Just back from the gun shop

kamagong

kamagong

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Jan 13, 2001
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As most of you already know, I plan on getting an SKS because that is one of the few CA legal semi-auto rifles. I stopped by the local gun shop today to look over any Yugos they might have. They didn't have any, the owner said they haven't had any good ones for a while now. I guess I waited a year too long. I saw an AR-15 on the rack though. I tried it out and it fit me very well. It was very nice and maneuverable. Apparently it was on consignment. I expressed wonder at finding an AR-15 in a California gun shop and the owner said that it was a kit gun. I asked what a kit gun was and he told me that a CA resident could legally own an AR-15 if he bought the upper and lower separately and put it together himself. I was floored! Here is sweet option for me, one that now has supplanted the SKS.

I now have a couple of new questions. Have any of you ever put together an AR-15 this way? How difficult is it to do? For those of you who have experience in this matter, which brands are good?
 
Well, lessee, I don't live in CA, so am not sure of the exact laws, and their definition of "upper" and "lower". But at worst, you can buy a stripped upper, barrel, bolt assembly, charging handle, forends, and lower (with trigger group), and buttstock, get an AR-15 or govt M-16 manual (they are nearly the same), and put it together with a few special tools (Bushmaster sells barrel wrenches and other sundry tools that would be helpful to have). I don't know if CA laws are so ridiculous that you can actually buy a full upper and lower, and just pop them together. That would make the law next to meaningless. But we are talking about Kalifornia, so I wouldn't be surprised. But anyway, should take 2-4 hours to put all the various pieces together, depending on how handy you are. As far as brands, I have a Bushmaster and it works fine. DPMS is another good name. Rock River Arms is relatively new, but very good prices. Stay away from Olympic Arms, I've heard some bad things about them in the past). Armalite is also good, but more pricey from what I've seen. You will get all sorts of opinions on this subject; I suggest you just sit back and listen for a while. This kind of open-ended question should bring out a few AR fanatics...
 
lf you buy a complete upper receiver with everything put together, all you need to do is mate it to a completed lower receiver and that's about all there is to it. You do not need an FFL to order a complete upper as the lower receiver is what the BATF considers the 'core' of the firearm. I would recommend spending the extra $ and just outright buying your upper reciever fully assembled. You can buy your lower receiver stripped and assemble your own FCG and stock; that's not really very difficult to do on your own.

My ex-jarhead younger brother built his AR this way. He bought a complete lower reciever from Bushmaster through an FFL dealer and then later ordered a complete upper directly from Bushmaster. You can generally mix & match uppers and lowers if they are both MilSpec.

(We are both partial to Bushmaster.)

Here's my Bushmaster XM15A3 with a Springfield Armory GI MilSpec .45 and a 25" Sirupati:

HPIM0513.jpg
 
For info on CA legal AR's check this link:
http://64.151.69.37/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=56818

If you have further questions:
www.calguns.net

Short version:
Buy an unlisted AR lower, then you either have to:
1.Install a nondetachable ten round magazine in the lower, add the upper of your choice with a 16" minimum barrel length and you're set.
2.Keep the detachable magazine. Put together your rifle making sure it doesn't have any evil features i.e. pistol grip, flash hider, folding or thumbhole stock, etc.

Overall length of your rifle must be a minimum of 30 inches.
 
Thanks for the help guys. As I understand it from the gun shop guys, I can get the complete upper with no problem. However, I need to get a background check for the lower. I was going to get both the upper and lower parts fully assembled. I don't have much experience with firearms and want to make it as simple as possible as all my gun savvy friends and relatives are either deployed or not close enough to me to be of any real help.
 
Assembling a lower isn't as difficult as assembling an upper.

All you'd need is a stripped lower, then install your own trigger guard, stock, mag catch/release button,fire control group, and safety. Some of it might be a little bit tricky if you've never done it before but you shouldnt need any extensive gunsmithing experience to do it.

There are AR15/M16 armorer's courses and guides available on DVD and CD-ROM which would also be a lot of help to you.
 
I was just window shopping for complete uppers today. If I were buying one right now it would be a gas piston upper from LWRC. They ain't cheap though. Just my opinion.
 
DMD08 said:
I was just window shopping for complete uppers today. If I were buying one right now it would be a gas piston upper from LWRC. They ain't cheap though. Just my opinion.
Click to expand...

Those seem to be gaining popularity. Bushmaster makes one now too, and there's also POF.

I've never had a problem with reliability with the standard direct-gas system, but I keep my AR's clean and I don't use crap ammo either.

I've been tempted to buy one of the piston AR uppers to check it out though. AR accuracy combined with AK reliability & ease of maintenance sounds like a great idea in theory.



My two pesos would be get a flat-top upper receiver (A3) if possible. That gives you a lot more options for optics & sights.
 
There are a lot of options out there, so many actually that it's quite overwhelming. I'm strongly leaning towards a complete flat top upper receiver with a 16" barrell. Is that the A3?
 
kamagong said:
There are a lot of options out there, so many actually that it's quite overwhelming. I'm strongly leaning towards a complete flat top upper receiver with a 16" barrell. Is that the A3?
Click to expand...

Yes.

:thumbup:

See, even if you like the standard A2 with the carry handle, you can use a detachable carry handle on your A3, or remove it and mount a scope right to the receiver.

It's all about having options and availability.:cool:
 
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