Agents of Incompetence, Part 423: Will Pellet Gun-Gate Ever Die?
Compare this to our previous testimony from an importer/distributor, a gunsmith that specializes in the AR-15 platform, and a former Army infantryman intimately familiar with the M4 who now provides technical support for a distributor of the very Airsoft guns in question. Leo Gonnuscio, a firearms manufacturer (of what, we have no idea), claims that by drilling one hole in the lower receiver you can convert a toy into a weapon.
Here is a real lower receiver. It is one of these holes that Gonnuscio says must be drilled. Is it “all you have to do,” or is there far more?
The reason that you have to drill the “one hole” is that the entire top half of the Airsoft gun will have to be thrown away and replaced with a real barrel, gas tube assembly, handguard, sights, bolt, carrier, charging handle, forward assist, etc. All in all, you’d have to buy all the real gun parts you see partially assembled below to be held in place by a pin driven through that “one hole.”
If you’re thinking to yourself “good grief, that’s replacing almost the entire thing,” you are absolutely correct.
You might also be able to use the same pistol grip, buffer assembly, and buttstock, but our expert infantryman, Jon Dibble, claimed that his team could not get a real AR-15 magazine seated in the Airsoft lower. Also, our gunsmith says categorically that the trigger pack will not work without major modification and that a real hammer simply is not operable with the WE Tech lower.
In short, even with these replacement parts, the cobbled-together gun won’t fire. Period.
The rest of Macedo’s reporting is just as terrible. Macedo claims that the purchase of all the real gun parts, plus the Airsoft rifle that would be cannibalized and largely discarded, would cost roughly $1,100 dollars, which is quite high. A basic kit containing all the gun parts can be had for less than $500, and the Airsoft rifle itself can be found for roughly $350. She fails to make a case as to why criminals or terrorists would pay this kind of money for a toy gun they would largely discard, when real used AR-15s can be had through unregulated private sales for hundreds of dollars less.
Even in his best-case scenario, Gonnuscio claims the weapon resulting from such an Airsoft conversion would fail halfway through its first magazine — that’s less than two seconds of fully automatic fire. What he does not specify — or perhaps what Macedo simply chose not to report — is that when the gun self-destructs after his own estimate of 15-20 rounds … it may very well seriously injure or kill the operator.
In short, this story is about investing an inordinate amount of time, skill, and money to create a poor copy of an easily obtainable commodity, one that stands a significant chance of seriously injuring or killing the operator the very first time it is used.
Macedo’s own reporting shows that the ATF has not moved to seize any more of these Airsoft toys she hopes to cast as machine guns. They obviously are starting to see the absurdity of their previous position.
Maybe she should consider the reasons why that may be so before she writes her next “exclusive” about “plastic guns” that will slip through airport metal detectors.
But… I thought “Faux News” was the network that always was arrayed against the “Forces of Truth, Beauty, and Morality” (Obama, BATFE, etc.)?
I can only assume that the Peter Principle, and Parkinson’s Law, are actively at work at Fox as they are in any other bureaucracy. Inevitably, unqualified individuals (or ones who are simply utterly detached from objective reality) will end up in positions of power.
Of course, Fox could solve this problem very quickly. By broadcasting a “story” which is demonstrably factually wrong (which this column just proved), Ms. Macedo has committed the journalistic equivalent of malpractice. I will be charitable and assume it was due to her personal ignorance of firearms, mechanics, and basic physics (kinetic energy, recoil forces, effects on materials, gross).
She should be required to go on the air, with an actual expert, and explain how she messed up. And then apologize to the viewing audience.
After which, a demotion would probably be in order. To a post in which she would not be in front of a camera with a mic in her hand- or if she was, she would be working from a script prepared by someone who actually knew what they were talking about.
clear ether
eon
> The reason that you have to drill the “one hole” is that the entire top half of the Airsoft gun will have to be thrown away and replaced with a real barrel, gas tube assembly, handguard, sights, bolt, carrier, charging handle, forward assist, etc.
If that is “all that has to be done,” then the ATF is correct. The lower receiver on an M16 platform is the gun. It’s the part that has the serial number. I can buy uppers on the internet, and swap them out at will. Some of mu friends have multiple uppers for their M16 and M4 rifles.
If as you suggest, it can fire half a magazine before blowing up, then it is, in fact, a machinegun – just not a very good one. Let me stick one in your face and pull the trigger (not threatening, bro) and you tell me how significant that is.
Your article claims, in one paragraph, that the replicas are, in fact, firearms. In another paragraph, you claim that the lower does not actually work with an M16 upper and so it’s not a gun.
Personally, I believe the second situation, but let’s not give the Enemy any gravy quotes.
“Maybe she should consider the reasons why that may be so before she writes her next “exclusive” about “plastic guns” that will slip through airport metal detectors.”
It is probably because the Airsoft firearms are startlingly realistic that these busybodies are going through these motions. Perhaps the government wishes to ween us of all militaristic or revolutionary spirit and this will include laying the foundations for banning or licensing any Airsoft sporting equipment and activity..
..or, Maybe I am beset by these conspiratorial notions and should just go back on my meds?
Well if you have the sophisticated manufacturing capability to turn an airsoft toy in to a real rifle you should skip the expensive toy and go straight for the raw forging. Since it is unfinished and un-serialized it is not controlled in any way, it is just a hunk of aluminium.
Get yours here: http://www.dsarms.com/AR15-Lower-Receiver-7075-T6-Alloy-Forging-Military-Spec—1001/productinfo/1001/
They will also sell you all the rest of the parts to complete your assembly, and make a fine, safe and fully functional weapon. You just need to drill a few holes and machine a few slots, any competent and well equipped machine shop should be able to complete it in a day or two.
P.S. search for 80% lowers and you can find lowers that are nearly complete, lacking just a few holes on critical locations.
This is too big of an error for Fox News to allow. Shoddy reporting like this with the Fox name on it could be too damaging to the Fox and it’s reporter should be fired.
Why is there so much fire arm ignorance in a nation that is famous for it’s “gun culture”?
Mainly due to the conceit of the “enlightened elite”".
You see, they hate guns. Fully, completely, and unreservedly. They buy into the old “Freudian” thing about a gun being a substitute for a certain part of the male anatomy- and they hate that part of the male anatomy, which they consider the root of aggression.
(Note; Dr. Freud never made that statement, which is so often attributed to him; it was actually Von Sacher-Masoch who said it. Freud and Kinsey rejected his hypothesis. In fact, Dr. Freud stated that an inordinate fear of weapons was a sign of emotional immaturity. To continue;)
Since the “elite’” hate guns, it follows that they pride themselves on their ignorance of same. Knowledge equals a demonstration of approval to them, so to show true fealty to “right-thinking” dogmas, you must know nothing of that which you hate (for “all the right reasons”). This is why you find newsreaders, Congresspersons, etc., who;
1. Cannot tell the difference between a semi-automatic weapon and a fully-automatic or selective-fire one;
2. Refer to any weapon they see as an “assault weapon”;
3. Call telescopic-sighted hunting rifles “sniper rifles”:
4. Maintain that “assault weapons” are always fired from the hip (only in the hands of the untrained or stupid) and that they never miss in doing so (only in Hollywood);
5. Talk about how “high-powered” such weapons are (never having read a ballistics chart);
6. Etc.
The fact that many such people are protected by armed bodyguards, often equipped with fully-automatic weapons (Uzis are favored, since the Beretta M93R is out of production) is not a contradiction, or hypocritical, in their minds. After all, thety are the “elite’”; they are “entitled” to be protected from the Great Unwashed, while they micromanage them. (And since the guns which guard them are in the hands of what they think of as “menials”- little more than trained attack dogs, in their view- they are OK.)
You will find this attitude repeated on many subjects with the “enlightened elite’”. Nuclear power, the war on Islamist terrorism, free markets vs. centrally-planned economies, etc. Whatever they oppose, they want no part of learning the facts about. Their ignorance is both their mark of distinction, and their armor. As long as they don’t know any facts, they are free to decide things based solely on their “feelings”. And to be admired by their peers for their “superior consciousness” and higher, finer “sensibilities”.
Which is, after all, what being a member of the “enlightened elite’” is all about.
clear ether
eon
I had an uncle who was killed at age 12 by his next door neighbor’s kid who was shooting at birds with a bb-gun, missed, struck Donald in the temple and killed him. Because she was so upset, my grandmother ended up moving from New York to Florida when she saw that same boy shooting birds again with that same gun the very next week. Tell my relatives that toys don’t kill!
I don’t think the ATF was arguing that toy guns were confiscated because toy guns kill. True or not, that would be an entirely different argument–and it would affect a lot more toy gun manufacturers.
Bicycles kill, pools kill and so on. Reality is a tough one for some.
Any one who thinks BB guns are toys is ignorant.
An Airsoft gun is *not a BB* gun (which can be dangerous). It fires a 0.2 gram soft plastic ball at approximately 300-400 fps muzzle velocity (which drops off *very* quickly). While at point-blank range it could injure an eye (protective glasses/goggles are a must), it is not capable of penetrating skin, or doing more damage than a small red mark.
/Agreed. Airsoft doesn’t fire metal BB’s. It doesn’t get anywhere near as high energy rates as a BB GUN.
I’ve been hit by enough Airsoft bullets, even by high powered high end guns, to know that they won’t seriously injure someone. Oh heck yeah you’ll know you’ve been hit, but not seriously hurt. :p
I was looking at my son’s airsoft pistol, and to see what it felt like (not very bright, I know) I shot 1 pellet into the palm of my hand (point-blank range). OUCH!!! But it did not break the skin and it only hurt for a little while. Beverly is a classic example of the ignorance of firearms.
I touched a stove when I was four because it was such a pretty red color. Lots of screaming, but I never did it again.
My son always wears face protection, the same one he uses for paintball.
A baseball, thrown hard enough, can kill.
Shall we ban everything that can be thrown as well?
…..
By drilling just two more holes, and swapping out a different set of components, you can convert the Airsoft BB gun into a nuclear attack submarine, complete with its crew.
Another kit will be available next month to convert your Airsoft BB gun into a B-2 Stealth Bomber.
Fox Snooze used to be a reasonably accurate media outlet. In the last few months, their quality has declined, as grammatical errors began appearing with disappointing regularity. It appears Fox has become nothing more than a few come-on articles to get people to the site in order to draw eyeballs to the silly stuff lower on the page. Considering this, it shouldn’t be surprising to see its news copy descending to the level of National Enquirer.
The good news is that those of a particular political vanity can no longer dismiss Fox Snooze when it temporarily reverts to a good article: The days of it being an alleged front for the “vast right-wing conspiracy” are over.
7.Beverly Barnum
I am sorry for your family’s loss. However, I am not sure we are talking about the same sort of BB gun. Unless the death was in the last 12 years or so the toy that caused your loss was probably one of the pump bb guns that shoots metal bbs not the airsoft guns to which the article refers. There is a definite difference between the two.
Another example of FOX screwing up.. . . All the more reason to think/research for yourself.We know the MSM is full of bs, is FOX beginning to follow suit?The early morning show, with Doocy , Kilmeade, and a variety of hot blondes, is becoming more of a joke, with more non-newsworthy stories all the time. . . .
This is the same FOX that rightly shot down the story claiming the Mexican cartels were buying assault rifles at U.S. gun shops and gun shows. This article demonstrates the general descent into mediocrity of all our traditional media. Television has replaced reporters with personalities and models reading teleprompters (sounds like the Oval Office). The editor responsible for this making it on the air should be sent to the FOX Gaza bureau, where reality would scream at him. Better yet, embed him with a combat detachment in Northeast Afghanistan. He must have got his science education at the same school as “Earth’s core is millions of degrees” Gore. However, reading the preceding Comments to this article makes me hopeful. The Comment by eon brings up the issue of responsibility in journalism. Even a local newspaper will correct itself (albeit, fine print at the bottom of page 10). This screams for a correction. PM’s superb series on this has said it all. Perhaps FOX could do a fact check by coming to this site. Perhaps ATF could do the same!
rignerd (#4) was thinking the same thing I was. It would be cheaper and easier to machine a real lower receiver than it would be to machine the pot metal Airsoft lower to make it work. If anyone, particularly the BATFE, is so certain a functional machine gun could be made from the lower receiver of these toys they should demonstrate by doing so and firing it. It’s ridiculous.
As the article states, actions speak louder than words. If the BATF really believed that these toy guns could easily and cheaply be converted to real guns, they would be out there seizing all such guns from every store and warehouse in the country.
They aren’t.
I have owned an AR-15 for many years. It is not capable of fully automatic fire, or I would be paying THOUSANDS of $ to keep a BATF Automatic Weapons Permit and License.
This whole thing is a show of ignorance by a lot of people. Toys are not designed for the forces that a modern cartridge generates. The BATF employee either needs to be fired, or forced to pay for and attend a gunsmith course to learn how real guns work. I mean, that is his job, understanding how guns work so he can apply the law.
I am not a “for pay” gunsmith, but I have taken guns with problems that I bought on the cheap, and turned them into my favorites.
The BATF used to be famous for subjecting captured guns to all kinds of torture, hitting them with hammers, throwing them on the ground, etc. If they could, even once, get the gun to fire more than one round, in any circumstance, they would quickly cite the owner for having a fully automatic gun.
Thanks for destroy that dumb chick reporter from FOX. I sent an email to them asking for her to be sent to remedial journalism school. It was embarrassing
BATFE is an agency searching in vain for a legitimate mission since 1933. Trouble making, rabble rousing and terminal stupidity are the specials of the house.
re: “plastic guns” that will slip through airport metal detectors:
Having had to carry airsoft simulators as checked baggage enroute to military force on force training events, even an airsoft m4 platform will be detected by airport security measures. Even with orders and shipping declaration, one such package created an uncomfortable moment until the items were examined more closely. it is absurd to think that the same platform, with the added actual firearm components required to nearly entirely rebuild the platform (and still likely not function), would be anything other than a red flag.
For the amount of machining involved, an adversary would be just as likely to create a simple 2nd generation submachinegun tube, sten type or similar, if they were seeking a full auto platform. Again, something that would be just as illegal as attempting to force fit plastic non-gun parts into a configuration that might initiate a small rifle cartridge primer.
Will it ever die? Considering the fact that no one ever heard of this meaningless and unimportant issue, it will take idiots like you writing about it for the next five years as if it were far more important than the fact that our country is sinking into incompetence and corruption to keep it alive. Good luck.
Do you honestly judge whether an issue is important or not based on whether it’s covered by CNN?
And to think, there are actually people out there who believe liberals are capable of independant thought.
“Sinking in incompetence and corruption”. Very true. Are you going to claim that the firearmes division of ATFE is competent and honest?
From 18 USC 921, on definition of firearms:
An Airsoft gun does not fit in 3A as it is not designed nor readily convertable to expela projectile by the action of an explosive. It isn’t that it ‘might’ be able to expel a number rounds at FA, but that it ‘might’ blow up in your hands in the first shot. Nor is at an Any Other Weapon (AOW) as that is defined a bit later as:
And then continued in the enumeration of such devices:
Again original design puts an Airsoft designed device outside of the firearms category. Thus it is not made to be a firearm, is designed to prevent the conversion of its parts easily into a firearm, does not have the metallic tolerances to stand up to the use of explosive ammunition and is in all ways conceived, designed and built so as not to be easily convertable into a firearm. Nor is it an AOW by definition. Thus because of its design intent, carry through, and making it not easily convertable into a firearm or even AOW, an Airsoft device cannot in any way be conceived of us a ‘firearm’ or readily assembled into one.
The BATFE has a lot to answer for in this, as they have gone outside the definitions of the laws, as written by Congress. No bureaucracy has that power, for if it did you are then living in a place where they can do anything as they will see no limits on written law upon them.
The lower receiver in the picture is for an AR-15, an M4/16 lower receiver would have a small hole directly above the ‘Fire’ markings for the sear.
Do you honestly judge whether an issue is important or not based on whether it’s covered by CNN?
Did I write CNN, you delusional retard?
(taps Principal Levine on shoulder) Excuse me, sir, but that’s not politically correct. You’re supposed to call us “intellectually disabled” now, or at least, as soon as the Senate passes this bill. Just trying to be helpful here…