OVERVIEW:  One would think congressmen and other such modern, sophisticated legislators would have the wherewithal to produce a fine volume of laws that a world leader, such as the United States, could proudly display as a model to other nations.  You'd think so anyway.  How's this for the logic gained of a lofty education and fine upbringing:  by law, a rifle can be legally considered US made if, out of twenty listed parts, it contains ten or less imported parts.  This means that one can convert a rifle, that was made in China out of Chinese steel from the hands of Chinese workers, to a "Made in the U.S.A." rifle by changing out a few basic components such as the stock and magazine!

Here are the 20 listed parts:

The object of this game is to score 10 or less points.

To determine if your rifle is truly US made, I developed a little game to help you along.   Everybody starts the game terribly close to losing with 9 points.  Everyone has the following imported items contained in their SKS that are currently impossible to replace with a US made counterpart:  

1) receiver, 2) barrel, 3) bolt, 4) bolt carrier, 5) gas piston, 6) trigger housing, 7) trigger, 8) hammer, 9) disconnector. 

Hopefully, someday someone will manufacture more trigger parts for the SKS as five of the listed twenty are trigger components.  If someone were to domestically manufacture a whole new SKS trigger group, we'd all get to start with a mere 5 points, 6 if it were everything but the trigger housing!  This means Chinese AK-47 magazines could be used and the rifle would still be US made.  Besides, the Lord knows there's lots of room for improvement when it comes to SKS triggers.  

The Prize

The prize of this game is the possible use of ANY detachable magazine (including US made AK-47 magazines), folding stocks, or adding a folding bayonet to a formerly Chinese SKS.

Let's begin:

• (+2) You instantly loose if you are still using the original 10 round magazine, an imported Chinese magazine ( such as the fixed 20 rounder), or an imported AK-47 magazine.  They're worth two points:  one for the magazine body, one for the follower.

• (+1) Add one point if you are still using the original wooden stock.

• (+1) Add one point if you are still using the original wooden hand guard.

• (+0) Simonovs weren't imported with pistol grips, trunions, barrel extensions, floor plates, or operating rods so we all get to advance a few squares if you got this far.  You're getting close!

• (+1) Add one point if there is a muzzle attachment that was made in China on the carbine.  I'm almost positive some weasel lawyer can make a good case that a bayonet (NOT the lug) is considered a muzzle attachment, so no cheating.  (I'll get official word from the BATF regarding their position on bayonets in this category)

• (+1) Add one point if you haven't sent your trigger group to THEMACHINESHOP to have it reworked.  They add a new U.S. made sear as part of their trigger overhaul process.

Isn't this fun?  Now total your points and see if your score totals 10 or less.  

SCENARIOS:  

A standard SKS with a 30 round detachable magazine:  This is an IMPORTED rifle as you instantly lose the ten or less game with both the original wooden parts.  This rifle is 922(r) compliant, thus completely legal to own in that sense.

A Simonov with a Choate Dragunov stock, modified to accept US made AK-47 magazines, Chinese made non-flash suppressing recoil compensator, no bayonet lug, and a trigger group tuned by THEMACHINESHOP:  This is a US made Simonov as it has the limit of 10 imported parts, and is also quite 922(r) compliant as it has the detachable magazine and POSSIBLY a pistol grip. (It is unclear if Dragunov's are thumbhole or pistol gripped stocks.) 

A Simonov with an Choate Monte Carlo stock, 30 round USA detachable magazine, and the bayonet:  This rifle is IMPORTED as it has 11 listed parts (muzzle attachment and sear), but is still 922(r) legal as it has the detachable magazine and one listed feature.

A SKS with a folding ATI Ultralight folding stock, fixed US made magazine, and WITH the bayonet lug, but no bayonet:  This is a US made SKS as it has exactly 10 imported parts.  It is also 922(r) legal as it does not have a detachable magazine.  One can have as many listed features as wanted on their sporting rifle.

Let's get extreme:

A Simonov with a folding ATI Ultralight stock, converted to accept 30 round US made AK-47 magazines, no bayonet lug, DC Engineering receiver cover scope mount, and a THEMACHINESHOP trigger overhaul:  This rifle is US made, so the folding stock and detachable military magazines are legal.  However, it is not 922(r) compliant as it has two listed features (the folding stock and the pistol grip).  This would be an ILLEGAL semiautomatic assault rifle.

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