The Annoyed Man wrote:I once read that imported AKs are made 922R compliant by addition of American-made trigger groups. Is that true? I don't really know anything about 922R.
922r is one of the more rediculous laws out there that basically says that semi-auto rifles and shotguns with "evil" features are not allowed to be imported, but can exist if made domestically. There is a list of qualifiying parts that, if more than 10 of them are foreign made, classify the rifle as "foreign" and therefore illegal for importation if it has the evil features. Therefore, we get these rifles imported with benign, family-friendly thumbhole stocks and 10rnd mags (etc) rather then in their original, murderous, soul-corrupting configurations.
So, importers import rifles in "hunting" configurations, and then convert them to accept standard-capacity mags, muzzle devices, pistol grips and all the like. In order for this to be legal, much of these parts must be US made in order to reduce the foreign qualifiying parts to 10 or less. A trigger group counts as 3, with the Tapco G2 being the most popular (very good trigger actually). Magazine body, follower, and floor plate also count, so if you use US mags there are fewer parts to change on the gun itself (yes, the gun can be legal to shoot with US mags and illegal with foreign mags). The rifle must not be able to accept standard cap mags, so some rifle are imported with single stack mag wells that must be machined out, or they come with a slightly different mag catch (and lack of bullet guide) that only works with the manufacturer's proprietary low-cap mags (i.e. Saiga, VEPR). You can then add a bullet guide and trim the mag catch to accept proper mags.
Furniture counts, but remember it is foreign parts removed that is important, not US parts added; so, removing a thumbhole stock counts as reducing foreign parts by 1 even though you add 2 US parts (stock, pistol grip). Sometimes a gas piston is swapped since it is relatively easy. Each rifle will have a different number of parts to remove.
You can buy rifles in their "sporting rifle" configuration and convert it yourself, or find one already converted. Converted rifles are sometimes done by the importer, like Century, or done by the retailer. Of course, the conversion can easily add a few hundred to the cost of your rifle.

If you are interested in an AK or some other foreign gun there are plenty of websites to find 922r info, such as how many qualifying foreign parts does the BATFE consider certain guns to have, what replacement parts count, what modifications/parts can be done/used without violating the law (complete with letters from the BATFE statign as such) and etc.
AdioSS wrote:I'm a BIG fan of the VEPRs if you can find one.
Me too, probably the best made AK on the market, right up there with Arsenal if not better.