Noob ? - Magazine legality????

[foxtail207]

Probably a dumb question, but I don't understand this... help please.

I'm new here, and have a new Saiga 7.62 "Sporter". I've looked at the Federal Firearm Laws (230+ pages, so I may have missed something), and searched here, and I'm still confused about 922(r) and its relationship to adding a magazine with a capacity larger than the OEM mag with 10 shot capacity.

If the rifle I just legally bought is a legal import (it's not in the banned arms list), why do so many alter it with US made parts for the "compliance"? Is it just to make it look different ... closer to the original AKs, or to use larger mags? It has 14 foreign parts (I think that's correct) and to convert it requires changing 4 or more specific parts to be 922(r) compliant... but what is the purpose if it's a legal firearm as imported? The only thing I can see is that it may relate to the larger mags, but I cannot find anything that says that, so far.

Does 922(r)'s "assembly" wording refer to changing magazines?
(I don't want to re-build or "assemble" a rifle, just be able to use a larger mag.)

[nalioth]

As imported, the Saiga rifle is legal, as long as you don't use a "non sporting" magazine in it.

A "non sporting" magazine holds 11 rounds or more.

If you insert a "non sporting" magazine into a factory Saiga or make the factory Saiga capable of accepting a "non sporting" magazine, the gun must be 922r compliant to avoid a potential felony charge.

[foxtail207]

Originally Posted by nalioth

As imported, the Saiga rifle is legal, as long as you don't use a "non sporting" magazine in it.

A "non sporting" magazine holds 11 rounds or more.

If you insert a "non sporting" magazine into a factory Saiga or make the factory Saiga capable of accepting a "non sporting" magazine, the gun must be 922r compliant to avoid a potential felony charge.

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Thank you, that's what I have assumed but could find nothing that really said that. But, it makes sense that the mag changes it from non-sporting. I'm just surprised that they allow a 10 round mag at all, since most US semi-auto hunting rifles have a 5 round mag.

It's just odd to me that the laws/ rules use language like "assembled, assembly and build".

I guess I will try to find some more 10 round Saiga mags. Is that possible... where?

[Bubbajj]

Just do the conversion, USA made furniture and a tapco fire control group should get you to the parts count you need (IIRC, Saigas have no muzzle device). Slap in a bullet guide and trim down the mag catch. Plug in regular 30 rounders all day long.