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Say you wanted a clone of the H&K G36.
H&K doesn't make a full clone for sale to us unwashed commoners. The promised HK293 never materialized.
Enter a company called Tommy Built Tactical.
They made a receiver, based on the SL8, which you could use to build (or have built) a G36 clone and everyone is happy for all time!
Notsofast!
ATF looked at the design, licked their finger, held it up to see which way the wind was blowing, flipped a coin, read some tea leaves and shook a magic 8-ball to decide that only H&K could get away with the features found on the SL8 to avoid a determination of "readily convertible" and that the Tommy Built T36 receiver was henceforth a machine gun receiver.
From Tommy Built's web page:
Dear TommyBuilt Tactical T36 Owner:
Greetings. We hope that you are enjoying your TommyBuilt Tactical T36, and want to thank you for your patronage.
With that said, we have received the unfortunate news that the receiver of the T36 will now be classified by ATF as a machinegun receiver. ATF has recently determined that the blocks and restrictions manufactured into our semi-automatic receiver (which are a replica of the SL8 prevention method) are not sufficient and now require an auto sear block on this platform. We disagree with this position but do not make the regulatory decisions.
To this end, we at TommyBuilt Tactical are eager to work with our T36 owners and with the ATF to comply with the newly mandated requirements for this platform. Our counsel and team have met with our regulator to make attempts to resolve this issue. TommyBuilt Tactical has made and had approved by the ATF an upgraded semi-automatic receiver including more restrictive blocks, the newly required auto sear block, and other various upgrades.
So we are clear, there is no current intent by ATF to criminally charge any TommyBuilt Tactical T36 owner for the possession of contraband, or to prosecute TommyBuilt Tactical for any wrongdoing. To this end, my team and I have been authorized by ATF to replace the existing T36 receivers with an upgraded “TG36” receiver. There will be a minimal cost to you of $225 to upgrade to the new TG36. It is critical that you send your receiver to me for an upgrade. The ATF has made it clear that if your T36 is not returned for an upgrade to the TG36, it will be considered contraband and subject to seizure.
Once seized you will lose your entire T36 assembly. The resolution that we are offering will allow you to keep ALL of your components in an upgraded state at a minimal cost.
We are a small business and already overwhelmed. This unexpected determination is a substantial financial hardship for us all. Please refer to our website (www.tommybuilttactical.com) for more details on this situation and instructions on exactly how to send in your receiver for replacement.
Again, we appreciate your patience and understanding.
Thank you for your support,
TommyBuilt Tactical LLC
The first layer of bullshit is that you cannot figure out what ATF is going to do without sending them a sample to chew on for however long they like.
Tommy Built, apparently, did (based on what I'm reading on the internet) and ATF changed their minds!
The second layer of bullshit is charging the affected customers to correct the situation.
Way to stand behind your product, guys!
They might not be financially able to stand behind their product, and that is also bullshit but is at least understandable for a small business to be in that bullshit position.
On the gripping hand; there's nothing cheap about a G36 clone and an extra $225 isn't going to be much more than a small percentage of what's already invested.
But none of this is the customer's fault and it would appear that Tommy Built isn't getting punished, just the customers with a minimum $225 fine payable to Tommy Built or a much larger fine in the form of confiscation by ATF.
By the way, if you think we don't have near-universal gun registration already just wait for stories from people who've just had ATF show up on their doorstep demanding the surrender of their T36. If you bought new from an FFL, you're registered.
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