Now how is that going to work? - Straight Pull Stgw-57

[Fedaykin]

Thinking about it maybe a new design bolt that uses a flapper lock instead of the roller might work with some kind of cam that ensures it can't go back unless with a pull of the charging handle but it would require the receiver to be changed to ensure the original bolt can't fit thus turning into a S5 weapon.

[saddler]

I agree, it doesn't sound like it fits the straight pull design as it's blowback.

Am I misreading this?

What's the issue with blowback?
Other blowback designs have been made into straight pull rifles - i.e. AR15

[Fedaykin]

The problem is there isn't a letter of the law, only one manufacturer had their rifle OK'd, but no one else has to the best of my knowledge. Everyone else is using that as guidance when the home office has told me the burden of proof is on the manufacturer and may ultimately have to be proven in a court of law. They're walking a very fine line and it wouldn't take much to have the situation reviewed IMO.

I agree, it doesn't sound like it fits the straight pull design as it's blowback.

Indeed going on the SLR/FAL straight pull debates that have gone on in this very forum it is an utter can of worms that generally involves everybody waiting to see what happens when somebody dares to put a head above the parapet.

[Fedaykin]

I agree, it doesn't sound like it fits the straight pull design as it's blowback.

Am I misreading this?

What's the issue with blowback?
Other blowback designs have been made into straight pull rifles - i.e. AR15

No the AR15 isn't blow-back

It is direct gas impingement, gas is tapped from the barrel sent down a tube to the bolt where it impedes what is called a gas key. To make it straight pull the gas tube is left off and the barrel is not tapped:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3ocGn4LD6g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oHx6qdteFY

The issue with blow back is there is no gas system to remove, all rifle straight pulls on the UK based upon military rifles just omit the gas system. With a blow back if there is no gas system to eliminate you would need to find another way to stop the rifle cycling a round which then leads you into some VERY grey areas.

[HALODIN]

I think it's safe to assume there's no such thing as a section 5 part, only section 5 rifles and so this could be seen as industry wide guidance. However, that wasn't the only criteria for the L1A1's to garner HO approval. As each rifle design differs, it isn't clear whether the HO would approve all solutions.

I hope all manufacturers are as diligent as Gavin.

Indeed going on the SLR/FAL straight pull debates that have gone on in this very forum it is an utter can of worms that generally involves everybody waiting to see what happens when somebody dares to put a head above the parapet.

[DW58]

The SIG 510 was sold commercially in the USA for years. They often come up in discussion on the Swiss Rifles board. I was amazed with the level of accuracy I achieved shooting the Stgw.57 off the built-in bipod and open sights, with a scope fitted these rifles are capable of serious long range accuracy.

[snayperskaya]

A section5 firearm cannot be "converted" into a section1......once section5 always section5.The straight pulls in this country ie Saiga AKs and Dragunovs, ARs and suchlike are factory-made as a section1 spec firearm not conversions.Others I believe can be produced using section1 spec parts (for example new receivers) as long as they have never been a component part in a section5 firearm and have approval as a section1.

[HALODIN]

Only as long as it stays a single S5 rifle. If you jumble the S5 parts up with other S5 rifle parts this doesn't hold true, as they go back to being S1 parts (admittedly some parts will always be S5 like original ported barrels). If you put the same S5 parts back together and made it in to S1, that wouldn't be allowed, the parts have to come from other rifles. None of the L1A1's or their parts (except the unported barrel) are new out of the factory, they were all previously part of a S5 rifle AFAIK.

A section5 firearm cannot be "converted" into a section1......once section5 always section5.The straight pulls in this country ie Saiga AKs and Dragunovs, ARs and suchlike are factory-made as a section1 spec firearm not conversions.Others I believe can be produced using section1 spec parts (for example new receivers) as long as they have never been a component part in a section5 firearm and have approval as a section1.

[Fedaykin]

Same goes for the Vz.58 being sold by Caledonian, items like the forward sight post are recycled from original S5 examples of the rifle rather then being made new.

A sight post is hardly going to change the operation of the rifle.

[huntervixen]

I would say a mech of this type is a no go without serious re-engineering, just not viable and the HO would really not like it in my opinion.

HO acceptance is a two part process, first it has to be an acceptable design and it has to be assembled from procured Sec1 parts, not a complete Sec5 rifle (so you can't just strip down a Stgw-57 and rebuild it) or it retains its Sec 5 designation in the eyes of the law no matter what you do to it.

Both my Straight pull L1A1's were Sec1 parts kits, one from MOD Donington, the other procured from a well known Sec5 dealer, both built up by Neal of Suffolk rifles to a very high standard (one still in build).