Connecticut Preparedness

[SR9]

For all of you that are in the know.

Can I put a 20 round tapco detachable mag on my unmodified Yugo SKS and be CT legal?

Anyone have experience with the Tapco Mag?

[SKSMAN]

Good question. Does the fact that the SKS was never originally designed to accept detachable magazines play into account?

Edited because I just caught that I put "rounds" instead of "magazines".

[CTSixshot]

From the CT statutes:
(A) A semiautomatic rifle that has an ability to accept a detachable magazine and has at least two of the following:
(i) A folding or telescoping stock;
(ii) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon;
(iii) A bayonet mount;
(iv) A flash suppressor or threaded barrel designed to accommodate a flash suppressor; and
(v) A grenade launcher;

I'd think you would qualify since the Yugo has the bayonet and mount and a grenade launcher. Now, if the magazine is the style that requires the action to be removed from the stock to install (that is, not detachable), I'd venture to say you are within the law. (Who knows how a politician/judge will rule on that one?)

[SR9]

CT, that is what I though but I like to get input from those that have been looking at this stuff longer than I have.

Thanks

[Mopar]

Yugo SKS does not have a bayonet mount. It has a permanently mounted bayonet. It's a minor distinction, but under CT DPS current interpretation as far as I know it is not a mount. Of course that could change at any time. What 'm not sure about is if it would bring the gun into the realm of federal 922c? Perhaps nvisn knows, since he's been forced to become a 922c expert?

Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer, and I dont even play one on the internet. Do not remove tag. Do not bend, fold, spindle, or mutilate. All rights reserved. All lefts ignored.

[Mopar]

You didnt ask this, but IMNHO all the aftermarket detachable SKS mags are crap and you'll never see one on one of my SKSs. I'd rather have 10 reliable rounds in a stripper clip then 20-30 in a mag that doesnt feed reliably.

[SKSMAN]

You didnt ask this, but IMNHO all the aftermarket detachable SKS mags are crap and you'll never see one on one of my SKSs. I'd rather have 10 reliable rounds in a stripper clip then 20-30 in a mag that doesnt feed reliably.

Agreed. After I bought my SKS back in '06 I bought one of those "detachable" mags from JG sales. It was probably the worst firearm accessory purchase I ever made. It never fully fit into the mag well, and when it did, rounds would never load properly. I don't even know what possessed me to buy it, other than "OMG first gun gotta trick it out!!!!11!!" syndrome. Thank God I grew out of that phase...

[CTSixshot]

I tend to agree, too. The ten rounds on a stripper clip are reliable enough and the stock magazine well does just fine as is.

[SR9]

I had heard some talk of those mags being unreliable but most seemed to think the Tapco units were good. That is why I considered buying one.

My SKS is dead nuts reliable as is and I really don't want to change that.

Good feed back, maybe I will just for go the idea. Thanks.

[nvisn]

Yugo SKS does not have a bayonet mount. It has a permanently mounted bayonet.

Chris, do not confuse this situation with your facts! It doesn't matter what it actually is. All that matters is what an over zealous "anti" prosecutor can make a jury believe.

Once you modify an SKS the rifle loses its "sporting" classification and subjects the rifle to 922(r) regulation requiring a cap on the amount of foreign or imported parts. This is one of those things that nobody would ever likely call you on, but God save your ass if you are even in a defensive discharge situation and you find your gun safe on the end of a district attorneys microscope. The alphabet boys would be at your house 10 minutes ago to escort you to a federal indictment in handcuffs. This checklist can help you ensure your 922(r) compliance:

http://gunwiki.net/Gunwiki/BuildSKSVerifyCompliance

As far as CT 53-202(a) goes you will be okay. - UNLESS the District Attorney can make a case for the grenade launcher also being a flash hider (which it does to a certain extent). That will put you at 3 evil features with the detachable magazine. I'm just playing devils advocate.

I hope this helps. Feel free to PM me any questions.

To mirror what Chris said: I am not an attorney, paralegal, law student, ATF agent. I never played any of those on TV. However I did play an attorney's brother in law's cousin's dog walker on a straight to BetaMax softcore film in the early 80s.

[SR9]

Yugo SKS does not have a bayonet mount. It has a permanently mounted bayonet.

Chris, do not confuse this situation with your facts! It doesn't matter what it actually is. All that matters is what an over zealous "anti" prosecutor can make a jury believe.

Once you modify an SKS the rifle loses its "sporting" classification and subjects the rifle to 922(r) regulation requiring a cap on the amount of foreign or imported parts. This is one of those things that nobody would ever likely call you on, but God save your ass if you are even in a defensive discharge situation and you find your gun safe on the end of a district attorneys microscope. The alphabet boys would be at your house 10 minutes ago to escort you to a federal indictment in handcuffs. This checklist can help you ensure your 922(r) compliance:

http://gunwiki.net/Gunwiki/BuildSKSVerifyCompliance

As far as CT 53-202(a) goes you will be okay. - UNLESS the District Attorney can make a case for the grenade launcher also being a flash hider (which it does to a certain extent). That will put you at 3 evil features with the detachable magazine. I'm just playing devils advocate.

I hope this helps. Feel free to PM me any questions.

To mirror what Chris said: I am not an attorney, paralegal, law student, ATF agent. I never played any of those on TV. However I did play an attorney's brother in law's cousin's dog walker on a straight to BetaMax softcore film in the early 80s.

Thanks for the info, appreciate the input. Sounds like it may be best to let sleeping dogs lie.

[SR9]

Ok, since we seem to have a good group of knowledgeable SKS guys here I have another question.

Anyone know why the Chinese SKS is not on the BATFE C&R list?

I would think most if not all are old enough. I ask because I was looking at adding to my safe another one or 2 at some point and while looking around I found a Chinese SKS listed as not C&R.

[SKSMAN]

My gut instinct is that its a two-fold reason. One, because of our regs pertaining to NORINCO and any Chinese arms, they would never be added to the list (much like how the AK47 can never be added) i.e. political reasons. The second is because of the definition of what a C&R weapon is. According to the handbook, it must be "...of special interest to collectors by reason of some quality other than is associated with firearms intended for sporting use or as offensive or defensive weapons."
Yugos are of special interest because of their design (at least the 59/66's), and the fact that they come from a country that no longer exists. Chinese one's, not so much.

Again, that's my gut instinct. I really don't think that there's a solid reason as to why not. Age may also have something to do with it (must be 50+ years old).

[Mopar]

If they ARE over 50yrs old (and can readily be proved that) then they are automatically C&R and don't need to be on the list. I suspect it's age related though. Even if some are over 50yrs, I don't know how easy and accurately you could prove that.

[SR9]

Interesting. Thanks.