Thread: Semi-automatic guns sold by Defence Force being used by gangs

Originally Posted by gundoc

They were manufactured as semi-autos and that was the way the Army used them but it was a parts change to convert then to full auto. Before they could be sold to the public dealers had to modify them in a permanent manner as specified (and individually checked) by the Police. That involved grinding out the safety sear bent on the hammer, removing the safety sear and welding a spacer in the slot, and (initially) putting a stop pin on the safety selector. The Police system was not irreversible if you had a few clues, so I did a few mods (which they accepted) which gave a much more difficult system to convert. There were 2500 rifles put up for tender and I purchased 1000 of them. The next biggest purchase was for 400 and all the rest went out in smaller numbers. Being the biggest purchaser I got the best rifles and they arrived in my shop 31 March 1988. I had been at Trentham the day before to supervise loading the container and getting my permit signed. That was the biggest cheque I had ever written at that stage of my life!

Gundoc, I recall back about 30 years ago someone (I think Tony Loughnan?) telling me about an SLR malfunction on a range, it wouldn't fire or locked up or something, then slamfired unexpectedly, emptying a near full mag into the ground. Do you know anything about this story? I vaguely recall it was one of the first rifles on the civilian market, but can't remember details.