FYI, IO just marked their 8mm stuff as "TEMPORARILY OUT OF STOCK". You know what that means - in 6 months we'll see them at 2x current prices
Just called Allegheny Arsenal (mg34.com) and they said they DO have their "excellent condition" 8mm barrels in stock for $90 each. May be worth it to spend extra on the "excellent" barrels. I've read it is a crap-shoot with IO barrels.
Also 8mm full parts kits are "TEMPORARILY OUT OF STOCK" as well. What that means to me, that IF the ATF actually enforces this new barrel ban nonsense, then we'll see no more intact MG42 barrels come into the country. The big question then will be, what, if anything, could we see in US-built MG barrels? Doubtful the market would warrant such an investment, and it would be expensive no matter what. The pond is drying up!
All the 8mm Barrels and the 7.62mm Steyr Barrel I have purchased from IO have been in like new condition. With my last order for 8mm Barrels (they arrived yesterday by FedEx) should last me for the rest of my life even if I live a loooooooong time. Of course, I may not be able to carry the gun & tripod by them anyway, LOL.
the "barrel ban" is still AFAIK internet rumor. i e-mailed two small importers asking them "what da dealio" , one had not heard of this and the other had called ATF and was told that its a bogus rumor.
My thoughts are without really investigating the law are as follows.
Reagan instructed the atf to make a list of unimportable non-sporting rifles.
SA42's are not on any list of unsporting unimportable rifles .
SA42's will not go on any list of unimportable rifles, since they only exist here.
if this ban is in effect or will be in effect soon the atf is going to get SPANKED by screaming constituents who call their representatives to complain. sadly right now is the most influential gun-owners have been in 50 years.
"good , bad, .....I'm the man with the gun."
Its amazing anything works right around here with a bunch of
over-age juvenile delinquents running the place.
