Masterpiece Arms MPA-971: Frankengun of the Assault Weapons Ban

The Masterpiece Arms MPA-971 was designed in 2003, at the tail end of the US Federal Assault Weapons Ban. Among other things, the ban prohibited the manufacture or import of magazines holding more than 10 rounds, and so MPA based this design on finding a readily available and inexpensive source of large magazines grandfathered in from before the ban. That turned out to be the Suomi drum, and they combined it with a FAL lower receiver and a MAC-10 style bolt mechanism (MAC-type pistols were MPA’s main business at the time).

The result as the MPA-971, a have and awkward PCC that was nonetheless surprisingly reliable. I don’t know what total production was, but probably not all that many, as the AWB did actually sunset in 2004 (contrary to expectations).

Many thanks to Step for loaning me this example to film!