemble a firearm that would not be importable. Check in with some SKS forums for the details; they know what can be changed, and what can't.

I stand corrected! And in the meantime, you've got me started reading.

As I see it so far, there are two issues. One issue is the number of imported parts. The other issue being features which are not otherwise allowed period. Is that right?

I've only got two of the 59/66's and it never occured to me to change anything.

However, I bought a folding stock to put on one of my AK's (SAR-1 Century), as soon as I verify part count.

[Thane]

I want to replace a couple of parts for safety & reliability reasons (bolt carrier, bolt assembly, gas piston, etc.) and I would also like to add a pistol grip stock.

For the stock, you'd have to monkey with parts counts, replacing a bunch of stuff to keep it legal. I'd recommend against it.

As for the other stuff, they don't need replacement for any reason, unless they're already broken (and that's rather rare - the SKS is Glock-tough). HOWEVER, they DO need to be thoroughly de-cosmolined. I've seen Yugo SKSs with clogged piston tubes that turned the rifle into a straight-pull bolt action repeater, and bolt assemblies with the firing pins frozen foward, turning the gun into an "accidental automatic."

Disassembly of these parts is exactly like any other SKS, although due to certain internal differences, they're not interchangeable with Russian/Albanian/Chinese parts.

One thing to keep in mind (and a very important thing it is), do not, under any circumstances, oil the firing pin on a Yugoslavian SKS. The pin is heavy enough that, with oil to slick it up, it will "slam-fire." In other words, the inertia of the firing pin will carry it forward hard enough to detonate the primer of the freshly loaded round, without the trigger being pulled (this is especially true of softer, commercial non-surplus primers).
I heard at one point of someon offering springs to keep the firing pin back until the trigger is pulled, but the easiest solution is to keep that bolt assembly as oil-free as possible.

[KBCraig]

Mike1951, I don't know the answers; I only know that the problem exists.

I know that Chinese SKSes could only be imported without bayonets, so that they could be "sporting". At the same time, Yuko SKSes could only be imported with bayonets intact, because they weren't "sporting", but were "collectible".

It's not illegal to put a bayonet back on a Chinese SKS, but it very well might be illegal to remove the bayonet from a Yugo 59/66.

Don't ask me to explain their logic. This is the agency that ruled a 14" piece of string is a "machine gun", requiring full NFA registration.

Kevin

[Mike1951]

It's not illegal to put a bayonet back on a Chinese SKS, but it very well might be illegal to remove the bayonet from a Yugo 59/66.

Actually, I found this:

Some guidance as to SKS's can be gleaned from this letter to
the NRA from BATF Technology Branch, printed in the NRA magazine,
American Rifleman May, 1994, p.44:

From: Dept. Of Treasury
BATF
Wash. DC
To: [name deleted]
NRA
11250 Waples Mill Road
Fairfax, VA.

Dear Sir:

[Snip] In answer to your specific questions, the following
modifications of an SKS type rifle WOULD _NOT_ BE A VIOLATION of
Section 922 (r):

1. Replace the existing stock and handguard with a non-folding
wooden or synthetic stock having either a Monte Carlo or thumbhole
design.

2. Attach a muzzle mounted recoil compensator, provided that the
device is not also designed as a flash suppressor.

3. Replace the standard configuration stock with a Monte Carlo or
thumbhole style stock and replace the fixed magazine with a
detachable magazine. THIS MODIFICATION MAY BE DONE PROVIDED THAT
THE BAYONET MOUNT IS COMPLETELY REMOVED FROM THE RIFLE.

4. Replace the existing 10 round magazine with a fixed magazine
of a larger capacity.

5. Replace the existing 10 round magazine with a fixed 5 round
magazine or install a block in the well of the 10 round fixed
magazine to limit its capacity to 5 rounds.

6. Replace the existing receiver cover with a cover having a
telescopic sight based and\or rings.

7. Replace the front and\or rear sight or install an ambidextrous
safety.

With respect to attaching a bipod to a standard configuration SKS
rifle; standard configuration SKS rifles are not approved for
importation with bipods. Therefore, the attachment of a bipod
would be a violation of Section 922(r).

So apparently, removing the bayonet mount allows other mods.

What has been confusing for me is that all of the opinions are dated while the AWB was still in effect and most of them also reference it.

I found a twenty page compilation of BATF letters like this on the subject of modifying an SKS. It had ten references to the now expired ban.