Man convicted of converting replica guns (Mac-10) to live weapons

[Steyr_223]

If you outlaw guns...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/berkshire/7576925.stm

A man has been found guilty of turning replica guns into live weapons linked to more than 50 shootings, including the murder of Pc Sharon Beshenivsky.

Grant Wilkinson, 34, was convicted at Reading Crown Court of seven offences of converting and supplying firearms linked to at least eight murders.

Wilkinson, of no fixed abode, adapted replica Mac-10 guns in a shed in Three Mile Cross, near Reading, Berkshire.

[CHS]

Ok, first and foremost, the fact that he's turning legal replica guns into live firearms is awesome.

The fact that he's outfitting criminals, and they have been linked to some 50 deaths or so, is very much not awesome.

But yup, this is exactly what happens when you outlaw firearms. Criminals will find a way.

[tyrist]

Looks like somebody is going to attempt to require dros on replica firearms.

[JeffM]

What passes in the UK as a "replica" would still require DROS/FFL transfer here.

Plug the barrel with a rod and weld both ends + weld up the firing pin hole in the bolt = non-gun in England.

Cut receiver in 3 places, removing much metal = non-gun in US.

[PRODRIVE]

i think he was using japanese modle gun to covert them into live fire.
company like MGC in japan makes guns to fire blanks only.
i had few when i was kid.

[nicki]

Illegal gun factories

Lets face it.

If America banned guns and we had 100 percent compliance by law abiding citizens and lets say that the criminals even turned in there current guns, we would still have gun crime.

All the Black market would do is illegally import them, illegally manufacture them or a combination of both.

Too bad we can't get this story told in the MSM in the US.

Nicki

[truthseeker]

Lets face it.

If America banned guns and we had 100 percent compliance by law abiding citizens and lets say that the criminals even turned in there current guns, we would still have gun crime.

All the Black market would do is illegally import them, illegally manufacture them or a combination of both.

Too bad we can't get this story told in the MSM in the US.

Nicki

Kinda like cocain, LSD, meth, and all the illegal drugs!

[Ford8N]

Lets face it.

If America banned guns and we had 100 percent compliance by law abiding citizens and lets say that the criminals even turned in there current guns, we would still have gun crime.

All the Black market would do is illegally import them, illegally manufacture them or a combination of both.

Too bad we can't get this story told in the MSM in the US.

Nicki

I agree

Narcotics are illegal and law enforcement spends billions of dollars to keep them out of the country, it would be the same with guns.

[ryno066]

Are you saying the war on drugs is not working? Then again its easier to buy drugs than a Nintendo Wii.

[heycorey]

Well maybe he wouldn't be so anti-social, if they just helped him fix his abode ...

[AaronHorrocks]

i think he was using japanese modle gun to covert them into live fire.
company like MGC in japan makes guns to fire blanks only.
i had few when i was kid.

I had a few a couple years ago, and they fire caps, not blanks. I wouldn't dare try to make one of those shoot a real round the thing would probably blow up. Too much plastic and low grade metal.

[gazzavc]

FYI

What is classified as a "deac" (deactivated) weapon in the UK is somewhat more interesting than the story first indicates.

Deac guns are formerly live weapons that have the barrel completly welded up at both ends and a bar or rod welded inside. The bolt face is ground away , and the firing pin cut off. In the newer spec deacs the bolt is also welded in place so it cant be cocked.

IMHO this chap had a hell of a lot of work to do to actually make these things function, and would have had to find a source for things like spare barrels , bolts and firing pins.

Saying that however the reciever is uncut and undamaged apart from where the bolt is tacked in (not always the case) so in theory as we know over here, a parts kit from another country, US or Europe, added to a UK deac reciever could make a live weapon.

I believe this is what the bloke was doing.

Making these kind of weapons for street gangs is blatantly illegal and wrong. This guy should have the book thrown at him, but of course the legislators over there are now raving about the evils of deac guns. So they will probably end up banning them as well unfortunatly.

Gary

[MikeWithBRD]

The only thing that confuses me is that anyone with a simple lathe and drill press can pretty much make a mac, no need to convert replicas.

[stag1500]

I wonder where he got the ammo from. I doubt you can walk into a sporting good store in the UK and purchase a box of .45 ACP.

[Steyr_223]

I wonder where he got the ammo from. I doubt you can walk into a sporting good store in the UK and purchase a box of .45 ACP.

There have been BBC stories about UK troops coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan with illegal weapons and ammo then selling those on the black market.