Some People Are Feeling Desperate to Get a Firearm
I guess the fears relating to the coronoavirus are causing a lot of people to try to get a firearm -- and some are finding "access to firearms" is NOT as easy as the media has made it out to be. (When talking about crimes with firearms, many media articles will comment about the "easy access to guns" as being some cause behind crime; some people are now learning, there is no easy access to firearms).
I have a Saiga parts kit for sale on the auction side ( https://www.gunbroker.com/item/866004281 ) and have gotten questions similar to "Can I just assemble this kit and have a working gun?"
I'm sending this reply to people who think buying a "parts kit" might be some simpler way to acquire a firearm than the process of following all the laws involved in legally obtaining a firearm. (If you're selling parts kits and have gotten similar questions, feel free to use anything I've written here, modifying it to the specific question you've received and the parts you're selling.):
Firearms can be a hobby similar to cars; just as many people enjoy modifying and customizing their cars, many who enjoy firearms, modify and customize them to suit personal needs and tastes. Some in both hobbies enjoy "building their own" (car or gun). There are "car kits" for those who want to build their own car, and there are, what has traditionally been called "parts kits" for those who desire to build their own firearm.
Just as most car kits won't have certain main components (like a chassis or drive-train), so too most firearm parts kits don't have the legally-defined "firearm part" -- the serialized frame or receiver.
Some parts kits are made specifically by manufacturers to be parts kits for enthusiasts to use in building a firearm, some parts kits are derived from imported, often previously military arms (that have been "de-milled" -- a process destroying certain key parts to make the weapon non-functioning), other parts kits (such as the Saiga rifle parts kit I'm selling) come from law enforcement seized firearms that are being destroyed either under court order, or as part of a law enforcement agency's policies. The firearm frame or receiver is destroyed, which destroys "the legal firearm" but the remaining parts can be sold to those who may seek to build their own firearm (in the states where that is legal) or as a spare parts set for those who may have a similar make and model of firearm and desire to have parts in case something on their firearm breaks or wears out.
A parts kit is NOT some way to "get around" the legal requirements (which vary based upon ones location) of purchasing and owning a firearm. If one were to buy the parts I'm selling and was to build a firearm, one would need to purchase a new receiver (along with what's called the front trunnion) as the entire front of the receiver (which contained the trunnion piece) has been cut away and destroyed. Buying a new receiver is the same process as buying a completed firearm -- requiring transfer through a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL), filling out a Form 4473 at the FFL's license location (usually a gun shop), and having a background check, along with any additional rules one would need to comply with that may exist in one's state or local government's laws.
If one is new to firearms, buying a parts kit, and building a firearm would NOT be a recommended action. Building a firearm from a parts kit is serious business that should only be done by gunsmiths or those with similar mechanical/machinist skills. Consider it as something similar to building a car -- only serious car enthusiasts, with the proper skills, should be doing that.
I have a Saiga parts kit for sale on the auction side ( https://www.gunbroker.com/item/866004281 ) and have gotten questions similar to "Can I just assemble this kit and have a working gun?"
I'm sending this reply to people who think buying a "parts kit" might be some simpler way to acquire a firearm than the process of following all the laws involved in legally obtaining a firearm. (If you're selling parts kits and have gotten similar questions, feel free to use anything I've written here, modifying it to the specific question you've received and the parts you're selling.):
Firearms can be a hobby similar to cars; just as many people enjoy modifying and customizing their cars, many who enjoy firearms, modify and customize them to suit personal needs and tastes. Some in both hobbies enjoy "building their own" (car or gun). There are "car kits" for those who want to build their own car, and there are, what has traditionally been called "parts kits" for those who desire to build their own firearm.
Just as most car kits won't have certain main components (like a chassis or drive-train), so too most firearm parts kits don't have the legally-defined "firearm part" -- the serialized frame or receiver.
Some parts kits are made specifically by manufacturers to be parts kits for enthusiasts to use in building a firearm, some parts kits are derived from imported, often previously military arms (that have been "de-milled" -- a process destroying certain key parts to make the weapon non-functioning), other parts kits (such as the Saiga rifle parts kit I'm selling) come from law enforcement seized firearms that are being destroyed either under court order, or as part of a law enforcement agency's policies. The firearm frame or receiver is destroyed, which destroys "the legal firearm" but the remaining parts can be sold to those who may seek to build their own firearm (in the states where that is legal) or as a spare parts set for those who may have a similar make and model of firearm and desire to have parts in case something on their firearm breaks or wears out.
A parts kit is NOT some way to "get around" the legal requirements (which vary based upon ones location) of purchasing and owning a firearm. If one were to buy the parts I'm selling and was to build a firearm, one would need to purchase a new receiver (along with what's called the front trunnion) as the entire front of the receiver (which contained the trunnion piece) has been cut away and destroyed. Buying a new receiver is the same process as buying a completed firearm -- requiring transfer through a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL), filling out a Form 4473 at the FFL's license location (usually a gun shop), and having a background check, along with any additional rules one would need to comply with that may exist in one's state or local government's laws.
If one is new to firearms, buying a parts kit, and building a firearm would NOT be a recommended action. Building a firearm from a parts kit is serious business that should only be done by gunsmiths or those with similar mechanical/machinist skills. Consider it as something similar to building a car -- only serious car enthusiasts, with the proper skills, should be doing that.
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Ya mean this ain't one of them there loopholes that Nancy and Chuck have lectured us endlessly about? Seriously that was a well thought out reply to their inquiries. I doubt if you will change their misconceptions but at least you are trying, which is more than most do. Bob 3 -
A friend of mine in California is finding out it’s not so easy. He’s never been anti gun but just had no desire to get one in all the years I lived in California and tried getting him to get one. I even took him shooting many times. His fiancée bought her first gun a year ago and had no problems finding a gun. Fast forward to March when he tried getting one and there was nothing on the shelf. And I mean NOTHING. He had to put a S&W Shield on order. It finally showed up and he’s now on his waiting period. He does at least live in a county where ccw is possible unlike LA or SF areas. In the meantime he has been buying extra mags, holster, ammo and signed up for a training course.
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a few days ago on flebay ( who do not allow them any way ) there was a lot of listings for 80% glock kits complete as in frame and fixture and tools selling for well over 500.00 some 300. but had time left one was at 700.+
I have never priced a 80% glock kit but I am sure its not even in the ball park of those prices maybe crazy bidders / desperate or don't know or because its on flebay and the bidders have no clue of what there buying maybe unaware they can get them in other places
regardless it was nuts . I have not looked since that day . they may still be running or flebay has caught and shut them down0 -
I am waiting on a bolt and stock for my first AR. Nephews have been giving me parts, thought I better finish it. Going to be the oldest rookie on the three gun roster this year. 3 -
That's a great write up @competentone . 0 -
Ditch-Runner said:a few days ago on flebay ( who do not allow them any way ) there was a lot of listings for 80% glock kits complete as in frame and fixture and tools selling for well over 500.00 some 300. but had time left one was at 700.+
I have never priced a 80% glock kit but I am sure its not even in the ball park of those prices maybe crazy bidders / desperate or don't know or because its on flebay and the bidders have no clue of what there buying maybe unaware they can get them in other places
regardless it was nuts . I have not looked since that day . they may still be running or flebay has caught and shut them downI think fleaBay has been affected by the shut-downs in India; from some of the problems we've had with our own listings, we are thinking they've rushed new AI systems to "monitor" and remove listings, and to respond to seller inquiries. After about 4 replies, where our question was clearly ignored in each reply, we concluded we were dealing with an AI system that couldn't "learn" -- and wasn't programmed to boot the question to a human being if it "realized" it couldn't answer the question.
Buyers on fleaBay seem to be "moved" into panic-buying more than one sees on a site like GunBroker. I saw listings (before eBay could delete them) where N95 Industrial masks were being bid to $3,000+ per box of 10. I think eBay only ADDS to the "panic buying" by deleting listings and making products completely unavailable. At the same time people were panic bidding on fleaBay, I watched N95 Industrial masks sell on GunBroker for just $10 each. Even though that's 5 times the price from "before the pandemic times," it's not that unreasonable considering the shortages. Before this virus, about 90% of N95 masks were sold to industry; people were not wearing them in industry because they "look fashionable"; industry will need to be buying masks again if people want to get back to work, by NOT allowing a "free market to work," stuff just is not available -- which only adds to "panic buying" when someone sees the "unavailable" momentarily becoming available.
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Always great to see you post Competone. Regards to you and FSlippers. They should just go to the guns how. With that guns show loop hole so large you can drive though, all the criminals just get their Uzis and such there. NOT! Sadly, I have been filling out 4473s for so long I do think of it as a simple process. 0 -
Well, you have the 80% lower kits that anybody with a drill press can put something together: Glocks and ARs 0 -
I'm still looking for one of those special scopes you can only buy at gun shows.
Surely you have heard of the famous gun show Leupold ????3 -
I was at my local today and Joe was telling me how strange, stupid and out right crazy calls he's been fielding. I got there a little after opening so it was empty but the calls were endless. Half an hour later the 6 foot personal space could be had only if they hung from the ceiling.
Now I'm thinking I should've taken my stripped ARs back in February so they could be sold in March (California got 30 day time out for consignments). Maybe COVID 2.0 in a few months?
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