fnc auto sear

[beltfed223]

fnc auto sear question
I’m new to the fn line of guns I have a mac 10smg & will most likely purchase
a fnc auto sear is this the only gun it will fit (with modifications Im told)
are the guns hard to find have not seen a lot for sale & seam to be in the
2800 to 3000 price range. Are parts easy to find ? How hard is it to perform the
necessary modification so sear will work or is it recommended to have a gunsmith perform the work. Any info will be very helpful I’m looking to do the deal very soon

[Sig220]

I may be waaay off base, but don't think so.

Anyway, you need to check with ATF, as the converting of a semi-auto to full-auto is a big NO-NO. The auto sear, if it were a "drop in" type (w/o any receiver modifications), would have already been registered as a MG. Again, as I understand it, they are not allowing any more full auto's to be sold to the general public, that is why the prices of the darn things are so high.

edited to add: Individuals not otherwise prohibited by Federal, State, or local law may lawfully acquire an NFA firearm in one of three ways:


1. A registered owner of an NFA firearm may apply to ATF for approval to transfer the firearm to another person residing in the same State or to a Federal firearms licensee in another State;
2. An individual may apply to ATF for approval to make and register an NFA firearm (except for a machine-gun); or
3. An individual may inherit a lawfully registered NFA firearm.

The above was copied from the ATF site.

[fastfreddy]

I'm no expert and this is not authoritative legal advice. I believe there was someone who Registered a whole bunch of FNC drop in auto-sears while still able to do so. I think the NFA tax is paid on the transfer of the sear itself. I believe this abundance of registered auto-sears is the reason for relatively high prices of FNCs as there are more registered sears than there are FNCs in the country. I have no idea what level of gunsmithing is required.

[John Culver]

the FNC auto-sear IS the registered part.

just like HK sears (they can be registered in as many calibers as you plan to use them in)


so the FNC is a semi-auto, the sear is a full auto, they just happen to exist together. 100% legal and normal



I do not know of other guns the FNC sear works in.

[rocko]

ARG!!! Mother f'ing server too busy, losing reply!!!

Anyway, here we go again....

The S&H registered sears are only designed to work with the FNC. Rumor has said that there were enough sears registered to convert every semi imported into the US - some say this is BS, some say truth. Either way, in the grand scheme of things, there were never many imported. A bunch of the sears were (and I think some still are) tied up in legal proceedings, and were released early this year and dropped on the market. The result was that semi-FNC's shot to $3.5K plus virtually overnight - if you could even find one for that.

Prices seem to have settled down - I've seen ones for sub $3K sit on the boards. And, as always, asking price and selling price aren't the same. Still, I'd expect to pay between $2.5-$3K, depending on how hard you want to shop. As always, there are deals to be found. I walked away from one for $1650 at a gunshow in June. Obviously the seller was a bit behind, and obviously I was an idiot for walking. I can only explain it, that at the time even though I knew I could decide to sell it and make a decent chunk of change, I'd probably end up buying not only the rifle, but a sear as well, and I didn't have that kind of money to spend at the time. Now, in retrospect (actually, about 30 minutes after I walked out), I can only attempt to claim temporary insanity, and have pretty much been kicking myself since.

Parts are hard to find and expensive, but when you're paying ~$7k (and always continuing to climb) for the gun, "expensive" becomes relative. I guess any smith could do the work, but the guy to go to is Curtis Higgins at S&H arms. He designed the sear, and, as far as I know, has done most or all of these sear conversions. Despite the rapid rise in MG costs, he's kept his rates the same, at $600 IIRC. 3rb is a bit more, plus parts. The receiver is modified, but not considered to be permanently married to the sear, as the conversion still does not allow the factory auto FCG to fit and function. Bad news is that he's severely backlogged. I think the only thing you can do at this point is get yourself on an indefinite waiting list.

Good news: DSA has said they would seriously consider a US made semi FNC if the AWB sunset, and well, here we are.... ORF had also expressed interest in making an FNC receiver, and they've really been on a roll lately with new and upcoming products (mp5/hkp4 receivers, galil receivers, m76 receivers, milled ak74 receivers, etc.). Bad news is that even DSA generally isn't that cheap, and a couple of years down the road, when the MG is worth $15K, a say, $1.5K difference in the cost of the host gun may be chump change to have an "real" FN FNC. ORF also just mentioned a receiver, and made no mention of other parts.

Rocko

[dino1]

I heard that gunplumber was doing the conversions, please correct me if I'm off base. I also am considering the fnc as a "cheap" machine gun as the M16's are going for 10K and up. Only other game in town would be the ruger A556.

[Sig220]

So what does the FNC sear go for?

I remember in years past, buying the AR sear for $30 and when the Feds declared them MG and wanted them registered, I thought the worse and just destroyed them:cry: The young and foolish are always the last to learn.

[308PARA]

I punched in " fnc for sale " on google and found a chap selling the gun and auto sear, sear seperate is $3500!!!

[rocko]

You can probably find one for $3k or a bit over if you look. When the aforementioned bunch of sears was sold earlier this year, the guy who had them was selling for $25k/10, so $3k really isn't off base. After all, an AR15 DIAS is approaching if not hit $10K, and the H&K sears have past that mark already. People are asking $7K for the SWD LL's, which most of us could probably turn out in our basements in an afternoon w/hand tools, if we wanted. You aren't buying the hunk of metal, you're buying the paper that says having that hunk of metal won't land you in jail.

Rocko

[beltfed223]

Thanks for all the info. The price of the gun, sear & installation still will
keep me in the 7000 range. The only other gun (rifle) would be the
AC556 in the 4 to 5000 range. Thanks to good gunsmiths Im not to
concerned about parts to keep it running. I had my hopes that like an AR15 or16
that you maybe able to get different uppers & barrels etc. Back when I got my mac10smg for $850 I kick myself for not getting a drop in auto sear for 2500. I need to just do it. One thing I’ve learned is if you get the paper on any auto how can you lose, I’m not in it for the money will probably never sell. I’m just Trying to expand the fun, & have something I can go to the big kc shoot with. Thanks again for the info
I better stop yapping this is the gunsmithing section.:biggrin:

[Hail Mary]

If you're worried about parts, go for a factory AC556 as Ruger will provide factory service. If you're interested in dumping Beta mags, go for the FNC. I've shot quite a few different FNCs including RR guns and the FNC run better than any M16. If going the FNC route, find a host gun first as that's the hard part.