Capt John Heinrichs sends along this info on the Hechler & Koch used in the Mayerthorpe RCMP murders, in response to comments.
1. Military rifles can be semi-automatic (one round per trigger pull) or select-fire (semi-auto and automatic fire). The latter are illegal in Canada, except for owners of such weapons prior to the Firearms Act of c.1965. The ban also covers the parts which can convert a semi-auto to select-fire.
2. Previous to our current weapons, the C7 (rifle) and C9 (light machine gun), the Canadian Army used the FN C1 (rifle- semi-auto) and FN C2 (light machine gun- select-fire). While there were cosmetic differences between the two, functionally they were the same. Except for one part in the trigger mechanism: by exchanging the part installed in the C1 for the part installed in the C2, the C1 became a select-fire weapon. Your commentators in the HK91 post were referring to this type of part switching. It was possible because the FN rifle was designed originally as a select-fire weapon. The Canadian Army decided the automatic function was useless in a rifle as the soldier would have difficulty controlling the FN on full auto. FN then redesigned the relevant part for the C1, making it semi-auto only.
3. During the 1970’s (approximately), HK decided to sell its HK31 rifle in the US. Due to the rules in force concerning rifles which could be converted from semi-auto to select fire, the company decided to produce a separate version of the rifle which could not be converted to select fire. Note that a good gunsmith can convert any semi-auto to select fire, with enough time effort and expertise. HK decided to make it as difficult and expensive as possible.
4. The most obvious solution was to eliminate the parts in the trigger group required for automatic fire, as did FN. However, HK also altered the design of the receiver’s interior such that the parts from a select fire HK31 would not fit into a semi-auto HK31.
5. The mythical gunsmith who wished to make the conversion would need the plans of the HK31 select fire to know where to machine the semi-auto’s receiver. If he was very good, he could do this with a select fire HK as a guide. To complicate matters, the receiver was heat-treated in certain areas, especially where the machining would be done. The gunsmith would have to anneal the receiver before cutting, and then reapply the heat-treatment just as HK required. Thus converting a legal semi-auto HK31 to an illegal select fire HK31 was not impossible, just difficult and expensive. In the US, it was simpler to get Automatic Weapons license and try to buy the select fire version. This option was not and is not available in Canada.
6. The HK91 is the current model number for the old HK31 and HK33. The 31 was the civilian version of the German Army’s G3 7.62mm rifle, the 33 the same rifle in 5.56mm calibre. I think that HK tried to limit sales of the select fire version to military and Law Enforcement customers and as a result gunsmiths do offer conversions for those not in the two communities, but who had the appropriate licenses; but again, only in the US. For more nifty info, especially where to get a semi-auto converted to select fire, check here:
7. As for another of the discussion points, an assault rifle is a battle rifle is a service rifle. Some like to invent distinctions but the first two terms arose from the introduction of the StG 44 “assault rifle” by the Wehrmacht in WW2, whereby the bolt-action Lee-Enfield became a “battle rifle” and any select fire rifle became an “assault rifle”. The Army doesn’t recognize the distinction, save for those who are about to sell a little snake-oil; we use a service rifle.
8. Although you didn’t ask … Countries which can qualify for US Military Assistance loans often buy the US M16; countries which can pay cash head north to Diemaco and buy a good Canadian weapon, the C7. Yes, it is an M16, but it is a Product Improved M16. Current users include Norway, Denmark, Netherlands and UK (SAS Regiment). Rumour has it that the US Marines have been visiting as well.
Many readers still think there were “only” 20 plants found, because some early media reports were very ignorant of the facts. And, unfortunately, many early reports have never been corrected. Personally, I am very upset that even some bloggers have refused to correct their incorrect record on this matter.
Officers died because a senior officer was trying to show a more juinor officer what a grow-op could look like.
In fact, there were 283 plants found. Ref: Hansard, Apr.12, around 9:30pm.
There were a few FNC1’s converted to select fire. The navy got stuck with them for ships small arms. Silly idea. I can vividly remember diving for cover when a big beefy weightlifter type tried the rifle in full auto. He sprayed half the North Atlantic.
What caliber is the FN? I never had a problem controlling M16s or M60s, so unless it’s bigger than 7.62 I have to think it was a pretty badly designed weapon.
The FN is 7.62 NATO, but it’s a lighter rifle than the M14, and if you’ve ever tried to fire one of THOSE on full-auto, you’ll know what a waste of ammunition that is. The M60 weighs at least twice (probably closer to three times) what the FN weighs, and the M16/C7 is a “poodle shooter”, chambered in .223/5.56. It’s irrelevant anyway; this worm could have done the same thing with a pump-action shotgun. In steel matches with my 870, I’ve managed to put solid hits on five spaced Pepper poppers in under three seconds. The gubmint thinks that legal gun owners are so dangerous that they have to register their firearms and report their whereabouts, but convicted criminals like Roszko are free to do do whatever they want.
The Fn C1 could be easily converted to full auto with a bit of foil – teh old Export A cigarette packaging was used most often. There was this sear that just needed a bit of extra metal . . @ voila.
As these weapons aged the C1’s sears wore and it was not unusual to have your C1 go auto on you. They were a “heavy load” on full auto, but could be managed, however the barrel heated so quickly that other problems occured – cook-offs in teh breach were “fun”
According to newspaper reports, one of the teenagers that Rozko was sexuallly assaulting was with him when he sneaked his Beretta M92 hangun back into Canada from the States. The question here, is: why was a certified nutbar like him terrorizing a community for years in the first place? The reason, is because the courts continued to release him. (It costs money to keep dangerous nutbars locked up- money better spent in Quebec.)
7.62 mm Nato, is fully interchangeable with .308 Winchester. 5.56 mm Nato is fully interchangeable with .223 Remington. .38 Special can be fired from a .357 Magnum, ( but not the other way round).
By the time the day is out, this thread will probably be illegal.
The H-K that this widely known sociopath used to kill the police was illegal for civilian possessin with the small exception of a small group of licenced collectors who are grandfathered under the Firearms act.
It is more pertainent to understand that the police were told by witnesses he threatened with the gun, that he had it. The RCMP conducted numerous searches of his property ( with metal detector/magnet imaging) attempting to locate it.
Under the criminal codes existing statutes there was ample evidence to hold this guy or get a conviction and return him to jail for at least a few months.
There was some shoddy police work here as well that needs to be probed…but we se the usual suspects blaming pot laws, gun laws and any number of lost leaders.
With the existing law and the case the police had on this guy he should have been locked up…someone didn’t take his criminal record and volitility seriously…..certainly not the parole system.
I think few of us should storm the hill with them ‘effin C2s.
Careful with that 5.56 NATO in a .223. It doesn’t quite fit.
http://www.thegunzone.com/556v223.html
Converting semi-auto to full-auto
In a somewhat unusual post, Kate at Small Dead Animals provides information on the weapon used in the Mayerthorpe ambush of four RCMP officers: Capt John Heinrichs sends along this info on the Hechler & Koch used in the Mayerthorpe…
careful with that 308 in yer delayed blowback HK and CETME weapons. the soft case and added pressure blows the case out into the chamber flutes thus causing the case to be torn in half by the violent extraction.
funny most of us liberals have known this for years.
can you shoot a FN fal accurately on full auto? maybe if you are “the gun plumber”
http://www.arizonaresponcesystems.com
go to “gunsmithing”, go to “fal”, check the films of a well trained dude firing on rock-n-roll .i would say most of the “liberals ” I know can shoot at least this well. with the coming battles agains t the american jihadi, we have to.
I might add that it’s not to easy to convert a fn fal to full auto as you would think…I know, i have several of them as well as the hk which is even harder to convert. thats why you can buy all the full auto parts on line with no restrictions except for the full auto recievers. tinfoil my ass
sarge wants to add that the rifle pictured in the trackback is a civilian legal semi auto-sarge can see the selector indicator is only only capable of “E” and “S” sarge recomends the hensoldt claw mount and scope not this crap we see here.
http://www.robertrtg.com
for all yer original german HK part needs
sarge wants to add that the rifle pictured in the trackback is a civilian legal semi auto-sarge can see the selector indicator is only only capable of “E” and “S” sarge recomends the hensoldt claw mount and scope not this crap we see here.
http://www.robertrtg.com
for all yer original german HK part needs