Folks used to dealing with domestic-made rifles usually forget about the additional restrictions on imported rifles.  The 1968 Gun Control Act (GCA) specified that imported guns had to fit a "sporting purpose test" to be imported.  Guns with too many military features were banned from importation.

In 1989, George HW Bush signed a bill modifying this section of the law.  It prevented imported guns from being reconfigured into configurations that wouldn't be importable, and further restricted what could be imported.  The law went into effect in 1990.  Guns imported before 1990 aren't affected by these changes, but guns imported afterwards are.

For example, in order for Norinco to continue to import AKs, they had to modify them to a configuration that was importable under the changes to the law in 1990.  They had to remove the pistol grip, folding stock, and bayo lug, and ended up replacing them with thumbhole stocks (which aren't pistol grips under the 89 Import ban, but ARE pistol grips under the 1994 Krime Bill).  They called this model the "Modified AK of 1990", or MAK-90.

Anyway, your SKS is only "pre-ban" if you can PROVE that it was imported before 1990.  Of course, something like 95% of SKSs were imported after 1990, because they weren't very interesting to anyone until AKs had to be butchered.  Unless you have an original bill of sale from before 1990, you have a post(89)ban SKS that can't have both detachable mags and a bayo lug.  SKSs must also comply with the 1994 Krime Bill, BTW.

Finding information on when rifles were imported is almost impossible.  There were lots of importers (many of which no longer exist), guns weren't imported in serial number sequence, and most importers have only hard-copies of their paperwork buried in storage and won't be interested in looking through it all for you.  Of course, BATF has records, but they won't tell you the status of your rifle either.

I'd keep the 10-round mag.

-Troy

After trying several, the Choate stocks are superior by far.  www.riflestock.com



-Troy

Quoted: #1) To answer Ikari, Aren't Detachable Magazine SKSes Illegal In Kali. no matter what capacity?

Yes, the AG Lungren ruled by decree (reversing himself after several years under reelection pressure) that detachable-mag SKSs were assault weapons.  Note that this is not capacity-specific; a 1-round detachable magazine still makes the gun illegal in the PRK.  There was a 90-day registration period a few years back, but the DOJ did not advertise it well, so most folks didn't know about the "reclassification" until it was too late.

Due to SB23, SKSs can only have 10-round-or-less capacity fixed magazines in the PRK.

-Troy

Yes, except that I don't believe any fixed 30's exist.  There are fixed Chinese 20's, though.

-Troy

I purchased a USA brand 30rd Non-Detachable magazine. I loaded it through the top with stripper clips, stored the rifle with the mag mounted in it, and everything.
On a whim after about a year of it being in there, I held back the mag release, pulled on the mag, and realised I could remove it easily without disassembling the rifle at all. Turns out a "non-detachable" mag could've gotten me in a lot of trouble.

I now keep the factory 10rd mag in it, and I actually prefer it...

Quoted: Shit, I shot an SKS w/ Detachable Magazine at a range in Alabama right in front of a Cop and he didn't say a word. Then again 922(r) is a Federal Law.

Let's make this clear, as there were a couple of things being discussed.

Under federal law, you CAN use a detachable magazine on an SKS imported after 1989, provided you remove the bayonet lug, and you have no other non-importable features on the rifle.

Under PRK state law, *any* SKS that accepts detachable magazines of any capacity is a banned assault weapon, and must be surrendered or removed from the state.  PRK weapons must also comply with federal law, of course.

-Troy