BATF has decided that thumbholes are in fact pistol grips. No new thumbholes allowed.

Thanks, I didn't know that.

See? That's a great idea! But it goes against my grain of wanting to work harder, not smarter!

I hope that I'm not out of line for posting this. I need some sleep, posting with one eye open, and I've not read the entire thread. After some debate on doing a post ban conversion on the saiga 12 at another forum, we realized that our thinking was flawed in regards to our parts count. We were thinking that if we instaled US made: hammer,sear,trigger,butt stock, and pistol grip, that we would then be clear to use high capacity mags and of course a pistol grip. The Saiga is imported with a montecarlo stock, not a pistol grip, and a stock the pistol grip doesn't replace anything. So installing a US made pistol grip while not raising the imported parts count, does not lower the imported count either. So basically, we need to REPLACE yet another imported part on the list therefore bringing the count down to 10 imported parts to use high cap. mags, and have a pistol grip. If anybody here can see how this is not correct please let me know. I just don't want us to have a false sense of security that we have a compliant firearm only to find out the hardway that we were mistaken the. Binford

Shotguns are under a different law than rifles. Doing a parts swap will turn it into a US made rifle, but it still must comply with the 94 ban- at least until september 13th.

Under the 94 ban, semi auro shotguns with a detachable mag are not allowed to have a pistol grip. End of story, no exceptions.

Just wait a month, and then do what you like. Pistol grip it and put a folding stock on it. And get 10 round mags (if you can find them )

4 parts replaced is okay so long as they are US parts (son't put an imported pistol grip on it)

But don't do ANY of it until September 13th, otherwise you are violating the 94 ban.

The 308 is readily converted using the same procedure as I outline for the 7.62 with the exception that there are no standard high capacity magazines for the 308. You have to use the ones that come with the rifle, although you can trim the follower and floorplate so that they will hold 10 rounds instead of 8. I hear rumors of EAA getting some 20 round mags in soon, but I'm not holding my breath. (EAA now sells 20 rounders) So elliminate the part of the conversion that has to do with magazines and you'll be all right.

You still have to maintain 10 or less imported parts on your rifle, just like before due to the 1989 import ban, but once your rifle is parts compliant (considered a US made gun and not an import) you can have a flash hider pistol grip, bayonet lug, and folding stock.

Simply adding a new US trigger group, pistol grip, and buttstock will cover your parts count issue. I hear rumors of the hammer being difficult to fit on these guns, but some have no problem.

A can not think of any folding stock I would want on a 308 except maybe an ACE folder WITH A PAD. The Romanian wire stocks in particular would be brutal attached to a 308

No hardware exists yet to easily install a flash hider or bayonet lug

Originally Posted By HardShell: Originally Posted By iNuhBaDNayburhood: Now that the ban is gone, what are some modifications that can be made to these???... Same question, but applied to the Saiga shotguns... (My apologies if this has already been discussed at length - I haven't seen it. ) Can the shotguns be "re-dressed" with AK-esque furniture, including pistol grips? Is this an easy "bolt on" or a real "conversion" for the DIY crowd? Will they be imported/sold already equipped like that here in the future? Will higher-than-current-capacity mags be available in the US in the future?

Convert the shotguns just like the 7.62 as I outline above, but skip the magazine and feed ramp mods because you still use the stock mag- easy conversion!

They will probably not be imported in pistol grip configuration, although I am not aware of legislation currently forbidding it.

10 round mags exist, 7 or 8 rounds is standard though, and shoold be available soon. I would contact EAA about the mags.

Party on!

The question is wether or not the AK shotgun falls under the "89 ban. I do not think it does because the 89 ban only affects semi-auto copies of full-auto military weapons, as described elsewhere in this thread.

I don't think US parts are needed, but to do the conversion you need a buttstock, pistol grip, and FCG, which gives you your 5 parts that will be enough to qualify as a US gun. Just use US parts and there won't be an issue.

The shotgun is a new addition to the law I believe, but nonetheless, If you use US parts in your conversion, you have a US made gun and not an import, and are perfectly okay.

I still think you are okay with imported parts because the '89 ban is pretty specific about what qualifies as forbidden, but I don't think it's worth splitting hairs over. Just use US parts for your FCG and replaced furniture and don't worry about it.

Are there reputable gunsmiths doing the conversions out there? I'm interested in getting a 19" Saiga 12, and doing the PG conversion with US fire control group, etc. Links? I'd do it myself, but would prefer a more professional, reliable job.

Thanks for the info. That's what I was looking for.