What license do you have to have to own a fully automatic gun? And is it possible with the 15-22?

A Federal Class III license is required for legal possession of a fully automatic weapon. In addition, state and local laws have to be followed before such a license is issued.

Since the 15-22 is based on the AR-15 design, it should be relatively easy for an authorized gunsmith to convert to selective fire. However, it may be difficult to find such a gunsmith willing to accept the job.

I believe the gunsmith would have to have a Class II manufacturer's license in order to make the conversion. The conversion would probably cost at least 4 times the price of the original gun, mayve much more. That's why registered bolts or sears for Uzis and MP5s go for thousands of dollars, for what amounts to about $100 worth of metal and machining. Check the price for AR conversions or actual M16s, and you'll be astounded. If there were a cheap, easy way to do it, they wouldn't cost $18,000!

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LEO since 1981.

Oh so it's not just something to do with the trigger system? It gets a lot deeper huh?

The reason present full-auto stuff is so high-priced is not due to the amount of work required to convert them from a semi-auto. It is because it is impossible to legally manufacture a full-auto firearm for sale to an individual after May 19, 1986. Therefore, the only full-auto firearms legal for transfer among individuals are those in existence on May 19, 1986, and demand exceeds supply. Limited supply and high demand equals a high price.

No, it is not just something to do with the trigger system! It is easy to do with the proper parts on a centerfire, but it is not legal unless done prior to May 19, 1986. Since the .22 rimfire clone does not use the same fire control parts as the centerfire clone, it would take a different approach to convert anyway, and could not be done legally now. The better choice for a full-auto .22 rimfire would be a rimfire conversion unit in a centerfire clone, with the appropriate parts in a legal Pre-May 19, 1986 conversion.