SIG/FAMAE 540/543 photos needed of the bolt hold open

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21HK

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First post, not counting my introduction, be easy on me.

I touched base in my introduction that I have spent hours looking for photos of the last round bolt hold open lever for the SIG 543.
Here in the US, we are due to have the 543 parts kits available soon. There is a section of the receiver that has been removed by torch cutting - our laws regarding importation and rendering the receiver destroyed.

A sample from one of the distributors here posted a sneak peak of the kit(s) that should be available soon.

The 543 receiver section that was removed is just behind the trunnion that included the bolt hold open lever section. It appears the lever is included but the mounting tab or bracket the lever attaches to may not be included. It also appeared the spring is missing as well.

After studying a few photos I captured from a video that was posted on the disassembly of the FAMAE 540 it looks as though this section also contains part of the rail where the ejector was.

I’d like to ask if someone who owns a 540 or 543, if it would be too much to ask for some detailed photos of this area showing the rails, ejector, and how the bolt hold open lever is attached.
Of course, thanks in advance.

I’ll post some photos of the kit that was released and the photos I pulled off the video. The underneath in the stills is what I need better photos of.

As of now it’s a waiting game until the distributors (two that Im aware of) that will have these available before us common folk can get our hands on one.
Also, as of now, we don’t have a price point on them. It could be that I may not even be able to afford one.
One of our forums is based on builders helping builders. If I can assist with that, not all is lost.

Thanks!

https://imgur.com/a/LPGvZe2
 
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Karnage said:
If I could borrow a scuba suit and an underwater camera I could take a pic of mine. I just can't remember which lake it fell in.
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Well, he is fishing ;)

Were there any restricted 223 rifles or were they all NR. I know there were pistol caliber restricteds but they were obviously different around the magwell...

I remember an auction (Ward's I think) no more than a couple of months before the oic dropped... One in .40 sold for something like 8k - that must hurt :(
 
Just so OP and everyone else are clearly aware the rifles in question have a prohibited status for an individual and not all of the variations were registered rifles.
With that out of the way, post link to parts kit.
There are people here that would love to sell you a whole unmolested SG54x if they are importable, are the 543s torch cut because they were select fire?
 
Sorry, did I touch on a sensitive subject?
I’m not aware of your laws.
As mentioned, I’m new here so you’ll have to forgive me.
If you’d like to do a Google search on my username, you’ll see Im fairly active on HKPRO.
Other boards that may not show up would be the FAL files and Weapons Guild.

If they got lost on fishing trips. I understand where you’re coming from.

I’m not looking to buy anything, just looking for some pictures. I mean, there’s always a chance that someone knows of a manual that I haven’t come across while searching.

If they’re prohibited for an individual, are they legal to be owned by firearms importers or those license to sell firearms? …am I missing something?

No link to the kits available, they have not been listed for sale yet. It’s my understanding the distributors will be sorting, photographing etc.

Here’s a video you can check out. It’s what’s expected to be released soon.
 
call2arms said:
What is the origin of these parts kits? What calibre?
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No information has been released yet, I’m not sure where these came from.
I hope someone gauges them for the caliber and doesn’t assume they’re 5.56. It’s my understanding these were once offered to civilians in .222.
 
A quick search and I see what you all have been going through.


“Canada has an ongoing, immediate
ban on over 2,500 models and variants of "assault-style" firearms, initially implemented through a May 2020 Order in Council, with subsequent additions in December 2024 and March 2025. The prohibition makes it illegal to possess, sell, or import these specific firearms in Canada, with some exceptions for Indigenous sustenance hunting rights.“

Just a quick sample of how our import law works for the Black and Green guns.
Years ago, parts kits could be saw cut through the receiver, the registered part, and include all the parts.
A law had changed and said that the receiver had to be torch cut with a minimum of a quarter inch (7mm) missing per cut through the receiver, no barrels were allowed to be imported with those parts kits.
Recently, the barrel importation law was overturned, a lot of parts kits that have been stored, possibly for decades are surfacing.

An example of one of those firearms was the Hotchkiss model 1922 that was released a few months ago. One of the distributors said they’ve been stored for many years here in the US.

So without a receiver or a barrel, a citizen who is legal to own firearms, can assemble the said firearm into a semi automatic for personal use/collection.
Licensed manufacturers are able to do the same when the intent is to sell for business purposes. SOT.(special occupational tax) payers are also allowed to manufacture these back into their original configuration. The firearm at that point is registered and retains a status as what we call a post dealer sample, referred to as a post or a postie. At that time it is not available to a civilian unless they are also an SOT. They can be sold to law-enforcement or military, but not the average non licensed citizen nor to an FFL who does not have an SOT to own said gun.
 
^ Now you see why people are wary - since many of those guns were not registered we would expect an agent of state to be trying to trap people into admitting they have one in this exact manner.

Good luck in your search. Perhaps someone with an originally restricted and therefore registered gun will come forward and help you.
 
If I understand correctly the parts kits situation is improved somewhat recently. If the barrels are allowed in can they be used or will the minimum number of US manufactured parts be an issue?
 
KotKotofeich said:
^ Now you see why people are wary - since many of those guns were not registered we would expect an agent of state to be trying to trap people into admitting they have one in this exact manner.

Good luck in your search. Perhaps someone with an originally restricted and therefore registered gun will come forward and help you.
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Completely understood, we feel the same way when newcomers show up on a forum.
A member here was gracious enough to reach out to me through a private message and I’ve got the photos I was looking for, many thanks to them.
 
call2arms said:
If I understand correctly the parts kits situation is improved somewhat recently. If the barrels are allowed in can they be used or will the minimum number of US manufactured parts be an issue?
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The parts kits have improved tremendously over the past few years.
The Beretta AR 70/90 that came in in 2020 was a tough one. No barrels, the pushpin tabs on the front trunnion had to be cut off and the rear push pin block was not available. Of course, there was no receiver section, just what was attached to the front trunnion. The missing section of receiver also included the bolt guide rails.

I touched base on this particular kit in my introduction post. Lots of hands got together and made it happen. We were able to reverse engineer to get these back up and running. Of course, non-licensed citizens are required to convert them to semi auto only.

Portugal dumped all of their HK G3’s.
Distributors received a plentiful amount mid year, including original barrels, but they were already pulled from the trunnions. The barrels were used so it was hit and miss on condition, but most were serviceable.
 
Just a quick update.
I thought I’d touch base to at least show the intent of my original post looking for photos of the bolt hold open lever and mounting bracket was legit.

The kits have been received by the distributors but not available yet. Some detailed photos and description has been posted but showing not in stock. I’ll assume Monday would be the day they’ll show in stock.
There is no price listed on the kits yet. Fingers crossed they aren’t priced to out of reach.

OEM steel mags have also been listed at $49.99 ea. although they are not available yet. They are steel 30 round mags.

Overall condition look like they were carried a lot.
The trigger mechanism looks fresh like they were not fired very much. Of course they usually post a photo of a nice kit so it’s still hit and miss on what you’ll get. They’re description says the bores are shiny.

Furniture is stated to have damage. Condition will vary but they said to expect some issues.

call2arms - it was stated in the description these were Lebanese contract.

Places Ive checked for a scope mount look to be long out of stock. I’m aware you received the FAMAE years ago so I wouldn’t expect for any company to still have them on the shelf.
As a citizen in CA, is this something that’s restricted nowadays? Would there be any reservations I should have if I were to be looking to post an ad in the marketplace for one?



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The rifle is prohibited in Canada right now - cannot be purchased by individuals at all - but the parts are not controlled _in Canada_. They are still controlled for export, as ridiculous as it would seem for how simple that rail is...

You won't have access to the markeplace on this site as a non-resident of Canada.

Generally, parts and accessories for these _can_ be sent to the USA. You'll just need your ffl to get a form 6 application approved and go through the process from there...

But I think if you are patient, someone will start making them in the US.

Just an idea for you: if someone here were willing to cut their famae up to ATF specs, the import of the entire parts kit would be approved. I've done this for a HK 21, no difference here. But getting a kit from Cenrefire is likely to be cheaper - they are bringing in a batch vs a single kit.
 
KotKotofeich said:
The rifle is prohibited in Canada right now - cannot be purchased by individuals at all - but the parts are not controlled _in Canada_. They are still controlled for export, as ridiculous as it would seem for how simple that rail is...

You won't have access to the markeplace on this site as a non-resident of Canada.

Generally, parts and accessories for these _can_ be sent to the USA. You'll just need your ffl to get a form 6 application approved and go through the process from there...

But I think if you are patient, someone will start making them in the US.

Just an idea for you: if someone here were willing to cut their famae up to ATF specs, the import of the entire parts kit would be approved. I've done this for a HK 21, no difference here. But getting a kit from Cenrefire is likely to be cheaper - they are bringing in a batch vs a single kit.
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Do you think a Canadian could have a licensed importer (IRG) import one of these kits to Canada?
Would US permit export? Would CA permit import?
 
Colin L said:
Do you think a Canadian could have a licensed importer (IRG) import one of these kits to Canada?
Would US permit export? Would CA permit import?
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I don't think so - these parts kits are still MG parts kits and US doesn't want to export those. Similar to M1 carbine parts.

Canada won't care - parts (though with a few exceptions now which these won't fall under) do not require an import permit. You might need to leave the upper receiver parts behind to be fully compliant.

Try to find them in Europe and you should be good to go. If these are ex-Lebanese, the usual suspects in Europe should have them soon enough...
 
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