suomi M31 gunsmith

[fred.weckerling]

Does anyone know of a smith doing these conversions? I am new and did a bit of googling, I've seen them built for sale so I know someone has to be.

Information

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[Chuckindenver]

just finished one...never again....big turd sandwich...

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

just finished one...never again....big turd sandwich...

Hate to hear that with a kit price of $80 it seemed like a worthy project.
Care to expound on "turd sandwich" or does that tell me all I need to know?

[fn111557]

I was going to do a build last year until I received a sales flier from J&G Sales. Decided to just buy it outright, my time is worth more to me than the sale price.
I LOVE mine! It is a BEAST! And will go through ammo faster than I can keep paying for it, but is a GREAT conversation starter at the range. I would recommend buying one instead of the rebuild. Either way I think they are lots of fun.
LINK to for sale at J&G;
Finnish M31 Suomi 9mm Submachine gun style rifle w/36rd mag, Used.

HEAVY you bet-ya!;


All cleaned up and ready to go out;


DRUM DUMP – 72 (62) rounds at 10 yards in 55 seconds (12 fail to feed 2 of the first 5 shots, and last 10. Drum needed to be tuned)

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

I might be able to take advice from an Virginian Cheese head.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

FN111557
You convinced me. Arrived today and while an anchor weight wise if it functions properly I think I am in love. Very dinstinctive firearm with a storied history. Very nice addition to my small collection of Finns.
I think I would have lived to regret not getting one while the geting was good.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

100% function with 36 round mag and WOLF steel cased ammo. The trigger pull is awful. Going to have to try to make improvements. Terta grease seems to have fixed the rough bolt and charging handle issue which some research indicates is the norm on these conversions. I think it is a keeper. Now off to raid the change bucket for more magazines and perhaps a parts kit for spare parts. Perhaps at some point it may be worth bluing the beast for a more original look.

[fn111557]

HoH, Just a quick FYI on those Suomi parts kits! BE CAREFUL, most of them come with the original barrel, I was informed by LE that having a kit with barrel and gun together requires SBR Tax Stamp. The original barrels are under 16" and will work with the manufactured guns, but you need to SBR them to be legal.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

fn111557
Kit and gun together meaning owning both?

[fn111557]

What I mean is;
Most kits come with an original Suomi barrel. This barrel is less than 16” in length.
The “semi-auto” modified Suomi that you purchase from J&G Sales etc… can use the same barrel with an extension welded on to make it the legal 16” length, or have a USA manufactured 16” barrel (mine has the USA made barrel). If you look at the picture of my Suomi, the original barrel length would end just past the front sight. The section past the angle cut, is a fauxe compensator, and the barrel or extension is the rest of the projection.
The problem you can run into is from the ATF Short Barreled Rifle (SBR) regulations;
Q: May a FFL or an individual legally possess the parts to manufacture an SBR or SBS as long as no firearms are actually assembled?
A FFL (Type-7 or Type-10) who pays the Special Occupational Tax (SOT) may possess parts required to assemble NFA firearms. A non-licensee or FFL who has not paid the SOT is required to register any NFA firearm via an ATF Form 1 (5320.1) prior to acquisition of the parts required to assemble such firearm. (NOTICE the wording “prior to acquisition of the parts required . . .)
ATF link
Firearms - Frequently Asked Questions - National Firearms Act (NFA) - Short Barreled Rifles and Shotguns | ATF

As explained to me by LE and a local NFA dealer; If I were to purchase one of those Suomi parts kits (with the original barrel) and have both the kit and my semi-auto Suomi M31 in my possession at the same time, I would have an illegal SBR and could be charged for it.
There are TWO ways to avoid this;
Get a spare parts kit without the barrel, or immediately get rid of the barrel from the kit you get. OR You can get one of the Suomi M32 pistols that were sold (see link below). They have the original SHORT barrel. If you owned one of these you could have the original barrel from the spare parts kit as a replacement, even if you have one of the M31 rifle versions as well.
M32 Suomi pistol
Suomi M32 9mm Tanker Pistol - $556 | Slickguns

barrel shroud with fauxe compensator



barrel