AK 47: Just curious about this rifle!

[GeneRector]

  Howdy! Seems like the AK-47 is a popular rifle these days.  I've seen a few, but don't have one and probably will not get one.  I have other rifles I use for hunting, etc.  I know that the AK-47 type rifles sold in the United States are semi-automatic, yet in other countries there are full automatic versions.  My question is this: are the AK-47s sold in the US "fixed" to where they can't be made full automatic?  Or, is there a device that could be fitted or replaced inside the semi-autos to make them full automatic?  Again, this is just a question of curiousity since you would need a special permit to have a full automatic version.  Your views appreciated!   Thanks!

[GatCat]

Pretty sure the AK sold in the U.S. would be very difficult to convert, besides being illegal, of course. If I am not mistaken, AK's sold here new all have U.S. made recievers, which no doubt are designed NOT to be converted, after all, I'm sure the BATF very closely scrutenizes them.
Of course, anthing is possible, just read an article about a Cold Single Action Army revolver going "Full Auto".
Mark

[454Puma]

GatCat
 I would love to read about that colt -please post a link? Cause it's phyically/mechanically impossible!!! To the OP sure your not just trolling for illegal activity? Cause no new manufactured AK can be converted to full auto, now Milsurps can be and as we see the criminals know how to do it-so much for the Fed Laws against it ! Just goes to show Criminals could careless about laws-hence the Criminal aspect!

[GatCat]

454Puma:
It was in the latest issue of  "Handloader", by Brian Pierce. What happened, if I can somewhat recall, is a problem with the firing pin ( bushing ) allowing gas to exit to the rear, forcing the hammer back. This caused the cylinder to rotate, and since the trigger was held back for the original shot, another round was fired. He managed to duplicate the incident under close scruteny. Obviously the Colt was not working as designed.
I read some time ago that one of young Bill Ruger firearm experiments was converting a Savage 99 to fire semi-auto, using a conversion of his design.
All of which, I suppose, should be considered when/if any regulations are proposed about "banning" and firearm that "could be converted to full-auto".
Even the simple NEF single shot, when not working properly, will open its action upon firing, ejecting the spent round. No doubt some machinist/designer/engineer "could" figure out a method of  reloading/closing of action. Might be ugly,crude, unreliable, etc, but..you get my point.
Let me know what you think.
Mark

[Cottage Hill Bill]

GATCAT had it right about the Colt SAA. The title of the article was "Colt Single Action goes full-auto". Obviously designed to get reader's attention. What it in fact did was double fire. A pierced primer in the first round allowed enough gas to escape through the firing pin hole in the recoil shield to cycle the action. Since the shooter was holding the trigger it dropped and fired round number two. Beacuse primer number two was not punctured the sequence stopped there.

[Dweezil]

Selective fire AK variants have an additional hole drilled in the receiver just forward and slightly above the hammer/disconnector pin.  This  hole holds a pin, which in turn holds a rate reducer and full auto disconnector.  Semi auto recievers don't have this hole and simply drilling the hole, even without adding the required full auto parts makes it a full auto weapon as far as the BATFE is concerned. A lot of the parts kits imported up until recently came with the full auto bolt carrier and full auto internal parts.  I've built several AK's so have a bunch of FA internal parts lying around gathering dust.  Full auto anything seems kinda silly to me...especially with the cost of ammo these days.

[Mikey]

Dweezil is correct about the manufacturing of the AKs/receivers made in the US. 

GatCat:  John Browning converted a Winchester 94 into a full-auto rifle by adding a gas trap to the muzzle that activated a charging rod that cycled the action.  jmtcw.

[GatCat]

Mikey; thanks for the info tidbit; amazing what talented folks can do....it seems that, for whatever reason, some of the creative thinking (outside the box ) is now-a-days sadly missing.
Mark