Benelli Supernova and 922(r)?

[dvlsadvc8]

I just picked up my Benelli Supernova from Turners yesterday, so I started a convo with another patron about mods for it. He told me how sweet a gun it was, too bad I can't mod it. I was like 😨 "what do you mean I can't mod it?". He went on to tell me that it was a violation of 922(r). I did some research on this via google, and there were a lot of discussions on the Internet about it. I guess it's how you interpret the law. I know there are aftermarket parts out there made in the USA, but not sure if it's worth money to interchange parts just so I'm not violating 922(r). Any Calgunners can point me to a reliable source or let me know if you've modified your supernova?

[alfred1222]

(r) It shall be unlawful for any person to assemble from imported
parts any semiautomatic rifle or any shotgun which is identical to
any rifle or shotgun prohibited from importation under section
925(d)(3) of this chapter as not being particularly suitable for or
readily adaptable to sporting purposes except that this subsection
shall not apply to -

Thats the law right there. to my understanding, the benelli super nova is legal for importation to the united states, so there shouldnt be any issues with modifying it.

[dvlsadvc8]

Thanks Alfred! That's what I thought too! Otherwise, companies wouldn't be selling anything for benellis. I guess the ambiquity is once we modify the supernova, that it "may" resemble a shotgun prohibited from importation.

[alfred1222]

glad i could help

[Nightron]

Thats the law right there. to my understanding, the benelli super nova is legal for importation to the united states, so there shouldnt be any issues with modifying it.

I'm not so sure it's that simple.

I search and I reviewed various discussions -- and come out of the effort thinking I found some answers and clarity, but then it also open-up other areas of doubt. I've read and re-read the explanation on the following link, and have just become more cautious about modding.

ETA: Added Link I forgot -->

http://home.comcast.net/~navy87guy/home/922r.html

[Excerpt, and only a small part of it:]

Calculating Compliance

How you figure your compliance is up to you. Some people just count up the number of foreign parts and make sure it's less than 10. (Then speaking of a rifle example)...Using the guidelines for countable parts, that gives me 16 parts. In order to be compliant, I must have at least 6 US-made parts in my rifle.

"Sporting" Purposes
Here's where things get a little tricky... (read on there)

Thanks Calguns.net --- for including a whole forum section on legal issues and guidance. Search shotgun flowchart there.

[elSquid]

I'm not so sure it's that simple.

Yup.

SuperNovas with a capacity greater than 5 rounds are not importable for general sale, so just slapping on an extended tube puts the shotgun in a configuration that isn't importable...

It shall be unlawful for any person to assemble from imported parts any semiautomatic rifle or any shotgun which is identical to any rifle or shotgun prohibited from importation under section 925 (d)(3) of this chapter as not being particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting purposes except that this subsection shall not apply to

If one does a search for "Benelli 922r parts" one will see that there is a market for such...

-- Michael

[Nightron]

http://www.theoutdoorwire.com/archiv...01-28_tow.html --- which includes the link to ATF doc:

http://www.atf.gov/publications/firearms/012611-study-on-importality-of-certain-shotguns.pdf

Also, strange what they say about non-sporting nature of adding optic sights, sights to assist dim light situations. On the plus side, I would guess the Easy-Hit fiber optic sights do help sporting activities, e.g. clay shooting and eye dominance training.

[Draekker]

Elsquid is correct. I've done an abundance if research on this issue while looking into buying a supernova. However, there are a few other things worth mentioning. The primary modification that violates 922r is a mag extension, which would be unsportinq if it extends the capacity beyond 5. Other things that may be violations are adding illumination devices (flashlights) and collapsible stocks. The exact wording can be found in the law.

One thing that catches my eye in the law is that only the manufacture of such unsporting weapons is prohibited. Owning and, I'd imagine, selling them is completely legal. So while the atf has said that 922r applies to the disassembley and reassembley, even for cleaning, of such a weapon, they have to prove that you did so.

Part of me thinks that the market for 922r compliance parts is a manufactured one. From what I've read, no individual has been prosecuted under 922r. I believe the law was written to stop manufacturers from flooding the market with cheap ak pattern rifles made from foreign parts. However, that certainly doesn't bar them from enforcing it in other situations.

If you'd still like to modify your supernova and comply with 922r I believe there are enough components available but you'll have to change stocks I think. Another easy part is a mag follower. Its been some time since I did the pertinent research, but I had trouble finding an accurate number of required compliance parts for the supernova. I'm sure some current research could get you an accurate count and maybe some new parts manufacturers.

EDIT: Benelli also announced a 3 gun M2 at SHOT this year which sports an 8 round extension. Now if that's made in Italy, it begs the question of 922r compliance. I believe it comes through the benelli custom shop but is still an off the shelf gun so to speak. Maybe it has enough American made compliance parts, or it may reflect a change in what features are considered sporting by the BATF. Just some more food for thought.

[dvlsadvc8]

Man... This is getting more complicated than I thought. I guess this will be my stay at home gun for HD with no mods. Who would've thought that a comment made by some random guy would open a can of worms. I, for one, should have done my due diligence with 922(r) before buying this gun. I can't help but notice a lot of shotguns mounted with lights, which according to 925(d)(3) represents a "non-sporting" feature since hunting should not be done at night. I'm pretty sure there are imported shotguns out there with this feature, interesting...

Like I said before, I'll just stick to his being my HD gun. Time to get a Remington from Big 5!

[Nightron]

Man... This is getting more complicated than I thought.
...
I can't help but notice a lot of shotguns mounted with lights, which according to 925(d)(3) represents a "non-sporting" feature since hunting should not be done at night. I'm pretty sure there are imported shotguns out there with this feature, interesting...

Just to be clear, for others that may do a fast read of this stuff, the FOCUS of these restrictions is imported shotguns (and there are related discussions/concerns for other imported longguns). A legal configuration with modified add-ons may be able to be built -- if you swap out some original parts with aftermarket parts of U.S. manufacture. It is viewed as a "parts count" issue, with TEN being the magic number of imported components. It is complicated somewhat, and you have to read carefully for your particular make/model.

You have a whole lot more latitude if you start with a U.S. manufactured shotgun to begin with.

BTW, I edited my post above to include the Link I mentioned but left out. It has a good overview of parts or components that the ATF counts (as to being imported or domestic made). (for others.... As elSquid said, do a search to get to the real, source material.)

http://home.comcast.net/~navy87guy/home/922r.html