Can an HK-91 be modified into a PSG-1?

Factual Questions
1

The Heckler & Koch PSG-1 target rifle is based on the HK-91 (semi-auto) or G3 (selective-fire) rifle. I’ve seen PSG-1 trigger groups, pistol grips and buttstocks for sale at gunshops.

  1. Can Joe Citizen who legally owns an HK-91 or SAR-8 (the license-built Springfield version) have it modified into a PSG-1, complete with 650mm (25.6") barrel?

  2. Assuming #1 is “yes”, and assuming a competent gunsmith who has experience with the HK line, will the modified HK-91 be as accurate as a factory-built PSG-1?

  3. Since the PSG-1 costs around $9,000 (probably a lot more since the ban), would it be cost-effective to convert an HK-91/SAR-8 into a PSG-1? That is, would you end up with a super-accurate rifle for less than buying the factory-made product?

2

The foremost question is whether such a modification is completely legal. If making the modification or possessing the the modified weapon is illegal, we will not be discussing particulars of how to do it. I thought I should make that clear at the outset.

bibliophage
moderator GQ

3

I’m not sure that it could be done. WAG is that someone w/ proper knowledge/training could swap barrels easily. The trigger group could be harder. Even if you were going to do this your knock-off PSG-1 probably wouldn’t shoot as well as a factory built model. If you want a sniper/target rifle that is semi-auto you would be better served (and save big bucks) with a match grade M1A1 or a purpose built AR-15.

4

Johnny … your intentions are noble but flying your chopper into Afghanistan under the radar, armed with the PSG-1 a tripod and a night scope in hopes of bagging OBL is not going help the situation.

5

You could do it, but the cost to get it to the same level of accuracy would be very near if not over the cost of a PSG-1. Swapping parts isn’t a large task, but tuning everything is what makes it accurate. The barrel alone would probably run into a couple grand for the same specifications. Most of the high quality sniper rifles cost around 10K+ because of the quality of parts and the amount of gunsmithing required. With some good gunsmithing and the right ammo, you can get some really great accuracy out of a SAR. Not many people can take full advantage of a rifle with extreme accuracy anyway, so why spend the bucks?

Also, possession and sale of PSG parts is legal, but installing them onto a SAR would technically be illegal. It falls under the ATF’s law of “assembly of a non-importable weapon using parts of a non-importable weapon”.

6

This site:
http://www.engarde.com/~mcn/hk/collection.html
recommends the SR-9 instead.

7

bibliophage: Although importation is no longer allowed, it is perfectly legal to own the rifles in question.

:stuck_out_tongue: Oh, I’m not after anybody. I just think it looks neat, and I thought it would be cheaper to modify my current rifle than to find a PSG-1.

ninja_rydr: I already have enough AR-15s. Would a modified SAR-8 be “tune-able”, as most rifles are?

8

When did that go into effect? My SAR-8 was built and purchased before the ban, so it should be grandfathered in. (For example, the “accurizing kit” – pistol grip and buttstock, plus muzzle compensator was legal at the time of sale. Similarly, all of my AR-15s are pre-ban, so they can have the evil bayonette lug. My Mini-14 can have a folding stock, as it is also pre-ban.)

9

Johnny,
It’s one of those bullshit things with the “assault weapon” crap. Your preban SAR is legal, but it is a “replica” of a model that cannot be imported now. The PSG-1 or it’s parts cannot be imported. Assume you have a preban SAR and a pile of preban PSG parts. That is legal. The way the law is written, if at least 10 parts of a non-importable weapon are used to assemble a non-importable weapon, or “imitation” of a non importable weapon, that weapon is now considered illegal. The catch here, is that the ATF, TECHNICALLY, considers the number of parts in the base weapon, in this case your SAR, as the parts assembled in addition to say a trigger group, pistol grip and barrel, preban or not since “piece parts” are not usually serialized and cannot be dated. I have a letter someplace from the ATF that specifically addresses converting an SAR using PSG parts that I will try and dig up and post here tomorrow or so. Again, it’s technicalities, so take that as you wish.

10

[Gunlover’s hijack]

Yeah, me too. I have a habit of cruising through gun sites looking for nifty pictures. I have upwards of fifty by now (including weapon props from sci-fi movies… like the Aliens’ pulse rifle). Not as cool as actually owning the guns, but it’s a helluva lot cheaper. And I got this sweet-looking picture of a Vulcan Cannon… oooh…

[/Gunlover’s hijack]

11

Turbo Dog: If the importation of PSG-1 parts has been imported, then the parts that have been imported must have been imported before the ban. (Especially here in CA where the local gun shop is very strict about following the letter of the law.) You said “Assume you have a preban SAR and a pile of preban PSG parts. That is legal.” so it sounds okay. Of course I would not violate the law. That’s why I disposed of the M-16 bolt carriers in my AR-15s so long ago and replaced them with AR-15 units. The bolt carriers did not in any way make the AR-15s capable of selective fire, but as I read the law they were not allowed.

I’d be very interested in reading the text of your letter.

Speaking of laws (in this case, CA), do I need to carry my DoJ registration with me whenever I take my “black guns” to a range?
SPOOFE: It would be fun to get a shooting party together. Too bad they closed the Kentucky Shooting Range in the Angeles National Forest. I don’t know where to shoot rifles in the L.A. area now. (Well, there is the South Central range – they have a drive-thru. :stuck_out_tongue: )

12

Johnny, here’s the letter I mentioned:

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND FIREARMS
WASHINGTON, DC 20226

This refers to your letter, in which you asked about modifying a SAR-8 rifle. As we advised you in our previous letter of April 2, 1999, PSG-1 style rifles are prohibited from importation under section 925(d)(3) of Title 18 United States Code (U.S.C.)); therefore, assembly of a PSG-1 style rifle from imported parts is prohibited under Title 27, Code of Federal Regulations(CFR), Part 178, section 178.39. Assembly of a PSG-1 style rifle prior to April of 1998, was not prohibited under section 178.39, since the PSG-1 rifles were not prohibited from importation at that time.

You also inquired about a SAR-8 rifle manufactured in February 1994, which was modified by installing an HK-91 flash suppressor and replacing the original thumbhole stock with an HK-91 stock. Such rifles have been prohibited from importation since July, 1989; therefore, assembly of the rifle from imported parts would also be prohibited as provided in section 178.39. Please note that firearms involved in any willful violation of this regulation are subject to seizure and forfeiture as provided in 18 U.S.C. section 924(d)(1).

Additionally, the SAR-8 rifle as modified would meet the definition of a semiautomatic assault weapon as that term is defined in section 921(a)(30) of Title 18 U.S.C. Section 922(v)(1) of Title 18 U.S.C. provides that it shall be unlawful for any person to manufacture, transfer, or possess a semiautomatic assault weapon.

A semiautomatic assault weapon, which was lawfully possessed under Federal law on the date of enactment of the subsection (September 13, 1994) is excluded from the prohibition in section 922(v)(1). However, even if the semiautomatic assault weapon was lawfully possessed prior to September 13, 1994, it could still not be altered to PSG-1 configuration, since assembly of the PSG-1 style rifle from imported parts would be prohibited under section 178.39.

We trust that the foregoing has been responsive to your inquiry. If we can be of any further assistance, please contact us.

Sincerely yours,

Edward M. Owen, Jr.
Chief, Firearms Technology Branch

13

Hey Johnny, checkout this unofficial site, here for an extensive look at HK’s.