Results 1 to 8 of 8
  1. #1
    User
    Join Date
    Nov 2019
    Location
    KZN
    Posts
    31

    Default Are slamfire capable shotguns considered fully automatic?

    Some pump action shotguns that lack trigger disconnects, such as the Winchester 1897 "trench sweeper", are capable of firing multiple shots if the action is operated while the trigger is depressed.

    According to the FCA:

    A “fully automatic firearm” is one “capable of discharging more than one shot with a single depression of the trigger.”

    Does this definition render any shotgun which is capable of performing an intended slamfire a 'fully automatic firearm' in terms of the Act?

    Thanks.

  2. #2
    User
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Port Elizabeth
    Age
    56
    Posts
    6,736

    Default Re: Are slamfire capable shotguns considered fully automatic?

    Not as far as I know, and you are overthinking it.

  3. #3
    User
    Join Date
    Jun 2017
    Location
    Pretoria
    Age
    35
    Posts
    1,628

    Default Re: Are slamfire capable shotguns considered fully automatic?

    I heard of a LM rifle that sear decided to break on the range, causing a run away fire situation. It's still licenced as a semi auto rifle.....

    A mulfunction, is a mulfunction. Curious George is correct, don't invent a problem that doesn't exist...

  4. #4
    User
    Join Date
    Oct 2017
    Location
    Western Cape
    Posts
    728

    Default Re: Are slamfire capable shotguns considered fully automatic?

    Quote Originally Posted by nina View Post
    Some pump action shotguns that lack trigger disconnects, such as the Winchester 1897 "trench sweeper", are capable of firing multiple shots if the action is operated while the trigger is depressed.

    According to the FCA:

    A “fully automatic firearm” is one “capable of discharging more than one shot with a single depression of the trigger.”

    Does this definition render any shotgun which is capable of performing an intended slamfire a 'fully automatic firearm' in terms of the Act?

    Thanks.
    You still have to manually cycle the action.

  5. #5
    User
    Join Date
    Nov 2019
    Location
    KZN
    Posts
    31

    Default Re: Are slamfire capable shotguns considered fully automatic?

    Quote Originally Posted by zguy View Post
    I heard of a LM rifle that sear decided to break on the range, causing a run away fire situation. It's still licenced as a semi auto rifle.....

    A mulfunction, is a mulfunction. Curious George is correct, don't invent a problem that doesn't exist...
    Not referring to a firearm malfunction but to shotguns which are, by design, able to fire without releasing the trigger between shots.

    Quote Originally Posted by Kola View Post
    You still have to manually cycle the action.
    Unless I have missed something the only reference I can find in the Act to the type of action is when defining semi-automatics:

    ‘‘semi-automatic’’ means self-loading but not capable of discharging more than one shot with a single depression of the trigger;

    I can't find anywhere in the FCA that explicitly states that FA in question must be self-loading to be considered 'fully-automatic'. Was thus unintentional or do the powers that be not want FAs to be sold in SA where the user can fire a shot without consciously manipulating the trigger? I assume most people think of a full-auto as a FA capable of sustained fire *without* the operator having to do anything except squeezing the trigger but does that matter when the Act says otherwise?

  6. #6
    User
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Boland
    Posts
    7,985

    Default Re: Are slamfire capable shotguns considered fully automatic?

    What is the motivation behind this question?

    Apart from the definition in the Act, there is a general, established understanding that a "fully automatic" firearm is one that automatically loads itself and continues to discharge as long as the trigger remains pressed. What could possibly be your motivation to seemingly want to include firearms that need to be manually cycled?

    Sleeping dogs, itchless scratches etc...

  7. #7
    User
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    Finland, 60 degrees north
    Age
    59
    Posts
    1,834

    Default Re: Are slamfire capable shotguns considered fully automatic?

    Fully automatic: it defines itself.

  8. #8
    User
    Join Date
    Oct 2017
    Location
    Western Cape
    Posts
    728

    Default Re: Are slamfire capable shotguns considered fully automatic?

    Quote Originally Posted by nina View Post
    Not referring to a firearm malfunction but to shotguns which are, by design, able to fire without releasing the trigger between shots.



    Unless I have missed something the only reference I can find in the Act to the type of action is when defining semi-automatics:

    ‘‘semi-automatic’’ means self-loading but not capable of discharging more than one shot with a single depression of the trigger;

    I can't find anywhere in the FCA that explicitly states that FA in question must be self-loading to be considered 'fully-automatic'. Was thus unintentional or do the powers that be not want FAs to be sold in SA where the user can fire a shot without consciously manipulating the trigger? I assume most people think of a full-auto as a FA capable of sustained fire *without* the operator having to do anything except squeezing the trigger but does that matter when the Act says otherwise?
    Do you want these to be classified as fully automatic, or do you have one and you are worried it would be seen that way?

    The act is far from perfect, but ‘fully automatic’ is pretty obvious to most, i.e. it cycles and fires with sustained trigger pressure after the first trigger pull until it is empty or the trigger is released.

    Sometimes we just need to not scratch where it is not itching.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •