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Posted: 3/10/2008 8:34:57 PM EDT
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I have been reading up on this model lately but can't find too much information about them aside from what's on Benelli's website. The only thing I can gather for a fact is that they appear to be rarer than hen's teeth. Does anyone have one or know someone who has one? And yes, I know this model would be considered an NFA item due to its barrel length. |
| an FFL that i bought my 2 M4's from had one in his rack and a poster over at benelli.com was lookin for one and i put them in contact and he purchased that one and then another came in and i helped that one find a home as well...now i wish i had bought one for myself but the FFL holder says he doesnt know when he is going to get anymore but when/if he does..hes calling me first! |
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There is one (or was one) for sale at www.autoweapons.com. The quest continues... |
What price was your dealer asking for the one he sold previously? |
You have the right idea, but it the wrong order of operations in this case. Since imported NFA devices are not transferable to individuals, all imported NFA devices, except machine guns, are all treated as Pre-Sample MGs, only SOTs may acquire and possess them. This includes SBRs, SBSs, suppressors, and DDs from any foreign source. The way around this: Benelli does not import any of their Entry model shotguns with NFA length barrels, but rather with 18" barrels as standard Title I shotguns. Benelli Italy simply mounts the front sights on the barrel in their 14" position. When they arrive in the US, they are Form 2'd and their barrels cut to NFA length. This avoids the imported NFA restriction and allows Benelli Entry shotguns to be transferable. HK does the same thing with the FABARM NFA models. |
i dont remember right off top of my head but it seems like maybe he wa askin $1400..not $100% sure, its been a while |
Ha, they're tricky. I didn't know that. Thanks!!! |
How do they get around 922r and the 'sporting purpose' garbage? |
922r does not apply to NFA firearms, that's why one way around the parts count hassle entirely is to Form 1 your firearm into a Short-Barreled Rifle or Shotgun. |
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The ATF has a precedent of having semi-auto SBRs/SBSs having to abide by the same rules as a title 1 firearm. I know that during the AWB semi-auto SBRs and SBSs had to abide by the 'detachable mag + evil features' bs of the ban. I even want to say that when I was looking up to SBRing a FAL years ago that you had to abide by 922r and beware your parts count even after the SBRing. But I may be misremembering, or it may have just been a 'better safe than sorry' thing. |
It's not a policy, but the law specifically. And thankfully some laws have different language than others. The text of the AWB left no exemption for NFA firearms: A semi-auto SBR could still be an AW since it was still a semi-automatic firearm with the capacity to accept a detachable magazine, though with a short barrel. It wasn't ATF policy but the law itself that kept SBRs under the umbrella of the AWB. The text of 922r specifically and only applies itself to imported firearms "suitable or readily adaptable to sporting purpose." The GCA of 1968 establishes the law for firearm importation and there it defines only three categories of imported firearms: NFA firearms, Military Surplus firearms and firearms "suitable or readily adaptable to sporting purpose." Nowhere in 922r is NFA or Military Surplus mentioned and since neither NFA nor Military Surplus firearms are importable for civilians, there was no reason to include these categories into 922r. Even the recognized intent of the law follows this position as 922r was enacted to stop the modification of firearms originally imported as being "suitable or readily adaptable to sporting purpose" into firearms that simply aren't. Hence, the NFA and Military Surplus categories are not bound by 922r and in creating an NFA firearm on a Form 1, you are leaving 922r territory. This isn't merely my opinion, but a long-standing ATF and industry position. |
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Cool but I could swear I read an ATF letter saying that a SBR'd FAL has to do a parts count. Who knows with the ATF as screwy as it is, it could be floating around. I have read side by side ATF letters saying the exact opposite things way too many times to put any stock in them anymore. |
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So am I to assume you could get the SBS version of the M4 with the tax stamp and then put the longer barrel and extended magazine tube. In other words does the fact that it is a NFA item allow you to do what you want in terms of barrel length and magazine capacity or would you still not be able to have the longer barrel and extended tube? |
You are correct. An approved Form 1 (if you make it into an SBS) or Form 4 (if you bought it as an SBS) for your Benelli M4 would allow you to use ANY barrel length you want, which includes Title I lengths above 18" as well. It also allows you to use the factory telestock and pistol grip without regard to 922r. The catch though is that even with an 18" barrel installed it is still legally an NFA Short-Barreled Shotgun and you must follow all NFA regs to the letter. You cannot simply change configurations to the 18" barrel and think you've temporarily washed away the NFA status. |
Thankfully the NFA bug bit me long ago (suppressors and SBR) but the SBS throws a few more kinks into it. I am aware that once an NFA always and NFA regardless of configuration unless removed from the registry. |
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