Re: converted machine guns......
Interesting point......and I'd have to check up on this.
The only semi-autos allowed for law-abiding memebrs of registered gun clubs, held on a standard legally held Firearms Certificate in the UK, are .22LR, no fully automatics. So I can (and DO) have a .22LR semi-auto (better referred to in Mr Blair's anti-gun politically correct UK as "self-loading") AR clone.
There is no problem with any other type of semi-autos provided they are .22LR (10/22's, Marlins etc). and meet the UK legal requirements on minimum barrel length and overall length, there are no mag capacity issues etc.
I have just started looking at AK's and, provided operation is semi-auto only, do not envisage a problem. The Romanian AK-MT22ST Trainer should be OK as long as it is semi and single shot only.
Anyone know if this is the case?
EDITTED 10/1/06
The following are the legal guidelines on prohibited firearms and ammunition in the UK:
"Common sense dictates that there are many types of firearms, especially those designed for military use, that have no place in the sporting field or hobby of shooting. There are others, for instance some hand guns, which have been brought into the prohibited category by Acts of Parliament. All of the following weapons and ammunition are prohibited:
Section 5 (1)
(a) any firearm which is so designed or adapted that two or more missiles can be successively discharged without repeated pressure on the trigger.
(ab) any self-loading or pump-action rifled gun other than one which is chambered for .22 rim-fire cartridges.
(aba) any firearm which either has a barrel less than 30cm in length or is less than 60cm in length overall, other than an air weapon, a muzzle-loading gun or a firearm designed as signalling apparatus.
(ac) any self-loading or pump-action smooth bore gun which is not an air weapon or chambered for .22 rim-fire cartridges and either has a barrel less than 24 inches in length or is less than 40 inches in length overall.
(ad) any smooth bore revolver gun other than one which is chambered for 9mm rim-fire cartridges or a muzzle-loading gun.
(ae) any rocket launcher, or any mortar, for projecting a stabilised missile, other than a launcher or mortar designed for line throwing or pyrotechnic purposes or as signalling apparatus.
(af) any air rifle, air gun or air pistol which uses, or is designed or adapted for use with, a self-contained gas cartridge system.
(b) any weapon of whatever description designed or adapted for the discharge of any noxious liquid, gas or other thing.
(c) any cartridge with a bullet so designed to explode on or immediately before impact, any ammunition containing or designed or adapted to contain any such noxious thing as is mentioned in paragraph (b) above and, if capable of being used with a firearm of any description, any grenade, bomb or other like missile, or rocket or shell designed to explode as aforesaid."
In my interpretation, a .22LR chambered AK such as the AKT-98 would be legal provided it was designed or has been converted to semi-auto only.